ALISON
After nearly forty years as a bass-player and composer, Alison Rayner has stepped out of the shadows and taken the plunge with her first album as a leader, August, recorded live at London’s Vortex Jazz Club.
ARQ
Joined by four of her closest musical companions, Steve Lodder (piano), Buster Birch (drums), Diane McLoughlin (saxophones) and Deirdre Cartwright (guitar) they superbly interpret this vividly diverse collection of original tunes with wider influences from bebop, folk, and Afro-Cuban dance music. August is bursting with melodic and harmonic references including elegaic hymns, dancefloor funk and bluesy grooves though there is a strong sense of Rayner’s musical personality both as a player and composer.
After extensive touring in the UK, supported by Jazz Services and lauded by both audiences and promoters, ARQ have started work on their second album for release Autumn 2016. They are now previewing new material on their forthcoming tour dates and audiences who will, no doubt, be keen to hear what Alison has to say next.
