Martin Speake International Quartet

featuring Ethan Iverson with Calum Gourlay & Jorge Rossy

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Wednesday 19 th February 2020

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Alto saxophonist Martin Speake continues his collaboration on this anniversary tour with US pianist Ethan Iverson since first meeting 30 years ago in Banff Canada. They toured and recorded as a duo featured on My Ideal playing standard ballads just before Ethan toured the world with The Bad Plus. 17 years later after Ethan left The Bad Plus they performed and recorded again in 2018 as a quartet with Fred Thomas and James Maddren. The album Intention featured Martin’s compositions and arrangements of Dancing In The Dark and Charlie’s Wig.

“The rapport between Speake and Iverson itself is a thing of exquisite beauty.”

Downbeat Magazine

For this 2020 tour they are joined by drummer Jorge Rossy, who has collaborated with every significant player in his generation including Ethan for more than 25 years and is most recognised for touring and recording as part of Brad Mehldau’s trio until he left to concentrate on his own piano playing.

He leads his own quintet now featuring his vibes playing.

Bassist Calum Gourlay completes the quartet. He leads his own quartet and big band featuring his compositions and stunning arrangements of others music. Martin and Calum have collaborated for 15 years in various playing situations and most recently in the group Thelonious with Hans Koller.