Alphabets is a new trio comprising 3 exciting voices in UK and Irish improvised music. Alphabets creates music inspired by language, vocalisation, landscapes, colours. This group aims to reach states of stillness and repose as well as fast instinctive rhythmic interaction, and to tease out all the possible sonorities from their instruments. They made a debut uk tour in March 2014, and recorded in July. The 3 musicians have distinctive and respected voices in jazz, free music and improvisation and play together to share a passion for spontanious music.
Lineup: Hannah Marshall – cello, Nick Malcolm – trumpet, Lauren Kinsella – voice.
Hannah Marshall is a renowned improvising cellist. She began with classical studies, then found inspiration in John Stevens’ book Search & Reflect and has been exploring the outer reaches of cello technique ever since. She has played all over the world and regularly collaborates with musicians such as Fred Frith, Steve Beresford, Kay Grant, Roger Turner, Evan Parker and many more. “Ask your ears :] Exploring sonic territories and visiting musical antipodes, demonstrating an esoteric approach to instrumentation that is truly unique”- DreamCraeft recommendation
Nick Malcolm is an original, exciting and heart-felt improviser. His rich, warm sound and sense of improvisational daring inform each and every musical situation and he plays with a total commitment to the music in the moment, whatever the stylistic context. His main group, the Nick Malcolm Quartet, features pianist Alexander Hawkins, bassist Olie Brice and drummer Mark Whitlam. They play original compositions combining the rhythmic and harmonic complexities of contemporary jazz with the intensity and interaction of free improvisation. They have performed at Manchester, Ealing, Oxford and Bristol Jazz festivals and have toured nationally with Jazz Services Support. Their first album,‘Glimmers’, was released to glowing reviews in May 2012 on FMR records. BBC Radio 3’s flagship jazz programme Jazz on 3, broadcast a gig of the quartet’s in February 2014. They are shortly to release their second album, ‘Beyond These Voices’ on Green Eyes Records and will be touring nationally in support of its release in May and June 2014.
Lauren Kinsella is a London based vocalist and composer originally from Dublin. She has performed in venues across the UK, Europe & India. She sings and composes in many groups including Blue-Eyed Hawk, Thought-Fox and SnowPoet with bassist Chris Hyson. She collaborates in duos with Swiss drummer Alex Huber & Loop collective pianist Dan Nicholls. She has released albums on WideEarRecords and Diatribe to critical acclaim and is the featured vocalist on ‘Island Mentality’; the Chaos Orchestra’s debut album. She performs with leading improvisers on the UK and European Jazz scenes including Yves Robert, Mark Sanders, Julian Siegel, Mark Lockheart, Chris Batchelor, Liam Noble and Hans Hassler.Her work continues to be reviewed in several countries including the USA, Germany, the UK, France, Norway, Switzerland and Ireland and hailed as a ‘gifted young singer’ (John Fordham, Guardian) her music is broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Jazz FM, RTE Lyric FM and BBC Radio Scotland. She is the current holder of The Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize and teaches jazz voice at Leeds Conservatoire’s undergraduate programme.
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