The Swallow Quintet feat. Carla Bley // Colin Towns Blue Touch Paper

The Swallow Quintet feat. Carla Bley

His gig history with this festival dates back to 1966: Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto were his first visiting card. He played with Gary Burton, kicked off John Scofield’s European career and returned with Carla Bley a couple of times. An innovator on the bass guitar, a gifted composer, producer and bandleader, Steve Swallow has been a consistently engaging presence in jazz over the last 40 years.

He has placed first (electric bass) in the Downbeat International Critics Poll since 1983, and in the Downbeat Readers Poll since 1985. He has also won the Jazz Times poll (electric bass) for the past several years, and has been voted the Jazz Journalists Association's electric bassist of the year since 2001, when that category was instituted.

Now he presents his new band, the first in a long time, a potent lineup that features Carla Bley on Hammond B3 organ, tenorist Chris Cheek, guitarist Steve Cardenas and drummer Jorge Rossy. Together, they create eloquent modern jazz packed with dynamism and drive. Between touring he lives in contented isolation with Carla Bley, in the mountains of upstate New York.

Colin Towns Blue Touch Paper

No matter if he is busy with his own Mask Orchestra or co-operates with various European radio big bands – Colin Towns stands out from the run-of-the-mill arranging trade.

The British sound magician has developed a unique profile, and has been a welcome and regular guest with the Berlin Jazzfestival since more than a decade.

With his new six piece band the former keyboarder/arranger for the Ian Gillan Band finally returns to his roots – at least looking at the formate. His approach is a very fresh one, though. With an abundance of experience in rock, jazz, classical, electronic and film music at hand, and an excellent cast of German and UK free-thinkers at his side, the Berlin live premiere of Colin Towns Blue Touch Paper promises to be a highly entertaining experience – as drummer Stephan Maas says: “It’s optical music, it takes you on a trip … the challenge of this band is to play without fear”.

Leave your expectations at home – this is no predictable band!