Ledley, the duo of saxophonist Chris Williams & trombonist Raph Clarkson, celebrate the release of their self-titled debut record, an absorbing psycho-geographical North London jazz suite on the chronology of the duo’s long friendship, season tickets & shared passionate love for a football club.

The band’s namesake, Tottenham Hotspur and hero player Ledley King is at the centre of this narrative thematic arc. An album that sits in the rich, though particular, company of Mogwai’s 2006 film score for the portrait of French footballer Zinedine Zidane and Will Gregory’s Moog Ensemble orchestration for a film study of Tim Henman. This, however, is less character study of a totemic sporting figure than explorations of where it takes us - ritual, friendship, commitment, glory & struggle, pride in place & one’s roots; a dense meditation on what forms & shapes community. 

We hear the swinging street music of a London township jazz, evoking rehearsal rooms, schools, big bands & community celebrations. Then a landscape of monochrome synth wash; long, processed trombone fades in and dissolves out with the soaring, suspended elegance of melodic alto lines that recall Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen, who has himself explored places of worship & loss. Ledley’s musical voice sits in the lineage of jazz music’s integral position in London's evolving identity and social history. Here, saxophone and trombone bring light and colour to grey match day streets with a knowing nostalgic air and nod towards the football terraces of old. 

This is a powerfully rooted record of place and memory, from specific locations to the in-the-room intimacy & trust of improvising musicians. Moments of joy & uplift counterpoint suspended & unresolved tensions.

Raph is a trombonist, improviser, composer / arranger & workshop leader. His guiding principle is the power in music to form connections in community and collaboration. Raph has an inviting, open spirit and his playing and approach celebrates loved ones, mentors and musical inspirations.

Raph is a noted collaborator, applauded by Adrian Pallant of London Jazz News for his ability to create 'challenging but engaging music' of deep feeling with openness and experimentation. He has collaborated extensively with musicians such as Paul Dunmall, Charlotte Keeffe & Laura Jurd & leads the South African / UK group Equal Spirits.

Since his move to Bristol, Raph has been an active member on the free & improvised music scene forging rich dialogues with among others Matthew Grigg, Luigi Marino, Pete Judge & the South West Improvisers Group

Chris is perhaps best known as a co-composer and integral member of Mercury Prize finalists Led Bib and he continues to forge new ground through highly charged & exploratory projects - both in his own playing and academia. Chris has collaborated and toured with Sarathy Korwar, award-winning clarinettist Arun Ghosh, modal ethnic jazz group Collocutor, London Nuyorican big band New Regency Orchestra as well as being 4 albums in with his own group, the post- jazz whirlpool Let Spin including the agitated punk bass playing of Ruth Goller.

Raph & Chris will present as a duo before being joined by Riaan & Tony for a finale ensemble.

Riaan Vosloo

Riaan is a bassist, arranger & composer with a particular focus in the contemporary jazz world having worked with amongst others Run Logan Run, Matthew Bourne & Bristol super quartet Uphill Game.

As the producer and vital third voice of Ledley’s debut album, Riaan acted as a conduit for a storied, moving & curious soundscape. His omnipresent electronics envelop the music like the cold, glacial movements of tundra field recordings or the 90s urban ambient explorations of Biosphere & Higher Intelligence Agency.

Tonight, Riaan will immerse the audience in noise, drones and a deep exploration of sound using tabletop analog electronics, pedals and samples accompanied by the live improvisatory visual work of Dan Chappell (Cousin Crock).

To open the evening Tony Orrell will present a solo electronic & percussive set of cut & spliced animated video with a playful & abstract, Dadaist & humorous approach. Tony’s freewheelin’ project has echoes of the glitched music of the 1990s & early 2000s in groups such as Wevie Stonder & Lemon Jelly and even the lo-fi pirate radio freedom heard in the collaged history tapes from Death Is Not The End & Derek Bailey’s Domestic Jungle album.

Tony is a wonderfully inventive percussionist & drummer. A celebrated presence amongst the Bristol Jazz scene and was the in-demand house drummer of famed Bedminster jazz pub The Albert. An extensive collaborator, Tony has brought his distinct shuffle to countless collaborations & recordings, including performances with Andy Sheppard, Evan Parker & Elton Dean. His drumming has sparkled on numerous recordings from his Bleyschool trio with Pat Thomas & Dominic Lash to collaborations with Paul Dunmall, Will Gregory & Adrian Utley and even Goldfrapp’s Felt Mountain.

Entry requirements: no age restrictions — Read more — Read less