JULIAN SIEGEL QUARTET 'Close Up' 2008

The Julian Siegel Quartet has had a major impact on the UK jazz scene since the release of the debut album - 'Close-up' (SoundCD1001) in the autumn of 2002. Working a fluent bebop intensity into a fresh modern sound, Julian has established himself as both a remarkable writer and a powerful player on the European Scene. He has just been awarded the BBC Jazz Award 2007 for Best Instrumentalist. Julian has toured with bands led by Hermeto Pascoal and Andrew Hill and he continues to be involved with the most influential British jazz groups of the day, including those of Django Bates and John Taylor, he co-leads the influential quartet 'Partisans' with Guitarist Phil Robson and in 2007 toured with The Julian Siegel Trio with U.S. Improvising stars Joey Baron and Greg Cohen. Here, Siegel has chosen to work with the current generation's most distinctive voices to create a quartet that is becoming one of the most in demand acoustic quartets on the current jazz scene.

'If this gig was anything to go by, then jazz lovers in a few towns can expect to be breathless as they leave their local venue. It was a stunning show. ' Paul Gardner, Bedford Jazz, September 2002

"Entirely distinctive and very original." The Observer

Julian Siegel

Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet

"Approaches the depth and sensitivity of a Wayne Shorter or Stan Getz." Straight No Chaser

"That lissom, free -wheeling saxophonist" John Fordham, The Guardian

"Great imagination" Billy Hart

"Siegel's wailing, swerving lines burst with character." John Fordham, The Guardian

Liam Noble Piano

 (Romance Among the Fishes Band w.Phil Robson/Tom Rainey/Drew Gress, Liam Noble Quintet + Stan Sulzmann and Chris Biscoe, Randy Brecker, Harry Beckett, Tim Whitehead, Bobby Wellins Quartet,, Moondog)

"...a brilliant pianist...who hardly plays a solo without at least one turn of phrase that brings you to the edge of your seat" John Fordham, The Guardian www.liamnoble.co.uk

Oli Hayhurst Double Bass

Zoe Rahman,Tim Whitehead, Respectable Groove, Reem Kelani, Parallelogram and Mandorla. He has also backed artists as diverse as Vanessa Mae, Bill McHenry, John Parricelli, Maria Ewing, Jim Mullen, Patrizio Buanne, Melanie C, Cara Dillon, Martin Speake, Bobby Wellins.

"Hayhurst's probing and technically virtuoso playing was for me the highlight of the evening."
Daily Telegraph, 16th April 2007

“...impeccable bass playing...”
The Oxford Times, June 2006

Gene Calderazzo Drums

Steve Lacy, Steve Grossman, Eddie Henderson, The NDR, Mike Gibbs, Bheki Mseleku, UMO, Sting, Radiohead, James Moody, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Ulf Wakenius, Gary Husband, Wayne Krantz, Bobby Watson, Eddie Gomez, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Evan Parker, Randy Brecker and brother Joey Calderazzo Partisans, Zoe Rahman, Bheki Mseleku, Hans Koller, Crass Collective, Phil Robsons’ Six Strings and the beat.

"Creates an excitement similar to that of a young Tony Williams, drummer with forward gears". Stan Sulzmann, Musician Magazine, September 2001

**the studio session features the wonderful Gary Husband on Drums**

"To make the tried and trusted instrumentation and tradition sing anew - that's the most difficult challenge of all, and it's one that this band has risen to and more than met." Birmingham Post November 2002 CD of the week ***** November 16, 2002

REVIEWS of 'Close-Up'

The Guardian, John Fordham

2002 Albums of the year,The Guardian,John Fordham

Echoes, Kevin Le Gendre

Birmingham Post, Peter Bacon

Jazzviews, Nick Lea

The Times, John Bungey

The Tablet,Chris Parker