Henri Texier Octet at the 2012 London Jazz Festival

Jez Nelson presents Parisian bassist Henri Texier with a new octet, commissioned for the London Jazz Festival. Since the 1960s Texier has been a major figure on the European jazz scene as both a composer and virtuoso performer. His early work with trumpeter Don Cherry has had a lasting impact on his music, which combines jazz with avant-garde and African influences. In recent years he has made memorable appearances on Jazz on 3 with both trio and sextet. This time he expands his regular trio with saxophonist Sebastien Texier and drummer Louis Moutin into a pan-European, 8-piece band that includes British saxophonist Julian Argüelles, Dutch viola player Oene van Geel and French vibes player Benjamin Flament.
Also on the programme, a mini-session featuring one of the oldest musical cultures known to man: the Australian Art Orchestra join forces with members of the Young Wagilak Group to bring together Western improvisation and indigenous songs from the Northern Territory.

Presenter: Jez Nelson
Producers: Peggy Sutton & Chris Elcombe.