Saxophonist Carlos Lopez-Real Makes His Debut

releases his debut album Mandorla for the F-IRE label on 4 May. The saxophonist is joined by Teak Project guitarist Justin Quinn, bassist Oli Hayhurst, pianist Simon Colam, drummer Ben Reynolds plus guests Tom Arthurs, Ben Davis and Fini Bearman. London-based, Lopez-Real has become a respected player on the metropolitan jazz scene and the new album draws on a wide range of influences including Steve Reich, Björk, Bheki Mseleku and John McLaughlin with settings of two poems by Carol Ann Duffy also included. Tracks on the album include ‘JK’, ‘Kitchen Dance’ and title track ‘Mandorla’ with trumpet star Tom Arthurs duetting with Lopez-Real on ‘Sleep On It’. The album is launched with a gig on home ground at the Rose and Crown pub in Walthamstow, London E17 on 21 May. A tour date ahead of the official release is earlier at the POSK Jazz Café, London (2 May) and then continues to The Spin, Oxford (7 May), Wakefield Jazz, Wakefield (15 May), the Stables, Wavendon (2 June), Shire Hall, Howden (6 June) and Milestones Jazz, Lowestoft (7 June).