Jazz breaking news: The Impossible Gentlemen Step Out with New Album and UK Tour
Friday, August 2, 2013
Hot on the heels of winning Best Jazz Ensemble at the 2013 Parliamentary Jazz Awards in May, The Impossible Gentlemen – the acclaimed group of British and American musicians, comprising guitarist Mike Walker, pianist Gwilym Simcock, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Adam Nussbaum (pictured) – release a new album in September following their headline appearance at the Brecon Jazz Festival on 11 August.
The new recording, Internationally Recognised Aliens, is released on 2 September and like their eponymously titled 2011 debut, The Impossible Gentlemen, is on Basho Records. The album is produced by 13 times Grammy Award winner Steve Rodby, who has been with the Pat Metheny Group since 1981, and he also plays acoustic bass on two of the album’s tracks. Comprising all new original material by Mike Walker, Gwilym Simcock, Steve Swallow and three co-writes between Simcock and Walker, the music was written directly with the group in mind and, in part, advances Walker’s interest in combining jazz, rock and classical composition as well as reflecting his and the band’s idiosyncratic sense of humour.
Steve Rodby has been involved with the group for over a year, replacing Steve Swallow when he has been busy elsewhere, and will be touring with them throughout the autumn including the Brecon Jazz festival. UK dates are: Brecon Jazz Fest (11 August); Watermill Jazz, Dorking (10 Oct); The Flavel, Dartmouth (11 Oct); Turner Sims, Southampton (12 Oct); Workshop at Royal Academy of Music, London (13 Oct); RNCM, Manchester (15 Oct); Workshop at Leeds College of Music (16 Oct): The Spin, Oxford (17 Oct); Zefferelli’s, Ambleside, Cumbria (18 Oct); Seven Arts, Leeds (19 Oct); The Arena, Wolverhampton (20 Oct); Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street, London (21-24 Oct); and RWCMD, Cardiff (26 Oct).
– Jon Newey
See the September issue of Jazzwise for an exclusive interview with the band – issue in shops on 15 August – or save money and get a FREE CD by subscribing here