Review and picture by Garry Corbett Symphony Hall, Birmingham UK 10-11-2016 The sitar in popular music has a chequered history. The 1960s of course raised its profile somewhat with the adoption of the instrument by a certain band and in… Read More ›
tom farmer
Empirical – Connection
(Cuneiform) This is Empirical’s fifth album and finds drummer Shaney Forbes, bassist Tom Farmer, saxophonist Nathaniel Facey and vibraphonist Lewis Wright further refining their already distinctive music. Last month the band preceded the release by creating a pop-up jazz lounge… Read More ›
Final Jazz On 3 Recording
Cockpit Theatre, London 29-02-2016 Jazz On 3 has broadcast for the last 18 years on its Monday night 11pm slot on BBC Radio 3 and has been a leading influence in the development of the UK scene over that period…. Read More ›
Ivo Neame Quintet
Presented by Birmingham Jazz The Red Lion, Hockley, Birmingham UK 12-06-2015 Pianist Ivo Neame and his band were playing the sixth and last date of a tour leading up to the release of their new album, Strata (reviewed here), on… Read More ›
Ivo Neame – Strata
(Whirlwind Recordings WR4674) Inevitably, British pianist (and saxophonist too, once upon a time) Ivo Neame is best known from his Scandinavian associations – as part of the trio Phronesis and as a crucial member or saxophonist Marius Neset’s band. He… Read More ›
Ant Law – Zero Sum World
(Whirlwind Recordings WR4663) Well, I’m really gutted. Parrot-sick. Chin-on-the-floor disappointed. When I reviewed Mr Law’s debut release, Entanglement, two years ago I concluded: “All in all this is a terrific and highly accomplished debut.” When I reviewed the band’s Birmingham… Read More ›
Ant Law Quintet
The Red Lion, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham UK 14-02-2014 The personnel – and you’d be forgiven for finding this novel, as the information I’ve been getting has been changing every couple of days – was Ant Law on guitar, Michael Chillingworth… Read More ›
Empirical – Tabula Rasa
(Naim Jazz naimcd 193) Empirical’s line-up – Nathaniel Facey on saxophone, Lewis Wright on vibraphone, Tom Farmer on bass and Shaney Forbes on drums – remains the same for this album as for the last two. But the addition of… Read More ›
CD review: Ant Law
Entanglement (33 Jazz 230) Guitarist Ant Law takes inspiration from quantum physics for the title of his debut album – apparently when particles such as photons, electrons and molecules continue to instantaneously respond to their entangled counterparts even after separation… Read More ›
CD review: Dice Factory
Dice Factory (Babel) A fine and lively example of exploratory contemporary British jazz from four players, three of whom have strong connections with other bands, including Empirical, Outhouse, Ma and Kairos 4tet. The band’s name suggests dice-throwing and influences the… Read More ›
CD review brief: Fini Bearman
Step Up (Feenz Beenz Records) Bearman composes her own music and writes some of her own lyrics. For this album she has Rick Simpson on piano, Tom Farmer on bass and Josh Morrison on drums. Her voice is clear and… Read More ›
Concert review: Empirical
mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham UK 18-02-2012 The music was nearly all from Empirical’s recent album Elements Of Truth (Naim Jazz), but it had been a while since the four members of the band had all been on stage at… Read More ›
Empirical’s Tom Farmer talks to thejazzbreakfast
Empirical have an excellent new album out, Elements Of Truth, on the Naim Jazz label, and bassist Tom Farmer found some time to talk to thejazzbreakfast about the band, the new material, and the state of British jazz in general…. Read More ›
Gig review: Empirical and Kevin Le Gendre
Live Box at The Drum, Birmingham UK 31-10-10 It was a question of Empirical turning Cannonical, with the whole point of the evening, subtitled Walk Tall, a tribute to the memory of Julian “Cannonball” Adderley. And not just Cannonball the… Read More ›
Disc of the day: 28-10-09
Empirical: Out ‘n’ In (Naim naimcd 139) I got to hear this material in concert before I was really familiar with it on CD, and that was a great way to get to know it. However, if you haven’t had… Read More ›
Concert review: Empirical
CBSO Centre, Birmingham, UK 18-09-09 The Empirical of today might be smaller than before (away have gone trumpeter Jay Phelps and pianist Kit Downes; in has come vibes player Lewis Wright) but it continues to extend the jazz tradition, and… Read More ›
Empirical get Out ‘n’ In in Birmingham
You’d think that the classic Blue Note jazz of the early 1960s – Eric Dolphy and all that – would have become exhausted as a source of inspiration for young jazz musicians. And then a young band comes along and… Read More ›
