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| 0 | LONDON: Cafe Oto |
|---|---|
| P | Wednesday 8th February, 2012 |
| N | 8:00pm |
Originally proposed as a new trio of Pat Thomas, Orphy Robinson and Steve Williamson, Black Top started out as a duo at Cafe OTO after Pat Thomas was unable to make the original gig. Black Top now returns to Cafe OTO reincarnated as an ad hoc series dedicated to exploring the intersection of live instruments and technology such as the looping and sampling used in dub, reggae and other worldly noises. The Black Top project will use improvisation to explore these black influences but not necessarily from an African American perspective. This first show in the new series will feature Pat Thomas - one of the UK's most unique and vital keyboard players alongside Orphy Robinson's Steel Pans and Shabaka Hutchings on saxophones plus guests.
PAT THOMAS
Pat Thomas studied classical piano from aged 8 and started playing Jazz from the age of 16. He has since gone on to develop an utterly unique style - embracing improvisation, jazz and new music. He has played with Derek Bailey in Company Week (1990/91) and in the trio AND (with Noble) – with Tony Oxley’s Quartet and Celebration Orchestra and in Duo with Lol Coxhill.
"Sartorially shabby as Thomas may be, and on first impression even rather stolid, he has a somewhat imperious charisma that’s immediately amplified when he starts to play. Unlike other pianists whose virtuosity seems to be racing ahead of their thought processes Thomas always seems supremely in command of his gift, and his playing, no matter how free and ready to tangle with abstraction, always carries a charge of authoritative exactitude." The Jazzmann
ORPHY ROBINSON
Orphy Robinson is one of the major figures of the jazz scene - he has released records on Blue Note and played with Don Cherry, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Courtney Pine, Jazz Warriors and Andy Shepherd.
He has composed for Film and TV- including “In answer to your question” for the Balanescu String Quartet and “ 42 Shades of Black” for Phoenix Dance Theatre,which was performed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Currently leads the groups CODEFIVE- NUBIAN VIBES - he also plays in the groups BRUISE and CLEAR FRAME
SHABAKA HUTCHINGS
Shabaka Hutchings plays tenor sax,bass clarinet, clarinet. Described by the BBC as "one of the most eclectic and musically adventurous instrumentalists on the London jazz scene", Hutchings grew up in Barbados and studied clarinet at the Guildhall School of Music. One of the capitals busiest saxophonists he straddles both the avant garde and jazz orthodoxy leading the trio ZED-U and performing with Jazz Warriors, The London Improvisors Orchestra, The Heights, Louis Moholo, Charlie Hadens Liberation Orchestra, Jack DeJohnette All Stars, as well as Speech Debelle, Gary Crosbys Nu Troop and Red Snapper.
In September 2010 Hutchings was confirmed as a 'BBC New Generation Artist'.
'Shabaka is a veritable cauldron of creativity ... an emerging Brit-jazz star if ever there was one' Jazzwise
'A jazz all-rounder … equally at home delivering a highlight moment on Guy Barker's Big Band Britannia as he is with the decidedly left-field London Improvisers Orchestra' Financial Times
'A towering figure both physically and musically' Time Out
