Blythe Spirits

With Chris Biscoe, saxes and alto clarinet, Chris Batchelor, trumpet, Gary Willcox, drums & Steve Watts, bass. This evening presents a highly authentic jazz group steeped in the improvising traditions of the most creative jazz musicians. Blythe Spirits create improvisations on the music of Arthur Blythe, Ornette Coleman, Fats Waller, Monk and new compositions from these world class musicians. London based jazz collective 'Way Out West' members Chris Biscoe and Gary Willcox invite Chris Batchelor and Steve Watts to join them to create a quartet with collective creativity at its core, each member a band leader and diverse collaborator within the UK Jazz scene. The four improvisers bring fresh ears and minds to this great 20th century music, as well showcasing their own contemporary compositions. Chris Biscoe is well known for his work with George Russell, Mike Westbrook and Hermeto Pascoal and as a bandleader is currently concentrating on Two of a Mind, co-led with Allison Neale. Gary Willcox is a much in demand drummer and his quartet with Steve Main is a regular at Ronnie Scott's club. Chris Batchelor is a founder member of Loose Tubes and leads genre-busting band Pigfoot. Steve Watts came to prominence in Django Bates ‘s Human Chain and has gone on to play with many leading contemporary bands.