Three Step Manoeuvre

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Last Show: Friday 22 nd September 2017

PizzaExpress Live (Birmingham)

Three Step Manoeuvre are an organ trio of young musicians specialising in hard-grooving jazz funk music. They came together through a shared love of artists such as funk pioneers like James Brown and The Meters, jazz legends such as Jimmy Smith and John Scofield, and modern groups including Lettuce and Soulive. Formed in 2013, they released their debut EP in November 2014, and have since performed all over the UK, with gigs including Cheltenham Jazz Festival on the same bill as Gregory Porter, as well as a now legendary residency at the much-missed Yardbird Jazz Club in Birmingham.

"A catchy, super groovy, fresh and inspired album – the future of funk is is safe hands with these guys struttin’ their stuff.” Stefan Redtenbacher, Funkestra

“Gives the organ trio a foot-to-the-floor remake that invites some serious dancing.” The Jazz Breakfast

November 2016 saw the release of their first full album, Three Step Strut. For this special performance, funk organ trio Three Step Manoeuvre team up with renowned flautist Gareth Lockrane (James Taylor Quartet, MOJO Magazine Award Winner) for an evening of their favourite groove music. Expect the evening to be a mixture of 60s soul-jazz classics, funk standards and original material, building on their collaboration first heard on 3SM’s debut album from 2016, 'Three Step Strut'.

Gareth Lockrane is one of the UK’s most celebrated musicians, a true virtuoso on his instrument, and an impressively versatile player in a diverse range of settings.  As well as his own groups including Grooveyard (Mojo Magazine 2012 Jazz Album of the Year for “The Strut”), his septet (Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2009 Album of the Year for "No Messin’”) and his all-star big band; he has also been involved in many diverse projects as a sideman – as a key member of the late great Bheki Mseleku’s group during his last years from 2005 to 2008 and also with Phil Robson’s IMS Quintet featuring Mark Turner, Laurence Cottle’s Big band, Michael Kiwanuka, Xantone Blacq, Kate Williams, Patrick Cornelius, Simon Woolf Quartet and Sextet, Incognito, Georgia Mancio, Nia Lynn’s Bannau Trio, The JTQ, Hans Koller,  Sirius B, Anita Wardell, Natalie Williams, Paul Booth, Gwilym Simcock Nonet and  Big Band, Tom Richards Jazz Orchestra, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra and many more.



"That quick picking, shuffle snare, drums and riding bass is a recipe that very few can get right, but Three Step Manoeuvre does it magnificently." Funkatopia, 20 Best Funk Albums of 2016