TIME: 8.00 – 11.00PM

TICKETS:  £10

PERSONNEL

James Allsopp – Sax/bass clarinet
Steve Buckley – alto sax/bass clarinet
Tom Herbert – acoustic & electric bass
Dave Storey – drums

The James Allsopp Quartet is the new project from the BBC Jazz award winning saxophonist (“perhaps the most gifted British saxophonist of his generation, not to mention the most adaptable.” Underscore music magazine). The band builds on the joyful and haunting melodies that characterise his music and combines them with deep bass riffs and a sense of swing rooted in the jazz tradition but not beholden to it. The band features Steve Buckley (Loose Tubes) on Alto Saxophone and Bass Clarinet, Tom Herbert (Polar Bear) on Acoustic and Electric Bass and rising star Dave Storey on the Drums.

“At the Finch Cafe last night the James Allsopp quartet. It is about 6 weeks since I first saw this band and it just gets better with every performance and gives the impression there is much more to come! Most of the music is written by James and the compositions are memorable and provide excellent frameworks for improvising. James played tenor and bass clarinet and was absolutely outstanding. He is one of the best tenor players on the UK scene and it can only be because he is so self effacing that he does not have a much higher profile. A superb performance. Steve Buckley on alto and bass clarinet completed the front line. Steve is an outstanding musician and tonight soloed brilliantly and the interaction with James was at times ferocious. A great performance from a legendary player. Tom Herbert on electric bass and pedals played great solos and atmospheric effects that were the perfect backdrop to the improvising. Ellington’s Single Petal of a rose’ was particularly effective. Dave Storey seems to have found the perfect environment to display his talent. Last time I thought he played as well as I had ever seen him play, tonight was better.This was an incredible night of music and it is hard to imagine that anything else played last night in London (the opening night if the London Jazz Festival) was comparable. Jazz at its very best!”  – Alan Hayward