LARRY STABBINS / PAUL DUNMALL QUARTET

Larry Stabbins is probably best known for the band Working Week, but before that band's commercial success he was regarded as one of the leading saxophonists on the British Jazz and Improvised music scene. In fact both tonight's saxophonists are closely associated with the late and greatly missed pianist/composer Keith Tippett but in different periods - From the late 60's to the mid 80's Stabbins worked extensively with Tippett playing in Centipede, Ark, Tapestry and the Septet. In 1988 Paul Dunmall founded the groundbreaking band Mujician with Keith, Paul Rogers and Tony Levin who for over 20 years produced some remarkable music.

Larry and Paul know each other well having become friends when they were both living in Bristol in the late 70's and when Larry decided the time was right to start performing again Paul was one of the first people he talked things over with and hence - tonight's gig.

ABOUT LARRY STABBINS

One of the most innovative saxophonists in Britain" - Anthony Wood -The Wire

"Larry Stabbins is a consummate saxophonist who has been at the cutting edge of jazz for much of his career, especially in the field of free improvisation." - Ian Carr -Rough Guide to Jazz

"One of the true greats of British music" - Gilles Peterson BBC Radio 1

"Startlingly good" - Phil Johnson, The Independent On Sunday

Larry Stabbins has had a truly eclectic career, originally establishing a reputation on the forefront of British Jazz and Improvised music working with Keith Tippett, Brotherhood of Breath, Trevor Watt's Moire Music, Louis Moholo's Spirits Rejoice, Elton Dean's Ninesense, Mike Westbrook and Tony Oxley. He was also active on the European scene as a member of several of Peter Brotzmann's bands. Then in the 1980's he formed the band Working Week with guitarist Simon Booth. The band mixed jazz with modish Latin dance rhythms and vocals by singers such as Juliet Roberts, Julie Tippetts, Robert Wyatt and Tracy Thorn. They became a dominating force in the 80s British jazz revival, the movement that made jazz fashionable again, introducing it to a new young audience and instigating a great upsurge in new talent onto the British Jazz Scene. The band toured extensively in Europe and Japan, performing at most of Europe's major Jazz Festivals, recording five albums for Virgin Records.

After Working Week Larry worked with Keith Tippett's Tapestry, in a quartet with Howard Riley Tony Wren and Mark Sanders, Louis Moholo's Dedication Orchestra, Soupsongs playing the music of Robert Wyatt and in Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra. This was followed by "Stonephace"  a project with rave producer and DJ Krzysztof Oktalski,which  featured Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley and bass player Jim Barr. This was followed by "Stonephace Stabbins"  a quintet featuring the brilliant pianist Zoe Rahman.

Since then, to quote Larry "I sometimes feel the need to get away from music and do something else to recharge my batteries, but it always draws me back".

And this Autumn he really is back - with gigs in London with Pat Thomas and Mark Sanders, recording a new project with Adrian Utley, Jim Barr and Seb Rochford and tonight's gig featuring both Larry and the great Paul Dunmall, a meeting of two titans of the saxophone. Don't miss it.