Alex Roth's Otriad

Event information

In 1941, three Jewish brothers went into hiding in Poland's Naliboki Forest to escape capture by the encroaching Nazi troops. By the end of the Second World War, they had led over 1,200 other Jews to safety, establishing a tight-knit community that resisted the Germans on one side and their co-operating Belarussian forces on the other. The Bielski Otriad, as the group became known, defed the fate of so many of their kind by refusing to give up hope even under the bleakest conditions.

It is this strength of community spirit that inspired the formation of Alex Roth's Otriad, itself centred around three brothers of Polish-Jewish ancestry. Nick, Alex and Simon Roth (playing saxophones, guitars and percussion respectively) grew up to the sound of their mother's violin and piano, quickly taking up the instruments that would eventually allow them to develop a unique musical understanding together. This three-way dynamic has been pivotal to each of their careers thus far, forming the core of several groups along the way (including the ten-piece electro-acoustic chamber ensemble Sefroth).

Otriad is completed by two musicians whom Alex has met through studying for his MA at the Royal Academy of Music: James Opstad, who has been the bassist in Alex's trio (with Simon again) since 2010, and saxophonist Joe Wright (half of the electro-acoustic improvising duo Wright/Roth, which has been active for almost two years).
Alex's music for Otriad is an expression of the relationships that have formed between these fve musicians, moving between folk-like melodies, free-form improvisation, electro-acoustic soundworlds, complex rhythmic structures and richly evocative harmonies.
Now booking Spring 2013 UK tour!

Alex Roth in the press:
“Alex has a really unique approach as both a composer and a guitarist, using sonic colours and texture in a way I haven't often heard done as effectively since Mr Frisell frst came onto the scene. With Otriad he
has formed a great band in which all the musicians are fully tuned into his concept.”
- Phil Robson

“Alex Roth's guitar playing involves the fascinating creation of texture. He has absorbed the colours and vocabulary and trick-box of guitarists as diverse as Bill Frisell and Fred Frith, and can take the listener
on a journey in every tune.”

“One of the hot young players rising through the Royal Academy who look set to fre up the jazz scene in
the future.”
- Jazzwise Magazine

Alex Roth online
www.alexrothmusic.com www.soundcloud.com/alexrothmusic www.twitter.com/alexrothmusic