Member Since: 4/5/2006
Band Website: liamnoble.co.uk
Band Members: Trio with Dave Whitford and Dave Wickins (bass and drums) touring April - August 2006
Quintet with Paul Clarvis (drums), Mick Hutton (bass), Stan Sulzmann (tenor), Chris Biscoe (alto).
"Romance Among The Fishes" with Phil Robson (guitar), Drew Gress (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums) touring October 2006.
Duos with
Ingrid Laubrock (soprano sax),
Paul Clarvis (drums),
Dave Wickins (drums).
Influences: I started off with Scott Joplin, then Jelly Roll, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson and...Ellington, who opens it all right up. But if I could play like Fats Waller, that would be enough for me, I could do it at home and get a "normal" job. Basically, the Keith Jarrett American Quartet seems to loom quite large whenever I hear myself, but a kind of Ellington crossed with Stravinsky was my original intention.
Once I started investigating all that lot it wasn't far to get to Reich, Monk and Nancarrow (after a few years...). Jarrett is a bit syrupy for me these days, so I was glad to discover Paul Bley; Henry Threadgill's post-Ellington ensembles led me on to the "downtown" musicians like Wayne Horvitz, Tim Berne, Bobby Previte and Mark Helias. Monk led me to Frisell etc, etc. PJ Harvey appeared from nowhere after seeing her on the telly; if i ever get a rock influenced thing together, her and Talking Heads would be definite role models. And then there's Miles, who seems to preside over all of it and tought me so much about the drama of restraint...
A few MORE recent and ancient favourites...
Steve Swallow "Home"....with the weird and beautiful singing of Sheila Jordan and setting poetry that I don't understand but I like how it sounds. These tunes are killing, beautifully crafted, and with Steve Kuhn on piano who kills everybody (except Bob Moses on drums....MEGA).... And then there's his later album "Carla", seems to be an exercise in using only Conservatoire approved chord sequences (and very little else); like Anita Baker's backing band with the vocals removed....or something....amazing craftsmanship and elegance from the most banal material known to man, the ii v i sequence. Gives me hope...Scott Joplin rags recorded by Joshua Rifkin....my first love, taught me that melody and part motion is what makes music great (unless you chuck it out altogether, but then you REALLY have to know what to do next...some people who seem to know how areAll my other favourite musicians and composers....
Sounds Like: These and other things I like and have stolen.
Record Label: Basho Records
Type of Label: Indie