Southbound

This debut album from improvising quartet Southbound showcases their individual, mature sound. The record is spacious, yet never dull, inventive and explorative but always melodic. Improvised and composed elements sit naturally side by side, and highlight the group's instinctive musical style.

Sharing a love of the both the classical and jazz traditions, this bassless quartet are continually surprising - at one moment unboundedly explorative, and the next powerfully grounded. The four musicians combine classical subtleties with the creative energy of contemporary jazz.

With a compositional assurance and pianissimo control that makes clear their classical influence, Southbound draw on the angular melodies of Tim Berne, and are driven by the constant creativity that marks out US composer / trumpeter Dave Douglas. Recent gigs have included capacity shows at jazz festivals in Manchester, London and Kongsberg (Norway) as well as a broadcast for BBC Radio 3's Jazz Line Up from the Southport Jazz Festival.

Personnel: Jack Davies (trumpet), Rob Cope (tenor saxophone), Tom Taylor (piano), Jon Ormston (drums)