A return to OTO for the legendary “improv-Super Group” (Timeout) Bruise. Led by Bass saxophonist Tony Bevan, Bruise has been described as having “a joined at the head, heart and hips, genius, genre-busting line-up” (AllaboutJazz) and “everything that Supersilent would like to be but aren’t” (Timeout). Famed for their soaring, lyrical, epic lunar soundscapes and razor-sharp, off-centre grooves, Bruise “will convert anybody with the sheer intensity of their playing” (Timeout).

Tony Bevan – Soprano, Tenor and Bass Saxophones
Orphy Robinson – Tuned Percussion, Electronics
John Edwards – Bass
Mark Sanders – Drums
Ashley Wales – Electronics

“the most kick-arse electro-acoustic group in Europe” (Timeout)

“Jazz has famously been dubbed "the sound of surprise," but the improvising band Bruise - with their astonishing combination of diverse sounds in one rampaging quintent - truly create the sound of incredulity.” (Morning Star)



TONY BEVAN / Soprano, Tenor and Bass Saxophones

Tony Bevan is an improvising virtuoso on Soprano and Tenor saxophones, but perhaps is best known for his work on the Bass saxophone, on which he is probably Britain’s only major modern performer (“the world’s greatest improvising Bass saxophonist” - Timeout). He is closely linked with the late Derek Bailey, with whom he appeared and recorded many times, as well as with Free Jazz legend Sunny Murray, who, along with Edwards, he has been playing with for more than a decade, releasing a number of award winning recordings and appearing in Antoine Prum’s award winning film “Sunny’s Time Now”. He recently curated with Prum a 3 day festival on British Improvised Music in Berlin, which will be released on film in late 2012, following more filming in the UK in early 2012 . His playing covers all bases from rock group Spiritualised (on whose new album he is a featured soloist) to Classical Avant-Garde composer Luc Ferrari, with the likes of Barre Phillips, Matthew Bourne, Joe Morris, Marc Ribot and Tony Buck of The Necks in between. He runs the Foghorn label.

“Bevan is already a giant of contemporary saxophone” - Point of Departure (U.S.A)

ORPHY ROBINSON / Tuned Percussion, Electronics

Orphy Robinson is one of the major figures of the jazz scene - he has released records on Blue Note and played with Don Cherry, David Murray, Henry Threadgill, Courtney Pine, Jazz Warriors and Andy Shepherd. He has composed for Film and TV- including “In answer to your question” for the Balanescu String Quartet and “ 42 Shades of Black” for Phoenix Dance Theatre,which was performed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

"As the saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter once famously remarked in a 1992 interview with Mel Martin, “The word ‘jazz’ means to me no category”. You would similarly search in vain for a pigeon hole in which to place Black Top #5. An evening of surpassing invention and ambition, there might be a more creative, more engaging and more inspiring gig at this year’s London Jazz Festival. But I somehow doubt it." - The Arts Desk

JOHN EDWARDS

John Edwards' staggering range of techniques and boundless musical imagination have redefined the possibility of the double bass and dramatically expanded its role, whether playing solo or with others. Equally at home with fragile acoustic improvisation or driving free jazz, Edwards is quite deservedly one of the most in demand players of today, and has propelled encounters with Evan Parker, Roscoe Mitchell, Matthew Shipp, Wadada Leo Smith and many more.

"There are those round these parts who posit that free improvisation is a cerebral, sexless art, arguments that are annihilated by the rough structural and timbral shag of this music." - Philip Clark, The Wire

MARK SANDERS / Drums

Mark Sanders has been acclaimed as "the most exciting, original and overwhelmingly powerful drummer alive" (Steve Reynolds, Jazz Corner) and his precise and propulsive drumming has graced projects with, to name but a few, Evan Parker, Jah Wobble, Broadcast, Agusti Fernandez, Christian Marclay, Matthew Shipp, John Butcher, Roswell Rudd, Henry Grimes and Otomo Yoshihde.

"ubiquitous, diverse and constantly creative, drummer Mark Sanders always outdoes himself, whether playing with restraint or erupting like a dynamo." Bruce L Gallenter, Downtown Music Gallery. NY