Jazz breaking news: Portico Quartet Return To London With A Vengeance For ICA Dates

In a tour that has seen the band build on much critical acclaim, Portico Quartet continue their growth solidifying their strong reputation within the world of jazz and beyond. Since forming five years ago, the band has released a pair of albums that document a unique evolution of style, emanating from an amalgamation of the diverse tastes of each player. The jazz quartet’s traditional make-up of drums, bass and horns is given a distinctive twist by Portico with the addition of electronics and a hang, a melodic percussive instrument played with the fingers, or in the case of Portico Quartet, with mallets. These unique sounds took shape initially with Portico’s first full-length release Knee-Deep In The North Sea, an album that arrived to much critical acclaim, and which went on to get nominated for a Mercury two years ago, alongside the likes of Radiohead and Elbow.

As the gig will be at the tail end of an extensive tour which has showcased their second album release Isla, an album recorded by Stone Roses producer John Leckie at Abbey Road studio 2, the Quartet are excited to be playing back in London and say they are “especially looking forward to our two shows at the ICA in December.” During the two-night stint there will be guest appearances by electronica artist Leafcutter John of Polar Bear renown on the first night and France-based Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf the following night.

– Colm Doyle

For more go to www.ica.org.uk