Theo Travis (Gong/Soft Machine Legacy): album/tour

Press release…...press release…..press release…...press release…..press release

 

 

Theo Travis  Double Talk (33jazz166)

 

 

Double Talk is a brand new CD on by British saxophonist, flautist, composer and improviser Theo Travis. It is his eighth solo album. It is released on 33 Records on 1 November 2007 in time for his UK tour.

 

The CD features Travis on tenor and soprano saxes, wah-wah sax, flute, alto flute and clarinets. Over eight tracks Travis demonstrates his broad ranging music featuring his exciting new band as well as a very special guest – the legendary King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp- who appears on three tracks (and co-wrote one). At the centre of the band sound is the soulful hammond organ of Pete Whittaker (The Wonderstuff/Jim Mullen). On guitar is the latest wunderkind on the UK scene Mike Outram (Herbie Mann/ Martin Taylor/Stan Sulzman/Grooveyard) The band also includes the subtle drums and percussion of Roy Dodds  (Christine Tobin/Eddie Reader/Kirsty McCall) a master of light and shade.

 

The music is influenced by Theo’s former collaborators Palle Mikkelborg, Soft Machine Legacy and Gong as well as by late 1960s British psychadelia, the Blue Note label and progressive jazz.  The music starts from melody, but is bluesy and atmospheric incorporating multi-layers of flutes and saxes improvised live using Travis’ unique system of ambitronics.  On tracks like the epic Oblivionville and The Endless Search, Travis’ layered flutes and clarinets blend perfectly with the guitar soundscapes of Robert Fripp. There is one cover version - the Syd Barrett/ Pink Floyd classic See Emily Play.

 

Equally acclaimed in straight-ahead jazz settings, progressive rock bands and experimental ambient music, Theo Travis has an international reputation as one of the brightest and most individual stars on the contemporary British jazz scene. Having replaced Elton Dean in the Soft Machine Legacy in 2006, he has made a major contribution to the band touring with them all over the world, and in fact is the main writer for the band’s new and much acclaimed CD Steam.  His many musical interests come together in this distinctive new project. Described on BBC Radio 2 as "One of the very best young tenor saxophonists of this or any other jazz generation in Britain”, he has appeared on over 75 albums and played at Ronnie Scott’s in London over 70 times as leader of his quartet. He has also worked with Gong (2 DVDs, 3 CDs and over 125 concerts!), Robert Fripp, Palle Mikkelborg, Porcupine Tree, Hatfield and the North, Bill Nelson, The Tangent,  David Sylvian/ Nine Horses, Anja Garbarek, No Man, Slim Gaillard, Tony Coe, Jah Wobble, Alex Balanescu, John Etheridge and Harold Budd. Theo Travis tours the UK regularly, has taken his jazz quartet up to the remotest corners of the Scottish Highlands more than once (including gigs on Iona, Mull and Skye) and has performed at festivals in Japan, America, Italy, Norway, Israel, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. He is also one of Britain’s top straight-ahead jazz tenor saxophonists often appearing with local rhythm sections around the UK playing hard swinging classic jazz.

 

 

“Travis’ tenor sax solo bordered on the superhuman in its barely contained passion, its virtuosity and its flow of ideas”             BBC Music Magazine

 

“A young melodic saxist, who while mainstream, is unafraid of experimentation”

The Independent

 

 

 

 

“A brave and restless talent to watch for “  MOJO

 

“Theo’s powerful bluesy sax playing should be enough to convince that he’s certainly one of the most intelligently accessible players around”   Venue

 

“Travis’ Getzian tone and lyricism are much in evidence…his tenor sound is ineffably tender and expressive”    The Rough Guide to Jazz

 

“Travis own brand of propulsive modal jazz is mixed with Brian Eno-ish ambient soundscapes, late era Miles Davis grooves and freaky, highly textured psychedelic wig-outs”               Time Out

 

 

Following immediately from touring the UK and Europe as featured soloist with the  singer/composer David Sylvian (September 2007), and the Soft Machine Legacy with Etheridge, Hopper and Marshall (October 2007) Theo be touring the UK with the Double Talk band (Pete Whittaker, Mike Outram, Roy Dodds) as follows-

 

 

2007
Thurs 1 Nov    Manchester -  Matt and Phreds, Oldham St (0161 831 7002)

Sun 4  (1pm)   Rochester -  Eagle Tavern, 124 High St  (01787 211865)       
Mon 19 Nov     Bideford – Beaver Arms, 85 Irsha St, Appledore  (01237 421065)
Tues 20  Nov   St Ives  -  Jazz Club, Western Hotel, Royal Sq  (01736 798061) 
Weds 21 Nov  St Austell – Brewery Visitors Centre Trevarthian Road (01726 879500)
Fri 23 Nov        Halifax - Dean Clough  (01422 255266)   
Sat 24 Nov      Hovingham, N. Yorks - The Shed (01653 668494)

Tues 27 Nov    Newcastle – Schmazz at the Cluny (0191 272 1929)
Weds 5 Dec   London  - Pizza Express, Dean St W1 (020 7734 3220)  CD Launch

Thurs 6 Dec    Nottingham  - Bonnington Theatre, Arnold (0115 9560733)
Fri 7 Dec         Boxford – The Fleece   (01787 211865)       
Sun 9 Dec       London  - Arts Depot , North Finchley N12   (020 8369 5454)   
Thurs13 Dec   Kendal-  Brewery Arts Centre, Highgate  (01539 725133)  
 Sun 16 Dec    Lichfield Arts - Guildhall (01543 262223)  
 

2008

Thur 10 Jan     Norwich – Arts Centre,  51 St. Benedicts St  (01603 660352)

Sat 12 Jan       Bishops Caundle, Somerset – The White Hart

Sun 13 Jan      Bristol – The Albert Inn, Bedminster
Fri 25  Jan       Mold, N. Wales  - Theatre Clwyd   

Sat  2 Feb       Maidstone - Pizza Express , 32 Earl St  (01622 683549)

 

 

For more information and high res’ photos see www.theotravis.com  

Hear clips from Double Talk at www.myspace.com/theotravis

 

For further info - Tel 07779 664802 / 020 8349 3059

[email protected]

 

 

33 Records – [email protected]

www.33jazz.com

65- 67 Bute St, Luton, Beds, LU1 2EY

01582 419584

 

I guess you'll enjoy his last solo Earth To Ether (same record  label as the new one) . Richard Sinclair does guest vocals on three tracks (and some British critics were raving over SInclair's contributions). Travis's quartet doing an inspired Brubeck Quartet-like cover of 21st Century Schizoid Man, has become a favourite, stand up to many plays.  Travis has also done a album with bass maestro Steve Lawson,  For The Love Of Open Spaces, is a collection of improvised live-in-the-studio duets, using real time looping to build layers of sound which the Penguin Guide To Jazz On CD described as 'Luciously Beautiful'.