Paul Towndrow & Steve Hamilton Duo

Description

Paul Towndrow (Alto Saxophone) and Steve Hamilton (Piano) have collaborated for over 15 years in a range of ensemble projects. In this intimate duo setting, compositions and improvisations are delivered in their purest form, allowing for the equal co-existence of musical architecture, and deep space. Crossover influences range broadly from Coltrane to Bartok, from early jazz to celtic folksong, and from world music to free improvisation.

In recent years Paul has been perhaps best known as a founder member of the multi-award winning four-piece horn section Brass Jaw, and as a member of Scotland’s flagship jazz orchestra, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He is well established on the UK jazz scene and has toured and recorded with a range of small group projects since 2002, and won multiple awards at The 2003 World Saxophone Competition. Having spent his formative musical years tidying on both sides of the Atlantic, Towndrow has become one of the UK’s busiest musicians, touring and performing with a wide range of artists including Benny Golson, Kurt Elling, John Scofield, Branford Marsalis, The Bad Plus, Ben E King, Jack Bruce, Martha Reeves, and others. He has been described in The Guardian as “a turbo-charged amalgam of all your saxophone heroes!”

Steve Hamilton is one of Europe’s most creative and experienced contemporary pianists, most recently touring the world as keyboardist with drumming legend Billy Cobham. His reputation as a piano A-Lister is justified through his performances and recordings with Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Pete King, Sax Appeal, Pee Wee Ellis, Freddie Hubbard, Frank Gambale, Van Morrison and many others.