Cd Launch: Zhenya Strigalev's 'Never Group' Feat. Michael Janisch, Marc Ayza & Heidi Vogel

Tonight we present the launch of wonderful Russian-born saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev's latest CD "Never Group", just released on Whirlwind Records. A native of St Petersburg, Zhenya won a full scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music, graduating in 2007. Since then this award-winning saxophonist has established himself as one of Europe's leading young jazz musicians, worked extensively both in the UK, mainland Europe and the US. One of the rising stars of the European jazz scene Zhenya is fast building a reputation on both sides of the Atlantic for his exhilarating take on contemporary jazz. His live shows have been described as "exciting and uniquely eccentric" (in a good way!) and after headlining around Europe with sold out shows at Porgy & Bess in Vienna and Ronnie Scott’s in Soho he brings his powerhouse trio, featuring the extraordinary US bassist Michael Janisch (Joe Lovano, Miguel Zenon, Gary Husband) and first-call Spanish drummer Marc Ayza (Jason Linder, Greg Osby) to the Club. He describes the music as "blending the lines between jazz, funk, rock, electronica and improv in a genre mish-mash of high calibre interplay and raw emotion". Sounds good! And to add some extra flavour to this already heady brew, Zhenya has invited award-winning singer Heidi Vogel (The Cinematic Orchestra) down to join the band on some selected numbers. A stalwart of the Jazz, Groove and Hip-hop scene, Heidi's powerful, soul-filled vocals should be the perfect foil for Zhenya's imaginative sax lines. Zhenya's searing, fluent and incisive playing has been featured with numerous high profile bands here at the Club and it is with great pleasure that we welcome him back to launch his latest CD this evening.

"Strigalev...fast and furious, tender and emotional and a whole lot of fun too" Jazzwise; "As a composer and arranger, Strigalev subverts the roles of soloist and rhythm section but it's his sax playing that lingers." Evening Standard; "...saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev...a leading figure on the UK scene" Jazz FM; "A typical Strigalev collision of hip jazz virtuosity and surrealism... Strigalev's alto displays bebop agility, shivery lyricism, or sometimes a bluesy Ornetteish swerve." Guardian; "Strigalev's group could well be the next big thing in jazz" All About Jazz; "His playing has a mastery which puts him right at jazz’s heart." Telegraph; “Heidi Vogel....surely one of the great jazz voices of modern times” Vamos-London