Sean Fyfe meets acclaimed New York trumpeter Joe Magnarelli.
Details
TIME: 8.00 – 11.00PM
TICKETS: £16
Personnel
Joe Magnarelli – trumpet
Sean Fyfe – piano
Jeremy Brown – bass
Mark Taylor – drums
Magnarelli never sounds pat or predictable. Some of the prominent characteristics of his style include ending a phrase or sequence with a sigh, murmur, or whisper; going from brash to wistful in an instant; subtle changes in dynamics within a single phrase or two; the inclusion of asides and afterthoughts, none of which serve as a distraction or change the direction of the music. Even when he truncates a phrase and unceremoniously moves on, there is no sign of uncertainty or discontinuity. The center always holds. He seldom reaches for protracted climaxes—indeed, destinations are often low-keyed and understated. Whether simple, convoluted, or somewhere in between, his lines always evince a soulfulness that comes across as genuine.
Canadian jazz pianist Sean Fyfe emerges as a distinguished artist with an impressive international footprint. Noteworthy for his collaborative work on acclaimed recordings such as ‘In This Moment’ (2022) and ‘Opening Statement’ (2017) with Sam Kirmayer, as well as ‘Conduit’ (2014) featuring Azar Lawrence with Al McLean, Fyfe recently marked his third record as a bandleader with ‘Follow-Up”, following his releases of ‘Stepping Stones’ (2024) and ‘Late Night’ (2022). A product of the Manhattan School of Music and McGill University, Fyfe refined his skills under the mentorship of pianists Jeremy Manasia, Garry Dial, Andre White, and Joshua Rager. Fyfe has performed alongside acclaimed musicians such as Ralph Moore, Jon Gordon, Greg Abate, Alex Claffy, Joe Farnsworth, Alan Barnes, Dave O’Higgins, Quentin Collins and Alex Garnett. Grounded in the traditions of jazz, some of Fyfe’s influences include Bill Evans and Bobby Timmons, Wynton Kelly, Horace Silver, Bud Powell, Red Garland and Cedar Walton, Fyfe’s artistry resonates with a profound appreciation for the genre’s heritage.
Press / Reviews
All About Jazz – Pierre Giroux:
“★★★★ … In an era when the echoes of jazz legends resonate through the ages, pianist Sean Fyfe emerges as a torchbearer of the hard-bop tradition with his latest release Stepping Stones…”
Papatamus Redux – Abe Goldstien:
“One might say, Cellar Music has a thing for hard bop … Pianist Sean Fyfe is one of them … they pay and play homage to this bygone era…”
Laurent Dussutour:
Canadian, now based in London … Fyfe’s piano playing, somewhere between the fervor of Wynton Kelly and the swinging impressionism of Bill Evans … offers his bandmates cues for nuance and intensity…”
In 1995 UK drummer Mark Taylor moved to New York at the invitation of US musician Lew Tabackin and ended up staying for more than 25 years! In a long and impressive career his powerful, swinging, playing has been heard alongside the likes of Joe Henderson, Ronnie Scott, George Coleman, Chet Baker, Roy Hargrove, Woody Shaw, Geoff Keezer, Mulgrew Miller, Monty Alexander, Billy Eckstine & Anita O’Day…and you don’t get to play with a team of iconic musicians like that unless you are very, very, good!
Jeremy is one of the foremost Bass players on the UK Jazz scene, a member for 10 years with Peter King’s quartet then regularly with British Jazz greats such as Stan Tracey , Bobby Wellins , Bill Le Sage and Irish Guitarist Louis Stewart as well as working and recording with his peers. Jeremy has recorded with numerous UK jazz artists including Gerard Prescencer , Julian Siegel , Anita Wardell, Kate Williams , Dave O’Higgins, Claire Martin, Zoe Rahman, Christine Tobin, Chris Garrick and Rob Barron.
He continues to be a sought after bass player to form part of the rhythm section to back visiting US soloists and has performed in the UK and Europe with many artists including Brad Melhdau , Art Farmer, Deborah Brown, Larry Willis, Jon Hendricks, Benny Golson, Red Holloway, Johnny Griffin, Mark Turner, Jesse Norman, Bruce Barth and Charles McPherson. Jeremy was fortunate enough to record with Charles McPherson in Barcelona in 2015 during a short tour of Spain.
In the mid nineties Jeremy became involved in a project conceived by conducted arranger John Wilson which eventually evolved into the John Wilson Orchestra . The orchestra has had great success and is known for recreating faithfully the golden era of the Hollywood film industry. The orchestra is a regular fixture at the BBC proms and has recorded three albums for EMI. Jeremy is a founding member of this orchestra and appears on all of Wilson’s recordings to date.
Currently a member of the BBC big band, Jeremy enjoys many concerts with visiting artists such as Phil Woods, Joe Lovano, Lalo Shifrin, Bud Shank, Sammy Nestico, Eliane Alias and Bob Brookmeyer. As well as playing Bass for the Skelton Skinner All Stars, Jeremy also plays for the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and was recently asked to be part of an all-star band to back trumpeter Bobby Shew at Ronnie Scott’s.