Photography Christina Jansen
An exciting new sextet comprising six of the UK’s most sought after musicians, collectively celebrating the music of major jazz composers such as Gil Evans, Michael Gibbs, George Gershwin, John Lewis and Jaco Pastorius, in a programme of personal favourites.
Mo: “I had been a fan of Gil’s music since the mid 60s when I first heard his masterful collaborations with Miles Davis: Miles Ahead, Porgy And Bess, and Sketches Of Spain.
So it was that in 1983 I was extremely thrilled to get a call — whilst on the road in the USA with Phil Collins — inviting me to tour with the Gil Evans British Orchestra, a band which consisted mainly of luminaries from the UK jazz scene, including John Surman, Henry Lowther, Stan Sulzman, Ray Russell, John Taylor, and John Marshall.
His sound world left such a lasting impression that when I put together this new band the sound I was aiming for was Gil Evans in Miniature: structured, with beautiful harmonies and melodies, and with room for great solos. I chose my dream team — Jim Watson, Chris Biscoe, Nic France, Ray Russell, and Corrina Silvester — simply because they are the best, and are amongst the finest jazz soloists in the country"
NEXT DATES
Pizza Jazz Dean Street
Monday 4th May 2020
Colchester Arts and Jazz
Sunday 15th November 2020 7.30pm
colchesterartscentrejazzclub.com
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PREVIOUS DATES
Birmingham Jazz
Sunday 17th November 2019 - 8pm
birminghamjazz.co.uk
606 Club Chelsea
Monday 25th November 2019
Ronnie Scott’s Club
Friday 4th October 2019
Hidden Rooms, Cambridge
Thursday 31st January 2019
The Half Moon, Putney
Wednesday 9th January 2019
Lauderdale House, Highgate
(part of the London Jazz Festival)
Thursday 22nd November 2018
The 606 Club Chelsea
Monday 5th November 2018
The Maltings, St Albans
Tuesday 30th October 2018
The Pizza Jazz Club, Dean Street, Soho
Wednesday 16th May 2018
The 606 Club, Chelsea
Monday 23rd April 2018
The London Bass Guitar Show,
Olympia, Kensington
Sunday 4th March 2018
The Pizza Jazz Club, Dean Street, Soho
Monday 1st February 2016
Photography Christina Jansen
MO FOSTER
Bass Guitar and Band Leader: After forming seminal 70’s progressive jazz/rock group Affinity (managed by the late Ronnie Scott) Mo's career blossomed into one of the most prestigious of any contemporary bass-guitar player, working with Jeff Beck, Gil Evans, Phil Collins, Gerry Rafferty, Van Morrison, Frida (of ABBA) and the London Symphony Orchestra, and establishing himself as a much sought after and highly respected session musician, record producer, composer, solo artist and author (British Rock Guitar). Mo is also a recipient of a BASCA Gold Badge Awardhttp://mofoster.com
RAY RUSSELL
Electric Guitar and Fx: Band leader, session player, arranger, composer, and producer. Ray has worked with Gil Evans, Mike Gibbs, Mark Isham, Anthony Jackson, Tina Turner, George Fenton, and Simon Phillips and is a visiting Professor of Music at Leeds University.http://rayrussell.co.uk
Photography Christina Jansen
Photography Christina Jansen
JIM WATSON
Keyboardist, Pianist, Organist, Musical Director, Composer, Arranger: Jim has worked with with Manu Katche, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Katie Melua, Paul Carrack, Chris Difford, Patti Austin, Richard Bona, and Lalo Shifrin.http://www.jimwatson.net
CHRIS BISCOE
Reeds (Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Baritone Sax, Alto Clarinet). Band-leader, composer, Chris has worked with Mike Westbrook, Liam Noble, George Russell, Hermeto Pascoalhttp://www.chrisbiscoe.co.uk
Photography Christina Jansen
Photography Tony Andrews
NIC FRANCE
Drums and Percussion: Nic has worked with Loose Tubes, David Gilmour, Bill Withers, Mose Alison and teaches at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridgenicfrance/home
CORRINA SILVESTER
Percussion: Corrina has worked with Yazz Ahmed’s Family Hafla, Hans Zimmer Live at Hammersmith, on stage at Royal Opera House, held many Principal Percussion chairs in London’s West End theatre, e.g. The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre, Monty Python at O2, and Drum Captain for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.http://corrinasilvester.com
Photography Tony Andrews
THE REPERTOIRE
Gone Gone Gone
Gone
Freedom Jazz Dance
Three Views Of A Secret
Django
The Pan Piper
And On The Third Day
Some Echoes
Oh No
Sing Me Softly Of The Blues
On Your Way Down
Footprints
Little Wing
So Far Away
Who's There?
Chickens
■ George Gershwin
■ Gil Evans
■ Eddie Harris
■ Jaco Pastorius
■ John Lewis
■ Gil Evans
■ Mike Gibbs
■ Mike Gibbs
■ Mo Foster
■ Carla Bley
■ Alan Toussaint
■ Wayne Shorter
■ Jimmy Hendrix
■ Mo Foster/Ray Russell
■ Mo Foster/Linda Hoyle
■ Steve Swallow
CLICK TO SEE REVIEW OF THE LONDON BASS GUITAR SHOW
4th March 2018
CLICK TO READ THE REVIEW OF THE HALF MOON AT PUTNEY
9th Jan 2019
"This session legend, and one-time Jeff Beck cohort, has thumbed his golden address book to assemble a sextet of undoubted virtuosity”
Andy Rawll (Journalist, Record Collector)
"What a great band Mo. I love the 'Gone Suite’”.
Terry Rawlings (film editor: Blade-Runner, Alien)
"That's some jam Mo. Beautiful textures and dynamics. Your playing puts the rest of us to shame as usual...”
Joel McIver (Editor, Bass Guitar Magazine)
“This is whatever the opposite of "unwatchable" is. So much going on there between these wonderful musicians.”
Ken Appleby (Pindrop Events)
“Excellent show - Superb sound throughout. It was a masterclass”
David Stark (Songlink)
“A rare night of great music - lovely vibe, immaculate sound - the music connects very directly”
Malcolm Edmonstone (Professor at the Guildhall School)
“Such great music - a natural high - so many great influences coming out”`
Mark Garfield (Music Publisher)
“Mo’s bass sound was amazing, particularly the fretless, wow!”
Martin Petersen(Bass Gallery)
“A tonic for the spirit - music like that should be bottled and made available on the NHS”
Chris Mills (PPL)
"The band was superb”
Clem Cattini (drum legend)
"You all play more brilliantly than ever. Classy, Funky, Clever, Gorgeous”
Wendy Hoile (website designer)
“Such an inspiration”
Alan Boyd (Film Maker)
“Beautiful chemistry”
Ray Russell
“I can't think of anyone I'd rather listen and learn from”
Bass Guitar Magazine
“Mo Foster...a legendary session bassist, producer and composer”
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