Chris Allard 'Invisible Landscape' album launch

featuring special guest Charlie Wood

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Thursday 14 th July 2016

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Chris is regarded as one of the UK's finest contemporary jazz guitarists/composers. He has performed and recorded with Jacqui Dankworth, Gwilym Simcock, the BBC Big Band and Jamie Cullum, amongst others. The Chris Allard Band have performed all over the UK and in Europe, including the International Guitar Festival and Ronnie Scott’s, and had radio-play as far afield as Los Angeles and Portugal.

Now excited to be bringing the music from Invisible Landscape to Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho. This is Chris’s fourth album as a bandleader, and has been receiving excellent reviews; praised for impeccable performances, and a distinctive melodic gift.  

a non-cliched linear improviser of great originality and talent…an excellent recording of mod-ern music full of variety, intensity and interest.’

Jazzviews

Guitar-led contemporary jazz group, formed by Chris in 2002; firmly rooted in and informed by jazz tradition, yet encompassing elements of rock, world, classical, blues and folk influences. Chris currently collaborates a great deal with tonight’s featured guest, Memphis legend Charlie Wood, who also appears on the album. 

 “Full-blooded solos...right on the money” Jazzwise

In an age of instant downloads and short attention spans, ‘Invisible Landscape’ is a brave album built on artistic integrity, framed by Allard’s inventive musical vision and realized by the band’s technical and improvisational excellence’ ★★★★ Get Ready to Rock

 Chris has played the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican, Montreux Jazz Festival, Nuremberg Festival, Hackney Empire, Cannes Festival, Maison Musique Torino Italy, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Edinburgh Festival, Duoro Jazz Festival Portugal, The Royal Festival Hall, BBC Proms in Hyde Park to over 42000 people live and millions on TV; he has played live on TV and radio many times, and appeared on numerous

albums.

Throughout 2015 Chris toured with multi-platinum singer Russell Watson, the biggest selling UK classical artist of all time, with more than 80 sell-out concerts. Chris was playing classical, steel-string acoustic and electric guitars, as well as electric bass and mandolin. Previous recent tours include arena tours with Il Divo in 2014 and 2016; including the O2 Arena in London. Also in 2014 Chris toured the UK with trumpet virtuoso Alison Balsom, venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

 “One of the great guitarists in this country” Jamie Cullum BBC Radio 2

Band Lineup

Chris Allard (guitars)

Ross Stanley (piano) 

Chris Hill (bass)

Nick Smalley (drums)

Charlie Wood (organ/vocals)