Polar Bear

Monday 7th April - Wednesday 9th April
£15.00 - £26.00

Information on Polar Bear

Since the release of their 2005 debut album, Held On The Tips Of Fingers, Polar Bear have consistently placed themselves at the forefront of the cutting edge UK ‘post jazz’ scene. Taking their cue from jazz music and adding elements like the up-front attitude of punk, the vibrant rhythms of rock and the creative soundscapes of dance and electronica, Polar Bear have gained both critical acclaim and legions of fans of a huge number of musical backgrounds. Bandleader and drummer Sebastian Rochford, who also plays with trailblazing groups such as Acoustic Ladyland and Fulborn Teversham, is joined by Pete Wareham and Mark Lockheart on tenor saxes, Tom Herbert on bass and Leafcutter John on electronics.

Supporting for this fantastic double bill of groundbreaking UK jazz is pianist Tom Cawley’s group Curios, who are taking the concept of the piano trio to new heights. Described by Time Out as “state of the art”, Curios draw on everything from classical music to contemporary jazz to create their distinctive, genre busting sound. Three absolutely must-see nights of fiercely inventive music and brand new material from the cream of the new jazz vanguard.

These shows will also introduce a new element to Ronnie’s, with live music and jam sessions being held in the upstairs bar area. Over the course of the nights, there will be performances from three bands chosen by Seb Rochford followed by a jam session with members of the main acts. The bands are as follows: formidable modern jazz from the Will Collier Septet on the 7th, fusion, funk and swing from saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev on the 8th and Z-U’s eclectic improvisation on the 9th.




What The Press Say…
"This is not nu jazz, acid jazz, Jamie jazz, Parky jazz, Brit jazz, beardo jazz, post-jazz or twee jazz. It's dream jazz." Paul Morley, Observer Music Monthly
"The big-hitters of the current new wave" Phil Johnson, Independent On Sunday - ABC
"Polar Bear blast out of the past, full of straight, cool school skills, and detonate the past, bursting with edgy, forward-looking lust." Paul Morley, Observer Music Monthly "
[Polar Bear] explores a mix of trance-like, long-note music over eerie, hypnotic grooves, full-on electronics and free-improv, melancholic songs, punky thrashes and some of the best two-sax conversation to be heard on the current scene." John Fordham, The Guardian
"Polar Bear… snort, shriek and wrestle somewhere ominous and charming between the tumultuous energy of Keith Tippett's 50-piece orchestra Centipede, and the eclecticism of Tortoise" Paul Morley, Observer Music Monthly
"Castanet-like handclaps trigger long, guttural sax lines; electronics fly across the speakers and give way to free-blasting; and odd, pogo-dancing themes over bumpy drumming sound like punk interpretations of Parisian café music." John Fordham, The Guardian
"…a highly creative successor to the equally distinctive Dim Lit" John Fordham, The Guardian "Here's something worth your time. Polar Bear are a significant ripple in the new wave of youthful, ahem, post-jazz". Nick Coleman, Independent On Sunday - ABC
Polar Bear have earned a reputation as one of the most creative acts on the UK music scene. Their raw-boned, dramatic music mixes jazz with an electronic soundscape and a punk sensibility, underpinned by break-beat and rock rhythms. Combined with their compelling contrapuntal melodies and driving energy it's a sound that has already won them critical acclaim and a devoted audience.
Drummer and bandleader Sebastian Rochford, who is as likely to listen to Bjork, Devendra Banhart, Beethoven and Pig Destroyer as he is to Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.
Alongside Sebastian Rochford, Polar Bear is Pete Wareham (tenor sax), Mark Lockheart (tenor sax) and Tom Herbert (bass) Leafcutter John (electronics)
Sebastian Rochford won the 'Rising Star' award at the 2004 BBC Jazz Awards. He also leads Fulborn Teversham and is a member of Acoustic Ladyland and alt-rock band Menlo Park.

http://www.polarbearmusic.com/