There’s an exciting tour with a difference and it all starts on Tuesday at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
MOPOMOSO (MOdernismPOstMOdernismSO what?) was founded in 1991 by guitarist John Russell and pianist, trumpeter and composer Chris Burn to promote free improvised music and its relationship to other forms of contemporary music making.
Since then Mopomoso has presented hundreds of concerts, special events and workshops. To celebrate 21 years of promoting free improvisation, Mopomoso is going on tour for the first time, in partnership with Sound and Music.
About this tour, John Russell says: “With its monthly series, which currently takes place at The Vortex – ‘London’s listening jazz club’, Mopomoso offers audiences the chance to hear some of the best music around, in an intimate and friendly setting. Programmed by myself, and now in its 21st year, this tour will recreate some of that ambience with a varied programme of contrasting approaches to free improvisation from some excellent musicians.
“By its very nature no two concerts will be the same so we can safely guarantee you won’t have heard anything like this before!”
Mopomoso on Tour will take some of the UK’s most interesting and dedicated improvisers to seven cities across the UK. Many of the promoters are themselves well-respected improvisers, something quite unique to improvised music.
Susanna Eastburn, Chief Executive of Sound and Music, said: “Through this tour we want to showcase the work of Mopomoso to a wider audience, and promote the new ideas and artists in each city the tour visits. The tour is both a celebration of 21 years of John’s work with Mopomoso and a way of nurturing networks of musicians and promoters across the country who have a shared interest. It is really exciting for us to be able to help bring Mopomoso to audiences across the country.”
Line up
Each evening will open with a set by improvisers from the local town, followed by:
Duo: Alex Ward (clarinet) and Kay Grant (vocals)
Alison Blunt Trio: Alison Blunt (violin), Benedict Taylor (viola), David Leahy (bass) Either Pat Thomas solo (piano/ keyboards) (all except Bristol)
or Keith Tippett solo (piano) (Bristol only) House Full of Floors: Evan Parker (saxophones), John Russell (guitar), John Edwards (bass)
Tour dates
Tues 23 April *Birmingham, Hare and Hounds B14 7JZ + There is Hope
8pm £6 (£5 advance) www.soundkitchenuk.org
Weds 24 April * Brighton, Friends Meeting House, BN1 1AF + Wild Card Quartet
7pm £6 (£5 unwaged) www.safehousebrighton.co.uk
Fri 26 April * Oxford, The Newman Rooms, OX1 1DP + Oxford Improvisers
7.30pm £12 (£9 concession) www.oxfordimprovisers.com
Sat 27 April Bristol, Colston Hall BS1 5AR
7.30pm £8 www.colstonhall.org
Sun 28 April Sheffield Bar Abbey, S7 1FS + Eun-Jung Kim, Mick Beck, Charlie Collins, John Jasnoch
7:30pm £5 www.listenear.net
Mon 29 April *Newcastle Summerhill Pavilion, NE4 6EH + Posset and Mariam Rezaei
7:30pm £10 www.abetternoise.org.uk
Tues 30 April Manchester St Margarets, Whalley Range, M16 8AE + special guests
7.30pm £5 (£4 unwaged) www.tubersmusic.wordpress.com
*John Russell will be holding workshops in these cities
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