Samuel Eagles' SPIRIT - Inventions and Dimensions

Samuel Eagles

Samuel Eagles's SPIRIT
Samuel Eagles - alto saxophone
Duncan Eagles - tenor saxophone
Ralph Wyld - vibraphone
Sam Leak - piano
Max Luthert - bass
Dave Hamblett - drums

Ralph Wyld

Date - 6th October 2016
Venue - Inventions and Dimensions at the RamJam Club, Kingston, UK

Current Album - Next Beginning (2014)

Future performance of Samuel Eagles Spirit

The Spice of Life – Soho, London Jazz Festival - 11/11/2016

Jazz at Lescar – Sheffield - 10/05/2017

Southampton Modern Jazz Club - 4/06/2017

Kokomo – Guildford - 05/06/2017  

Jazz Co-op – Newcastle - 13/06/2017

The Sound Cellar – Poole - 15/06/2017

The Fleece – Colchester - 16/06/2017

Dave Hamblett

Future performance at Inventions and Dimensions

13th October - Partikel

20th October - Toy Rokit

27th October - Penelope Dreaming

3rd November - Andrew Bain International Quartet

10th November - Andre Canniere Sextet

London altoist Samuel Eagles grows his quartet into a sextet that is now his SPIRIT. This new host still captivates audiences with its ethereal and piercingly emotive brand of music. Dave Hamblett replaces Eric Ford on drums while Max Luthert is the new Ferg Ireland on bass. The two new instrumental and personnel additions to the band are Sam leak on piano (Aquarium) and brother Duncan Eagles playing tenor saxophone.

Max Luthert

My first return since the inaugural night of Inventions and Dimensions saw a full Ram Jam Club respond with heart and excitement to two complete sets of brand new material from Samuel Eagles. There aren't many like Eagles (S) who can cast a light so bright, such is his sensitivity that he has a warmth and brightness all of his own. His first album unveiled a Mediterranean sun, creating pools in which to dwell in, sometime to hide but mostly to think. Next Beginning was like a whole day in these stripes of light and dark, the midday bright cutting a razor sharp shadow while those of dawn and dusk were blurred, soft and inviting. There is more power in these latest tunes, a radiance that emanates from this quietly spoken champion. Samuel Eagles' SPIRIT will be releasing on Whirlwind Recordings in 2017.

Duncan Eagles

Spirit winds up the tiny toy of spring, with sun swirling a steaming dew, it is a satisfied breath. The veins spread out, flowing under the turf, pushing an intravenous kick. So much is hidden upon first listening yet we see the multitude of burrows bobbing golden hares and wild white rabbits.  Duncan Eagles doesn't forget his kicking horse roots despite being shoulder to shoulder with his Cheshire lynx brother. As always Duncan's cup runneth over, he fills his music to the brim and plays a game of spill and toss while Ralph Wyld is those fine rivulets that run down the sides.

Sam Leak

Hear His Voice is an exotic geometry, intricate circles talk in abstracts that overwhelm senses and sense. Sam Leak is an ornate spire, an ever embellishing balustrade, a kind of gormenghast of cross wires and pounding hearts. Those hearts are ours. The applause too.

AL.

Inventions and Dimensions at the Ram Jam Club

Duncan Eagles

Inventions & Dimensions
Duncan Eagles - tenor saxophone
Max Luthert - bass
Terence Collie - piano
Will Glasser - drums

Tony Woods

Joined by
Tony Woods (sax), Samuel Eagles (sax) and Matt Bartlett (sax), Dan Redding (guitar), George Bone (piano), Toby Nowell (trumpet), Tracey O'Connor (voice) and many others.

Date - 1st September 2016
Venue - Ram Jam Club, Kingston, 46B Richmond Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5EE

Max Luthert

A return to Kingston's Grey Horse pub is long overdue for the glitterati of the current Brit Jazz scene.

A host of young musicians cut their teeth in the mid and late noughties when Partikel ran their infamous Jazz jam in the main belly of the pub. Last week we saw the launch of a new night called Inventions and Dimensions at the Ram Jam Club, a purpose built venue that sits just behind their original stomping ground.

Will Glasser

Future dates see a mix of national and international visitors to the Ram Jam stage over September, October and November 2016. Starting with Max Luthert's Orbital tomorrow night with the talented Gareth Lockrane on flute.

8th September - Max Luthert's Orbital

15th September - Preston Glasgow Lowe

22nd September - Peter Edwards Trio

29th September - Matt Chandler Quartet

6th October - Samuel Eagles' Spirit

13th October - Partikel

20th October - Toy Rokit

27th October - Penelope Dreaming

3rd November - Andrew Bain International Quartet

10th November - Andre Canniere Sextet

Terence Collie

The first night was a resounding success with some old and new faces gracing the stage. Eagles and Luthert opened with Will Glasser on drums and TW12 Jazz Festival bigwig Terence Collie on piano. They were ably supported by Tony Woods and Samuel Eagles on saxophone, both men play at the club later on in the year. Samuel Eagles will be giving us a first listen to some new tunes from his imminent second album.

Matt Bartlett

It was wonderful to see some of the original jammers coming back to the fray. Toby Nowell gave us a brief cameo before the much loved Jazz Proof (Eagles.D/Redding/Luthert/Bone) reformed in the style of Take That, without their very own Robbie Williams (Louie Palmer) of course. If this was once a springboard for young talent in the noughties then the night didn't disappoint as post-GCSE Matt Bartlett brought his alto to the party. As one of Mornington Lockett's Royal College students he has a bright future ahead of him, as does Inventions and Dimensions if this young man sticks around.

AL.

Partikel : Harnessing Eric Ford

Eric Ford - Drums

I know Partikel and their music more intimately than any other Jazz trio in London, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be writing this now. Many years ago I accompanied my friend and guitarist Richard Savage to the infamous Jazz Jam at Kingston's Grey Horse. As we entered, our eyes were assaulted with a vision straight out of Star Wars' Mos Eisley Cantina band, imagine Duncan Hemstock mid-clarinet solo and you've got it!

As I returned week after week I started to draw the house band, Partikel, and the motley crew of jammers. Eventually I tried to draw their new (replacement) drummer Eric Ford and capture his Yoda like persona. I realised then that Ford is as enigmatic as a Jedi Master.

Cast yourselves light years ahead and I was once again in front of Partikel last Tuesday (05/03/2013) at The Amersham Arms, New Cross with the rest of the S.E. Collective audience.
In the years in between I have spent a considerable time listening to and drawing Duncan Eagles, Max Luthert and Eric Ford. I have dissected their work to create album covers and their tunes have inspired many an animation.
So here in the present they appeared before me. It was a night of new and old material, all superbly executed with passion and verve.



Max Luthert - Bass

Running full pelt through their first tune 'Restless Child' they immerged the other side in Luthert Land, and his signature tune 'Assam'. The crowd were particularly appreciative of Luthert this night. He is the most laid back of the band, considering he is a 10 cups of tea a day connoisseur, I would hate to think what would happen if he stopped imbibing the caffeinated drink, the result would be the first prone bass player in history. He must of been playing well to have caught the eye for he is a modest man for the shadows, like so many bass players.

Duncan Eagles is the ultimate pro and one of London Jazz's great facilitators. He was exemplary tonight if not a little aggressive in his delivery. With something to get off his slim chest I checked my usual Eagles indicator, the left shoulder, like a barometer in changeable weather, spits and starts when Eagles is 'in the groove'.
 Damn!
I was side on so couldn't measure the degree of tilt adequately. I looked for new indicators. I've never seen him blow so hard and his face turned a cherry red. In fact he was blowing so hard his slow-slung hipster jeans nearly fell off his narrow hips. He excelled on both tunes 'The Landing' and 'D to the G'.


My favourite tune of the night is a mysterious one.

Duncan Eagles - Saxophone

I hope you all get the chance to hear it one day. I first heard it in Derek Nash's studio last year during the notorious Mark Perry Experiment session. Why and what the experiment was I never found out but imagine a child with ADHD and who'd eaten a pack of blue smarties then that would be the excitable trumpeter Mark Perry.
His group (Eagles, Luthert, Leak and Nicholls) was bolstered by the small matter of Gareth Lockrane on flute and they created the most brilliant tune called 'Barter's Band' together. It is a swinging joy and provides you with a melody that kicks like a mule for the week to come. There are rumours that this experimental brew (including Ola Onabule on vocals) may be released into the world sometime soon.

Partikel were fantastic tonight providing us with all the proof why they are one of Michael Janisch's leading lights at Whirlwind Recordings. I dearly hope the talk is true and a third album is in the pipeline.

I was pleased with my night's work, at last, I captured a likeness of Eric Ford, that quizzical look when he is pleased with his cow-bell skills or he has battered the audience with a particularly loud solo.
He still remains an enigmatic figure on the London circuit and if Partikel want to take the next step in their development they'll need to harness the force of nature that is Eric Ford.

May the force be with them.

AL