‘What can you all do now?’ – it’s the question posed to the musicians involved in the Fete Quaqua improvisation festival by its chief instigator, guitarist John Russell, as with almost no notice he shuffles them into unprepared groups and thrusts them on stage. The answers, as you can hear on this week’s show, take us on an instinctive and at times wild journey into the unknown.
If you’re new to free improvisation or have any misgivings about it, then violinist Alison Blunt’s introduction, via her own intriguing path to the music, might just coax you in.
Then it’s over to the 12 musicians, from these shores and beyond and including several names that were new to me. Listen out for the bleeps, bloops and squawks of the joy-stick manipulating electronics pairing Lawrence Casserley and Luc Houtkamp in the first half, an assault on the senses that’s followed by the refreshment of a delicate string trio.
If you’ve heard vocalist Ute Wassermann before, you might know what to expect but I’m still astonished by the weird and wonderful sounds she conjures every time. She stars in a group that includes Irish pianist Paul G Smyth, before John Russell calls all musicians back on stage for a finale with a dark twist.
Also on the show this week, we look ahead to November’s London Jazz Festival. We’re busier than ever this year, recording the likes of Wayne Shorter, Brad Mehldau and Kenny Wheeler, plus, as ever, one of the highlights of my year, our live launch show at Ronnie Scott’s. And you can be there! Apply for tickets via this link (please note that it’s a random ballot and applications do not guarantee a ticket):
Join me on Monday 21 October from 11pm for all of this, or listen online for seven days after the broadcast.
Jez
If you have comments about the show, or requests for music you’d like to hear, do get in touch at jazzon3@bbc.co.uk or on Twitter @BBCJazzon3.
