Writer and pianist Peter Urpeth will be joined by saxophonist Jon Lloyd, bassist and sonic manipulator Al Swainger and guitarist Rob Palmer for an evening of poetry and ambient jazz. Peter will be performing his poetry from “The 4000 Nights of New York in 1988”, his latest anthology.
Livestream Ticket link below
Peter Urpeth is a writer, journalist, editor, writing and creativity mentor, pianist, composer and creative business consultant. He has an MA in Multi-media Journalism from Edinburgh Napier University, and 35 years of experience in journalism. He is a published novelist and poet, and has been the editor of four local newspapers in Scotland after being a magazine section editor at Time Out, London during its heyday years as a magazine. He has published one novel, two collections of poetry and his work has been widely anthologised. His documentary film – Manna – Jazz and Survival in East Harlem – opened at the African World Film Festival, Detroit in 2019. In a long creative career Peter has also been a TV and radio presenter.
As a pianist and composer Peter has worked for more than thirty years in jazz and free improvisation. He has performed with saxophonist Evan Parker, bassist Olie Brice, vocalist Maggie Nicols and many others. He also composes new scores and performs live to classic and rare silent movies. In the last decade he has received seven major commissions for new scores to classic films, ranging from Nosferatu to The Passion of Joan of Arc and Nanook of The North.
Peter lives and works from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
Saxophonist Jon Lloyd arrived on the UK free jazz scene in the early 1990s and rose to prominence with recordings on Leo records and HatHut, and with many UK and European concerts with his quartet comprising John Law, Paul Rogers and Mark Sanders. Highlights during this period included Berlin’s FMP Festival, several Arts Council tours and the 1993 Contemporary Music Network tour of the UK with the Bill Frisell Band! Over the years Jon has embraced contemporary composition, abstract improv and American jazz and fusion, but in the last decade has primarily developed his music towards the European jazz aesthetic, notably recording “Vanishing Points” in 2013 with Asaf Sirkis, Tom Farmer, John Law and Rob Palmer. In 2022 Jon was involved with John Law’s multi-media “Renaissance”, which toured in cathedrals throughout the UK, and in 2023 he is busy promoting his European Contemporary Jazz quartet “The Jon Lloyd Quartet”.
As a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, Al Swainger is both eclectic and transformative. His use of FX pedals and computer manipulation provide an extensive and original tonal palette with which to sculpt his music. His project Pointless Beauty’s most recent album ‘Hearts Full of Grace’ blends influences from ambient, Latin, rock, pop and electronica with improvised music and presents is a very personal take on what jazz or progressive music could be.
Guitarist Rob Palmer has worked with saxophonist Theo Travis, pianist John Law, vibes player Roger Beaujolais, USA vocalist Lila Ammons, violinist Phil Wachsmann, vocalist Véronique Joly and is a member of the ambient/groove/electronica trio Echo Engine.
Peter Urpeth – poetry/piano
Jon Lloyd – saxophone
Al Swainger – bass/electronics
Rob Palmer – guitar/electronics
The livestream will be broadcast on YouTube, via a page available when you purchase a ticket through the link below.
All advance ticket buyers will receive an exclusive link to a video of the evening’s performance, available for one month.
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15% pre-show food discount at The Grasshopper. Our regular host The Grasshopper, is kindly offering a 15% discount on food from their restaurant prior to every SoundCellar gig! Just show your ticket for that evening’s performance (the ticket QR code on your phone, or a printout). A table must be booked here or tel: 01202 741463 and food orders placed at least 60 minutes prior to the start time of the gig (eg by 7pm for a 8pm start).
(2) For young people: (i) U18s – FREE entry when accompanied by an adult; (ii) Age 18 to 25 – entry £10 (with NUS / TOTUM card). Simply select the relevant ticket option when booking. The offers are available for most of our gigs – please check individual listings for details. They are subject to seat availability, so for some gigs, it’s best to book early to avoid disappointment.
Parking is free at The Grasshopper but you must register your vehicle at the bar.