PAST PROJECTS

ANDRE CANNIERE - DARKENING BLUE/GHOST DAYS PROJECTS

Andre Canniere Sextet

Project with Andre Canniere featuring Brigitte Beraha, Ivo Neame, Michael Janisch and Ted Poor was fully launched into action with a gig at The Vortex followed by three days making a new record at the beginning of 2016 at Steve Winwood’s studio in the Cotswolds The album 'the Darkening Blue' was released in October 2016 together with an extensive UK tour.  A second UK tour, was followed by a new album ‘the Darkening Blue’ in 2019. featuring Rick Simpson and Tom Farmer. A follow up tour in 2020 was postponed due to Covid and 2022 saw the band on tour again.

IVO NEAME QUINTET/OCTET

As one of the flagship bands of London's LOOP collective, some of the finest young jazz musicians from the UK playing contemporary music far-reaching in its scope

2012 saw the release of a new album on Edition Records preceded by a nationwide UK tour. The album featured new member Tori Freestone on sax, whose presence expanded the musical possibilities of the group, allowing greater freedom for the others to chart new improvisational waters.  In April 2015 the quintet album 'Strata' was launched on 'Whirliwind recordings' to rave reviews.

Underpinned by stylish drummer Dave Hamblett with award-winning vibraphonist Jim Hart and the versatile tenorist/flautist Tori Freestone up front, Ivo Neame's latest crew of seasoned professionals is arguably his best yet" - Jack Massarik, London Evening Standard

" an album of exceptional depth and originality, indubitably enhanced by his choice of such a talented coterie of collaborating musicians" all about jazz

"this sextet including expressive tenor saxist and flautist Tori Freestone and vibraphonist Jim Hart plays eight of Neame's challenging originals in an engagingly laidback manner" the guardian

"It’s a perfect balance of thrills and beauty, thought and brawn. – there’s an approachable immediacy to this music which crosses the jazz generations" jazzwise magazine

"A singular voice and a communal effort from a group of musicians who are shaping the future of British jazz" Irish Times

Compassionate Dictatorship

Described as “catching the current wave of Brit Jazz" by Jazzwise Magazine, Compassionate Dictatorship evolved out of the long standing collaboration between Jez Franks and Tori Freestone.  Together with bassist Jasper Hoiby and drummer James Maddren, they have toured extensively since their debut album in 2007, honing and developing their sound, releasing a second album ‘Cash Cow’ in 2010 to rave reviews.

They released a third album, ‘Entertaining Tyrants’ on the ‘Jellymould Jazz’ label in early 2013 with an extensive tour and gigs throughout the year sponsored by jazz services and the PRS for music foundation.. 

“this is a muscular but intelligent band playing immediately accessible, spirited but carefully wrought music” - Chris Parker, Jazz Review

“this new band is another vital example of UK musicians embracing and incorporating both free jazz and rock elements into an edgy, risk taking approach to their music” - Jazzwise 

For further information visit www.compassionatedictatorship.co.uk

Fringe Magnetic

A 10 piece band led by trumpeter and loop collective member Rory Simmons.  The band has recorded three albums on the loop label and performed at the loop festival, the Elb Jazz Festival (Hamburg), Ronnie Scotts, the Brecon and Cheltenham International Jazz Festival, a live recording for Jazz on 3 and recorded for Radio 2.  The first album was released in 2010 to rave reviews in the national and international press.  The second album 'Twistic' was  released in Feb 2011 achieving 4* reviews in the Guardian and MOJO.  A third album ;Clocca' was released in October 2013.  

Line up: Ivo Neame (piano), Jasper Hoiby (bass), Ben Reynolds (drums), Tori Freestone (flute), James Allsopp (bass clarinet), Robin Finker (clarinet), Kit Massey (violin), Natalie Rosario (cello), Elizabeth Nygarrd (vocals) & Andrew Plummer (vocals).  Also featuring Jamie Cullum as guest vocalist on the second album 'Twistic' and at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Orquesta La Timbala

Tori played electric violin and flute in 13 piece Manchester based Cuban Roots group ‘La Timbala’ working alsongside Cuban and British musicians including Arturo Martinez and Annie Whitehead.  Performances have included the ‘Africa Centre’, ‘National Theatre’, ‘Band on the Wall’, the Manchester and Bradford festivals, as well as dates in Scotland and the Drogheda Festival in Ireland.  Featured on their debut CD ‘Bara y Akina’ in 2000

The band reunited in 2015 for the Manchester Jazz Festival featuring musicians from the UK and Cuba including the great Cuban rumbero, Santiago Garzón Rill, better known as Chaguito.

Jamil Sheriff Big Band - PRS commissioned project performing Jamil's original compositons and showcasing some of the cream of the northern UK music scene. The band have already completed a northern UK tour in the Autumn 2010, and the debut album Ichthyology is to be released in 2011.  

Neil Yates' 'N-Circle' Orchestra - July 2010, Manchester Jazz Festival.

Large ensemble project commissioned for the 2010 MJF originals scheme Neil created a new suite– Surroundings – for full jazz orchestra, exploring the concept of antiphony, with all instruments placed around St Ann's church in Manchester for a ‘surround sound’ effect.. There are further performances and a recording in the pipeline.

Andy Sheppard's 'Saxophone Massive' April 2009 Fuse Leeds Festival '09.
Worked alongside Andy Sheppard as a guest soloist for 'Sax massive' a site-specific saxophone fanfare for Leeds City Museum, composed and led by the UK saxophonist.

Levan J 
Co-writing and recording with DJ/producer Levan J with releases for De Wolfe Music, SFP (USA), Soul Star (Germany), Cool Sound Music (Spain), United (NL) and VI music (Puerto Rico).

Lee Hazelwood @ The Royal Festival Hall August 2004 
Violins/saxophones/flute and backing vocals for country/rock legend Lee Hezlewood as part of the 'Heroes and Villains' Series in one of Lee Hazlewood's last live performances. 

Dave Mannington Septet
Saxes and violin with this contemporary jazz septet, featuring Phil Peskett (piano), Jez Franks (guitar), Carlos Lopez Real (alto sax), Tim Giles (drums) and Trevor Mires (trombone). Performances includind the 606 Jazz Club, the London Jazz Festival and featured on Jazz on 3

Chris Bridges' Spacial Ensemble
Flute, picc, sax, vocals in eight piece band ‘The Chris Bridges Spacial Ensemble’, featuring both London and Manchester based musicians from the free and contemporary music scenes, including John Ellis, John Thorne, Erroll Roberts and Simon Picard.  The group toured the North in October ’98, and were featured in the Manchester Jazz Festival 1999 and the RNCM

The Creative Jazz Orchestra
Flute, alto flute and bass chair for a project with composer Django Bates alongside Ian Dixon, Andy Schofield, Mike Walker, Nikki Isles etc

NYJO
Flute chair in NYJO. Performances included the Barbican, Bournemouth and Leeds Jazz Festivals, tours of the Channel Islands and Portugal, as well as featuring on several albums, and a solo feature and interview for Jazz FM