"Martin Speake is one of the most interesting and rewarding alto saxophonists now playing jazz on any continent.’"
Thomas Conrad - Jazz Times
This superb musician's band will be concentrating on the music of and around the great Charlie Parker.
Martin studied classical saxophone at Trinity College of Music. At that time there were no jazz courses in London, but he met some future jazz musicians at the college, including pianist Simon Purcell, saxophonist Mark Lockheart and the members of saxophone quartet Itchy Fingers. He toured Europe, South America, Africa and the USA with Itchy Fingers appearing at major jazz festivals and playing on their first two CDs. In 1986 they won the Schlitz Young Jazz Musicians of the Year Award, which was televised by the BBC.
In 1988, he left the group to develop his own projects, which have been many and diverse, and establish himself as a composer and improviser. Martin is as comfortable playing personal interpretations of the music of Charlie Parker with his quartet, free improvising with drummer Mark Sanders, playing standard ballads in duet with Ethan Iverson and Indian music with Dharambir Singh and Sarvar Sabri.
He has recorded 23 cds under his own name and started his own record label Pumpkin in 2007 and has released 10 cds so far. He is lead alto saxophonist in the London Jazz Orchestra conducted by Scott Stroman and has formed THELONIOUS to study and learn all the compositions of Thelonious Monk with valve trombonist/pianist Hans Koller, bassist Calum Gourlay and James Maddren. His main creative outlets are a trio with guitarist Mike Outram and US drummer Jeff Williams performing original music and Charukesi with tenor saxophonist Alyson Cawley, guitarist Mike De Souza and drummer Will Glaser playing Indian/Arabic/Turkish inspired groove music.
A former lead tenor saxophonist for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), Alyson Cawley is a versatile performer whose career spans from ‘Acid Jazz’ to elite big bands. In the 1990s, she toured with high-profile acts like Incognito, The Herbaliser, and the James Taylor Quartet (JTQ).
Alyson is a regular on the UK jazz scene, performing with the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, the BBC Big Band, and the Echoes of Ellington Orchestra. Drawing inspiration from legends like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Ornette Coleman, her playing ranges from straight-ahead jazz to free improvisation and world-music influences.
Mike Outram is a British guitarist and improviser whose work spans jazz, contemporary improvised music, and progressive music. Known for his distinctive and exploratory approach to improvisation, he has performed and recorded with artists including Donny McCaslin, Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock, Nikki Iles, Martin Speake, Trish Clowes, Till Brönner, Steven Wilson, Laura Rossi, Norma Winstone, and Herbie Mann. He has appeared on more than 150 recordings.
Matt Ridley is a bassist, educator and composer, with a playlist including Darius Brubeck, and his own band.
Matt Fishwick is one of the most highly regarded drummers on the UK jazz scene. He grew up in Manchester, UK with his twin brother Steve. They played their first gigs together in Manchester before moving to London in 1994 to study at the Royal Academy of Music.
Matt has lived and worked in New York and London, performing at renowned venues such as Small's, Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Smoke, The Iridium, Ronnie Scott's; worked throughout Europe and performed on many recordings in the UK, Europe and USA.
“One of the most original and interesting contemporary jazz saxophonists on the British scene. Speake has an offbeat melodic sense, a fine gentle tone and a strong technique.”
Linton Chiswick - Time Out
”Think of Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Giuffre, or our own Bobby Wellins, Tony Coe or Martin Speake - all Emily Dickinson lyric poets.”
Phil Johnson - The Independent