BRIGHTON: The Verdict

Wednesday 28th June, 2017

8:00pm

Event information

Sloth Racket

Cath Roberts: baritone saxophone, compositions
Sam Andreae: tenor saxophone
Anton Hunter: guitar
Seth Bennett: bass
Johnny Hunter: drums

Sloth Racket is a quintet of UK improvisers led by baritone saxophonist Cath Roberts, with Anton Hunter (Beck Hunters, Article XI) on guitar, Sam Andreae (Trio Riot, Silence Blossoms) on tenor saxophone, Seth Bennett (Metamorphic, En Bas Quartet) on bass and Johnny Hunter (Spirit Farm, Nat Birchall) on drums. The group play Cath’s compositions, combining written fragments with graphic notation to explore the balance between freedom and structure. The results range across musical territories from fiery free jazz, to minimal improv textures, to deep grooves.

‘Consider this an important contribution to the debate about spontaneity versus form.’
– Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise ****

‘The Sloth Racket sound is broadly comparable to that of Tim Berne’s Bloodcount, the mid ’90s New York quintet with the same instrumentation, or the earthier, brawnier sound of Chicago as filtered through Peter Brötzmann’s Tentet.’
– Tim Owen, Dalston Sound

‘an agreeably spicy goulash of free improvisation, grumpy riffs and bluesy themes’
– Stewart Smith, The Quietus

‘nobody in their right mind is going to call this row slothful’
– Spencer Grady, Record Collector

OC/DC

Andrew Clare: electric guitar
Thomas House: electric guitar
Dave Campbell: drums

Wildcard Quartet