Doors 7:00 PM, Music 7:30 PM – 1 set of music
Ends 20:45
Line-up:
Orlando le Fleming – Double bass
Tom Cawley – Piano
James Maddren – Drum kit
About
Photo Credit: Minna Hatinen
“Outstanding” is an overused description but one that’s applied to bassist Orlando le Fleming so consistently that its justification can’t be denied. While living in New York he brought his inimitable personality to work on projects for the likes of Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Antonio Sanchez, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Bill Charlap, Billy Cobham, Kevin Hays, Wayne Krantz, Jimmy Cobb, Ari Hoenig, Seamus Blake, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Leslie Odom Jr, Mark Turner and David Sanchez among many others.
As a leader he shines even brighter — his drum-less OWL Trio (with long time associates Will Vinson and Lage Lund) gained plaudits across the board for its hushed, intimate atmosphere. Downbeat declared “Everything about this album, is a resounding success. The music swings effortlessly, every utterance is gorgeous and the recording is intimate and beautiful.”
Other notable releases by Orlando include an Owl Trio record featuring the virtuoso vocalist, Kurt Elling and in 2022 he teamed up with jazz legends Mark Turner and Jeff “Tain” Watts for the collaborative standards album Misterioso. In 2024 Orlando released Wandering Talk, the third album of his Romantic Funk project, born from residencies in New York’s legendary 55 Bar. This latest album includes London friends James Maddren and Tom Cawley with a surprise cameo from Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Now relocated back in the UK, he balances his own projects while maintaining a busy touring schedule for international artists such as Shai Maestro, Lage Lund and Walter Smith. Orlando has also built up a worldwide network of bass students through his teaching, augmented by the release of his book Get It Together.
His new trio is a paring down of the Romantic Funk project, focusing on the softer acoustic side, performing original music and beautiful renditions of standards shrouded in subtle rhythmic shifts.
Orlando will also be giving a bass masterclass at the Vortex from 2:30-5pm on Oct 10. To purchase tickets for that head over to https://www.orlandolefleming.com/bassmasterclass
“ Mr le Fleming serves as the band’s grounding force” NY Times
“A deep-toned walker with an impeccable sense of time” Jazz Times
“Superb… a fresh mix of energy, intelligence and groove.”
★★★★★ Jazz’n’More
“An outstanding bassist takes a turn towards muscular fusion.” WBGO
“Le Fleming’s compositions change texture, tempo and mood, conjoining narrative twists into an overarching form” Financial Times
“Raw, exciting, authentic and vital.”
★★★★ The Jazz Mann