Jazz in the House: ARQ

Join us for an enchanting evening of jazz featuring the Alison Rayner Quintet! Enjoy the melodies from their latest album Sema4 and other favorites from their impressive discography. 🎶

With twelve years of musical excellence, the eclectic quintet ARQ is helmed by bassist and composer Alison Rayner. Their new release, Sema4 - available here - is celebrated for its "stylistic virtuosity and masterful interplay". This album has earned the title of Presto Music Jazz Recording of the Year (more info) and received generous airplay including live sessions on Radio 3’s In Tune.

Previous releases like August (listen here), A Magic Life (listen here), and Short Stories (listen here) have also been critically acclaimed, with Rayner winning the prestigious Ivor Novello Composer Award for her piece ‘There is a Crack in Everything’ from Short Stories.

ARQ has been recognized with both the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and the British Jazz Awards. They are renowned for their performances at iconic venues like Ronnie Scott’s and Pizza Express Jazz Club, as well as across regional locations in the UK and renowned European jazz clubs and festivals.

During this performance, expect a rich blend of compositions drawn from all four of ARQ's albums, with a special focus on their latest works. Get ready for inventive, vibrant, and melodically captivating music that tells a story and resonates emotionally! 🌟

Here's what critics are saying:

• “Mingling folk-dance vitality, high-energy soloing, ambient pace, and poignant tenderness” - John Fordham, UK Jazz News
• “A masterclass in musical storytelling and collective expression – full of emotion, nuance, and shared human experience” - Jazz in Europe
• “Bright, open jazz music that rejoices in human experience without sentimentalizing it” ★★★★ - BBC Music Magazine

Programmed by: Blow the Fuse
Performers:

• Alison Rayner – bass
• Buster Birch – drums
• Deirdre Cartwright – guitar
• Diane McLoughlin – saxophone
• Steve Lodder – piano

Tickets:

• Standard: £15.50
• Unwaged Concession: £12.50
• Under 35s Concession: £8

Please note, all tickets purchased, including at the door, are subject to a £1.50 booking fee.

Discover Jazz City, London’s most requested all-female jazz band for private events and weddings! Learn more here.

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