Ubuntu Music Announces The Release of Trumpet Ace Sean Gibbs Big Band Project

Sean Gibbs / Confluence

Release Date: 25th November 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0124

Sean Gibbs (Photographer Colin Black)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of composer and trumpet player Sean Gibbs’ upcoming album, Confluence, featuring a 17-piece big band of exceptional musicians.

Sean Gibbs is a prominent jazz trumpet player/composer based in London. He leads a quintet, whose critically acclaimed debut album was released with Ubuntu Music and awarded Five Stars in BBC Music Magazine.

Helena Kay (Dan Redding video footage)

Sean explains the idea behind his latest project: “Confluence is without doubt my biggest project to date. The title refers to different aspects of my musical and personal life, which seemed to come together at the right time to make it happen. It also represents the joyous gathering of so many incredible musicians and friends. I’m immensely grateful to everyone involved.”

Left to right: George Millard, Tom Dunnett, Chris Maddock, Calum Gourlay, Jay Davis, Freddie Gavita, Riley Stone-Lonergan, Helena Kay, Rob Brockway, Sean Gibbs, James Gardiner-Bateman, James Copus, Kieran McLeod, Tom Walsh, Richard Henry, Richard Foote, James Davison. (Dan Redding video footage)

Sean continues, concerning the music and the musicians for the project: “I was fortunate enough to be able to put together my dream big band lineup and record at AIR Studios. I wrote with the specific players in mind, and it was incredibly rewarding to hear what they brought to my compositions. I wanted to stay true to the fundamentals that resonate with me - lyrical melodies, hearty grooves and a deep connection to the blues. Having a world class 17-piece band to work with brought these concepts to new heights and opened up so many more possibilities.”

The 17-piece big band ensemble includes some of the most sought-after musicians on the jazz scene today:

                        Sean Gibbs – solo trumpet

                        Tom Walsh - trumpet

                        James Davison - trumpet

                        James Copus - trumpet/flugelhorn

                        Freddie Gavita – trumpet

                        Tom Dunnett – trombone

                        Kieran McLeod – trombone

                        Richard Foote – trombone

                        Richard Henry - bass trombone

                        George Millard - alto/soprano saxophone

                        James Gardiner-Bateman - alto saxophone

                        Helena Kay - tenor saxophone

                        Riley Stone-Lonergan - tenor saxophone

                        Chris Maddock - baritone saxophone

                        Rob Brockway – piano

                        Calum Gourlay – bass

                        Jay Davis - drums

Sean Gibbs (Dan Redding video footage)

Sean shares his thoughts about his continued relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I’m delighted to be releasing a second album with Ubuntu. Martin (Hummel) shows such enthusiasm and drive in everything that he does, and it’s a privilege to be on a label alongside many of my favourite musicians. Long may our relationship flourish!”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It takes someone like Sean to be able to pull together a project of significant magnitude with such professionalism and quality. And the big band musician line-up is outstanding, with many of the individuals having appeared on previous Ubuntu releases. Sean’s been the star throughout. We are truly blessed to be a part of the project and can’t wait to share this music all over the world.”

For further information, please contact:

Sean Gibbs (Artist)                                                     seangibbs@hotmail.co.uk

Emma Perry (UK Publicity)                                       emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):           martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

Sean Gibbs Biography

Sean is a prominent jazz trumpet player/composer based in London. He leads a quintet, whose critically acclaimed debut album was released with Ubuntu Music and awarded Five Stars in BBC Music Magazine. He is a member of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, with which he has performed with guest soloists such as Kurt Elling, Joe Locke, Kenny Washington and Jazzmeia Horn. This has included appearances at some of the world’s most prestigious venues - New York’s Lincoln Center, Tokyo’s Bunka Kaikan and London’s Ronnie Scott’s.

Other groups Sean is a member of include the Calum Gourlay Big Band, Young Pilgrims, Martin Kershaw Octet, Paul Towndrow’s Keywork Orchestra and Mike Fletcher Jazz Orchestra. He has freelanced with a wide range of artists, including the likes of Georgia Cecile, Eliza Carthy, Hannah Williams and Chris Dean’s Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Sean also recently appeared on Daniel Casimir’s celebrated album Boxed In.

Sean is a prolific composer of big band music, including commissions for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and Greater Manchester Jazz Orchestra. His compositions have been performed as far afield as the USA, by the University of Miami’s Frost Studio Jazz Band.

“When I spot trumpeter Sean Gibbs in a band my spirits lift; I know there will be spot on ensemble playing and expertly-turned, beautifully toned solos.”

--London Jazz News

“These fellows—braced with the blues, steeped in the swing classics, burnished with modernity—are going places.”

JazzTimes Magazine (USA)

REVIEW: Chris Maddock / The Hunt

On his bluesy record debut the Birmingham Conservatoire sax grad shows the influence of Jimmy Smith and Michael Brecker.

For the full article, please click on the image, above.

Ubuntu Artists in Jazzwise Magazine / November 2021

Another good showing for the Ubuntu roster.

REVIEW: The Chris Maddock Quartet - 'The Hunt'

London Jazz News’ Tony Dudley-Evans writes, “This is an enjoyable album…it is well played by five accomplished musicians.”

Ubuntu Music Signs Sax Man Chris Maddock For EP Release

Chris Maddock / The Hunt

15th October 2021

CD & Digital Formats

UBU0087

Chris Maddock (Photographer Jonathan Chandra Oh)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of composer/sax player Chris Maddock for the album release, The Hunt, in a burning quartet line-up.

The project features a contemporary, groovy take on the classic Hammond organ trio line-up, augmented by saxophone. The music is inspired by the recent output of artists such as Larry Goldings and Joey DeFrancesco with similar line-ups, whilst also drawing on the influence of contemporary saxophone masters such as Jon Irabagon and Seamus Blake. The band includes some of London's finest young musicians - Liam Dunachie on organ, Tobie Carpenter on guitar, drummer Ed Richardson and a special guest appearance from Daniel Casimir on double bass.

Left to right: Liam Dunachie, Chris Maddock, Ed Richardson, Tobie Carpenter (Jonathan Chandra Oh Photographer)

Chris is a saxophonist based in London, England. Under normal circumstances he performs regularly at many of the leading jazz venues in the UK and internationally with his own projects and as a sideman and is an active figure in the vibrant London Jazz scene. Chris studied first at the Trinity College of Music Junior Department before enrolling in Birmingham Conservatoire's prestigious jazz course, where he studied under the tutelage of many of the most respected jazz musicians in the UK, and won the Mike Gibbs/BBC big band composition & arranging prize. After graduating, he was subsequently awarded the Yamaha scholarship for outstanding jazz musicians and was a finalist in the Worshipful Company of Musicians young jazz Musician of the year competition. He has been an in-demand player in many different contexts, including recording/performing with the Clark Tracey Quintet + Hexad, Young pilgrims, Tom Dunnett Sextet, Omar Kamal, Emma Smith, Hailey Tuck, Jonathan Silk Big band, Hackney Colliery Band, Toby Boalch Sextet and many others.

Chris describes the story behind The Hunt:” I've always been a huge fan of ensembles centred around the Hammond organ - it allows the band to achieve a huge breadth of sound, and a very different texture to the classic piano and bass combo. Two albums which I really loved (and still do!), when I was discovering jazz as a teenager were Back at the Chicken Shack by Jimmy Smith, and Time is of the Essence by Michael Brecker. The former was much more laid back and bluesy, and the latter a more modern, sophisticated take on the line-up. With this band I'm trying to explore the potential for different expressive colours and approaches with the Hammond at the centre but trying to never lose sight of that bluesy grooviness that saturates those first albums I heard with this line-up. I had each of the guys in the band in mind when I put these tunes together, we gigged them for a while, and they knocked it out of the park when it came to the recording session - I can't wait to get it out there!”

Left to right: Tobie Carpenter, Ed Richardson, Liam Dunachie, Chris Maddock (Jonathan Chandra Oh Photographer)

Chris elaborates further on his new signing with Ubuntu Music: “I'm hugely excited to be involved with Ubuntu music for my debut release. Many of my favourite musicians and friends on the UK scene have released some absolutely killer music through the label recently, and I'm honoured to be included alongside such an exciting array of talent.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his thoughts: “Chris and his music are a delightful discovery. Having a classic Hammond organ trio, enhanced by a seamless sax overlay, makes for some excellent listening pleasure. We’re delighted to have Chris and the band on board with Ubuntu Music.”

For further information, please contact:

Chris Maddock (Artist):                                             info@chrismaddock.co.uk

Emma Perry (UK Radio Publicity):                           emmasarahperry@gmail.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide):           martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com