Formed 6 years ago, the Sam Crockatt Quartet grew out Pete Churchill's composition classes at the Academy, Sam started writing music and the idea of a quartet was formed. This combination of friends and like-minded musicians has led to a band that obviously enjoys playing together and has a rich, cohesive sound.

"Both Bonney, with his sparing but telling use of vibrato and vocalised tones, and Fincker, whose controlled fervour seems more impressive with each successive appearance, set a sensible course between the Scylla of outright re-creation of the Ayler brothers' sound and the Charybdis of using their material merely as a springboard for frolics of their own; An unexpected treat." Chris Parker

Since coming together in march 2008 in east London, TOM-MIX have worked hard on developing a trio sound based on open improvisation, intense group interaction and rhythmic flexibility. From this sound a broad frame of reference emerges including the groups of John Coltrane, Lee Konitz and Sonny Rollins, the language of Bartok, Webern and Xenakis, the detailed interplay of free improv and the raw energy of free jazz. "Tom-Mix - 3 to 1 sets hard as Akenside bakes On the Outside sweats on the inside - Olie Brice bowed bass solo overheard in deep conversation with kittiwake heaven - Tony Marsh - named after Tom's wonder horse - from dressage to full gallop - flushing birds from cover - wing beats flutter - escape the snare - settle in the reeds - pots of them marinading in the gloop but not for the soup says Mark Hanslip who choses carefully - this one's Konitz leaving town on a Coltrane - skipping the light fantastic by Rollins Toc-H Lamp - yet no dimness here - when we close our eyes we hear. Go on, go on, go on, go on.........." (George M., Bebop Spoken Here blog)

Having played together for a number of years, Dog Soup have developed their own unique sound.The band use a number of electronic effects to create different textures and colours- samplers and loops creating a swirling bed of music over which to improvise. This creates a seething electronic stew, blurring the distinctions between gritty, dark grooves, electronic sounds, loops and samples and free group improvisation.

Phronesis was created by Copenhagen-born/London-based bassist Jasper Høiby in Denmark in the late autumn of 2005, they released their debut album 'Organic Warfare' in November 2007 out on Loop Records and since release the debut album has so far sold more than 10.000 songs as downloads in the US and Europe. Høiby has now reformed his group with Ivo Neame (keys, UK) and Anton Eger (drums, SWE). Phronesis recorded their 2nd album in January 2009 which was also released on the Loop Record Label. Their music is fresh and exuberant wih strong melodic grooves, inspired by a world heritage of rhythms and sounds. "..beautifully judged sounds.." [John L Walters - The Guardian UK] "A frenetic grooving, great young band with bags of confidence.." [Time Out London]" Høiby's rich and sophisticated piano trio... traveling down deep, smoldering grooves." [Daniel Spicer - Jazzwise]

"Blink enjoys a nimble agility that seems intent on taking everyone by surprise Ésomehow discovering accidental perfection in the face of infinite possibility" Jazzwise

The original Quartet has been augmented to a quintet following a successful collaboration with leading jazz vocalist Beraha at the Loop festival Feb '09 and several new compositions feature her fantastic lyrics. On other tracks she sings wordless vocals, often harmonizing with the sax line to great effect. A new album and tour is planned for 2010.

"The Golden Age of Steam" features the compositions of reeds player James Allsopp and builds on his association with drummer Tim Giles, co-leader of the award winning quintet "Fraud" (BBC Jazz Award for Innovation 2008). The group is completed by young keyboard virtuoso Kit Downes, winner of the BBC Jazz Award for Rising Star 2008. AllsoppÕs work is inspired by the combination of anarchic playfulness and formal logics of LigetiÕs music, the joyous saxophone thunder of Coltrane and Ayler, and the twisted lyricism of Captain Beefheart. The music is sometimes labyrinthine, sometimes eerily sparse, incorporating seismic riffs, limping marches and intricately woven contrapuntal textures into a multi coloured world of improvised sound. The band were invited to play at the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival 2009 as part of the Jerwood Rising Stars programme. This is a continuation of Allsopp and GilesÕs association with the scheme.

Ma are carving out their own space within Europe's electronic/improvisation landscape, with a distinctive sound moving between serene Boards Of Canada-esque layers, explosive noise-improv in the vein of Norway's Supersilent, Tortoise-style beats and dark, abstract dub soundworlds. With members of Red Snapper, Three Trapped Tigers, The Heritage Orchestra, Outhouse and Nostalgia 77 it's not surprising that Tom Challenger's heady, often Messiaen-inspired material is subject to such a multi-pronged interpretation. The quartet is powered by Dave Smith's percussive flow, by turns sensitive and tumultuous, whilst Matt Calvert's Fennesz-meets-Lee Perry electronics weave between the melodic focus of Challenger's sax and the textural glue of Ross Stanley's organ and rhodes

Left-field trumpeter Rory Simmons leads his tricksy, brilliant, ten-piece Fringe Magnetic. Featuring musicians from the innovative LOOP collective, as well as those from classical and folk traditions, Fringe Magnetic brings together gritty rhythmic counterpoint laced with words from Norway. Skidding strings and chorale like winds, the chamber ensemble within the group weave intricate melodies juxtaposed with the twisted ambience of contemporary song. Fringe Magnetic aims to fuse chamber, orchestral palettes and shapes with the vibrant energy of cutting edge jazz and improvised music and the ensemble features some of the most exciting and dynamic young musicians from the London jazz, classical and improvised scene. On Fringe Magnetic, Simmons draws on the jaggedy free-imrpov of Tim Berne, with the hypnotic pastoral beauty of Christian Wallumrod as well as the quirkiness of Django Bates and Hanne Hukkelberg.

Gemini fuses melodic lyricism with complex rhythmic counterpoint and free improvisation. The music is written by award winning Vibraphonist Jim Hart and draws on the influences of Bill Frisell, Wayne Shorter and John Hollenbeck's Claudia quintet. Autumn 2009 saw the release of their new album Narrada and a successful UK tour. The band features the wonderfully talented Ivo Neame on alto saxophone and the much sought after rhythm section of Jasper Hoiby on Bass and drummer Dave Smith.

Mark Hanslip (tenor saxophone) & Javier Carmona (drums/percussion)

Rory Simmons (trumpet) & Alex Bonney (trumpet)

"...an ensemble of rare intensity and interplay" Jazz Magazine (FR)

The Ivo Neame quartet features Jim Hart (vibes), Jasper Høiby (bass) and drum sensation James Maddren, and was recently signed to Edition Records. The first album Caught in the Light of Day was released in late October 2009. The most recent tour saw the band develop an audacious openness based on the strong trust developed over the years by regular playing and recording. Ivo's writing attempts to create music that is not limited by its own parameters, and which constantly explores the juxtaposition of the relative poles of texture, timbre and group interplay