CD Launch: Chris Biscoe & Allison Neale, "Two Of A Mind"

Chris Biscoe has, over the last four decades, built up a reputation as one of the most highly regarded sax players on the UK jazz scene. Featured on more than 50 recordings he is perhaps best known for his alto sax work with the likes of Mike Westbrook and Tony Kofi, but he is also equally adept on clarinet and baritone sax. As a featured baritone saxophonist his angular, compelling, improvisations have been heard with the likes of Hermeto Pascoal, Tony Kinsey, Graham Collier, the New York Composers Orchestra and John Williams’ Baritone Band. And it is on this instrument that he will be featured this evening. Beautifully fluent and inventive on both alto sax and flute, Allison Neale plays in a strongly melodic “West Coast cool jazz” style reminiscent of her main influences Paul Desmond (of Dave Brubeck fame), Art Pepper and Stan Getz. Her brilliant compositions, relaxed tempo and melodic approach provide a fresh insight into modern jazz and her work in groups such as John Dankworth’s Big Band and “Generations” band have established Allison as one of the scene’s leading sax and flute players. Born in Seattle, Washington but raised in Northamptonshire, UK, she has three albums to her name, ‘Melody Express’, ‘Blue Concept’ and ‘I Wished On The Moon’ all well received in the UK and US, showing her broad appeal on both sides of the Atlantic. Tonight Chris and Allison will be launching the CD of their latest, joint, project eponymously entitled "Two of A Mind". The music itself takes its inspiration from the classic quartet albums recorded in the late 1950's and early 1960's featuring two iconic US sax stars, Paul Desmond on alto sax and Gerry Mulligan on baritone. The band derives its name from the latter of those albums and Chris and Allison describe the music as: "Exploring afresh the freewheeling, wonderfully melodic interpretations of standard material recorded more than 50 years ago by Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond...this new band promising to evoke the spirit of these classic recordings while giving free rein to the personalities of the musicians". As well as featuring music and arrangements from the Desmond/Mulligan recordings they will also feature arrangements by the band members of classic jazz standards in the same, highly melodic, flowing style epitomised by the featured soloists both then and now. Following the same example as their predecessors, the quartet for this gig will be augmented by the engagingly fluent and melodic guitarist Colin Oxley (Stacey Kent) for selected numbers. Making up the rest of the band will be the standout rhythm section of Jeremy Brown on bass and Stu Butterfield on drums. This promises to be a beautiful, melodic programme full of subtle surprises and outstanding playing. Highly recommended.

"The first thing to notice about Allison Neale and Chris Biscoe in action is the sheer beauty of the sound they both make, and how well-matched they are...I want to go and hear this again soon...for the pure pleasure of it." LondonJazz News; “Neale...a talent to savour” Jazz UK; "Chris Biscoe's…sophisticated tributes to the jazz giants are always distinctive" The Guardian