Three of the most individual voices in improvised music come together for a trio that promises to be as exciting as it seems to be unlikely. Although they have all made their reputations in quite distinct areas of musical activity, all three of them are driven by an intense curiosity about the sonic possibilities of their chosen instruments and voracious appetites for challenging musical situations.

JOHN BUTCHER

John Butcher is a saxophonist of rare grace and power, who has expanded the vocabulary of the saxophone far beyond the conventions of jazz and other musics, to encompass a staggering range of harmonics, multiphonics, overtones, percussive sounds, and electronic feedback. But his playing is far more than merely an array of special effects; it's characterised by a drive and intensity that propels music into strange new places that are both incredibly beautiful and deeply exhilarating.

“In the hands of London improvisor John Butcher, the saxophone can sound like anything, from a peice of hollowed out brass baubled with pads and valves to a hern metically sealed feedback system, a minature sound enviroment teeming with ever-evolving note forms, or a huge echo chamber inflicting dub scale damage on every breath . . .” - David Keenan, The Wire



STEVE NOBLE (Drums/Percussion)

Steve Noble is London’s leading drummer, a fearless and constantly inventive improviser whose super-precise, ultra-propulsive and hyper-detailed playing has galvanized encounters with Derek Bailey, Matthew Shipp, Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith, Stephen O’Malley, Joe McPhee, Alex Ward, Rhodri Davies and many, many more. <br><br>From playing with Nigerian master drummer Elkan Ogunde ,Rip Rig and Panic ,Brion Gysin and the Bow Gamelan Ensemble, Noble went on to work with the pianist Alex Maguire and with Derek Bailey (including Company Weeks 1987,89 and 90) and was featured (along with Alex Ward) in the TV series based on Baileys book ‘Improvisation; its nature and practise’. He has toured and performed throughout Europe , Africa and America. Currently leads the groups ‘4tet’ - ‘Say What’- ‘Shakedown Club’- ‘Harry Love All Stars’ and a trio with Lol Coxhil / Edwards - he also fills the drum chair in the following groups ; SFQ, Badland , Gannets , Aethenor, Freebase and Tim Hills group Tongues of Fire.

Noble has also been MD for the Spanish dance company MAL PELO since 1998. He also runs the record company PING PONG PRODUCTIONS.

"An engaging mix of jazz time, free–rock and abstract improv , Noble is one of the country’s most creative drummers” (the Guardian)

" If you want to turn some friends on to improvised music take them to see one of Noble’s bands. The chemistry makes for explosive , exhuberant playing, seemingly endless creativity and- shocking though it may seem to some - fun” ! (Phil England ,the Wire)

KAFFE MATTHEWS (Laptop/Electronics/Sampling)

Kaffe Matthews is one of the most active artists on the new electronic music scene, whose surprisingly rare approach exploiting digital gadgets and live performance has resulted in some unique works which transgress any boundary between sound and image. Since 1996 she has been regularly performing all over the world in clubs, galleries, concert halls, tea rooms, boats, warehouses, and the outback! Recently she has collaborated and performed with Sachiko M, Ikue Mori, Marina Rosenfeld, Oren Ambarchi, Christian Fennesz, and is currently working on a new formation of the lappetites with Eliane Radigue, pan-European electronics orchestra MIMEO, weightless animals (a trio with visual artist Mandy McIntosh and Zeena Parkins) and making interactive sonic space cartoons from research at NASA.

“There's an intense logic to Kaffe Matthews’ music, something which sets her apart from so many working in digital improv. It's not so cold as to be mathematical; rather, it’s somehow compassionate - remarkably human.” - Kurt Gottschalk, The Squid's Ear