Duncan Fraser Septet

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Last Show: Sunday 30 th October 2022

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Trumpeter, composer and arranger Duncan Fraser brings his Septet to PizzaExpress Jazz Club for the first time, featuring some acclaimed young players on the London scene. Performing a repertoire consisting mainly of Fraser’s originals, the music is heavily rooted in the Post Bop sounds frequently heard across both the London and New York Jazz scenes. The ensemble released their first album (Fraser’s 2nd as leader), Soundscapes of Manhattan, in September 2021. Expect strong bass-lines, contemporary grooves and vamp sections voiced and coloured with 4 horns, composed ensemble passages combined with ample space for improvisation and interplay.

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“[The] Septet Line-up gives the Trumpeter plenty of scope to work with the ensemble voicings, and this greatly enhances his already impressive writing.”

Jazz Views

Performing a repertoire consisting mainly of Fraser’s originals, he has drawn influence heavily from the music of one of his Jazz idols, Wynton Marsalis and his septet of the early/mid 1990's, using the same line-up of 4 horns (Trumpet, Trombone & 2 Saxes) plus Piano, Bass & Drums. Although there are also sounds influenced by greats such as Coltrane, Tom Harrell & Joe Henderson. 

Fraser has also been inspired by current similar sized ensembles who are working on the New York Jazz scene.  He says "I took a trip over a few years back and really got inspired, which turned out to be the formations of this project." Subsequent trips combined with modern technology meaning the sounds being created are only a live stream away, means the inspiration has kept going and the music is heavily rooted in the Post Bop sounds frequently heard across both the London and New York Jazz scenes. So much so, that the bands first recording is entitled Soundscapes of Manhattan, and the tunes are written to evoke imagery of parts of the city. The ensemble released this in September 2021.

"The compositions are intelligent & the arrangements warm, swinging & colourful. There are some excellent solos, but it’s the cohesion of the septet as a whole that is arguably most impressive.” - The Jazz Mann 

Expect strong bass-lines, contemporary grooves and vamp sections voiced and coloured with 4 horns, composed ensemble passages combined with ample space for improvisation and interplay.

Band Line Up

Duncan Fraser (trumpet)
Ronan Perrett (alto saxophone)
Wesley Frankel (tenor saxophone)
Sam Sankey (trombone)
Rob Brockway (piano)
Huw V Williams (bass)
Luke Bainbridge (drums)