Ubuntu Music Signs Tomorrow’s New Quartet For Debut Album Release

Tomorrow’s New Quartet / All Together, Now!

20th May 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0110

Left to right: Deschanel Gordon, Flo Moore, Rod Oughton, Helena Kay (Photographer: Teddy Smith)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the talented young ensemble, Tomorrow’s New Quartet, for the release of their debut album, All Together, Now!, on 20th May 2022.

Led by drummer Rod Oughton, the music was born out of the deepest, darkest depths of lockdown. It was composed in isolation in his north-west London flat, in the latter half of 2020, and rehearsed at irregular intervals throughout the spring months of the following year (restrictions allowing).

Rod Oughton (video image)

Rod is a British jazz drummer/composer who is currently based in Amsterdam. He has worked with the James Taylor Quartet, Hailey Tuck and Hudson Taylor, and has performed in Cuba, Dubai and Saudi Arabia as well as all over the UK and Europe. His own band, OK Aurora, released their debut album to a sold-out Pizza Express Soho audience in August 2021. The album went on be featured by BBC Introducing and Jazz FM and received a 5 Star review from Jazz Journal. 

Rod explains the genesis of his latest project: “I think the music encompasses everything I was feeling during that period, from fear and uncertainty to fleeting moments of optimism. There’s even one tune on the album dedicated to my neighbour who sadly passed away from Covid related complications in November 2020.”

Rod continues: “I named the band ‘Tomorrow’s New Quartet’ as I felt it embodied the optimism that composing this music and arranging the recording of this album gave me. This project provided a sense of purpose during that challenging period, and this album is the final product of all that work. The band’s line up comprises of Helena Kay, Deschanel Gordon, Flo Moore and myself. These guys are some of my favourite musicians to play with and I felt super lucky that they agreed to get involved and continued to contribute so much to the project.”

Helena Kay (video image)

Scottish saxophonist Helena Kay has recently spent time in New York City, studying and playing locally. Electric bass extraordinaire Flo Moore continues to manage her hectic schedule, performing and recording. And keyboard ace Deschanel Gordon, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year, maintains his relentlessly demanding schedule.

Deschanel Gordon (video image)

Concerning his extended relationship with Ubuntu Music, Rod elaborates: “I’m really happy to release this album on Ubuntu. Martin’s help with the debut OK Aurora release (‘Only In Autumn’) was invaluable and I feel very lucky that he is involved with this release as well. I really feel as though Ubuntu is a force for good in UK Jazz, and the fact that they work just as hard for emerging artists as they do for their top talent is testament to this.”

Flo Moore (video image)

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his perspective: “It was a pleasure working with Rod on his OK Aurora release last year. When he approached me about Tomorrow’s New Quartet, it was a no-brainer. Helena, Deschanel and Flo have all appeared on previous Ubuntu releases. It’s an exceptional line-up and they delivered a fantastic record. These four are ones to watch. Welcome to the Ubuntu Music Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Rod Oughton (Artist):                                                rod_oughton8@hotmail.co.uk

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

Ubuntu Music to Release Sax Titan Paul Booth’s Next Album: 44

Paul Booth / 44

15th April 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0112

Paul Booth (Photographer: Monika S Jakubowska)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the extension of its relationship with Paul Booth, the wonderfully talented saxophonist, for the release of his next album, aptly titled 44, on 15th April 2022 (his birthday).

From his early acclaim as a prize-winning saxophonist, Paul has continually refined and expanded his talents as a solo artist, composer, arranger and bandleader, whilst establishing an elite reputation as a first-call sideman for major contemporary music artists.

Paul’s ability to blend into any musical surrounding coupled with his talents as a multi-instrumentalist has led to him being regularly chosen to perform with many well-known artists. Paul has toured, performed & recorded around the world with The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, Kylie Minogue, Jamiroquai, Gregory Porter, Barry Manilow, Warren Haynes, Marti Pellow, Derek Trucks, Eddie Henderson, Geoffrey Keezer, Clarence Penn and Ingrid Jensen. He has worked with Incognito, Brand New Heavies, The BBC Big Band, Michael Janisch Quintet, the Ryan Quigley Quintet and so many more.

Paul Booth (Photographer: Monika S Jakubowska)

For his next release, Paul celebrates his 44 years on mother earth with the aggregation of two stellar quartets (hence the number 44) in featuring primarily Paul’s own compositions. Paul explains:

“Following on from my album ‘Trilateral’, recorded when I was 33 years old, 11 years later I thought ‘why not carry on with a theme’. My good friend Andrew Bain (also one of the drummers on this album) suggested recording a double quartet album, with both quartets playing at the same time.”

In terms of shaping the music for the album, Paul elaborates:

“I loved the challenge of writing for this double quartet, especially when it came to figuring out how I was going to use two bass players. We recorded five originals, two freely improvised pieces which in my opinion really show how these exceptional musicians listen to one another and finally a new take on Miles’ ‘Four’. In choosing the musicians who appear on this album, I wanted to have a combination of some of my long-standing friends/collaborators and some of the younger musicians from the UK jazz scene who have really impressed me. I’m extremely proud of this whole ensemble and the music we created in one afternoon and ‘live’ in one room.”

The double-quartet line-up consists of a broad, impressive array of top-notch musicians:

This project marks the continuation of the tremendously successful partnership between Paul and his record label, Ubuntu Music:

“This is my second solo album on Ubuntu and once again Martin has given his unwavering support and enthusiasm to the music we created. Since my first release 'Travel Sketches’ we have really bonded not only musically but as friends. We often share ideas and advice and this is exactly the kind of relationship with a label all musicians need. Although ’44’ will be my second solo album on Ubuntu, it’s actually the 5th album I’ve produced or co-produced on the label, including TRYPL and two Secret Sessions albums, ‘Fragile Eagle’ & ‘Hoop’. Long may this partnership continue.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his thoughts: “Paul is that one in a million individual who possesses immense talent and boundless energy to consistently deliver world class music and spellbinding live performances. Over time, our relationship has steadily grown from strength to strength, professionally and personally. It is both a privilege and an absolute joy to be associated with such an exceptional artist and all-round good guy. May it continue to infinity and beyond!”

Ubuntu Music Signs Highly Diverse Keys Man Benjamin Croft For Star-Studded Album Release

Far and Distant Things

6th August 2021

CD, Digital & Vinyl Formats / UBU0082

Benjamin Croft (Photography by Delphine Orliange)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the highly diverse composer and keys player, Benjamin Croft, for the release of the star-studded album, Far and Distant Things, on 6th August 2021.

Benjamin is a British pianist, keyboardist and composer who has recorded with Randy Brecker, Frank Gambale, Chad Wackerman, Allen Vizzutti, Barry Finnerty and Mike Miller. Known for his extensive knowledge and experience in a multitude of music genres, he is mostly associated with jazz.

At the age of seven, Benjamin began piano and trumpet lessons, later going on to study at Leeds College of Music. After graduating, he completed several contracts on international cruise lines and moved to the US. During this period, Benjamin toured the world twice, and worked with artists as diverse as Belinda Carlisle, Leslie Garrett, The Temptations and The Platters.

Benjamin relocated to London in 2012, where he became a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s, the Jazz Café, Pizza Express Jazz Clubs, The Vortex and others, playing with the finest musicians on the scene. Benjamin also performed in the West End Show, Straight From the Heart, and worked on TV shows such as The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent. In 2018, he recorded for Beautiful South founder Dave Hemingway’s latest project, Sunbirds, and has been working as a session musician, composer and arranger on a number of projects over the years. 

Benjamin Croft (Photography by Delphine Orliange)

In 2019, Benjamin released his first album 10 Reasons To..., consisting of 12 original compositions reflecting his unique style and sound. His upcoming second album, Far and Distant Things, was recorded throughout 2020, an ambitious project featuring legendary musicians from the US.

Benjamin explains: “I initially contacted a selection of my favourite musicians in the UK to play on the tracks; Andy Davies (trumpet), Gareth Lockrane (flute), Henry Thomas and Flo Moore (bass), Tristan Mailliot and Laurie Lowe (drums). Helen Vollam, principal trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Carter Arrington (guitar) were also added to the roster around this period.

“The writing process continued and I envisioned the UK musicians augmented by a US guest star, or two. In the fall of 2019, I sent out messages to several legendary artists and lifelong inspirations. To my surprise, all showed interest. I now had an all-star line-up! Randy Brecker, Allen Vizzutti (trumpet), Frank Gambale, Barry Finnerty, Mike Miller (guitar), and Chad Wackerman (drums). Back in 2019, we had no idea what was just around the corner... The majority of the guest stars had tour schedules that lasted for the remainder of 2020. At the time, I was led to believe I only had a window of the first two weeks of January to record them.

Special guests on Far and Distant Things

“The compositions were recorded in London at Metropolis, Greystoke and The Church Studios. The studios were selected for their vast tracking space and unique selection of equipment. A huge arsenal of keyboards was used on this album. Among them, the Yamaha CS-80, Minimoog, Prophet 5 and Freddie Mercury's Fazioli grand piano!

“Eight of the compositions were tracked between January and early March. Then, disaster struck… March 24th 2020 was a day I will never forget… The 24th just happens to be my birthday. It also just happened to be the day I was scheduled to record my final three pieces. Sadly, this was not meant to be. The UK entered national lockdown and everything was cancelled. My time off was used wisely to refine the compositions and by late summer, we were allowed back in the studio. Tracking was completed at RAK studios in London.

“At the start of this project, I only had one person in mind to mix the tracks: Stephen W Tayler. His work can be heard on many albums that inspired my compositions. The album was mixed at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios.

“Production eventually wrapped up in early 2021. Barry Grint, whose previous clients include the likes of David Bowie, Madonna and Prince, mastered the tracks at Air Studios.

Benjamin Croft (Photography by Delphine Orliange)

“The unique artwork for the album is provided by Juno Award Winner Hugh Syme. His works are firmly planted in the public conscience. He has designed for Rush, Dream Theater, Whitesnake and many others.

“I am immensely proud of this album. A true portrait of my musical mind. My love of jazz, rock and classical are all captured. The eleven compositions on this album represent my childhood dreams and fantasies. Utopian and dystopian, heroes and villains--all are depicted. Concepts I regarded as far and distant things.”

Concerning his new relationship with Ubuntu Music, Ben continues: “I am very happy and excited to join the Ubuntu music family. I have had a keen eye on the label over the last few years. The quality and diversity of each release has consistently impressed me. The future is bright for Martin (Hummel) and co and it's great that my music is a part of this.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shared his thoughts: “Benjamin’s overall talent, his composition skills and the music itself impressed me immensely. He tirelessly worked his way through a crippling pandemic and boldly approached a select group of legendary US musicians to join him on his recording. The end result, ‘Far and Distant Things’, is a tribute to the talent and the tenacity of a passionate man on a musical mission. We are happy to have Benjamin join us.”

Benjamin Croft (image from video)

For further information, please contact:

Martin Hummel (Ubuntu Music)                               martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com