Jazz: Matt Anderson Quartet

Matt Anderson – tenor and soprano sax, Alberto Palau Garcera – piano, Will Harris – bass, Jay Davis – drums

London-based saxophonist and Dankworth Prize-winning composer Matt Anderson presents his third album, The Town and the City, which follows 2018’s Rambling also by this long-running quartet. The title refers in part to the diverse influences on the music, such as from the whole spectrum of the jazz tradition and various rhythmic traditions from around the world, but also more pastoral, spacious and folk-influenced sounds. This reflects Matt’s upbringing in the rural North Yorkshire Moors juxtaposed with his love of jazz and experience of living in the urban melting pot of London, which is also where this band was formed.

“a work that focuses on the band’s musicianship and the strength of the compositions, while a real sense of spontaneity and enjoyment pervades the recording… Anderson’s tenor saxophone tone is rich and warm” – Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz

Alberto Palau is an immensely talented pianist from Valencia, Spain. Now based in London, his experiences living in Boston and New York and working with artists such as Perico Sambeat and Charles McPherson make him much in-demand from leading British musicians. Jay Davis is one of the busiest drummers on the London scene, featuring for example in the Alex Hitchcock Quintet, Big Bad Wolf and his own group BadTrad. Will Harris’ remarkable bass playing has put him in high demand in the South-West where he has been based for many years, and after spending time in London he has become an increasingly popular choice of bassist in the capital as well.