Wild Flower Quintet: Celebrating 60 Years of Wayne Shorter on Blue Note

About this event

“This is sophisticated stuff, with a proper handle on Shorter’s post-bop genius… Everyone plays superbly and the whole set is wholly recommended.” –  Jazz Journal *****

Wild Flower Quintet celebrates the 60th anniversary of Wayne Shorter’s classic recordings for Blue Note Records with an all-star line-up. Led by saxophonist Matt Anderson, the group plays original music inspired by Shorter’s sound and approach, alongside new arrangements of both his classic and lesser-known compositions. Their 2015 album Wild Flower was described by Selwyn Harris in Jazzwise as “Their own unique stamp on Shorter’s very personal repertoire… of a quality that resonates with its inspirational source… Enjoyably un-pretentious.”

Born in the North Yorkshire Moors, the son of a music teacher, saxophonist and Dankworth Prize-winning composer Matt Anderson has lived in London since 2015. Since his debut with Wild Flower, he has made three further albums with the Matt Anderson Quartet, with the latest Live at Leeds Jazz Festival released in 2024 to glowing reviews, including four stars in Jazzwise, and airplay on BBC Radio 3. Becoming part of the fertile jazz scene in the capital, Anderson has performed with artists/bands such as the Gareth Lockrane Big Band, Jamie Doe’s The Magic Lantern, Will Vinson and Ivo Neame.

Also in the front line is trumpeter Quentin Collins, who has established himself as one of the UK’s top jazz players over the last 20 years, recording and performing with a plethora of top artists like Kyle Eastwood and Gregory Porter as well as leading his own straight-ahead, contemporary bop groups. In the rhythm section, pianist Rob Barron is a mainstay of the London jazz scene and has performed with artists like Phil Woods, Grant Stewart and Al Jarreau. Young bassist Rio Kai is already in high demand playing with bands like Cassie Kinoshi’s Seed Ensemble and the long-running Stratos residency at Grow, Hackney. On the drums, Sam Gardner played on the debut Wild Flower album in 2015, and is also known in the jazz world for his work with artists like Dominic J Marshall and Ashley Henry.

“A terrific live set. Individually and collectively, the performances are first-rate. Anderson takes his influences… but adds his own freshness and open approach showing a vibrant, warm tone throughout.” –  All About Jazz

Line up:
Matt Anderson – Tenor Saxophone
Quentin Collins – Trumpet
Rob Barron – Piano
Rio Kai – Double-Bass
Sam Gardner – Drums

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