Our previous events...
John Butcher, Mark Sanders and
Philipp Wachsmann ~ November 2024
Three undisputed masters of the art of free improvisation came together for the first time to create spontaneous and captivating soundscapes.
John Butcher ~ saxophones
Mark Sanders ~ drums
Philipp Wachsmann ~ violin and electronics
James Kitchman and Bruno Heinen
~ June 2024
Old friends and collaborators, James and Bruno, traversed a colourful musical landscape performing their original compositions interspersed with spontaneous improvisations. This rich and vibrant partenership can be heard on their delectable debut album Rain Shadows on ubuntu music.
Bruno Heinen ~ piano
James Kitchman ~ guitar
Virgin Forest ~ May 2024
Swedish vocalist Rebecka Edlund treated Listeners to a mesmerising evening of improvised storytelling, original songwriting, herding calls, bird whistles and other peculiar sounds. Fearless musical adventurers, Laura Jurd and Elliot Galvin, joined Rebecka to explore unknown terrains in the Virgin Forest.
Rebecka Edlund ~ voice
Laura Jurd ~ trumpet
Elliot Galvin ~ piano
Trish Clowes and Louise McMonagle
~ October 2023
This remarkable duo has been making music together for over 15 years, and tonight they delivered a powerful performance of collaborative compositions and improvisations which explored a variety of textures, moods and melodies. Watch out for their debut album in 2024.
Trish Clowes ~ tenor saxophone
Louise McMonagle ~ cello
Airborn ~ October 2023
This dynamic quartet performed music from the Airborn suite, a brand new set of compositions from Eddie Parker. With influences as diverse as Schoenberg and Santana, Airborn lifted off with an enthusiastic audience on board!
Eddie Parker ~ keyboards and flutes
Rob Luft ~ guitar
Dave Manington ~ double bass
Jay Davis ~ drums
Out Front ~ October 2023
This quintet of esteemed Listen! alumni drew on a wealth of fabulous compositions by Booker Little and Andrew Hill. They explored the vast possibilities of this music, from joyous straight-ahead time playing to the most open of improvisation.
Nick Malcolm ~ trumpet
Jason Yarde ~ alto saxophone
Jake McMurchie ~ tenor saxophone
Olie Brice ~ double bass
Dave Smith ~ drums
Corrie Dick's Sun Swells ~ May 2023
A magical evening in the company of Corrie's sublime quintet. His uniquely colourful compositions, anchored by a rock guitar trio, featured surging vocal melodies and mercurial horn playing. A totally mesmerising performance!
Rebecka Edlund ~ voice
Laura Jurd ~ trumpet
James Kitchman ~ guitar
Tom McCredie ~ bass
Corrie Dick ~ drums
Hi Res Heart ~ April 2023
Hi Res Heart is an improvising group where spaciousness and fire co-exist. Even when the music was at its most abstract, the spirit of the blues was never too far away!
Martin Pyne ~ drums, percussion, vibraphone
Martin Archer ~ saxophones
Charlotte Keeffe ~ trumpet, flugelhorn
with special guest
Michael Bardon ~ double bass
Dee Byrne's Outlines ~ March 2023
Dee's short musical sketches provided the springboard to propel this dynamic sextet in new exciting directions!
Dee Byrne ~ alto saxophone
Nick Malcolm ~ trumpet
Tom Ward ~ clarinets
Rebecca Nash ~ piano
Olie Brice ~ double bass
Andrew Lisle ~ drums
Magpie Trio ~ December 2022
Our 2022 autumn programme ended with joyful uplifting sounds from Magpie Trio led by free-wheeling drummer Sam Jesson. United by their love for the tradition of legendary jazz trios, the band breathed new life into arrangements of music associated with Ahmad Jamal and Wayne Shorter.
Sam Jesson ~ drums
George Crowley ~ tenor saxophone
Tom Farmer ~ double bass
Skylla ~ October 2022
Weaving together vocal layers around chiming bass chords, harmonics and different tuning systems, Skylla explored Ruth Goller's bewitching, intimate, otherworldly songs.
'Lush textures to bathe in... so close and tactile you can feel the music stroking you on the shoulder' - Corey Mwamba
Ruth Goller ~ bass guitar and voice
Lauren Kinsella ~ voice
Alice Grant ~ voice
Margrit Hasler
The evening began with a creative solo performance from virtuoso viola player Margrit Hasler who completely transformed a wide range of pieces by some of her favourite musicians including Bill Frisell and Maurice Ravel alongside tunes from the bluegrass tradition.
Margrit Hasler ~ viola with pedals
Spinningwork ~ September 2022
Launching their brilliant debut album tonight, Spinningwork played captivating new compositions by members of the band, liberally sprinkled with explosive passages of collective free improvisation.
Buy the Spinningwork album here!
Tom Ward ~ alto saxophone
Cath Roberts ~ baritone saxophone
Dominic Lash ~ double bass
Johnny Hunter ~ drums
Chris Batchelor's Zoetic ~ May 2022
Chris's subtle new compositions held the audience spellbound in a world where East African guitar band grooves met Arabic themes, Balkan ballads and much more. Sophisticated, genre-defying chamber music at its finest!
Chris Batchelor ~ trumpet & cornetto
Margrit Hasler ~ viola
John Parricelli ~ guitars
Steve Watts ~ double bass
Paul Clarvis ~ tabla & assorted percussion
Charlotte Keeffe Quartet ~ April 2022
Charlotte's quartet treated our enthusiastic crowd to an evening of exhilarating music, seamlessly combining original compositions with freely improvised passages encompassing a deluge of inventive extended techniques.
Charlotte's album Right Here, Right Now is out now on Discus Music. Buy your copy here!
Charlotte Keeffe ~ trumpet and flugelhorn
Moss Freed ~ guitar
Ashley John Long ~ double bass
Ben Handysides ~ drums
Dreamers ~ February 2022
Mark Lockheart's thrilling all-star group delved into a new set of original compositions, creating urgent and exciting grooves, memorable melodies and a whiff of psychedelia. Dreamers album is out now on Edition Records.
Mark Lockheart ~ saxophones
Elliot Galvin ~ keyboards
Tom Herbert ~ bass guitar
Dave Smith ~ drums
Winifred Atwell Revisited ~ December 2021
The quick thinking and playful duo of Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter explored the music of the fondly remembered Trinidadian pianist Winifred Atwell through their highly personal avant-garde lens. This delightful music was perfect for lifting the spirits on a dark and blustery winters night.
Their superb album Winifred Atwell Revisited will be released on Efpi Records in January 2022. Order your copy now!
Adam Fairhall ~ piano
Johnny Hunter ~ snare drum
Huw V Williams Trio ~ October 2021
A stunning night of original music, played with great passion by the Huw V Williams Trio, celebrating not only the release of their debut album Equidistant Between, but also the final gig of a UK tour. Another capacity audience and it was good to see lots of new faces amongst our loyal band of regulars.
Huw V Williams ~ bass & compositions
George Crowley ~ saxophones
Devin Gray ~ drums
Confront Recordings ~ September 2021
The sell-out audience was treated to an exhilarating evening of spontaneous music making celebrating 25 years of the pioneering Confront Recordings record label. A dream team formed especially for our return to live gigs. It felt great to be back!
'It was as though you'd never been away!' Roger Gow
Mark Wastell ~ percussion
Dominic Lash ~ double bass and electric guitar
Ed Jones ~ saxophones
Pigfoot ~ October 2020
It felt incredibly special to present our one and only 'socially distanced' gig of 2020. Pigfoot, with their wild musicality and wry humour, were the perfect band to chase away the lockdown blues for our music starved listeners. Everyone had a ball!
'The first notes were like a blinding flash of light' - Jez Matthews, Jazz At The Lescar.
Chris Batchelor ~ trumpet and cornet
James Allsopp ~ baritone saxophone and bass clarinet
Liam Noble ~ piano and keyboards
Paul Clarvis ~ drums
Mike De Souza Trio ~ November 2019
This vibrant young trio closed our 2019 series in great style with their energetic improvisations and daring explorations of Mike's intricate compositions. The band's absorbing performance had the attentive audience on the edge of their seats. Check out their superb new album Slow Burn.
Mike De Souza ~ guitar
Huw V Williams ~ basses
Jay Davis ~ drums
Somersaults ~ October 2019
Ace rhythm team, Mark Sanders and Olie Brice, returned to Listen! in the company of the legendary ICP Orchestra's celebrated reedsman Toby Delius. This outstanding trio played propulsive, joyous improvised music ranging from swinging free jazz to exquisite timbral and textural explorations. Enthralling, spontaneous music-making of the highest order!
Tobias Delius ~ tenor saxophone & clarinet
Olie Brice ~ double bass
Mark Sanders ~ drums
Sloth Racket ~ September 2019
It was such a huge pleasure to welcome back the first band ever to play at Listen!. The mighty Sloths ended their UK tour in rousing style, conjuring 'a sonic amalgam of riff, composition and free improvisation.' (Chris Searle). A triumphant return to Cambridge!
Cath Roberts ~ baritone saxophone
Sam Andreae ~ alto saxophone
Anton Hunter ~ guitar
Seth Bennett ~ double bass
Johnny Hunter ~ drums
Pale Blue Dot ~ July 2019
Johnny Hunter's reflective compositions were beautifully played by this outstanding, intuitive ensemble. Music encapsulating the perspective and stillness that might be possible from the outer reaches of our solar system.
Johnny Hunter ~ drums
Mark Hanslip ~ tenor saxophone
Gemma Bass ~ violin
Aby Vulliamy ~ viola
Mick Bardon ~ cello
Otto Willberg ~ double bass
BABs ~ June 2019
We celebrated our second anniversary in great style with a rare live performance from one of our favourite trios. The group performed music ranging from rich, evolving ambient textures to energetic electronica-influenced improvisation. The acoustic instruments were expertly blended with electronic real-time processing creating a hypnotic, haunting sound world. The musicians set the scene perfectly, each performing a mesmerizing solo set to start the evening.
Olie Brice ~ double bass
James Allsopp ~ bass clarinet and solo tenor saxophone
Alex Bonney ~ electronics and solo trumpet
Reel Tangle ~ May 2019
We were pleased to present the first ever performance by the improvising supergroup Reel Tangle. While drawing on their shared love of free jazz and improvisation,
the quartet wove a skein of exploration in sound, melody and time around Rachel's composed framework of text and themes.
Rachel Musson ~ saxophones and voice
Jason Yarde ~ alto saxophone
Olie Brice ~ double bass
Mark Sanders ~ percussion
Ensemble Entropy ~ April 2019
This dynamic ensemble explored the spaces between contemporary composed music and free improvisation. Lola de la Mata and James B Wilson were present to introduce their beautiful new compositions.
Matt London ~ tenor saxophone
Loré Lixenberg ~ voice
Georgia Cooke ~ flute
Alison Blunt ~ violin
Seth Bennett ~ double bass
Mark Sanders ~ drums
Alexander Hawkins ~ April 2019
We were delighted that Alexander Hawkins chose to celebrate the release of his new solo piano album, 'Iron Into Wind', with this special concert in the Bateman Auditorium at his alma mater, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
'A captivating performance, the acoustically superb auditorium made Hawkins' use of dynamics and overtones an added joy.' - Listener, John Sharpe.
A memorable evening for the enthusiastic audience!
j a d e ~ March 2019
Trumpeter Nick Malcolm's new quartet captivated the enthusiastic audience with their absorbing performance.
The band deconstructed Nick's original compositions with great imagination and flair, using contemporary improvisation and sampling to create a spellbinding atmosphere.
Nick Malcolm ~ trumpet
Jake McMurchie ~ saxophone
Will Harris ~ double bass
Ric Yarborough ~ drums and samples
Warmer Than Blood ~ February 2019
Guitarist Chris Montague's latest trio project performed mesmerising new music composed by Chris, combining intricate textures, dark pools of harmony, kinetic group improvisation and percussive prepared piano. The evening opened with an enchanting solo bass guitar and vocal set from Ruth Goller.
Chris Montague ~ guitar
Ruth Goller ~ electric bass
Kit Downes ~ piano
Butcher/Edwards/Sanders ~ January 2019
We were thrilled to open our 2019 programme with an evening of lucid and captivating free improvisation featuring three undisputed masters of the art. In a rare trio performance these three phenomenal musicians worked their spontaneous magic to the delight of the attentive audience.
John Butcher ~ saxophones
John Edwards ~ double bass
Mark Sanders ~ percussion
Total Vibration ~ September 2018
Channelling the free spirit of Ornette Coleman, Geri Allen and Charles Mingus, the quartet's bold approach to improvising turned every tune into a riveting brass-fuelled adventure. A tantalising two trumpet treat for the enthusiastic capacity crowd.
Laura Jurd ~ trumpet
Chris Batchelor ~ trumpet
Tom Herbert ~ double bass
Corrie Dick ~ drums
Olie Brice, Rachel Musson, Mark Sanders ~
June 2018
This exceptional trio of thoughtful, impressive improvisers came together and created compelling new music. Spontaneous music-making at its very best!
Olie Brice ~ double bass
Rachel Musson ~ saxophones
Mark Sanders ~ percussion
Elliot Galvin Trio ~ March 2018
Unfortunately this gig fell victim to the 'Beast from the East' which brought adverse weather conditions that swept the UK. The band was frustratingly snowbound in Scotland and unable to reach Cambridge.
Do check out their exhilarating new music where analogue sythesis and electric sounds orbit the acoustic world of piano, bass and drums.
Elliot Galvin ~ piano, synthesizer and toys
Tom McCredie ~ double bass and guitar
Corrie Dick ~ drums and percussion
What Love ~ February 2018
A project born of a deep love of Charles Mingus' work as a composer and philosopher of music. This was a jubilant celebration of one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century.
Kim Macari Stone-Lonergan ~ trumpet
George Murray ~ trombone
Ollie Dover ~ alto saxophone and bass clarinet
Simon Prince ~ tenor saxophone and flute
Cath Roberts ~ baritone saxophone
Adam Fairhall ~ piano
Johnny Hunter ~ drums
Seth Bennett ~ double bass and leader
Pigfoot ~ January 2018
New Orleans jazz, opera, Elvis, 70's funk and Bacharach are all fair game for this all-star line-up's genre-bending skills. Their imaginative approach to popular music brought a smile to everyone's faces. A powerful and flexible front line egged on by spiky and eccentric drumming, the perfect band to kick off the new year!
James Allsopp ~ baritone saxophone and bass clarinet
Chris Batchelor ~ trumpet and cornet
Paul Clarvis ~ drums
Liam Noble ~ piano and keyboards
Yana ~ October 2017
A trio of respected improvisers, creating open, living music. After 10 years of playing together, their music flows with magical ease, providing accessibility in fantastic grooves and improvised melodies. The trio has developed a process entirely focused on producing highly expressive live music, a free-wheeling, spontaneous mix of styles. We were delighted that Yana chose our event to launch their new Two Rivers Records album, 'baby/people'.
Joshua Blackmore ~ drums
Dave Kane ~ double bass
Corey Mwamba ~ vibraphone
Sloth Racket ~ June 2017
The ensemble played Cath's compositions, combining written fragments with graphic notation to explore the balance between freedom and structure. The results ranged across musical territories from fiery free jazz, to minimal improv textures, to deep grooves. Music for open ears - the perfect opening night for Listen!
Cath Roberts ~ baritone saxophone
Anton Hunter ~ guitar
Sam Andreae ~ tenor saxophone
Seth Bennett ~ double bass
Johnny Hunter ~ drums
