Ubuntu Music Signs Swiss Artist Fabienne Ambuehl for Album Release

Fabienne Ambuehl / Thrive

Release Date: 17th January 2025

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0166

Fabienne Ambuehl (Photographer: Kirill Kuletski)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of Swiss vocalist/pianist/composer Fabienne Ambuehl for the release of her next project, Thrive, on 17th January 2025.

Fabienne shares her thoughts about her latest venture: “One summer during the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, I got to know Yuri Goloubev (bassist) and Asaf Sirkis (percussionist), as we were all playing in the band of Swiss guitarist Marco Cortesi. The piano trio had been the instrumentation of my choice since my final recitals at Hochschule Lucerne Switzerland. The new line-up with Yuri on bass and Asaf on drums toured and recorded ‘Glitterwoods’, which was released on Traumton Records Berlin in 2015 and highly rated by the jazz press. Playing trio feels right for my slightly dense compositional language, which projects clearly through the transparency of this format.

“After having moved to London, which was as a huge change for me, I formed a new band. With Matt Ridley on bass and Jon Scott on drums, I am thrilled to have two of my favourite musicians on the UK scene in my band. I am really looking forward to playing the music live in the UK, after mainly having performed with them in Switzerland, so far.”

Jon Scott, Fabienne Ambuehl, Matt Ridley (Photographer: Greg De Wode)

Fabienne continues, concerning the new album: “’Thrive’ is the result of introspection, questions of belonging, moving country just before lockdown was announced, and sometimes not knowing what place to call home. Many songs are inspired by nature, which I believe is a healing power. ‘New Ones’ features Ant Law on guitar, whose strong solo captures the thought of the song perfectly: alien life arriving on earth and supplanting humanity. ‘Thrive’, the title track, with words by D.H. Lawrence, describes ‘a small bird who will drop frozen dead from a bough, without ever having felt sorry for itself.’  Tom Ollendorff’s expressive guitar sound is such a luminous addition to the trio as, for example, on ‘Immaculate Rain’, where I am singing about feeling renewed after venturing into pouring rain.

“One of the great lessons I learned while writing this album, is to multitask less, in general. ‘Thrive’ is an invitation to be more present within the little moments in life, undistracted. Although the music is rooted in jazz, influenced by folk, and plays with the lyrical aspects of Romantic music, I hope that it can speak for itself.”

Fabienne Ambuehl, Matt Ridley, Jon Scott (Photographer: Rolf Fassbind)

Fabienne goes on to describe her new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I am really excited to be releasing ‘Thrive’ as my debut with Ubuntu Music. Many musicians whom I admire are on its roster. Martin’s unique work, passion for, and dedication to (jazz) music is contagious and a true asset for us musicians and the UK jazz scene. I feel privileged and proud to become a part of this musical family and would like to thank the Ubuntu team for the outstanding support in the process, and their faith in my music.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It’s a pleasure for us to be working with Fabienne on ‘Thrive’, her upcomoing project. The compositions, along with the performances behind each, are exceptional and a joy for the ears to absorb. Her superb trio – Matt Ridley (bass) and Jon Scott (drums) – along with guttarists Ant Law and Tom Ollendorff, are all previous Ubuntu recording musicians which makes this a particularly special release. We are so happy to have them in the Ubuntu Family.”

Jon Scott, Fabienne Ambuehl, Matt Ridley (Photographer: Greg De Wode)

For further information, please contact:

Fabienne Ambuehl/Artist:  info@fabienneambuehl.com

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

Martina Weinmar/MaWeMarketing (Europe): mweinmar@email.de

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

FABIENNE AMBUEHL BIOGRAPHY:

Fabienne Ambuehl is a Swiss pianist, singer and composer, living in London. With her trio she released her debut album, Glitterwoods (Traumton Berlin), which was well-received in the European jazz press. Thrive, her upcoming release, features Jon Scott on drums, Matt Ridley on bass, with Tom Ollendorff and also Ant Law on guitar.

As well as performing with her trio and solo, in the recent past Fabienne has performed with the Noga Ritter band and worked and toured in Senegal for a musical residency, supported by Arts Council England. With Neele & the Soundvoyage she released an EP and the album Visions (QFTF Berlin 2018) and toured Switzerland and Germany. As a singer and soloist of the Jazz Choir Freiburg, Fabienne toured Germany and Austria. In July 2017 she was their soloist at the Eurovision Song Contest for choirs in Riga, Latvia.

Fabienne completed her masters degree at Lucerne School of Music. She studied with Hans Feigenwinter and Chris Wiesendanger alongside vocal studies with Bruno Amstad and Lauren Newton. Fabienne continued her studies with Jean Paul Brodbeck, Christoph Stiefel, Asaf Sirkis and Gwilym Simcock.

Fabienne won a scholarship from Friedl Wald Stiftung and studied at the Complete Vocal institute in Copenhagen. She is the winner of a Förderpreis of the Kanton Zug and with Harmonie Greber was selected for Suisse Diagonales Jazz.

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.