Secret Sessions: Hoop (UBU0092)

Secret Sessions / Hoop on ubuntu music

Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce its continuing relationship with the Secret Sessions series, for the worldwide release of Hoop on 5th November 2021.

Sax stalwart Paul Booth is the curator of the Secret Sessions project, which is an outlet for new music that is created, played, and ultimately recorded by grouping like-minded artists and friends together. It works like this…Paul carefully selects a range of highly talented musicians who turn up to the recording studio, only knowing the instrumentation of the music but not knowing who they will be recording with. The result is a dynamic cocktail of spontaneous, exciting, and highly rewarding music.

As Paul explains it, “The response has been staggering and proved just how passionate everyone is about making new music. I sifted through the top musicians available and picked a band utilising trumpet/trombone/tenor sax/piano/bass/drums. It dawned on me that it could be fun to keep them in the dark about who they were going to be recording with on the day…and ‘Secret Sessions’ was born. The only information they had was instrumentation, to aid them in their arrangements and what time and where they needed to be. We began the series with ‘Fragile Eagle’ and had a blast. Now we are onto our second release, ‘Hoop’, with an entirely different set musicians and we are absolutely delighted with the results of this ‘album in an afternoon’ session. We did some post-production work on the tracks, with additional instrumentation added later. However, the core of the music was seven people in a studio playing ‘live’. The music is vastly different from the first ‘Secret Sessions’ release and is reminiscent of the fusion/jazz funk/jazz rock era.”

The core band is as good as it gets: Tom Walsh (trumpet), Nichol Thomson (trombone), Paul Booth (tenor sax & bass clarinet), Chris Allard (guitars), Laurence Cottle (electric bass) and Ian Thomas (drums). They are joined on a handful of tracks by Steve Hamilton (keys), Miles Bould (percussion) and Ross Stanley (Hammond organ).

Tom Walsh describes the project: “The germination of this album came from the core of the band wanting to explore some original music off the back of touring with various pop/rock artists. Having worked together in multiple musical line-ups as sidemen for multiple bandleaders, it made sense to come together and create some music under our own combined leadership! A lot of the players in this outfit are known for their work as top London session players but wanted to revisit their jazz and improvisational roots. ‘Hoop’ presents an album of synth-tinged fusion coming from a group of contemporary jazz musicians with wide musical influences and experiences. Expect everything from powerful horn-led prog rock elements all the way through to gutsy, soulful ballad and blues playing.”

Chris Allard continues: “It has been a huge pleasure and privilege for me to be a part of this album. Paul Booth is an immensely creative and productive force, and his open-minded, generous, and collaborative approach has led to this diverse and exciting recording. I had worked with and been rather awed by the immense talents and reputations of all the musicians involved, but had not recorded with them all, and certainly not together and in such an open, collaborative, and creative project. It has been a very positive and rewarding experience for me and listening back to the recording is deeply gratifying.”

Concerning their partnership with Ubuntu Music, each gave their view:

Tom Walsh--"It’s fantastic to be working with Martin (Hummel) and Ubuntu. As a huge supporter of genre-diverse contemporary music on this scene, there’s no-one we’d feel more at home with, in terms of understanding the music we’re creating, and we look forward to being on the same roster as a lot of our favourite players and colleagues.”

Chris Allard--"I’m thrilled to be involved with Ubuntu Music. I’ve been aware of Ubuntu since its inception, have admired its excellent work ever since, and been delighted to see how successful, prolific, and respected it has become. I find the range of music released by Ubuntu--though stylistically diverse--without exception shares the qualities of integrity, high level musicianship and artistry.”

Paul Booth--“On a personal note I feel privileged and thankful that Martin Hummel (Ubuntu) and Paul Pace (Spice of Life) jumped onboard this project with such fire and enthusiasm. This means a lot to each of these sessions as there is an outlet not only for our recorded music but also to play live.”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, summed things up: “This is the quintessential Who’s Who in UK jazz, with substantial international credentials. All of these guys have played with the biggest names in music…period. For Boothy to assemble this crew, who played their hearts out for the love of the music, this is about as good as it gets. The Ubuntu Music Family welcomes Hoop with arms wide open.”

BIOGRAPHIES

Paul Booth (saxes)

From his early acclaim as a prize-winning saxophonist, Paul Booth has continually refined and expanded his talents as a solo artist, composer, arranger, and bandleader, whilst establishing an elite reputation as a first-call sideman for major contemporary music artists.

He won a place at the Royal Academy of Music in 1993 at the age of 16, becoming their youngest student on a degree course. That year Paul also won the 'Best Modern Jazz Player’ category at the televised Young Jazz Player of the Year. One day, Paul received the call from the legendary Steve Winwood, and he’s been working with Steve ever since. Paul’s ability to blend into any musical surrounding coupled with his talents as a multi-instrumentalist has led to him being regularly chosen to perform with many well-known artists. Paul has toured, performed and recorded around the world with The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, Kylie Minogoue, Jamiroquai, Gregory Porter, Barry Manilow, Warren Haynes, Marti Pellow, Derek Trucks, Eddie Henderson, Geoffrey Keezer, Clarence Penn and Ingrid Jensen.

Tom Walsh (trumpet)

Tom is based in London, where he graduated from the Jazz Course at the Royal Academy of Music with 1st Class Honours. In his first year at college, Tom was the inaugural recipient of the Humphrey Lyttelton Jazz Prize, an award for outstanding jazz performance.

Shortly after graduating, in 2013 Tom was appointed the lead trumpet chair in the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He has worked with international jazz luminaries such as Benny Golson, Branford Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Bob Mintzer and Mike Stern. Tom has also played with a number of the UK's top big bands including The BBC Big Band, The Stan Sulzmann Neon Orchestra, The Laurence Cottle Big Band, The Gareth Lockrane Big Band, The Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, NYJO and The Mark Nightingale Big Band. In the pop and commercial music world, Tom has played and recorded with the likes of Van Morrison, Blur, Mark Knopfler, Jessie J, Gary Barlow and Shirley Bassey.

Nichol Thomson (trombone)

Nichol is a highly sought-after trombonist. His list of who he has worked with proves the point. He's played with major artists and bands including Incognito, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Robbie Williams, Grace Jones, Paloma Faith, Omar, Groovejam, Moloko, Duffy, Beverley Knight, Hope Collective, Mutya Buena, Sugababes, Sharleen Spiteri, Boyzone, Brand New Heavies, Olly Murs, INXS, Mel C, Jamie Cullum, Annie Lennox, The Drifters... the list goes on. 

Chris Allard (guitars)

Chris is regarded as one of the UK's finest contemporary jazz guitarists/composers. He has performed and recorded with Jacqui Dankworth, Gwilym Simcock, Omar Kamal, Charlie Wood, the BBC Big Band, and Jamie Cullum, amongst others.

He has performed around the world at prestigious places including the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Royal Albert Hall, the Pyramids, the O2 Arena, Ronnie Scott’s, and to huge audiences such as at the BBC Proms in Hyde Park to over 42,000 people.

Chris has recorded in iconic studios including Abbey Road, Maida Vale, Pinewood and Angel Studios, and has played live on television and radio many times. He is also a Professor of Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Laurence Cottle (electric bass)

Laurence has played jazz with the likes of Wayne Shorter, Al Jarreau, Peter Erskine and the Buddy Rich Big Band and rocked with Black Sabbath, Ian Gillan, Cozy Powell and Ginger Baker. A consummate performer and studio musician, he has recorded several albums under his own name and has led his own big band since 1998. He still continues to perform and record with some of the biggest names in entertainment across a myriad of musical styles. The bassist of choice for many, Laurence has recorded with Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Gary Moore, Brian Eno, Mike Oldfield and Procol Harum. He’s played with Bill Bruford’s Earthworks and Pee Wee Ellis’s Funk Assembly and is a regular part of Ronnie Scott’s All Stars. His jazz credentials are impeccable, including work with the likes of Jim Mullen, Django Bates, Gary Husband, Jason Rebello and Tim Garland. He is a remarkable musician with an international reputation. It is fair to say that he is one of the finest electric bass players ever to come out of the UK.

Ian Thomas (drums)

Over his career, Ian Thomas has worked in almost every musical style playing everywhere from basement jazz clubs to Madison Square Garden and has recorded with some of the most successful artists in the world. He was asked to play on his first major session in 1987. The track was Kissing a Fool by George Michael for the album Faith. His next major break was being asked to tour with Seal in 1990 and did so for two years playing live and recording.

Since then, Ian has gone on to tour with artists such as Mike Oldfield, Tom Jones, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler and his recording career has included albums with Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson, BB King and Chrisse Hynde to name but a few.