Seamus Blake and the French Connection

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Last Show: Tuesday 10 th July 2018

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

One of the World’s mort distinctive voices on Saxophone, Seamus Blake has performed with some of the greats of contemporary jazz, from Herbie Hancock and Antonio Sanchez to Wayne Shorter and Dave Douglas. He has played on Grammy nominated albums by Mingus Big Band albums and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. John Scofield simply called Seamus Blake "extraordinary, a total saxophonist". Seamus Blake, together with some of World's leading new generation of jazz musicians, including Tony Tixier (Piano), Florent Nisse (Double Bass) and Gautier Garrigue (Drums) bring their highly anticipated new French Connection project to the PizzaExpress Soho...performing music from their soon to be released album on Whirlwind Records.

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"one of Blake’s greatest strengths: the ability to convincingly pair harmonic complexity with raw, unaffected lyricism."

Jeff McGregor

New York based saxophonist/composer SEAMUS BLAKE is recognized as one of the finest exponents of contemporary jazz. His music is known for its sophistication, bold improvisations and “sheer swagger".  John Scofield, who hired Seamus for his “Quiet Band,” called him “extraordinary, a total saxophonist.” Throughout his 24 year career, Seamus has garnered critical praise for his masterful playing, his fine compositional skills and for his facility as a leader.

Since early 2015 Seamus has been recording (Migration Suite, June 2015) and touring with Antonio Sanchez’s Migration Band (Seamus, Antonio, John Escreet, and Matt Brewer). The most recent tour in Asia included gigs in Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. In 2017 Seamus assembled a new band, The French Connection. The band ( Seamus, Tony Tixier piano, Florent Nisse, bass, and Gautier Garrigue, drums) recorded their first CD in Paris in November, 2017 and have toured in France and Spain. The CD is to be released in July. Three promo videos will be available on Youtube in January. Seamus has a busy schedule in Europe in 2018. Check the Performance page for details.

Superconductor is Seamus’ most ambitious project to date and was released in December 2015. The talent includes Nate Smith, Matt Garrison, Scott Kinsey, a 7 piece orchestral ensemble as well as special guest appearances by John Scofield and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. The album marks the debut of Seamus on EWI (electronic wind instrument). Seamus plays on the 2015 Grammy nominated Camino by pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba. 

Seamus Blake was born December 1970 in England and raised in Vancouver, Canada. At age 21, while still a student at Boston's prestigious Berklee College, he was asked to record with legendary drummer Victor Lewis.  After graduation, he moved to New York, where he rapidly established himself on the New York jazz scene.  In February 2002, Seamus took first place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in Washington D. C. As the winner, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

As a leader/co-leader , Seamus has released 16 albums. He is featured as a sideman on over 70 CDs.

Seamus has played on six of of the Grammy nominated Mingus bands’ albums   He continues to play and record with Bill Stewart, Kevin Hays, David Kikoski and Alex Sipiagin.  Seamus is frequently featured as a guest artist. In 2010 he was guest of honor at the International Saxophone Symposium in Washington hosted by the US Navy Band.  Seamus was a member of John Scofield’s Quiet Band and toured and recorded with Dave Douglas. Some of the many other artists he has worked with include Eric Reed, Ethan Iverson, Chris Cheek, and Matt Penman. 

https://www.seamusblake.com/

Band Lineup

Seamus Blake (sax & vocals)

Tony Tixier (piano)

Florent Nisse (double bass)

Gautier Garrigue (drums)