Live at Kings Place

22nd April 2022

CD & Digital Formats / UBU0098

Clockwise from left: Bruno Heinen, Andrea Di Biase, Heidi Vogel, Gene Calderazzo (Photographer: George Nelson)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of pianist, composer, and educator Bruno Heinen’s ensemble, The W, for their debut album release, Live at Kings Place, for release on 22nd April 2022.

The W is Bruno's new London-based contemporary jazz group. Like the four equal lines that make up the letter ‘W’, the four members of the group come together as one voice in performance. The band features Heidi Vogel (Cinematic Orchestra) on wordless vocals, Andrea Di Biase (Kenny Wheeler) on double bass, Gene Calderazzo (Pharaoh Sanders) on drums and Bruno on piano.

“Sure signs of an appetite for the unexpected…It’ll be great to hear it live”

Jazzwise Magazine ★★★★

They are a band in the true sense of the word. They meet regularly, learning the music by heart and shaping Bruno's compositions together. The compositions themselves have a story to tell, as each one based on a single idea/concept, and written with melody at the forefront. Bruno, Andrea and Gene have been working together for many years. The addition of Heidi Vogel brings another layer of depth and lyricism to the music. “I’ve been working with Heidi in her own groups for over 10 years”, says Bruno. “I’ve always wanted to include her in a project of my own, and from the first time she sang with us, it just felt right. Her soul and range are extraordinary, especially without words: I can write as if I were composing for trombone, trumpet, or operatic soprano.”

Bruno Heinen (Photographer: George Nelson)

The forthcoming Live at Kings Place EP is comprised of three tracks taken from a concert at the end of their 2021 tour, funded by Arts Council England. Snowed In With Cedar Walton tells the story of a solo gig Walton played at the Village Vanguard in the 90s, where Bruno was one of only a handful of audience members. Snake River is inspired by Bruno's childhood trip to the Teton Mountains in the American Midwest, and Her Song was written on International Women's Day 2020 for his wife and daughter.

“Original compositions that sound like standards”

Marlbank ★★★★

The group are currently working on a full-length follow up album, also to be released on the Ubuntu Music record label.

Left to right: Heidi Vogel, Gene Calderazzo, Andrea Di Biase, Bruno Heinen (Photographer: Carlotta Cardana)

“I’m very excited about my new partnership with Ubuntu”, says Bruno. “From the very first meeting I had with Martin Hummel, I could see his passion for the music. First and foremost, he is about promoting the artform, and he has the drive and experience to make it happen on an ambitious scale. We’ll be working together on this EP and the follow-up album, and I sincerely hope our partnership will continue well beyond that. Looking at the label roster, I’m certainly in very good company, and I’m so happy to have a chance to contribute to the momentum of this important label.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his view: “I’ve admired Bruno for a while. He’s a gifted composer and arranger, who has contributed greatly to the London jazz scene, working alongside a number of well-known leaders in jazz. It’s a delight to have the opportunity to work with Bruno and his exceptional band of equals on this EP release, which is the start of more exciting things to come. We welcome ‘The W’ to the Family.”

For further information, please contact:

Julie Allison/Riot Squad (UK Publicity): julie@riotsquadpublicity.com

Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com

GROUP BIOGRAPHIES

Bruno Heinen is a London-based contemporary improvising pianist, composer and educator. He is professor of jazz piano and composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Bruno has released eight albums under his own name to date, with the Guardian describing his music as “eclectic, eccentric and unobtrusively erudite”. Bruno has worked with artists such as Shabaka Hutchings, Julian Siegel, Jean Toussaint, Julian Arguelles, Denys Baptiste, Reem Kelani, Larry Bartley, Tony Kofi, Rod Youngs, and Winston Clifford, amongst others. Bruno has performed in venues and festivals worldwide, and has had his music played on BBC radio 3, Jazz LineUp, Late Junction, BBC6 Music, BBC Scotland, in Italy, Germany, Austria, Canada, and the USA, as well as giving live broadcasts and interviews for the BBC and Rai 3 Italy. Last year he received his RNCM doctorate for research in jazz piano counterpoint, focusing on the solo work of Fred Hersch. Nominated for the Paul Hamlyn Composers Award in 2009, Bruno has written for groups ranging from sextet to big band, string ensemble and 2 pianos and percussion. In 2017, he performed as principal pianist for two recorded performances of Bernstein's Wonderful Town at the Barbican Centre with the LSO, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

Heidi Vogel made her professional debut touring with Cirque du Soleil, establishing herself as a mainstay of the London and LA jazz and soul scenes. She then joined The Cinematic Orchestra (Ninja Tune) as lead vocalist and has toured extensively with the group for over 5 years. By 2007, Vogel had toured throughout the USA, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and Europe and ended the year with a sold-out concert at The Royal Albert Hall. Festival appearances include The Big Chill UK, Dubai’s Chill Out Festival (supporting Erykah Badu), North Sea Jazz, Coachella, Gilles Peterson Worldwide and Blue Note Jazz Festival.

Italian double bass player and composer Andrea Di Biase has worked with Dave Liebman, Julian Arguelles, Stan Sultzman, Antonio Zambrini and Norma Winstone. Together with pianist Liam Noble, Andrea played in the last trio of the legendary British trumpeter and composer Kenny Wheeler. Festival appearances include the London Jazz Festival, The Hague Jazz Festival, IASJ - Sao Paolo, and The Rest Is Noise. He is a prolific composer, and his own group, Dugong, have toured extensively in recent years.

Currently residing in the UK, New Yorker Gene Calderazzo has established himself as one of the busiest drummers on the international jazz scene. Notable collaborations include Pharoah Sanders, Steve Lacy, Steve Grossman, Eddie Henderson, The NDR, Mike Gibbs, Bheki Mseleku, UMO, Sting, Radiohead, James Moody, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Ulf Wakenius, Gary Husband, Wayne Krantz, Bobby Watson and Eddie Gomez.

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Live at Kings Place