Joining us as part of a UK/EU tour, we're proud to present an incredible all-star band led by true UK jazz trailblazer, Elliot Galvin, a fiery and innovative pianist who's four solo albums have seen him top album of the year lists with the likes of Downbeat and Jazzwise, as well as being a member of the Mercury finalists Dinosaur, and collaborating with Shabaka Hutchings, Emma-Jean Thackray, Norma Winstone, Marius Neset and Mark Lockheart.

His new album 'The Ruin' is scheduled for release in February 2025 via independent London label Gearbox Records, and marks a new start, his most personal album to date, written on his childhood piano and inspired by the bleak yet beautiful landscapes of his hometown.

The line up for this gig features Elliot Galvin (piano and synths), Mandhira de Saram (violin), Ruth Goller (bass and voice) and Sebastian Rochford (drums).

Free flowing music, with serpentine piano and modular synth lines weaving and colliding around ephemeral vocalisations, deceivingly groove-heavy percussion, and intricate, soulful flute improvisations, the album features a who's who of musicians including a secret special guest on flutes, renowned bassist and vocalist Ruth Goller, Polar Bear drummer and Patti Smith / Damon Albarn collaborator Sebastian Rochford, as well as longtime collaborators The Ligeti String Quartet.

"A virtuosic, risk-embracing one-off" - John Fordham, The Guardian

Violinist Mandhira de Saram's musical career spans a host of collaborations across contemporary music, including with Anna Meredith, Laura Jurd and Shabaka Hutchings, and also increasingly working as a solo artist. She founded and led the Ligeti Quartet, and has also worked with improvising pianists Steve Beresford and Benoit Delbecq, as well as regular appearances with Riot Ensemble and London Contemporary Orchestra.

On bass Ruth Goller bassist is known for her bass and vocal work, not least with her unique and justifiably acclaimed project Skylla, as well as with Alabaster DePlume, and an incredibly diverse résumé that includes performance and recording with Acoustic Ladyland, Bex Burch's Vula Viel, Shabaka Hutchings, Rokia Traore, Melt Yourself Down, Sam Amidon, Paul McCartney, Marc Ribot, Damon Albarn, and Bojan Z.

A pivotal figure on the UK music scene, and hugely influential for so many people, Sebastian Rochford (drums) first reached acclaim as leader of UK experimental jazz legends Polar Bear (whose album 'Held on the tips of fingers' was Mercury nominated), Acoustic Ladyland, and then Sons of Kemet. Over a remarkable career he has also collaborated with an array of iconic musicians including Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Grace Jones, Beck, Rokia Traoré, Yoko Ono, Matana Roberts, Jehst and Damon Albarn's Africa Express, as well as recording on renowned European record label ECM with Andy Sheppard and Kit Downes.

We're delighted to welcome back to The Lescar Unfurl; beautiful meditative music drawing on a range of influences, contemporary jazz and Indian classical music in particular, to create a truly distinctive sound. Manchester-based Unfurl are led by violinist Olivia Moore, with Gavin Barras (bass), Jim Faulkner (guitar), Jack McCarthy (percussion), John Ball (tabla). Their music has been heard across the country at jazz festivals including Manchester, Brecon and London Jazz Festival. A finely-tuned balance of tight arrangements and more expansive improvisation; fluid and spontaneous music.

Here's some music from their last visit to The Lescar in 2022: https://youtu.be/ZgLlyUiyqOA?si=jcD8ujQLmLWleqo9

"Wonderfully eclectic music." Scarborough Jazz

"Unfurl are a wonderful group of musicians who combine incredible musical subtlety and refinement with a real sense of musical adventure and exploration." Neil Campbell, Liverpool Jazz Festival.

Band leader and inspiration behind Unfurl, violinist Olivia Moore combines energy and great sensitivity. Dedicated to Jazz and Indian classical violin, she has studied with trailblazing violinist Kala Ramnath in Mumbai and tours nationally and internationally with her own projects and with other artists such as Elaha Soroor, Jean Toussaint, Matthew Bourne, Stuart McCallum, Alabaster DePlume, Jason Singh, and Suns of Arqa, as well as pop legends Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, and at venues including Glastonbury festival, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Bridgwater Hall.

Joining Olivia in this long established line up are guitarist Jim Faulkner a wonderful musicians who performs internationally in a range of settings from jazz to contemporary classical to progressive rock, as well leading his own quartet, you may have caught him previously at The Lescar with Katie Patterson's wonderful Allsorts band. Gavin Barras is one of the most in demand bass players around, and a permanent fixture on the UK bass scene, performing in the bands of Matthew Halsall and Arun Ghosh amongst many others. John Ball, Unfurl's tabla and santoor player is a regular performer both as a classical soloist and also as a member of fusion bands Mishra and Rafiki Jazz and touring regularly with Indian dance companies led by Balbir Singh and Jaivant Patel. He's also well known to many people for his teaching at Sheffield University. Percussionist Jack McCarthy spent his formative years studying with musicians in West Africa and Cuba and his drive to further his knowledge has led him more recently to southern Spain to explore Flamenco and Arabic percussion techniques. He has performed all over Europe with artists including drum & bass legends London Elektricity and trumpeter Matthew Halsall, as well as touring currently with the Lion King across the UK and Ireland.

If you came to their gig last time, in 2023, you'll know what a beautiful sound this band make. We're so pleased that we have been able to rearrange this gig so soon after the snow put a halt to their gig at The Lescar in January. Join us for this unique and peaceful music.

A first class trio led by multi-award winning Xhosa Cole (tenor sax), a dynamic and thrilling presence on the UK jazz scene. Collaging and abstracting the music of Thelonious Monk, re-imagining classic compositions and opening new possibilities, this is the music that Xhosa has been moving towards on his latest album 'On a Modern Genius Vol. 1', well and truly brought to life in this gig by a wonderful trio that also features Josh Vadiveloo (bass), and Tim Giles (drums). Totally unmissable.

Critically acclaimed saxophonist, flautist and composer, and winner of the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year, Xhosa Cole has been commissioned by the BBC, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Ideas of Noise Festival, Flatpack Film Festival and Aldeburgh Festival, as well as collaborating and performing alongside artists including Monty Alexander and Courtney Pine, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Hamid Drake, Elaine Mitchener, Jason Yarde, Mark Sanders, Bex Burch, James Banner and Asger Nissan.

"It is the highly gifted Xhosa Cole who is currently making most waves . Cole has the rich expressive range and technical skills that characterise significant soloists." - The Guardian

"The 24-year-old tenor saxophonist/composer is a British sensation and proves that he's here for blood with this release . He's got technique, talent, artistry and a burning desire that shows throughout the set." - Downbeat

A consistently joyous and expressive voice in so many bands that have visited The Lescar, Josh Vadiveloo is surely emerging as one of the UK's most in demand bass players. You may have seen him previously in bands led by Xhosa Cole, David Austin Grey, and Luke Chakrabarti.

On drums award-winning Tim Giles has toured and recorded with bands and artists including Kenny Wheeler, Stan Sulzmann, Julian Arguelles, Ben Lamdin's Nostalgia 77, James Allsopp's The Golden Age of Steam, Iain Ballamy, Ed Jones, Matthew Bourne, Sara Mitra, Jamie Cullum, as well as co-leading Leverton Fox and The Twelves. An energising and creative force over many years.

Xhosa Cole's gigs at The Lescar in recent years have been truly unforgettable experiences, don't miss out on this one.

A rich large ensemble sound and intimate, deeply emotional music inspired by personal loss, all written by saxophonist and composer Anna Chandler-King, with a close-knit nonet of some of the finest musicians from across the UK scene. Original music drawing on a range of influences from large ensemble, contemporary jazz and avant-garde improvisation.

Anna's deeply heartfelt and intense yet occasionally playful and light-hearted music is realised by nine amazing improvisers, some of the finest from across the UK, with Anna Chandler-King on alto / baritone sax, Riley Stone-Lonergan (QOW Trio, Family Band) on tenor / soprano sax, Will Howard on tenor / alto sax, Laurence Mason on bass saxophone / bassoon, Ellie Whitley on trombone), Tom Harris on piano, Sam Quintana (Wandering Monster, Shapeshifters) on bass, Steve Hanley (Family Band) on drums, and vocalist Kel Àlvaro.

You may have caught Anna previously at The Lescar with Shapeshifters Trio; she's a fluid, expressive and coherent saxophonist with a really identifiable sound of her own. We're delighted that she's bringing this very wonderful group of musicians so perfectly attuned to the very personal and expanded vision that she has created; an eclectic, varied and powerful sound tied together by a message.

Pianist, vocalist and composer Maria Grapsa brings a wonderful band of emerging stars from the UK jazz scene playing her original music bringing together contemporary jazz with influences from her Greek heritage, Middle-Eastern, folk and latin music. With an emphasis on song and improvisation, Maria's music unfolds from hard-edged saxophone solos to intricate and emotionally charged cinematic ballads. Her latest album 'Life' has already made an impact, and we're delighted to present her music at The Lescar, where she'll be joined by Luke Chakrabarti (alto saxophone), David Bustos (tenor saxophone), Ben Love (double bass), and Kai Chaurensy (drums).

"A highly impressive debut album from a composer & band leader who is clearly going places; A remarkable debut." (All About Jazz).

"The sextet's sound is highly dynamic, moving from pin drop/knife's edge individual spotlights & emotionally charged balladic melodies, to the untamed energy of burning saxophone solos over a roaring rhythm section." (Women in Jazz Media)

Maria's band has already sold-out prestigious UK venues including Soho's Pizza Express, Jazz at the Crypt, Woolwich Works, and at London and Birmingham Jazz Festivals, and she has been involved in projects across the London jazz scene including collaborations including with the NU Civilisation Orchestra, Tomorrow's Warriors Female Frontline, and Grand Union Orchestra, as well as performing alongside artists such as Tim Berne, ESKA, Gary Crosby OBE, Denis Baptiste, Jelly Cleaver, and Emma Rawicz. She also hosts her own radio show, East of the Sun, on One Jazz FM.

Amongst the musicians in her band, you may have caught a couple of them at The Lescar before; Luke Chakrabarti an expressive saxophonist with a great sound leading his own band, in//motion. Kai Chaurensy is a thoughtfully melodic drummer who you may have seen previously, playing with vocalist Nishla Smith.

Here's some music: https://youtu.be/6BueY1_PYWw?si=Pop_k1sSQqBg8UOX

Beautiful lyrical and wide-ranging music from a name to watch, join us for this gig.