STOP PRESS: AMBULANCE NOMINATED FOR 2008 BBC JAZZ AWARDS - ALBUM OF THE YEAR...COPY AND PASTE THIS WEB ADDRESS INTO YOUR BROWSER TO VOTE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/jazzawards2008/vote_3/.............................‘Five of the UK’s most exciting musicians’ Ronnie Scott’s Magazine..........................................
‘Engagingly fresh, full-bodied, subtle’ The Guardian............................................................................
‘Muscular, oblique and witty’ The Independent....................................................................
‘Mellow swing and rhythmic swagger, full harmonies and funky beats’ The FT.........................................................................................................................................
‘Original compositions of such measure, mystique and eccentricity that it's incredibly hard not to keep rushing back for another dose.’ Straight No Chaser...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................“When Somogyi launched Ambulance he threatened the band would produce ‘accident and insurgency’, and coupled with Henderson, the sparky catalyst of many a world-class group from Herbie Hancock to the Mingus Band, he delivered in style.” ****TheTimes.........................................................
...................................................Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance build upon substantial critical acclaim for their latest CD - ‘Accident and Insurgency’ – with more gigs around the UK over the summer. Recently nominated in the Ensemble of the Year Award at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards the band continue to turn heads and are now up for Album of the Year at the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards.
Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance features five of the UK’s most exciting young jazz musicians – Paul Booth (sax), Tim Lapthorn (piano), Dave Smith (drums), Rob Townsend (sax & laptop), Arnie Somogyi (bass), in collaboration with U.S. trumpet maestro Eddie Henderson.
One of the aims of Ambulance is to sound ‘like a band’, not just a group of musicians – but with free improvisation and spontaneity a vital component in the structure of the music.
The talented core quintet is the perfect foil for the musical open-mindedness of Henderson, the trumpet player who has recorded with Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Saunders and Joe Henderson. He also recorded a host of albums for Blue Note and Capitol in the 1970s.
In 2006 the band was chosen for the first-ever jazz residency at Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, which gave it the rare chance to develop a new set of original material. The music was inspired by the sounds, sights and people of the Suffolk coast, the band’s own musical ideas and forms - and freshly caught fish.
Ambulance developed the musical ideas further at live gigs around the country during 2007 – including Cheltenham International Jazz Festival as part of the ‘Jerwood Jazz Generation’ series, headlining Ronnie Scott’s, the Aldeburgh Fringe Festival, the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho and regional venues from Gateshead to Bournemouth.
The result is a whole new repertoire of inventive, fresh material. "Accident and Insurgency" available from WWW.LINNRECORDS.COM
"Worthless Originals" available from JAZZCDS.CO.UK
Greetings guys welcome aboard the JazzXpress Caravan. I've been reading some great reviews about your music. Love what I've heard so far. This just might be the one Ambulance that can take me to the emergency ward!! Cheers Helen
Hey guys you got some interesting sounds happening....would like to add one of your songs in the near future on my page to get some airplay attention if that is okay with all of you?
Cheers!
~Joyce
Hey guys, sounds great, reallay adventurous stuff! Thanks for finding me. If you want a laugh, be sure to check out the video on my page. All the best in 2007. Rich
