TIME: 8.00 – 11.00PM

TICKETS: £14

PERSONNEL

Musician and composer Alasdair Pennington has in recent years established himself as a distinct and creative voice on the drum kit within the vibrant London jazz and improvised music scenes. An in-demand sideman, Pennington has performed and recorded with many eminent, international artists across genres including Helen Sung, Baptiste Herbin, Laura Jurd, Michael Dease, Dennis Rollins and The Flaming Lips among others.

Pennington has performed and recorded at venues, studios and festivals across England and beyond including Manchester Jazz Festival, Lancaster Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Abbey Road Studios, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Vortex Jazz Club, The Leadmill, Cafe Oto, Porgy & Bess (Vienna), Jamboree Jazz Club (Barcelona) and Take 5 Jazz Club (Stockton, California).

Pennington’s musicianship, musical development and approach to music in general have been heavily influenced by many pioneering Black American musicians including Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Cobb, “Philly Joe” Jones, Tony Williams, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane among many, many others.

In 2017, Pennington was one of three UK applicants to be selected for the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony program at the Brubeck Institute in California. During this “intensive educational program in jazz performance for a limited number of exceptionally talented students” he received tuition from celebrated American musicians and educators including pianist Donald Brown (Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers) and saxophonist Steve Wilson (Chick Corea, Christian Mcbride

His considered, expressive and rhythmically adept musical contributions with various projects have garnered much positive acclaim, including from Downbeat Magazine
(Howard Mandel): “Pennington’s a kick-ass drummer”.

This Is, Pennington’s debut release as leader, showcases his compositional voice on record for the first time. Pennington’s writing emanates a refined, considered and mature sound. Pieces are allowed the space to unfold organically whilst still painting a coherent narrative which feels true to Pennington’s artistic intention and vision. This Is takes the listener on a sonic journey through intriguing, sombre soundscapes and dynamic interactions to simmering swing and auspicious washes of harmonic colour. An album which is very much informed by the tradition of great, Black American music with a contemporary feel, both in regards to the compositions and the approach and sound of the
ensemble.
Alongside Pennington, the ensemble comprises a quality cast of musicians, all of whom are regular names on the contemporary London jazz circuit: Isaac Burland on double bass, Alex Wilson on piano, Donovan Haffner on alto saxophone and Matt Anderson on tenor saxophone. “I’m very lucky to know these musicians as friends and colleagues”, Pennington says of his band. “I put this quintet together for a run of gigs I had around London over the summer and everything just came together very naturally. I admire Isaac, Alex, Donovan and Matt all individually as players so bringing them together was like mixing together my favourite sounds … their playing blends so well and they really
bring my music to life in a beautiful way”.