Gary Husband’s Force Majeure Tour Dates

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The Agency Group International

Media Release

GARY HUSBAND’S FORCE MAJEURE

National Tour:  26th February - 8th March 2005

Following the resounding success of the Contemporary Music Network and BBC Radio 3 commissioned UK tour which premiered in March 2004,  Gary Husband’s Force Majeure is returning by public demand, one year on, to perform a further series of concerts on stages across the UK.

One of the most captivating and electrifying drummer/pianist/composer and arrangers in contemporary music today, Gary Husband leads an extraordinary handpicked all-star cast of some of the world's most distinctive, creative and ground-breaking musicians through an unforgettable performance of original music. 

Performers:  Gary Husband (drums/piano) / Randy Brecker (trumpet) / Jerry Goodman (electric violin) / Jim Beard (keyboards) / Elliot Mason (trombone/bass trumpet) / Matthew Garrison (bass) / Arto Tunçboyaciyan (percussion).

Known throughout the world as a first-rate drummer, working with artists as diverse as Jack Bruce, Billy Cobham, Allan Holdsworth, Level 42, Gary Moore, Jimmy Nail, and Andy Summers, Gary Husband’s solo recordings reveal him to be a pianist, composer and bandleader of outstanding merit and one who knows no musical boundaries.  This tour profiles this exceptional ability with original compositions alongside unexpected and innovative interpretations of Burt Bacharach, Björk and John McLaughlin, representing an opportunity for Gary to express what is at the very heart of his creativity and to reach new heights in his quest for an original and genre-defying sound.  The BBC Radio 3 Jazz on 3 commission comprises a suite of music inspired by magnificent architectural structures and with its unusual instrumentation provides great scope for exploring new sounds and textures, conveying the composer’s passion for harmony and form as well as the influences of musical visionaries from Stravinsky, Fauré and Tippett through to Stan Kenton, Miles Davis and Joe Zawinul.  Force Majeure provides all the elements required to exploit not only Gary’s own full creative potential but also that of the illustrious ensemble he has brought together especially for this project, each an original musical force in their own right

Each member of this exceptional line-up has been hand-picked for their own commitment for breaking new ground and refusal to being affiliated to any one genre.  One coup is that this band is the first to bring violinist Jerry Goodman back to the British stage since 1973 where he appeared as one of the original members of John McLaughlin’s influential jazz/rock fusion band Mahavishnu Orchestra.  There Goodman used his violin to create phrasings and sonorities previously associated with the electric guitar, which he has since expanded to create a dynamic and aggressive style that fuses rock with classical.  The fact that star trumpeter Randy Brecker sounds like no-one else also made him a dream choice for this line-up.  A highly versatile player, Randy has been shaping the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for more than three decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Chaka Khan, George Benson and Parliament-Funkadelics to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, David Sanborn, Horace Silver, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa. Randy teamed up with his brother Michael first in the band Dreams and then famously in the popular funk-orientated Brecker Brothers during the 70s and again with a much-heralded reunion in the 90s.  Joining Force Majeure on bass is Matt Garrison, the son of John Coltrane’s bassist Jimmy Garrison, who has also made a name for himself as a superb player, performing and recording with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Joe Zawinul, Joni Mitchell and producing his own solo recordings for his label GarrisonJazz Productions. 

Iconoclastic keyboardist Jim Beard has played and recorded with Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Mike Stern as well as being an accomplished composer, arranger and producer presiding over recordings for Michael and Randy Brecker, Bill Evans and Victor Bailey.  Armenian percussionist Arto Tunçboyaciyan has strong ties with his musical heritage, although his music also reflects the multicultural influences to which he has been exposed since emigrating to the US in 1981. Having worked with leading jazz and world musicians Arto also performs across the world with his newly formed Armenian Navy Band.  British rising star, Elliot Mason joins this stunning group on trombone and bass trumpet.

John McLaughlin describes Gary Husband as “a musician whom I have known and admired for many years, not only for his wizardry at the piano, but for his artistry on the drums.  Immense musical talent.”  High praise indeed but no rarity from Gary’s contemporaries and critics who have cited him as a “genius”, “an amazing talent”, “a musician at the height of his powers”, “an original”…  A diverse talent from the word go, Gary studied classical piano under Fanny Waterman, playing with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and undertaking cabaret work with the likes of Lulu and Matt Monro in the early years of his career.  Since this time Gary has inhabited a number of musical worlds and built up a hugely impressive biography.  Establishing a partnership with Allan Holdsworth in the late 70s, he formed another long term association in the 80s as drummer, writer and keyboardist with Level 42 with whom he still tours extensively.  Gary has also led his own groups worldwide and has made a number of acclaimed recordings including his latest CD Aspire (Jazzizit) featuring Billy Cobham, Christine Tobin, Mark King, Hamish Stewart and others. A live DVD from his last tour Gary Husband’s Force Majeure - Live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (RSJ Groove Productions) is scheduled for release to coincide with the forthcoming tour.

Tour dates and info:

Saturday 26th February                                               MILTON KEYNES The Stables

                                                                               01908 280 280800, www.stables.org

Sunday 27th February                                                 NOTTINGHAM Nottingham Arts Theatre

                                                                               0115 947 6096, www.artstheatre.org.uk

Monday 28th February - Saturday 5th March         LONDON Ronnie Scott’s

                                                                                           020 7439 0747, www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Sunday 6th March                                                         GAINSBOROUGH The Sands

                                                                                           01427 811118, www.the-sands.co.uk

Monday 7th March                                                        MANCHESTER Life Café

                                                                                           0161 833 3000, www.lifecafe.info

Tuesday 8th March                                                        GATESHEAD The Sage

                                                                                           0870 703 4555, www.thesagegateshead.org

Useful websites: 

 www.garyhusband.com, www.randybrecker.com, www.garrisonjazz.com

Press Quotes (from 2004 tour):

[Husband] used his drums to propel the band to one thunderous groove. The resulting explosion of musicianship was flabbergasting, and it had the crowd baying as if they were at a rock gig.

The Guardian Newspaper

The quality of [Husband's] writing, and his all-stars’ inspired response to it, produced a performance that ranks among the year’s best. 

London Evening Standard Newspaper

Husband was always at the very heart of the music. It was a powerful and passionate performance from one of the major forces in contemporary music today.

 Jazz UK Magazine