badland

Simon Rose - soprano, alto & baritone saxophones
Simon H. Fell - double bass
Steve Noble - drums

Badland were formed in 1994, with Simon Rose, Simon Fell and Mark Sanders on drums. The group's initial activity centred around free jazz and the reinterpretation of elements of the modern jazz repertoire. Mark left the group in 1998, with Steve Noble taking over the drum chair for the 1999 tour. During 15 years or so the group's music has moved away from more specific free jazz references to incorporate elements of abstraction not normally associated with this genre

Their first album Badland was released by Bruce's Fingers in 1995, and includes reworkings of pieces by Ornette Coleman and Duke Ellington, along with free improvisations.
Their second album Axis Of Cavity was released by Bruce's Fingers in the Summer of 2002; the group undertook a UK tour in September 2002 to promote the album.
Their third CD - The Society Of The Spectacle - was released by Emanem in September 2005.
The Six High Windows CD was released by Bug Incision Records in October 2013.

"Put this alongside the most important trios in the jazz and improvised saxophone tradition." Francesco Martinelli IMPROJAZZ

"The musicians take care to construct free improvisations that are multilayered and rich with nuance, realised with a spiritual intensity that could liquefy steel." Hannes Schweiger JAZZ LIVE

"Vivid free-bop from a highly accomplished trio who venture gamely out into new and lawless territory, bringing new ideas and a freshness of diction to this challenging idiom." THE PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ ON CD

sound samples:


For further information, other examples of the group's music, or details of fees, availability, contact:

Bruce's Fingers
c/o Simon Fell
29 Teillet
23400 St. Dizier-Leyrenne
FRANCE

e-mail: info@brucesfingers.com


Simon Rose has performed on saxophone in Europe, US and Canada. Interest in improvisation developed exploring the possibilities created by limiting himself to the alto saxophone (solo Procession FMR 2005). More recently Rose has included baritone (solo Schmetterling, Not Two Records, 2011). Recent projects include duos with Paul Stapleton (sound sculpture); Stefan Schultze prepared piano; Hilary Jeffery trombone; Andrew Wass dance; a trio with Willi Kellers drums and Jan Roder double bass; solo; recent groupings have included Emilio Gordoa, Adam Pultz–Melbye, Adam Bohman, Devin Gray, Michael Spears and a great many others. Other CD recordings can be found on Emanem, FMR, PSI, Rayon, Leo, Bug Incision, Not Two and Red Toucan. Rose also researches and writes about improvisation and this interest has led to becoming increasingly involved in interdisciplinary collaborations. His book: The lived-experience of improvisation: In music, learning and life (2016. Intellectbooks, UK) concerns the agency of improvisation. Other publications include book chapters: ‘Free improvisation in education’, in Investigating Musical Performance (Ashgate, 2012); ‘Improvisation as real-time composition’ in The act of musical composition (Ashgate, 2014), and ‘The Process of Improvisation’ in Organising and Music (Cambridge, 2014).

Simon Fell is a composer and double bassist active in free improvisation and contemporary jazz and chamber music. He has worked in small or medium groups with John Butcher, Peter Brötzmann, Lol Coxhill, Billy Jenkins, Joe Morris, Keith Tippett, John Zorn, Derek Bailey, Joey Baron, Elliott Sharp, Billy Bang, Christian Marclay and numerous others, and is a founder member of London Improvisers Orchestra. Other regular groupings include SFQ, IST, Mick Beck's Something Else, Hession/Wilkinson/Fell and many more. He has presented compositions for improvisers at the LMC Festival, the Termite Festival, the Frakture Festival, Leo Records' Unsung Music Festival, Freedom of the City Festival and on many other occasions. His discography includes over 90 recordings. "A major contemporary musician" - The Penguin Guide To Jazz On CD.

Steve Noble first came to public attention with Rip Rig and Panic, but has since become one of the most dynamic performers in English Improvised Music. He performs in numerous groups, including The Shakedown Club, 4tet & Company, and with Peter Brötzmann, Johannes Bauer, Butch Morris, Otomo Yoshihide, Evan Parker and (of course) many others. International festival appearance include Geneva, Pisa, Genova, Barcelona, Köln, Nickelsdorf & New York. His Company Week appearances include 1987, 1989 & 1990, and he duetted with Alex Ward for Channel 4's Improvisation documentary series. "One of the country's most creative drummers" decreed The Guardian. 

Badland photo by David Clayton © 1999


return to main Bruce's Fingers index page