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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a full-colour 6-panel digipak card case, photography and design by Julia Lloyd. Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Includes unlimited streaming of August via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Mr Stanley II 06:58
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2.
August 04:04
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3.
Half A World Away 05:33
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4.
Fixing a Hole 05:07
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5.
Vejer De La Frontera 09:35
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6.
Queer Bird 03:48
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7.
Dig Over (thankyoufalettinmefeelfunky) 05:01
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8.
String Theory 07:00
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9.
Elegy for Art 05:21
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10.
Hyperbubble 07:20
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about

A bass-player and composer for almost 40 years, Alison Rayner has brought a personal touch and cool momentum to plenty of bands under other leaders – and graced their repertoires with her own vivacious and lyrical songs, too. Finally she has taken the plunge with her own album, recorded live at London’ Vortex Jazz Club in 2013. This vividly diverse collection embraces elegaic hymns, dancefloor funk with roots in Headhunters or the Brecker Brothers, straightahead jazz swing, the bluesy grooving of Grant Green and the jazz-fusion of Pat Metheny, with a lot more besides. August could hardly represent a sharper reminder to the British jazz world of the breadth and depth of Alison Rayner’s often unsung talents.

A long-time Charlie Haden admirer as well as a Jaco fan, Alison Rayner plays acoustic bass exclusively here, and is supported by the eloquent Diane McLoughlin on saxophones, by Deirdre Cartwright’s soulful and crisply rhythmic guitar, pianist Steve Lodder’s fluid improvisations, and the propulsive drumming of Buster Birch.

It’s a closely-attuned outfit, and Rayner has presented it with a repertoire offering something for everyone - from the spliced swing and street-grooves on the Stanley Clarke dedication Mr Stanley II, to the lustrous jazz ballad of the title, the tussles and accords of Half A World Away, or the swerves from sumptuous tenor-swing to free-improv on the Beatles’ Fixing A Hole - the album’s only cover.

The leader's subtle tone-poetry shapes the Moorish Vejer de la Frontera, the album careers through the jaunty swing, punchy Sly Stone funk, and Methenyesque feel of Queer Bird, Dig Over, and String Theory - and resolves reflectively and then ecstatically with the beautiful funeral hymn Elegy for Art (for Rayner’s late father), and the Ernest Ranglin/Cannonball Adderley-inspired groover Hyperbubble.

It’s taken a while for Alison Rayner the composer to step all the way out of the shadows. But on the strength of this fine album, she might have to get used to the spotlight.

John Fordham May 2014

credits

released October 6, 2014

All tracks written and arranged by Alison Rayner, except Fixing A Hole written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, arranged by Alison Rayner.

Recorded live at the Vortex Jazz Club, London August 2013
Recorded and mastered by Chris Lewis
Mixed in London April-June 2014 by Chris Lewis and Alison Rayner
Photography and design by Julia Lloyd
Produced by Alison Rayner and Deirdre Cartwright

ARQ:
Alison Rayner double bass
Buster Birch drums/percussion
Deirdre Cartwright guitar
Diane McLoughlin saxophones
Steve Lodder piano


I have been really fortunate in spending my life in music; there is nothing I would rather do. I would like to thank:

Jazz Services for financial help with their Recording Subsidy Scheme.

Val Wilmer for finding me my beautiful bass and the late Louis Stephenson for having bought it in 1948 and selling it to me some 40 years later.

All the musicians I have been fortunate enough to work with, be inspired by and learn from over the years, in particular the Guest Stars – Laka, Ruthie, Josefina, Linda, Deirdre and Debbie.

The great musicians who play in my group and who bring my pieces to life – Deirdre, Diane, Buster and Steve – thank you.

My extended family of blood relatives and friends, especially my sister Fran and Terry Hunt with whom started my bass journey in 1976.

Diane McLoughlin for 25 years of wonderful friendship and musical inspiration.

And, it goes without saying, Deirdre Cartwright, my partner in musical crime since the 70s, without whose ideas (some madcap, mostly excellent!), great friendship and support (musical and more) I would never have got this far – by the way, what's our next project?

And finally Jane, for the extraordinary adventure we have embarked upon. Long may it continue...

This album is dedicated to my parents Nesta Henderson White and Arthur Philip Rayner. I wish they were still here so I could give them each a copy.

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ARQ – Alison Rayner Quintet image

ARQ – Alison Rayner Quintet London, UK

ARQ combine richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies, creating a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality.

ARQ play 'songs without words' and are lauded for vibrant, communicative performances.

Winners ‘Ensemble of the Year’ 2018 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
Alison Rayner Winner 2019 The Ivors Academy Composer Award

Website: www.alisonrayner.com ... more

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