The past month has been an exciting one, having had the opportunity to work for the first time with three of the UK’s premiere large jazz ensembles: the London Jazz Orchestra, the Mick Collins Modern Jazz Orchestra and the New Delta Big Band. I also had the pleasure of leading the Highgate School Jazz Orchestra in a special performance at the Royal Festival Hall to commemorate their 450th anniversary. Next week (April 27th) I’m looking forward to playing again with the Overground Collective for their first gig of 2015 at The Others.

Currently I’m writing and rehearsing new music for the Coalescence band (Andre Canniere, Ivo Neame, Hannes Riepler, Ryan Trebilcock, Jon Scott) in preparation for a new album recording which will feature special guest Alice Zawadzki. I’ve also been working on a side project with pianist John Turville focusing on and reinterpreting the music of Billy Strayhorn to celebrate the centennial of his birth. We’ll be performing a few select venues across the UK later in the year… Watch out for more news on this!

I need to say a big thanks to Andrea Vicari who is a brilliant pianist and a presenter on Jazz London Radio for playing lots of my music recently on her show… thanks Andrea!

In a few days I’ll be heading to Bremen for the annual jazzahead! conference, one of the most important international jazz trade shows – if you’re there you might find me at the Whirlwind booth.

Next month I’m looking forward to the UK tour and debut album release for Entropi (Dee Byrne, Rebecca Nash, Oli Brice, Matt Fisher, Andre Canniere). The tour will be a collaboration with Quadraceratops. Full dates listed below:

26th May @ SPOTTED DOG, Birmingham

27th May @ LESCAR, Sheffield

29th May @ FUSEBOX, Leeds

31st May @ SPLINTER JAZZ, Newcastle

1st June @ FREEDOM PRINCIPLE, Manchester

5th June @ BEBOP CLUB, Bristol

7th June @ VORTEX,  London

15th June @ OLD SPA INN, Derby

16th June @ DEMPSEY’S, Cardiff

More details on the Gigs page.

Entropi (left to right: Canniere, Fisher, Nash, Brice, Byrne)