Pianist & Composer
J o h n n y R i c h a r d s
Johnny richards
& Dave king
The New Awkward is the genre-defying collaboration between celebrated musicians: UK pianist/composer Johnny Richards and US drummer Dave King (The Bad Plus) blending experimental jazz with layered composition and irreverent sound play. '★★★★' MOJO Magazine
The Sorcerers
Neil Innes, Joost Hendrickx, Richard Ormrod and Johnny Richards are The Sorcerers. Conceived after creating an Ethio- inspired piece of music intended for release as a 7", the music was so well received that they developed the sound further for their debut album. The Sorcerers honour the genre's rich history while injecting their distinctive energy and perspective.
Shatner's bassoon
Steeped in malfunctioning improvisation, passive-aggressive minimalism, surreal avant-punk and free jazz trances, Leeds quintet Shatner’s Bassoon sound like little else. Since their formation in 2010, the experimental outfit’s intense maelstrom of beguiling yet disturbing noise has earned the group a reputation as a must-see live act. Each member has a wide and disparate influence and approach to making music which all filters into the bands overall sound of evasive song structures, angular rhythms and anxiety inducing psychedelia.
‘demonic garglings and cacklings, or what sounds like a monkey eating cornflakes overlaid by cool Fender Rhodes licks’ John Fordham, The Guardian
Prepared Piano
Improvised piano pieces using household items: Blu Tack, a large bag of Wilko’s ‘Pick & Mix Screws and Fixings’, Wilko’s ‘Functional Wooden Pegs’ and 1 roll of 48 mm x 50 m Duct Tape inside of the piano and in between the strings to create contrasting soundscapes.
‘Such poise, such beautiful pacing, each of those figures is given enough time so you capture the whole sound of the prepared piano’ - Corey Mwamba, Freeness, BBC Radio 3
‘A Fine New Recording’ - Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise
‘Its just brilliant, the whole album is rather brilliant’ - Max Reinhardt, Soho Radio
