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Hession, Wilkinson, Fell

Jez Nelson presents an improvised set from Paul Hession, Alan Wilkinson and Simon H Fell, performed at Cafe Oto in East London during the trio's 21st anniversary tour.

Jez Nelson presents a performance by drummer Paul Hession, saxophonist Alan Wilkinson and double bassist Simon H. Fell, recorded, during the trio's 21st anniversary tour, at Cafe Oto in East London. Hession, Wilkinson and Fell began playing improvised music together in 1989, and their sound, which is rooted in both American free jazz and European free improvisation, is characterised by intensity, power and passion. The three have mostly been pursuing individual projects for the past decade, but decided to fire up the group once more to mark 21 years since its foundation.

"They left the audience in a state of shock. Whiteheat improvisation, full throttle free jazz out of Archie Shepp 1969, but somehow more so: more venom, more noise, more discord, more evil heat . . . we are talking the essence of what makes jazz great here." THE WIRE

Alan Wilkinson emerged onto the creative Leeds music scene in the 1980s before moving to London in 1990. He's been a mainstay of the city's improvised music scene ever since, playing with everyone from Derek Bailey, John Edwards and Steve Noble to Spring Heel Jack and Spiritualized.

As well as playing the double bass, Simon H Fell is a highly respected composer whose work straddles contemporary jazz and classical music as well as free improvisation. He's a founder member of the London Improviser's Orchestra and has played with John Zorn, Peter Brotzmann, Joey Baron and Christian Marclay amongst many many others.

Born in Leeds, Paul Hession has played with many of the major players on the free music scene, including Evan Parker, Paul Rutherford, Marshall Allen and Joe McPhee, as well as musicians who work with electronics such as Tom Jenkinson aka Squarepusher and techno creator and DJ Paul Woolford.

Presenter: Jez Nelson

Studio Guest: John Fordham

Producers: Robert Abel & Peggy Sutton.

1 hour, 45 minutes

Last on

Mon 31 May 2010 23:15

Music Played

  • The Claudia Quintet

    Keramag

    • Royal Toast.
    • Cuneiform.
  • SΓ©bastien Texier

    Don't Forget You Are An Animal

    • Don’t Forget You Are An Animal.
    • Cristal Records.
  • Eric Hofbauer

    Hot For Teacher

    • American Fear.
    • Creative Nation Music.
  • Nat Birchall

    Guiding Spirit

    • Guiding Spirit.
    • Gondwana Records.
  • Spin Marvel

    Black Dog Company

    • The Reluctantly Politised Mr James.
    • Edition.
  • John Scofield

    Peculiar

    • 54.
    • Emarcy.
  • Paul Hession, Simon H Fell and Alan Wilkinson

    • Untitled

      Paul Hession, Simon H Fell and Alan Wilkinson talk about how their music has developed since they first played together 21 years ago.

  • Hession/Wilkinson/Fell recorded at CafΓ© Oto on 28 March 2010

    • Untitled

      Line up: Paul Hession (drums), Simon H Fell (double bass), Alan Wilkinson (saxophone and vocals) This set is entirely improvised.

Broadcast

  • Mon 31 May 2010 23:15

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