Christoph Gallio

Christoph Gallio (*1957, soprano, alto & c-melody saxophones) is a Swiss saxophone player who will finish his half-year residency in London as a scholarship holder at the end of December 2022. Besides the LONDON IMPROVISERS ORCHESTRA he has played with many musicians from the London scene. Among others with Cath Roberts, Olie Brice, Mark Sanders, James O'Sullivan, Andrew Lisle, Adrian Northover.

Gallio studied saxophone at the Basel Music Academy and with Steve Lacy in Paris. He completed his education with a Master of Arts in trandisciplinarity at the University of the Arts in Zurich. He moves between composed and improvised music. In his younger years he has also performed with goldfish or with dancers. He has played and recorded with Irene Aebi, Irene Schweizer, Urs Voerkel, Mani Neumeier, Fred Frith, Phil Minton, William Parker, Rashied Ali, Tetsu Saitoh, Haco, Peter Kowald, Sven-Åke Johansson, Olaf Rupp, Jan Roder, Oli Steidle, Paula Shokron, Pablo Diaz, among others. He is the leader of the trio DAY & TAXI for over 30 years, currently with Silvan Jeger on bass and Gerry Hemingway on drums. In duo he plays with Markus Eichenberger, Roger Turner, Phil Durrant and Alistair Zaluda.

Mostly he composes for own projects. The newest commission for a composition was by Swiss string trio Mondrian Ensemble with British singer Robin Adams. Gallio has been running his own label PERCASO since 1986. www.gallio.ch

John Edwards

John Edwards grew up in London and started experimenting with the bass guitar before he switched in his twenties to play double bass. He is deeply rooted in the creative free jazz and improvisation genre. Since the 80ties he is as soloist and in many groups and ensembles in Europe active and became one of the most renowned bass players. He played/plays regular for example with Peter Brötzmann, Joe Mc Phee, Phil Minton, Maggie Nichols, Evan Parker, Roscoe Michtell, Louis Moholo-Moholo, Mark Sanders, Caroline Kraabel, John Butcher, Pat Thomas, Irène Schweizer, Hans Koch, Florian Stoffner, Gabriele Mitelli,  John Dikeman.

"I think John Edwards is absolutely remarkable: there’s never been anything like him before, anywhere in jazz." - Richard Williams, The Blue Moment

Mark Sanders

Mark has worked with a host of renowned musicians including Derek Bailey, Henry Grimes, Mathew Shipp, Evan Parker, Roswell Rudd, in duo and quartets with Wadada Leo Smith and trios with Charles Gayle with Sirone and William Parker.

In situations using composition Mark works in a number of projects including Christian Marclay’s Everyday for film and live music and John Butcher’s Tarab Cuts - both projects have performed major festivals throughout Europe and Brazil. He has performed works by guitarist John Coxon in Glasgow and Sydney playing with the Scottish and Sydney Symphony Orchestras. With New York’s ICE Ensemble he has performed John Zorn’s The Tempest in London and at Huddersfield New Music Festival.

Mark also works in the groups of Paul Dunmall including Deep Whole Trio with Paul Rogers, and the ensembles of Sarah Gail Brand, including a long-standing duo. He has a lengthy discography including a solo album, has performed internationally and played at major festivals including, Nickelsdorf, Ulrichsburg, Womad and notably at Glastonbury with legendary saxophonist John Tchicai.

"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

Photo by J.Henriot