PROBLEM AT OUR SALES SITE, STILL UNAVAILABLE, MORE DETAILS SOON!
“Hardware” is the Heavies 13th album; it was released on 20th Nov ’09
Recorded at Sonic One in Llanelli, engineered by Tim Hamill, produced by Deri Roberts
Available soon from www.jazzcds.co.uk on-line purchasing or i-tunes download, also from Spillers Records - Cardiff
Catalogue number – HQCD020
Label – HQ Recordings
File under – Jazz /Other
Web site – www.heavyquartet.com
"Excellent po-faced music" - The Gaurdian
The Heavy Quartet has been a staple of the vibrant South Wales Jazz scene since their formation in 1983. A group that shuns the common labels, the HQ represent vibrant musical irreverence and unpredictable eclecticism. Although their roots are in jazz and the focus is on original compositions, the eight piece “Quartet” plays jazz with a twist, taking the jazz tradition and mixing it up with rock, funk, reggae, blues, ska and any other musical style they can lay their hands on. The resulting genre busting mutant jazz is unpredictable, experimental, witty, rhythmically charged but remains accessible. Their stated intention is to constantly change whilst continuing to entertain with their own idiosyncratic take on jazz.
“Soooo leftfield” – Dennis Rollins
The Quartet has endeared themselves to audiences within the Cardiff community and beyond. During their 26 year history they have played numerous clubs and festivals throughout Britain and Europe, crowd pleasing favourites at their local Brecon Jazz, they have the distinction of being the only band to perform there every year during the first 25 years of the festival.
“It would be quite a feat to find a jazz band with the same power that these musicians possess” -Thomas Dunn - www.suityourselfmagazine.co.uk
“I was entertained, impressed, laugh-out-loud amused and engaged by the unexpected” – R.Smith
The HQ have released a number of critically acclaimed albums, the previous one, MACHINE ,recorded in 2004, found the band in a larger incarnation with 12 players mixing up a big band sound with intricate improvisation. A funky collection of grooves, it's big-sound jazz, ska, funk and dub, with a few african rhythms and the occaisional electronic wild card thrown in.
"The HQ are that rare thing, a modern jazz group committed to a non-elitist popular culture and insisting on communication with their audience, try and see them!" - Venue
"A post-modernist experience." - Worldbeat
"There is a controlled abandon about their approach, the Heavies transcend brilliance traversing the fine line between the serious and the psychotic with infinite ease." - Gair Rhydd
Discography
Hammer and Sickle (1986) Bomb (1987) Poum (1988) A Screaming Tradition (1989) Short Stories (1991) Carnivore (1995) Bootleg Vol.1 (1995) Live at the FBI (1998) Hung, Drawn & Quartetted (live at Brecon Jazz Festival) (1999) Delete Memory (2002) Tales from the Riverbank Vols. 1 & 2 (2004) MACHINE (2004) Hardware (2009)
We are dealing with an entity that both mocks and embraces its source and thus creates something which defies comparison" - Impact.
I think there is a strong indication to say yes. Just got a new camera and gonna start making little skits and stuff for the web site possibly video blogging. Got some good footage yesterday of Huw wrestling in a proper ring dressed as a mormon "Brother Destruction" which will find its way on here soon
hellO! I'm ashamed to say i havent seen you play live for aGes....! but the first time was in pontypool park on a sunday, you were playing in the bandstand.. about 6/7 years ago! I'll get to a gig soon.x
Cheers Neil. Guinness will be imbibed, have no fear! The Fiji game must have been amazing for neutrals. I felt sick as a dog for the entire duration. Some clever sports pundit once said, 'It's not the expectation that hurts, it's the hope'. When Williams scored that late interception try I nearly puked! Anyway, I'm right behind the Pumas and the French now! Should be a good weekend!
ill tr make it im currently moving up to london so its been hectic with job/flat hunting ill try pop in when u are there i think when term startsXX take care
