Stoney Lane

June 2009

Bain and Pursglove Present the Jon Irabagon Quintet

Young New York saxophonist Jon Irabagon, winner of the coveted Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, joins the astute British duo of Andrew Bain and Percy Pursglove in a six-date UK Tour this June.

‘Bain and Pursglove Presents’ is a new, ongoing venture by the pair, presenting various international jazz artists alongside their intriguing rhythmic partnership. Last month saw avant-garde NYC trumpeter Peter Evans join Andrew and Percy in Birmingham, with the current tour bringing the duo together with Irabagon, fellow New Yorker Mark Anderson on double bass and Scot Malcolm Edmonstone on piano.

The group will focus on Irabagon’s contemporary compositions and arrangements, whilst also featuring repertoire from Jon and Andrew’s New York quartet, Confluence.

Irabagon is very much the rising star – if not already – in the Big Apple, having performed and recorded with musical luminaries such as Billy Joel, Wynton Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman and Lou Reed. His huge scope of improvisation and musical inclusion leans from fronting his improv quintet ‘Outright’ and an “unapologetic” 80’s cover band, to leading the free-wheeling quartet RIDD and a Sonny Rollins Tribute Trio. His new album of originals and standards is released this autumn on Concord Records.

Edinburgh-born drummer Andrew Bain studied at the Manhattan School of Music after graduating from London’s Guildhall, and now performs extensively between the UK and NYC – recent highlights including appearances at the BBC Proms, the Montreux Jazz Festival and many of New York’s legendary clubs. Andrew also co-leads ‘Confluence’, whilst lecturing at Birmingham Conservatoire and directing the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland.

Equally at home on double bass and trumpet, Birmingham-based Percy Pursglove will be sporting both during this tour, and is an increasingly sought-after musician in UK jazz circles. In 2005, Percy was the winner of both the BBC Big Band Competition Soloist Prize and the Starbucks Young Jazz Musician Prize. Percy currently lectures at Birmingham Conservatoire, and has performed with numerous projects, at home and abroad, including appearances with The Duke Ellington Orchestra at Birdland, the BBC Big Band and the Don Lusher Big Band.

‘Bain and Pursglove Presents The Jon Irabagon Quintet’ is touring England and Scotland between the 7th and 18th June, 2009.

Jon Irabagon (saxophone)
Percy Pursglove (trumpet, double bass)
Malcolm Edmonstone (piano)
Mark Anderson (double bass)
Andrew Bain (drums)

Tour dates:

Sunday 7th June 2009
8.30pm
Charlie Wrights
Findamorale International Festival 2009
243 Old Street, London, EC1V 9EY

Tickets: £7/£5 in advance
Tel: +44 207 490 8345
Web: http://www.charliewrights.com

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Monday 8th June 2009
9.00pm
Polo Sessions at The Hill
23 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5QP

Tickets: Free admission
Web: http://www.birminghamjazz.co.uk

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Wednesday 10th June 2009
7.30pm
Leith Festival at Queen Charlotte Rooms
56a Queen Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, EH6 7ET

Tickets: £8/£5 conc
Tel: +44 131 555 6660
Web: http://www.leithfestival.com

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Thursday 11th June 2009
8.00pm
The Blue Lamp
121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen, AB25 1BU

Tickets: £10/£8
Tel: +44 1224 647 472
Web: http://www.jazzscotland.com

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Monday 15th June 2009
8.30pm
The Vortex Jazz Club
11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8JH

Tickets: £8.00
Tel: +44 207 254 4097
Web: http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk
(Quartet performance)

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Thursday 18th June 2009
8.00pm
Octave
27-29 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9BA

Tickets: £5.00
Tel: +44 207 836 4616
Web: http://www.octave8.com
(Quartet performance)