Thursday 16th July 2015
‘With her big warm acoustic sound, faultless time, tuning and taste and creative solo ability, she clearly belongs in the front rank of contemporary bassists’ - Digby Fairweather
Bass player, composer and band leader, Alison Rayner has been playing jazz and other styles of music since the mid-70s.
She toured the world in the 80’s with the critically acclaimed jazz-latin group The Guest Stars, before forming her own jazz quartet. “The music I write is informed by what I grew up with – 60s soul and Tamla Motown; British rock and pop; European art music; my discovery of jazz-rock in the 70s followed by be-bop; then the influence of African and Latin musicians on the 80s jazz scene. I love great grooves, beautiful melodies and the wonderful freedom of improvisation. Most of the set is my own original writing but there are a few choice arrangements of other composers’ music”
The ARQ lineup is terrific, featuring pianist Steve Lodder (Andy Shepherd, George Russell, John Harle); guitarist Deirdre Cartwright (The Guest Stars and BBC TV’s Rockschool programme); Diane McLoughlin a consummate saxophone player (Giant Steppes Orchestra) and drummer Buster Birch bringing his huge range of experience including jazz, orchestral and world music with great improvisational skill and flair.