Ubuntu Music Signs Pianist Ivo Neame for Album Release

Ivo Neame / Zettalogue

Release Date: 25th October 2024

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0183

Ivo Neame (Photographer: Monika S Jakubowska)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of Ivo Neame, an exceptional pianist, composer and arranger, for the release of Zettalogue, his upcoming album on Ubuntu Music.

This recording is a documentation of some of the work Ivo has created with the Ivo Neame Quartet over the last three years. The band features some of the finest jazz musicians in the UK - George Crowley (saxes), Tom Farmer (bass) and James Maddren (drums). Together, they have developed a band identity by performing Ivo’s original material in an improvised manner. As a unit, they have created a level of trust that allows them to reinterpret the music by finding new paths through it every time.

Ivo Neame, George Crawley, Tom Farmer, James Maddren (Photographer: Monika S Jakubowska)

Ivo explains the idea behind the music from Zettalogue: “There are new pieces and also new interpretations of older pieces. I recorded my piece, ’The Rise of the Lizard People’,  for a 2021 release called ‘Glimpses of Truth’. As a result of the lockdown restrictions and the way this particular album was made, there was only space for one solo on that version. It was great to be able to revisit this piece and include a piano solo on it. As a quartet, we performed this material many times all over the UK and always managed to explore new areas in the music - it feels great to have captured the development of this music. Apart from that, we also recorded new pieces of mine. I am hugely grateful to the members of my quartet for the time and effort that they have dedicated to this process.”

Ivo continues, describing his new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I have known Martin for many years - he is a warm and encouraging presence on the jazz scene and I have always enjoyed hanging out with him after gigs or at events. He is motivated by a real love of this music and has a genuine desire to support musicians. I’m delighted to be working with him on my first release for Ubuntu.”

Ivo Neame (Photographer: Monika S Jakubowska)

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “I was first introduced to Ivo and his immense talent during the time he was with Phronesis…one of the most gifted jazz trios in Europe. He is a special artist – for me personally and for the label. Ivo possesses that rare talent to fit into a range of musically challenging situations as side man, whether it’s with Marius Neset or Emma Rawicz. However, when the stage is his, it opens up a whole new world of musical freedom. ‘Zettalogue’ is just that, providing the platform to share new interpretations of earlier compositions and to deliver new material in his unique voice, backed up by a stellar line-up. We are thrilled to be representing Ivo’s latest project and welcome him to the Ubuntu Music Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Ivo Neame (Artist):  ivo@ivoneame.com

Matt Fripp/Jazzfuel (International Publicity):  matt@jazzfuel.com

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

IVO NEAME BIOGRAPHY

Ivo Neame is an internationally renowned pianist, composer, and bandleader who has established himself as one of the most innovative and dynamic figures in the contemporary jazz scene. He regularly performs at jazz festivals worldwide, collaborating with ensembles as diverse as the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the London Sinfonietta. He is best known for his work with the award-winning bands Phronesis and the Marius Neset Quintet, as well as collaborations with numerous other artists, including Hermeto Pascoal, Kenny Wheeler and Gilad Hekselman. Ivo's music is characterised by a stunning mix of virtuosity, sophistication, and playfulness, and his performances are known for their dynamic energy and emotional depth. His ninth album under his own name, Live at Turner Sims, was released in September 2023. In 2023 he was also made ‘artist-in-residence’ with the Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra.

"Some of the most engaging jazz you’ll hear this year"

--LONDON JAZZ SCENE

“Ivo Neame is one of the very best jazz pianists on the UK scene”

--BANDCAMP DAILY

“That Neame is one of the most interesting jazz pianists of his generation may be clear. The

years of almost constantly being on the road with bands has given him a prominent role in the front line of British jazz”

--WRITTEN IN JAZZ

Awards and honours include:

Album of the Year 2010, Jazzwise Magazine (Phronesis)

Album of the Year 2010, MOJO Magazine (Phronesis)

Best Jazz Act 2011, MOBO Awards (Kairos Quartet)

UK Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year 2012 (nominated) Jazz FM Awards

Jazz Ensemble of the Year 2017, Parliamentary Jazz Awards (Phronesis)

Jazz Composition for Large Ensemble 2021 (nominated) IVORS Composer Awards

Ivo is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, an Associate Member of PRS and a Professor of Jazz Piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is also a member of the Featured Artists’ Coalition and a member of the Ivors Academy Jazz Committee.

Ubuntu Music Signs UK Saxophonist Mike Chillingworth For Album Release

Mike Chillingworth / Friday the Thirteenth

Release Date: 18th October 2024

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0174

Mike Chillingworth (Photographer: Rob Blackham)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the release of Friday the Thirteenth, a deeply personal album from saxophonist Mike Chillingworth, whose idiosyncratic musical experiments are shaped by the lessons he's learned from collaborating with so many inspirational musicians over recent years. The line-up consists of pianist Ivo Neame (Phronesis), bassist Tom Farmer (Empirical) and drummer Jon Scott (GoGo Penguin).

Friday the Thirteenth is the culmination of several converging influences. Over the years, Mike had the privilege of collaborating with musicians who push the rhythmic boundaries of contemporary jazz, including Ant Law, Ivo Neame, Orlando le Fleming, and Miguel Gorodi. These experiences have challenged Mike to stretch his rhythmic comfort zone, finding freedom and space to express his musical personality within the intricate confines of complex structures. Mike explains: “I've always been inspired by the dedication of musicians like John Coltrane and Steve Coleman, who chose a singular path and pursued it with unwavering focus, uncovering the infinite complexities and beauty within what might seem like a straightforward idea. In recent years, my busy life as an educator, balanced with my performance schedule, has often left me little time for deep exploration. However, an opportunity arose during a multi-day bus tour with fifty teenagers. With only headphones and an iPad for company, I began experimenting with polyrhythms. This unusual context, coupled with the abundance of time, led me to a deep fixation. I spent the week immersed in these rhythms, discovering variations and ways to internalise them. Upon returning home, these rhythms had become a part of me, compelling me to see how they could translate to the saxophone, evolve into grooves, and integrate into standards. This exploration resulted in a body of music that reflected my discoveries. Assembling a group of my favourite musicians, whom I've shared the stage with for years and deeply trust, I crafted additional pieces with them in mind. After our first performance I knew that we had found something special that deserved to be recorded. This album is the fruition of that journey.”

Ivo Neame, Jon Scott, Mike Chillingworth, Tom Farmer (Photographer: Rob Blackham)

Mike continues, describing the music from Friday the Thirteenth: “My favourite music hits the elusive sweet spot between on one side the pull towards complexity and striving for something just outside of the musicians’ comfort zone, and on the other the desire to retain a sense of fun, melody, accessibility and groove. It’s the hardest balance to strike but that’s what I’ve attempted to do with the music on this record. Tracks like ‘Friday the Thirteenth’, ‘Coach Trip Special’, and my arrangement of Steve Swallow’s tune, ‘Ladies in Mercedes’, are based on a single specific polyrhythmic idea but always keeping melody and groove front and centre and allowing the musicians in the band plenty of space to improvise and explore together. ‘Keep It Simple’ is a more straight-ahead Mingus inspired tune, ‘Narwhal’ is a slow and atmospheric Paul Motian-like ballad, reflecting my broad interests within jazz from the straight-ahead tradition to the avant-garde.”

Mike shares his thoughts concerning his new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I am deeply excited to be working with Ubuntu Music to release this record. Over the last few years Ubuntu have released a staggering catalogue of truly world-class music from some of the top names in jazz and it’s a privilege for my music to be included in such a roster. Martin Hummel’s commitment and impact in supporting the music, the scene, and enabling musicians to get their music out into the world is second to none and I am very happy to be working with him and excited about the future.”

Mike Chillingworth (Photographer: Rob Blackham)

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “I’ve been an admirer of Mike and his music for a number of years now. He’s a firm fixture on the London jazz scene, which is thriving. Mike’s careful and deliberate casting of his band – which includes Ivo Neame, Tom Farmer and Jon Scott – is perfect for this project as the band comfortably challenge each other, while delivering a dynamic, seamless whole. It’s a pleasure to have Mike as the newest member of the Ubuntu Music Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Mike Chillingworth (Artist):  michaelchillingworth@gmail.com

Rupert Burley/Dynamic Agency (International Publicity): rupert@dynamicagency.co.uk

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

MIKE CHILLINGWORTH BIOGRAPHY

Mike Chillingworth is a London based saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer. Consistently in demand as a performer and improviser, he regularly performs throughout the UK and internationally with his own groups and with many leading musicians at the forefront of British and European jazz.

The Mike Chillingworth Quartet features Ivo Neame (Marius Neset, Phronesis), Tom Farmer (Empirical), and Jon Scott (Sons of Kemet, GoGo Penguin, Kairos Quartet). They are releasing their debut album on the Ubuntu Music record label.

Previously as a band leader Mike released an album of original music for septet called Scratch And Sift on Two Rivers Records to critical acclaim, featuring an all-star cast of some of the top improvisers of the London jazz scene: Tom Challenger, George Crowley, Josh Arcoleo, Lewis Wright, Sam Lasserson and Jon Scott.

Mike is a long-standing member of acclaimed guitarist Ant Law’s quintet, alongside Ivo Neame, Tom Farmer and James Maddren, recording four albums and touring extensively throughout the UK and Europe, as well as performing live on BBC Radio 3 and numerous other media appearances.

Other sideman appearances and/or recordings include the Julian Siegel Jazz Orchestra, Ivo Neame Dodeka, Orlando le Fleming’s Romantic Funk, Gareth Lockrane Big Band, Josephine Davies Jazz Orchestra, Miguel Gorodi Nonet, Rick Simpson’s Klammer and In Rainbows, Troyk-estra (Kit Downes, Chris Montague and Josh Blackmore), Stan Sulzmann’s Neon Orchestra and as a member of the band Round Trip with the much celebrated and missed rising trumpet star Richard Turner who passed away in 2011. Mike has had radio play on BBC Radio 3, Radio 2, Jazz FM and other independent and local radio stations.

Alongside his creative and performing endeavours, Mike harbours a deep passion for both jazz and general music education, actively balancing a dynamic career as a dedicated educator.