Kind of Jazz’s Elana Shapiro writes, “Listening to Summer Chill is easy and comfortable. It evokes feelings of nostalgia for the warm glow of summer. With a 60s-inspired pop jazz theme, it offers a lively and entertaining listen, with excellent playing by Webb and his group.”
FEATURE: Joe Webb
Sandy Brown Jazz speaks with the popular pianist.
Jazzwise Magazine: September 2022
Ubuntu Music artists continue to generate extensive coverage in the UK’s leading jazz magazine.
Ubuntu Music News Story
Guest Chart: Joe Webb
The Jazz FM Radio Chart: Joe Webb
Steve Baker Album Review
Allison Wheeler Album Review
Joe Webb Concert Listing
REVIEW: Joe Webb
Jazz Journal’s Brian Payne writes, “These are great tracks and first-rate musicians.”
REVIEW: Joe Webb
JOE WEBB ‘SUMMER CHILL’ CD (UBUNTU MUSIC) 5/5
For the full article, please click on the image, above.
Ubuntu Music in Jazzwise Magazine's August 2022 Issue
Another banner month for Ubuntu Artists!
Matt Ridley / Take 5
James Kitchman / Charting the Jazz Message
Joe Webb / Jazz FM Pick
James Kitchman / Taking Off
James Kitchman: Review & Editor’s Pick
Tomorrow’s New Quartet: Review & Editor’s Pick
Joe Webb: Review
Scarborough Jazz Festival: Rory Ingham Feature
Ubuntu Music to Release Drummer Corrie Dick’s New Album
Sun Swells
21st October 2022
CD, Digital & Vinyl Formats / UBU0108
Corrie Dick (photographer: Alex Morley)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the exceedingly versatile drummer, Corrie Dick, for the release of his new album, Sun Swells, on 21st October 2022.
Corrie, a musician and composer specialising in euphoric, sonically-inventive drumming, is at the rhythmic epicentre of a new era of innovative British jazz. He is lauded for his dynamism, his melodic slant and for his playfully subversive take on style and genre. An artist of prolific and varied output, Corrie has long been an essential component of Laura Jurd’s music including Mercury Prize shortlisted Dinosaur; is a crucial co-pilot in Elliot Galvin Trio and Rob Luft Group; and co-writes music with an abundance of artists including alternative Indie band Ink Line. His 2015 release Impossible Things which skilfully fused Celtic folk and contemporary jazz with new takes on African rhythms culminated in sold out touring and concerts across the UK. Now Corrie resets for an album which further embraces the eclectic whims of a child of the iPod shuffle generation - finding cohesion among disparate elements.
As a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded on piano, vocals, synth, guitar and trumpet, Corrie’s writing is uniquely colourful and his playing shaped by many perspectives. The new album Sun Swells showcases all of this. Anchored by a rock guitar trio but with layers of fruity surprises, surging vocal melodies are counterpointed by mercurial horn playing. There is captivating prose written by guest vocalists Dave Malkin of the English folk tradition and Greek-Norwegian Marianna Sangita.
Corrie Dick (photographer: Alex Morley)
Now an active participant in South East London’s evergreen arts scene, Deptford, the young master of contemporary drumming has studied traditional music in Ghana and Morocco where the grooves are rich and layered, and in his home land, Scotland, where rhythm and melody have melded for centuries.
Alongside his ensemble work, Corrie has been exploring solo drum and percussion, most recently performing at King’s Place and Newcastle Festival of Improvised Music. Here he demonstrates fresh perspectives of an instrument that glows with possibility, embracing the full gamut of dynamics and textures with slanted nods to music traditions of the world.
Left to right: Joe Wright (sax), Laura Jurd (trumpet), Rob Luft (guitar).
Corrie has been mentored by the likes of Mark Guiliana and Kendrick Scott, as well as kpanlogo master Saddiq Addy, nephew of the legendary Mustapha Tettey Addy. He has studied the traditional and modern music of Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Benin and DR Congo alongside his prodigious creative companion, guitarist Rob Luft.
Left to right: Matt Robinson (piano/synth), Tom McCredie (bass), Joe Webb (organ).
In short, Corrie is an original, open-minded, questing talent who is extending the parameters of what it means to be a drummer.
Concerning the idea behind Sun Swells, his latest project, Corrie explains: “I wanted to write a jazz album that had rock instrumentation at its core: guitar-bass-drums. Rob Luft (guitar), Tom McCredie (bass) and I have been improvising and writing together for years and years and we’ve forged a sound that is uniquely crunchy yet summery, so I wanted that sound at the centre but decorated with all sorts of elements. I basically wanted to make folk-rock-jazz but treat it how electronic music producer Mura Masa treats his tracks--chucking the whole damn fruit bowl at the thing but somehow keeping space and air in the arrangement and the mix.”
The music on Sun Swells is highly unique in a way that is becoming a trademark for the highly gifted artist. Corrie continues: “This is outsider jazz; it’s extremely listenable music that has lots of very current, familiar ingredients but put together in a way you may not be familiar with. Some key elements include soaring folkish melodies, Scandinavian free jazz, 90s-kid grooves, a playful shunning of conventional jazz roles and form, stillness, turbulence, beautiful and ugly-pretty sounds, warmth, stunning lyrical imagery, climate change, feminism, and eclectic guests. It’s an album that embraces contrasts and spectra and that can be listened to in so many ways. It finds cohesion in the disparate.”
Left to right: Dave Malkin (vocals), Alice Zawadzki (vocals), Tom Moore (viola), Marianna Sangita (vocals).
The cast on the album comprises a venerable A-list of musicians in the young, dynamic segment of the always-morphing London jazz scene. Corrie explains: “The band is packed with prolific, special artists. The core of this group are musicians with whom I have loads of history in other groups - Laura Jurd (Dinosaur), Rob Luft, Tom McCredie (Elliot Galvin Trio), Joe Wright, Alice Zawadzki, Matt Robinson, Joe Webb. It’s unusual to have such pure synergy between so many musicians at the same time.”
Concerning his newly established relationship with Ubuntu Music, Corrie gives his view: “As far as I’m concerned Ubuntu is the perfect home for this music--it’s got that special balance between supportive guidance and allowing for artistic freedom and integrity. I feel very privileged to be working alongside Martin Hummel and his team for this album.”
Corrie Dick (Photographer: Alex Morley)
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Wow, where do you begin with this one? Corrie is a ferociously independent breed of artist who forges his own musical path which renders his music exceedingly unique while being shamelessly accessible to all. When Corrie’s talent is combined with an exceptional array of gifted musicians--a number of whom can be found on Ubuntu recordings--the end result is a sonic cocktail for the senses. It's just what the doctor ordered. We’re ecstatic that Corrie has joined the Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
Corrie Dick (Artist): corrie@corriedick.com
Rupert Burley/Dynamic Agency (UK Publicity) rupert@dynamicagency.co.uk
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
REVIEW: Joe Webb
Webb earns another rave review!
REVIEW: Joe Webb
Inspired by old teen movies, Webb and his A-team swing into action with a set of classy instrumentals
Ubuntu Music to Release Pianist Joe Webb’s Latest Project
Joe Webb / Summer Chill
24th June 2022
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0115
Joe Webb (photographer: Nicholas Andrews)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the gifted pianist, Joe Webb, for the release of his next project, Summer Chill, on 24th June 2022.
Joe is highly regarded and leading force on the U.K jazz scene today. He grew up in Wales before moving to London in 2013, where he has been active ever since.
Joe regularly performs around Europe and has played in venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Duc des Lombards, The Royal Albert Hall, Dizzy’s Jazz Club in New York City and the CCB in Lisbon.
Along with his trio and Webb City, he can be heard with the acclaimed Kansas Smitty’s, Hailey Tuck, Adrian Cox and Rob Luft, as well as working with Jamie Cullum and many other artists.
Jamie Cullum and Joe Webb (self-portrait)
“There are few people more joyous to listen to at the piano than Joe Webb”
--Jamie Cullum
For Joe’s newest release, Summer Chill, he has assembled some of his favourite musicians: some he has played with for many years and others who he has recently met. The band features, guitarist Alex Haines, bassist Will Sach, drummer Jas Kayser, percussionist João Caetano and guesting saxophonist Fraser Smith.
Left to right: Fraser Smith, Joe Webb, Will Sach, Jas Keyser, Alex Haines, João Caetano (Photographer: João Caetano)
Joe describes the project: "The idea behind the project was to create a soundtrack to a pool party in the 1960s. I spent some time watching films throughout the recent lockdowns which were inspired by this era."
The album is mostly arrangements/interpretations from the 1950s-60s with songs from Elvis Presley, LaVern Baker, Georgie Fame, Mel Tormé, Erroll Garner, Freddie Green, Cannonball Adderley and The Clovers, as well as two original compositions by Joe.
“Joe is a great young pianist…go check him out!”
--Jason Rebello
Left to right: Alex Haines, Will Sach, Jas Keyser (partly hidden), Joe Webb (Photographer: Will Sach)
Joe explains further: “Even though it was difficult to write music during the past two years, I felt it was important to document this period in some way, especially with the musicians I had spent the most time with during this period”.
This is the third album that Joe will be releasing on Ubuntu Music: "I am really happy to be releasing this music with the ever-growing Ubuntu Music Family. It’s lovely to have this album associated with many great friends and musicians."
Joe Webb
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his perspective: “It’s a pleasure to have Joe back with his third release on the label. He never ceases to entertain and reward his audiences with music that is readily embraced. ‘Summer Chill’ continues in this vein and will certainly delight all who listen. We’re proud to extend this valued relationship.”
For further information, please contact:
Joe Webb (Artist): joewebbmusic5@gmail.com
Emma perry (UK Publicity) emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com