Stuart McCallum's "Distilled" featuring the Prism String Quartet
Stuart McCallum guitar and electronica with Dave Walsh drums and the Prism string quartet from the Royal Northern College of Music: Tom Crehan, Jake Phillips - violins, Laura Feeney - viola Tom Wilkes – cello
Don't forget the clocks go forward today! Don't be late!
Stuart makes a welcome return to Seven Jazz to show-off his stunning new album DISTILLED. It’s not often a musician from ‘the North’ gets two pages in Jazzwise, and a 4* for his new album.
“The music suggests the feel of the Cinematic Orchestra, Brian Eno and In a Silent Way-era Miles Davis”
The Guardian
This will be a gig to long remember. Don’t miss it!
From jazz beginnings to DJ culture, Stuart McCallum’s music is ‘alternative jazz’ – a distillation of influences, creating a sound that is concentrated and distinctive. Not wanting to hide behind over complicated harmonic and rhythmical structures, angular and forgettable melodies, Stuart’s music is a new hybrid of composition, production and performance. It embraces simple, memorable melodies, bass lines and drum beats, with electronica and improvisation enriched by elegant orchestral writing.
Stuart has a wealth of experience in many different musical environments and genres. After being invited to join the Cinematic Orchestra in 2004, Stuart has performed on and contributed to the writing of the band’s critically acclaimed albums, ‘Ma Fleur’ and ‘Live At The Royal Albert Hall’. In addition he has contributed to the award winning Disney nature documentary soundtrack, ‘The Crimson Wing’, and the remix of Radiohead’s ‘Exit Music For A Film’ for Radiohead’s remix compilation album, ‘Exit Music: Songs For Radio Heads’. Memorable performances with the band include The Royal Albert Hall with the Heritage Orchestra and The London Metropolitan Orchestra, headlining The Big Chill in the UK, and playing at Montreal Jazz Festival and Coachella festival in Palm Springs.
‘Distilled’, Stuart’s third solo album is the culmination of Stuart’s guitar playing, production and composition experience to date. The sonic palette of instruments and electronics used is a development from his 2 previous solo albums ‘Echo Architect’ and ‘Stuart McCallum’. Stuart’s guitar playing is the main feature of the music - the vocalist in the instrumental lineup. His interest in exploring different sounds from both electric and acoustic guitars is apparent in the music, from the innovative use of delays and filters, to hitting the guitars with hands and drumsticks! The guitar plays alongside electronic and acoustic drums, double bass, keyboards, synths, percussion, harp, celeste, strings, woodwinds and horns.
The suite was performed in the 2011 Manchester Jazz Festival and was acclaimed by both audience and critics for a solo set which was performed live on BBC Radio 3′s flagship jazz show ‘Jazz On 3′. The concert at Seven Arts will feature the Prism String Quartet as well as Stuart's regular trio of
Stuart has performed and recorded with some of the most prominent jazz artists of today, including Kenny Wheeler, Mike Gibbs, Gwilym Simcock, Tim Garland, Laurent Robin and Laurent De Wilde.
“The music suggests the feel of the Cinematic Orchestra, Brian Eno and In a Silent Way-era Miles Davis” The Guardian, UK
“Guitarist Stuart McCallum’s compositions are exemplary of everything that is exciting about new British jazz.” Jazzwise, UK
“Simple, understated and hypnotic he had the audience locked in and silent…Living proof that less is more.” Jez Nelson, Jazz on 3, BBC Radio 3
"Dusting gritty club grooves with his own epic brand of folk-edged melancholy” Time Out
"Mood music of a more hypnotic and ruminative hue can be found on the lovely album Distilled" Record Collector
"Distilled -dreamy, trippy, downtempo instrumentals...and lush semi-orchestral settings" Uncut
Hear more on http://stuartmccallum.com/
Stuart McCallum's Distilled is at Seven Arts on Sunday 25 March. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, families welcome. Doors open 1pm music 1.30-4pm.