Alison Rayner Quintet

Event information

ARQ combines richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies; this, along with their love of improvisation, creates a strong sense of narrative and a cinematic quality. Led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner the multi award-winning quintet play ‘songs without words’ and are lauded for their vibrant, communicative performances. The band features edgy guitar from Dierdre Cartwright (host of BBC’s Rock-school) and the amazing keyboard sounds of Steve Lodder, a former close collaborator with Andy Sheppard. Alison and Deirdre have been musical companions for many years; from the awesome all-girl-power jazz-rock outfit, The Guest Stars to founding the Blow the Fuse organisation.

ARQ are widely celebrated from ten years of extensive UK and European touring across a complete range of jazz clubs, concert halls and international festivals and critically acclaimed for their three album releases August (2014) , A Magic Life (2016) and Short Stories (2019). All have garnered extensive press acclaim and international radio play, with Rayner also winning a coveted Ivor Novello Composer Award for ‘There is a Crack in Everything’ from Short Stories. This year, ARQ celebrates 10 years of contributing to the cultural jazz landscape with their fourth album of collaborative, newly composed and original music ‘Semaphore’. The album was recorded live in summer 2024 with release early in 2025.