 |
1 | i | 19:33 |
| 2 | ii | 11:24 | |
| 3 | iii | 26:43 | |
| 4 | iv | 6:18 |
A vital, utterly cathartic set from the trio of Camila Nebbia (saxophone), Andrew Lisle (drums) and Caius Williams (double bass) recorded at OTO in April 2025.
Convened as a group at short notice, after pianist Kit Downes had to pull out of the original line-up alongside Camila Nebbia and Andrew Lisle, the trio nevertheless display the kind of instant symbiosis that feels honed over many years. Nebbia’s playing doesn’t let up for a second, showcasing her astonishing range on the saxophone from deeply sonorous exhalations, to delicate textural work, to a full-throated caterwauling that pins you back in your seat. Andrew Lisle’s highly dextrous, intricate drumming spans the whole gamut from skirring, scampering percussive clusters to the kind of forceful, unruly assail that borders on the rambunctious. And beneath it all, Caius Williams demonstrates exactly why he’s one of the most in demand bassists working today; crafting seeking, probing lines that provide the foundations whilst tipping the entire structure above off into new directions at the same time.
The three of them cover a huge amount of ground, ricocheting from skittering downhill runs to a sort to bruising melodicism, to the kind of gleeful clatter that would have had Ayler sitting up. When all three get going it’s the kind of jubilant cacophony that can’t help but lift you off your feet, and in places it really swings, albeit the kind of swing that might require a swift trip to the chiropractor afterwards.
The sheer, unbridled energy on display here might sometimes leave you gasping for breath, but this is no one-note onslaught. At times the trio pull it down so low you could almost here a Kernel bottle-top drop, with scattered harmonic notes weaving in and out of a raft of sighing, sloughing cymbals, the bass drawing out the atmospherics from down low. By the end, it's clear that the three of them have left nothing in the tank. Here's hoping it's not long before we see them back here.
--
Recorded by Rory Salter
Mixed and mastered by Andrew Lisle
Camila Nebbia from Buenos Aires, based in Berlin, is a saxophone player, composer, improviser, visual artist and curator. Described by Jazz PT magazine as “an essential saxophonist of our time”. The multidisciplinary artist layers her practice through the creation and destruction of archival memory, exploring the concepts of identity, migration, and memory. Her work includes improvised and composed music, film creation, and audiovisual performances, forming a constellation of interconnected practices.
Her solo album –'una ofrenda a la ausencia' (an offering to absence) with Relative Pitch Records– was described by the NYC Jazz Record as an 'innately human and personal album, surprising listeners with a passionate approach to jazz'.
She has performed with artists such as Marilyn Crispell, Michael Formanek, Angelica Sanchez, Lesley Mok, Kit Downes, Andrew Lisle, Chris Corsano, John Edwards, and Hamid Drake, among many others.
Co-funder together with Maria Grand and Marta Sanchez of the independent record label Lilaila. Co-curator of the interdisciplinary festival “Guillotina'' in Buenos Aires, and curator of the streaming concert series called “A door in the mountain”. Curates the series “Disfigured Rivers” based in Berlin and its part of the curatorial team of the experimental music series Future Bash Reloaded & Luisen105.
Part of her current projects are: Nebbia/Downes/Lisle "Exhaust" with Kit Downes & Andrew Lisle, Camila Nebbia & Angelica Sanchez Duo, Camila Nebbia solo, Nebbia Formaneck Sperrazza trio with Vinnie Sperrazza & Michael Formanek, Camila Nebbia's The Hanged One sextet, "Presencia" with James Banner and Max Andrzejewski, among others. Was nominated for the German Jazz Prize Woodwind category 2024, 2025 & 2026 and Album of the Year category 2026.
Camila Nebbia is endorsed by D'Addario Woodwinds.
https://camilanebbia.com/
https://camilanebbia.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lamujerparecidaami/
Andrew Lisle, born and raised in Northumberland (UK) but now based in London, is a multi-directional drummer, and composer. His quick and highly textural playing filled with rhythmic complexity makes him a highly in-demand member of the fertile jazz & improvised music community. In turns both propulsive and abstract, Lisle has worked with many of the leading voices on the UK and European improvised music scene, including: Kit Downes, John Edwards, Alex Ward, Camila Nebbia, Charlotte Keeffe, Tom Challenger, Ab Baars, Rodrigo Amado, John Dikeman, Colin Webster, and many more. He performs at notable venues including: Cafe oto, and Vortex (London); KM28 (Berlin), Bimhuis (Amsterdam), De Singer (Belgium), Galeria Zé Dos Bois (Lisbon); and festivals such as London Jazz Festival, Jazzfest Berlin, Freejazzfestival Saarbrucken, Jazz Jantar (Poland), to name a few. His most active projects currently are: Exhaust (feat. Camila Nebbia, Kit Downes), Multi-directional (feat. John Edwards, Kit Downes), Kit Downes SNAP, KODIAN Trio (feat. Colin Webster, Dirk Serries), Ab Baars/Aaron Lumley/Andrew Lisle, and Tom Challenger/Caius Williams/Andrew Lisle.
Caius Williams is a musician from London who plays the double bass, guitar, and bass guitar. He works in collaboration with others, alongside an ongoing solo project, and often works with improvisation.
Some projects include ‘Crosspiece’ (with Theodora Laird), a duo with guitarist Tara Cunningham, alongside recent performances or collaborations with
Lifetones (Charles Bullen of This Heat), Steve Noble, feeo, Daniel O’Sullivan, Mark Sanders, Sachiko M, Tom Challenger, Maggie Nicols, Mark Wastell, amongst others.
Caius has been running the GRAIN series at Avalon Cafe in Bermondsey for the last 3 years, which is focussed on programming new and adventurous music and nurturing a growing community with cross-scene and cross-generational collaboration.
https://caiuswilliams.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.instagram.com/caiuswilliams_
https://www.youtube.com/@GrainResidency
