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WILL BUTTERWORTH

Will butterworth was born in Edinburgh in 1977, and comes from a large family of classical musicians. His father is a violinist, who was a member of the English chamber orchestra in the 70’s, and the critically acclaimed Dartington Trio, in the 80s.

Will grew up listening to classical music and at the age of 7 he began to learn the cello. For the next 10 years the cello played a huge part in will’s life; he played in county orchestras and quartets, and performed in the unaccompanied Bach cello suites. It is this formal musical training that has given will a thorough understanding of music theory and harmony, and this informs his jazz playing to this day.

At the age of 8, will sat down at the piano and improvised a piece of music, for the first time. His mother asked him what it was called, and the answer was ‘In The Dustbin’. With his mothers encouragement, Will continued to improvise tunes, and together he and his mother would choose titles for them. By the age of 11 these improvisations had a more formal structure, and wills technique was beginning to develop.

When Will was 13 his stepfather, the luthier Norman Reed introduced him to the solo improvisations of the pianist Keith Jarrett, and these records had a massive effect on wills improvisations, and led will to become interested in the harmony and rhythm of jazz.

At the age of 18 will went to Edinburgh University and chose not to study music. He now considers this as an act of rebellion against an intense early musical life, and he was also unsure as to which path to take; jazz piano, or classical cello. However very soon he lost interest in his academic studies and found himself playing the piano in jazz clubs in Scotland. He managed to get many gigs with some of Scotland’s finest musicians. He had a weekly residency at the number 1 cellar bar.

In 2003 will moved to London and became involved in the London jazz scene. He has been lucky enough to have played with many great players, including Bill Bruford, Jeff Williams, Asaf Sirkis, and Dylan Howe. In 2007, will released his debut album 'Will Butterworth’ which is an album of classically influenced piano improvisations and arrangements of jazz standards. The album received excellent reviews, and parts of the album launch were aired on classic fm.

At present Will is working in trios and quartets, and has recently formed the ‘Stravinsky Duo’ with Dylan Howe. In this project Will and Dylan are reinterpreting Stravinsky’s work, and using his rhythmic and melodic ideas as a vehicle for improvisation. It seems a perfect project for a musician who has grown up steeped in traditions of both jazz and classical music. The Stravinsky duo’s first album will be released in January 2010.

'A great uk piano prospect...music of considerable effect.' Chris Parker, The Vortex.

'Precociously talented, young modern jazz pianist plays with spacious and fractious beauty.' Time Out

'A great young Pianist.' Bill Bruford

'Promising young London pianist is as nimble fingered with his left hand as he is with his right in this contrapuntal solo effort informed by Ravel, Debussy and Monk.' Jazzwise

'...thoughtful and creative piano playing has earned him considerable respect and admiration on the local scene. A fluent player he mixes standards and his own originals to great effect in a set that it is both musically intricate and at the same time direct and swinging. A really exciting musical prospect Will is unquestionably in the vanguard of UK modern jazz performers. One of the most talented young players on the scene.'
Steve Ruby, owner of London's 606 Club

DYLAN HOWE

Dylan started playing drums when he was 10. His distinctive groove and versatility has led him to be drummer of choice for some leading artists and producers worldwide - 'A superb player.' THE OBSERVER.
At home in nearly any musical setting or genre - 'Dylan is one of the UK’s finest young drummers who can play funk, rock and jazz with consummate ease.' Chris Welch - INDEPENDENT.

Mostly self-taught and having first picked up sticks to jam with his dad Yes guitarist Steve Howe in 1979, Dylan's favourite drummers include Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Stewart Copeland, Dennis Davis, Al Jackson Jr, Bernard Purdie, John Bonham, and he loves the music of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Igor Stravinsky, David Bowie, Stax, James Brown, Yes and Stevie Wonder.

A member of seminal UK group The Blockheads for over 12 years, with sessions on over 50 albums and hundreds of live TV appearances, arena tours and appearances at festivals worldwide, attracting praise from RONNIE SCOTT'S: 'Dylan Howe, rightly acclaimed as one of the best drummers of his generation' and THE GUARDIAN: 'Howe, always inspiring and invigorating in any genre.'
DH has worked with many producers including; Trevor Horn, John Leckie, Andy Wright, Richard Niles, Nigel Godrich and Guy Chambers.

Dylan's love of jazz has run like a thread through his session and sideman career. Credits including Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Nick Cave, Damon Albarn, Portishead, Robert Wyatt, Steve Howe, Ray Davies, David Gilmour, Mick Jones, Hugh Cornwell, Gabrielle, Chaka Khan, Paul McCartney, Gilad Atzmon, Stan Sulzmann, Pete King and Courtney Pine among others.

'The versatile DH is one of the rare jazz musicians who has spent most of his creative life operating in another style entirely.' John Fordham.

Dylan formed his acclaimed Blue Note-styled quintet in 2003, releasing four albums and touring the UK intensively since then - 'The best neo-bop group in the country' - LONDON EVENING STANDARD and Jazz CD of the week in THE OBSERVER and ES. 'A looseness reminiscent of Miles' 1960s ensemble, (DH) knows exactly how the dynamics and drama of this idiom are supposed to work, and he proves himself to be a sophisticated composer of slow tone-poetry'; THE GUARDIAN.

DH moved from quintet to quartet lineup in 2007, also with new projects including:
The Subterraneans - a 12-piece reworking of David Bowie's albums Low and "Heroes". 'DH excels himself, Inspired' TIME OUT, 'Immaculate, entrancing.' JAZZWISE;
Stravinsky Duo - The Rite of Spring and Firebird Suite adapted for piano and drums. 'Consistently absorbing, occasionally downright mesmerising' Chris Parker - THE VORTEX

DH has been interviewed for Rhythm, Musician, Jazzwise and Drummer magazines for his evolving style at the drum - 'Howe swings effortlessly.' DRUMMER MAGAZINE

During 2008 Dylan also toured with his Larry Young styled Hammond group - 'Unity 4' (sparking a trend of similar groups in the London jazz scene), Steve Howe Trio, Get The Blessing and Beth Rowley.

Most recently during 2009, DH played on and produced tracks for former Slits' guitarist Viv Albertine, joined Wilko Johnson's trio and is gigging and recording his Stravinsky Duo project with piano player Will Butterworth.

'Swings like an old veteran.' MODERN DRUMMER
'Dylan Howe makes it new. The way he plays it, it's as if Be-bop were still hot and wet from its Harlem womb - he plays time from the heart.'
ROBERT WYATT 'You funky little bastard.' IAN DURY
'Dylan Howe simply does all the right things.' MUSICIAN MAGAZINE
'The best new young drummer to emerge since Phil Collins or Stewart Copeland.' YESWORLD

www.dylanhowe.com
www.myspace.com/dylanhowe