Black Spirituals

Black Spirituals is a collaboration between two soloists who have found a new platform for the intersection of tone-generating electronic technology and the heart-thumping technology of acoustic percussion. This duet features a new tradition in conversant, duo vernacular dynamics that sparked a revolution in our conceptions of space, stage, ritual, performance, geography, praxis, brotherhood, relationships, rockin’ out, and more.

Multi-Aesthetic percussionist Marshall Trammell’s STTRCRFT platform articulates his commitment to the study of the worlds’ percussive arts in his multi-limbed Improvisation system. Utilizing super bananas electronic and guitar sounds, live processing, and heavy-heavy percussion Mr Watkins “weaves…undulating dronescape(s), of deep sonic swells and muted electronic buzz, utilizing analog synths, guitars, drums and percussion, cassette, Casio, bass, and of course electricity(!)“

Alan Wilkinson, alto, baritone saxophones, bass clarinet

After leaving Art College in Leeds in the late 1970s Wilkinson became involved in the music scene in the City playing in a variety of bands, whilst pursuing his passion for improvisation, promoting and playing alongside some of the great and upcoming names at his club night 'The Termite Club'. It was during this period that he joined forces with the drummer Paul Hession and the tragically deceased bassist Simon Fell to form the trio Hession/Wilkinson/Fell, described in The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette, as "a band that outdoes the old Brötzmann groups for sheer firepower". In the late 80s he was invited to tour with Company by Derek Bailey and subsequently featured in 2 London Companys one of which he co-curated. When he relocated to London in 1990 he was already a figure on the scene and has continued to play and promote the music through various club nights, especially flimflam at Ryans Bar N16, running since January 2001. Playing in innumerable ad hoc settings in the UK and beyond notable collaborators have included Derek Bailey, Peter Brötzmann, Akira Sakata, Thurston Moore, Chris Corsano, Eddie Prevost, Charles Hayward, Talibam! and Jason Spaceman. Long standing groups include a trio with John Edwards and Steve Noble, Norwegian group Akode, and a trio with Alex Ward and Jem Doulton.

"At its highest points, this session unleashes some of the most preposterously powerful energy jazz heard since Peter Brötzmann's Yatagarasu trio with Takeo Moriyama and Masahiko Satoh" - Daniel Spicer, The WIRE

Kim Johannesen, guitar

KIM JOHANNESEN (guitar) mixes the speed and dexterity of a Jazz player with a flair for abstraction, noise and experimentation. His impressive list of collaborators includes work with Raymond Strid, Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten, John Butcher, Pat Thomas and Roger Turner.

Ola Høyer, double bass

OLA HøYER (double bass) is a highly versatile and busy musician active in Classical, Jazz and Experimental Rock, all elements which inform his rich and multi layered approach to Free Improvisation. In constant demand he tours regularly in Japan and the USA as well as Europe.

AKØDE

Akode came together in autumn 2010 after an invitation took British saxophonist Alan Wilkinson to Norway to play with 3 of its brightest young improvisers, guitarist Kim Johannesen, bassist Ola Høyer, and drummer Dag Erik Knedal Andersen. Their immediate rapport resulted in an improvised music of blistering intensity, speed and creativity. They have since toured regularly in Scandinavia and Britain as well as Holland, France and Japan, and played on festivals in Norway (Kongsberg, Molde), Denmark (Copenhagen) and the UK (London), releasing one CD in 2012 with another, North and South, released on Confront last October.

Dag Erik Knedal Andersen, drums

DAG ERIK KNEDAL ANDERSEN (drums) is a dazzling musician, voted "Talent of the Year" at Molde in 2010, again bringing a Jazz fluidity, speed and precision to a wide variety of playing situations mostly in the field of Free Improvisation and Noise. He combines flamboyance, a hyperactive personality, and instinctive creativity, to place him among the finest European drummers.