For this performance a solo piano set from Adam will be followed by sets involving three of his friends from the cutting edge of the London jazz and improvisation scene; baritone sax player Cath Roberts, reeds multi-instrumentalist Tom Ward and double bassist Seth Bennett. An evening of variety, thrilling interplay and surprising sounds is guaranteed!
Adam Fairhall is able to fuse blues, contemporary jazz and improvisation with delectable results. It is a pleasure that he is coming down from Manchester to entertain us.
“A rising star of the piano” – BBC Radio 3, Jazz Line-Up
“There is no jazz code he hasn’t deciphered and mastered” – Manchester Evening News
Adam’s distinctive piano playing has been noted for the diversity of its stylistic reference points; idioms drawn from any period of jazz history may be blended, collided, subverted, hinted at or played completely ‘straight’ in his performances. Despite this playful and often witty approach, Adam’s playing is committed rather than ironic and detached, and reveals a love of piano jazz from ragtime to free.
Adam’s projects as a leader include a duo with sonic artist Paul J Rogers, in which they mix piano performance with electronic processing, samples from early recordings and home-made instruments such as the diddley-bow. They released their debut album, Second-Handed Blues, on ASC Records in 2011 to excellent reviews and Radio 3 airplay, and have performed at notable venues including the Vortex and the Capstone Theatre, Liverpool.