QOW TRIO: THE HOLD UP (UBU0151)

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of The Hold Up, the second album from QOW Trio, which will be released worldwide on 26th January 2024.

QOW TRIO is a unique multi-generational jazz band featuring award-winning young firebrand saxophonist Riley Stone-Lonergan, storied British Jazz legend Spike Wells on drums, and multi-genre bassist and bandleader Eddie Myer. The band arose out of a chance meeting at the Verdict Jazz Club in Brighton and, despite the three musicians’ differences in age, it soon became clear that they had much in common - a love of the lineage of big-toned tenor players matched with an appreciation for the wide-open possibilities of the chordless trio, a deep appreciation of the tradition alongside a fearless appetite for exploration, a commitment to the timeless values of melody and swing mixed with a willingness to take risks - all underpinned with a mission to make the music communicate directly to the listener.  Spike's time as house drummer at Ronnie Scott's backing many American stars, his tours with Stan Getz and Roland Kirk, together with his years in the seminal British bands of Tubby Hayes, Peter King and Bobby Wellins, give the band deep roots. His fearlessly forward-looking commitment to freedom and swing meet Riley’s contemporary chops and devotion to melody and soul, while Eddie’s bass acts as anchor, providing the centre around which the musical conversation is free to dance at will.  Their debut album was released on Ubuntu Music in 2020. It gained excellent reviews in national press, and extensive radio play and Spotify playlisting, and they’ve spent the intervening time with tours, festival appearances and club dates. Now they’re back with a whole new set of material for their upcoming second release.

In 2023, QOW Trio came off the road from a stormingly successful tour of Ireland and went straight into the Fish Factory studio in Harlesden (London), under the expert guidance of engineer Ben Lamdin. Taking full advantage of the spacious live room, the band set up together, with no headphones or separation, allowing the music to breathe organically and the interplay to develop in real time. The session resulted in The Hold Up - an album of tunes that digs deep into the blues and flies high up into the heady heights of improvised freedom, always keeping the empathetic three-way interplay and commitment to swing and melody at the forefront. The group’s development since the first record is plain to hear - there’s more freedom, but also more togetherness, more experimentation, but also more commitment to the fundamentals of the blues. Compositions by Ellington and Strayhorn, Jackie Mclean, Lee Morgan, Thelonious Monk and Big John Patton are radically overhauled, stripped down to the bones and built back up into new forms, where anything can happen: and a new set of original tunes by Riley provide launch pads for exploratory improvisations and soulful self-expression. The passion and commitment is never in doubt throughout - this is music by players who mean it.

Riley comments: "I love playing with QOW, every time we play it feels fresh and new and exciting and I continue to learn so much from Spike and Eddie, both as musicians and as people. I'm immensely proud to be part of this band and I can't wait for people to hear this new record."

Eddie comments: “This band is such a joy to play with - every gig feels like an adventure, and this new recording really captures that feeling.”

Spike comments: “QOW continues on its three-generational journey, of which our first album marked an early stage. With this second recording, we feel that we have progressed in cohesion and been able to tackle music in an even wider range of styles. Riley's original compositions have made a huge contribution. The session was happy and relaxed and shows new levels of creativity in each member of the trio.”

The band comments on their continued relationship with Ubuntu Music: “Martin (Hummel) and his Ubuntu label did us proud with their handling of our first album and we are delighted (and relieved) that Martin was keen to keep us on board and release the new one.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It’s an absolute pleasure to continue our highly successful and thoroughly enjoyable relationship with these great guys. Their musical voice has grown, matured, and developed into something very special which is all their own. We’re delighted to be a part of QOW Trio’s next stage of sonic evolution.”