Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music
Line-up:
Robbie Robson – Trumpet
John Turville – Piano
Hans Koller – Piano
Johnny Brierley – Bass guitar
Tim Giles – Drum kit
About:
Based in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, Dark Circles Recordings has rediscovered and is reissuing an album originally recorded and released in 2008 by Dog Soup, a then London-based quartet that played a handful of gigs and recorded just one exemplary album before, seemingly, disappearing. Fragments, that album, is a crucial chapter in the British jazz story that can now be told again.
The brainchild of trumpeter and composer Robbie Robson, Dog Soup was briefly part of the Loop Collective, a group of musicians founded in London in 2005. Dog Soup cut one mesmerising album of rhythmic shapes and melodic colours that still sounds fresh, exciting and dynamic 17 years later. An intoxicating mix of composed and freely improvised playing, Fragments keeps the listener guessing just where the music is coming from.
“The motivation,” says band leader Robbie Robson, “came about because I wanted it so you would not be able to tell what was improvised and what wasn’t. It’s always nice when something unexpected happens, seeing how that turns out.”
The original quartet consisted of Robson on trumpet, John Turville on electric piano, Tim Giles on drums, and Johnny Brierly on bass, but was augmented to include the second keyboard of Hans Koller. That muscular rhythm section provides a solid foundation for Robson’s trumpet to punctuate and envelop their contributions with layer upon layer of rich and lustrous textures.
From the epic and majestic 19-minute title track, with its exciting gear shifts and surprising turns, to the drum-and-bass-like thrust of Black Mackerel, the album’s high energy and rhythmic density are balanced by moments of space and air—such as on Shimmer, a luxurious balm of aural delight. The interplay among the musicians is delightful, showcasing a deep communication and understanding of each other’s roles and relationships. The bass and drums deliver some serious funk—airtight yet flexible—while the electric piano glistens and glides. The trumpet, often filtered through a variety of effects, provides moments of brilliant light and subtle shade.