Alison Rayner Quintet - new album and UK live dates 2019/20.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
The Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ) will release their new album "Short Stories" on October 25th 2019. They will be touring in extensively in the UK from September 2019 to May 2020. Press release attached
We have received the following press release;
ARQ
PRESENT THE BRAND NEW ALBUM
SHORT STORIES
Released 25th October 2019
ARQ release Short Stories – their 3rd album – in October 2019. ‘ARQ’ are a renowned and widely celebrated group with decades of experience at the forefront of the international jazz scene. Their long list of accolades include winning ‘Ensemble Of The Year’ award at the prestigious 2018 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and the People’s Vote for ‘Best Small Group’ at the 2018 British Jazz Awards. Now they return with a brand new album and an extensive series of UK live dates.
ARQ’s music combines richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-tinged melodies. Along with their love of improvisation, this creates a compelling and coherent whole, creating a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality. ARQ are known for their vibrant, communicative performances, so remaining accessible and appealing to those who appreciate a range of genres.
The new album Short Stories is available in CD, digital and vinyl formats, released on Blow the Fuse Records and distributed by Proper Music.
As Rayner says: ‘My music is allegorical and I write songs without words about experiences, places and feelings. Short Stories was inspired by the sudden losses of three young people within close family and friends. Their stories were too short but through my music I want to celebrate the joy they brought to our lives.’
As the co-founder of artist development partnership ‘Blow The Fuse’, Rayner has promoted jazz events and touring, also producing records on Blow the Fuse Records. Blow the Fuse have played a crucial role in promoting women jazz musicians for over 30 years: their critically acclaimed series in recent years Tomorrow the Moon has providing many emerging women jazz artists with the support, space and opportunity to perform.
Rayner has played on around 30 albums and performed with artists such as American guitar legend Tal Farlow, New York jazz poet Jayne Cortez and UK players such as Jean Toussaint, Ian Shaw and John Etheridge.
ARQ have been awarded funding by both the Arts Council and the PRS Foundation’s Women Make Music Fund, both glowing endorsements and further testament to the quality and ability of the group. Short Stories is an imaginative and accomplished body of work, destined to be enjoyed by jazz and discerning music lovers alike.
2019 Live Dates:
September 29 Albany Empire LONDON
September 30 Ashburton Live DEVON
October 1 St Ives Jazz Club CORNWALL
October 5 NC Jazz NORTHANTS
October 11 Bracknell Jazz Club BERKSHIRE
October 12 Marsden Jazz Festival YORKSHIRE
October 13 Leeds Jazz YORKSHIRE
November 8 Wakefield Jazz Club YORKSHIRE
November 9 The Verdict BRIGHTON
November 15 Kings Place (Jazz Festival Launch) LONDON
December 19 Hemel Hempstead Old Town Hall HERTS
2020:
February 26 Pizza Express Jazz Soho LONDON
March 12 Jazz Coventry MIDLANDS
March 13 Birmingham Jazz Club MIDLANDS
March 14 Shrewsbury Hive SHROPSHIRE
March 31 Liverpool Parr Jazz MERSEYSIDE
April 1 Sheffield Lescar YORKSHIRE
April 2 Nottingham Bonington Theatre NOTTS
April 3 Derby Jazz DERBYSHIRE
May 3 Colchester Arts Centre ESSEX
ARQ are: Alison Rayner (double Bass), Diane McLoughlin (saxophones), Deirdre Cartwright (guitar), Steve Lodder (piano), Buster Birch (drums / percussion).
Short Stories
Recorded by Chris Lewis at Livingston Studio 1, London
Mixed by Chris Lewis
Mastered by Peter Beckmann at TechnologyWorks
Produced by Alison Rayner & Deirdre Cartwright
Released on Blow the Fuse Records BTF1914
Distributed by Proper Music