Alison Rayner Quintet new album “SEMA4”

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   Alison Rayner Quintet new album “SEMA4” and UK concert dates, March - June 2025.
Monday, February 10, 2025
Featuring all new material "SEMA4", which will be released on 07/03/25, is the new album by the Alison Rayner Quintet recorded live at London's Vortex Jazz Club. Further live shows will follow.
We have received the following press release;

Alison Rayner Quintet
SEMA4
Blow The Fuse Records - BTF2515CD
Album release (CD & digital): Friday 7 March 2025

LIVE DATES;

Sunday 9 March – London, PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Saturday 15 March – Lincoln, The Blue Room

Sunday 16 March – Newcastle, The Globe

Thursday 20 March – Coventry, The Albany Club

Friday 4 April – Brighton, The Verdict

Tuesday 10 June – Leytonstone, East Side

“Bright, open jazz music that rejoices in human experience without sentimentalising it.” 
**** BBC Music Magazine
SEMA4 is the latest album by the Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ), recorded live at The Vortex Jazz Club in East London. The performance was never intended for public release but, as bassist, bandleader and composer Alison Rayner recalls, listening to the recording revealed something very special. “While a live album may require some compromises, it offers something unique – a different vibe and energy that’s hard to capture otherwise.”

ARQ – Alison Rayner (double bass), Deirdre Cartwright (guitar), Steve Lodder (piano), Diane McLoughlin (saxophones), and Buster Birch (drums) – has spent twelve years crafting a unique sound that draws on jazz, folk, pop and Latin influences. The quintet’s chemistry is rooted in enduring relationships and Rayner credits their musical cohesion to the strong bonds they’ve developed over decades of collaboration. “Each musician in this band has a unique voice, but together we’ve built something greater than the sum of its parts,” says Rayner.

From the joyous, sun-drenched opener ‘Espíritu Libre’ to the playful odd metres of ‘Trip Dance’ and the hybrid reggae groove of ‘Semaphore’, SEMA4 showcases the quintet’s stylistic versatility and masterful interplay. Individual contributions from band members further highlight the collaborative spirit of ARQ. McLoughlin’s meditative ‘Looking ‘For A Quiet Place’ calls for calm amid modern chaos, Lodder’s swinging ‘Hamble Horror’ evokes cinematic heroics, and Cartwright’s ‘Signals From Space’ channels cosmic wonder with eerie, harmonically rich textures.

With Rayner’s assured leadership and contributions from all members, the album exemplifies the deep connection and vibrant energy of a truly collaborative ensemble. “I wanted the sensibility of a group where you rehearse together and work together,” Rayner explains. “That to me felt very important, to establish a connection, where you’re writing for people in the band. When you work with people for years, you’re really hearing the way they play.”

SEMA4 is released on Blow The Fuse Records in association with ECN Music.

The album was recorded live at The Vortex, London on 21 & 22 May 2024; mixed by Paul ‘PDub’ Walton at the Loft Studio, Surrey; mastered by Peter Beckmann at TechnologyWorks and produced by Rayner & Cartwright.

ARQ: Alison Rayner Quintet
The Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ), led by award-winning bassist and composer Alison Rayner, features Buster Birch on drums, Deirdre Cartwright on guitar, Diane McLoughlin on saxophone and Steve Lodder on piano.  Rayner’s partnership with Cartwright dates back to the feminist rock scene of the 1970s and she has worked with Lodder and McLoughlin for over 30 years. Birch joined the group after meeting Rayner at the University of Glamorgan’s jazz summer school in 1998. ARQ has released three critically acclaimed albums: August (2014), A Magic Life (2016), and Short Stories (2019). The latter earned Rayner an Ivor Novello Composer Award for the track ‘There Is A Crack In Everything’. Winners of the Parliamentary Jazz Award and British Jazz Award for Best Small Group in 2018, ARQ has toured extensively across the UK and Europe.

Distribution via ECN Music/Proper Music

http://www.ecnmusic.com

https://www.propermusicgroup.com/

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snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 30310	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Alison Rayner Quintet new album “SEMA4” Posted: 11 Feb 2025 at 10:24am
	Alison Rayner Quintet new album “SEMA4” and UK concert dates, March - June 2025. Monday, February 10, 2025 Featuring all new material "SEMA4", which will be released on 07/03/25, is the new album by the Alison Rayner Quintet recorded live at London's Vortex Jazz Club. Further live shows will follow. We have received the following press release; Alison Rayner Quintet SEMA4 Blow The Fuse Records - BTF2515CD Album release (CD & digital): Friday 7 March 2025 LIVE DATES; Sunday 9 March – London, PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho) Saturday 15 March – Lincoln, The Blue Room Sunday 16 March – Newcastle, The Globe Thursday 20 March – Coventry, The Albany Club Friday 4 April – Brighton, The Verdict Tuesday 10 June – Leytonstone, East Side “Bright, open jazz music that rejoices in human experience without sentimentalising it.” **** BBC Music Magazine SEMA4 is the latest album by the Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ), recorded live at The Vortex Jazz Club in East London. The performance was never intended for public release but, as bassist, bandleader and composer Alison Rayner recalls, listening to the recording revealed something very special. “While a live album may require some compromises, it offers something unique – a different vibe and energy that’s hard to capture otherwise.” ARQ – Alison Rayner (double bass), Deirdre Cartwright (guitar), Steve Lodder (piano), Diane McLoughlin (saxophones), and Buster Birch (drums) – has spent twelve years crafting a unique sound that draws on jazz, folk, pop and Latin influences. The quintet’s chemistry is rooted in enduring relationships and Rayner credits their musical cohesion to the strong bonds they’ve developed over decades of collaboration. “Each musician in this band has a unique voice, but together we’ve built something greater than the sum of its parts,” says Rayner. From the joyous, sun-drenched opener ‘Espíritu Libre’ to the playful odd metres of ‘Trip Dance’ and the hybrid reggae groove of ‘Semaphore’, SEMA4 showcases the quintet’s stylistic versatility and masterful interplay. Individual contributions from band members further highlight the collaborative spirit of ARQ. McLoughlin’s meditative ‘Looking ‘For A Quiet Place’ calls for calm amid modern chaos, Lodder’s swinging ‘Hamble Horror’ evokes cinematic heroics, and Cartwright’s ‘Signals From Space’ channels cosmic wonder with eerie, harmonically rich textures. With Rayner’s assured leadership and contributions from all members, the album exemplifies the deep connection and vibrant energy of a truly collaborative ensemble. “I wanted the sensibility of a group where you rehearse together and work together,” Rayner explains. “That to me felt very important, to establish a connection, where you’re writing for people in the band. When you work with people for years, you’re really hearing the way they play.” SEMA4 is released on Blow The Fuse Records in association with ECN Music. The album was recorded live at The Vortex, London on 21 & 22 May 2024; mixed by Paul ‘PDub’ Walton at the Loft Studio, Surrey; mastered by Peter Beckmann at TechnologyWorks and produced by Rayner & Cartwright. ARQ: Alison Rayner Quintet The Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ), led by award-winning bassist and composer Alison Rayner, features Buster Birch on drums, Deirdre Cartwright on guitar, Diane McLoughlin on saxophone and Steve Lodder on piano. Rayner’s partnership with Cartwright dates back to the feminist rock scene of the 1970s and she has worked with Lodder and McLoughlin for over 30 years. Birch joined the group after meeting Rayner at the University of Glamorgan’s jazz summer school in 1998. ARQ has released three critically acclaimed albums: August (2014), A Magic Life (2016), and Short Stories (2019). The latter earned Rayner an Ivor Novello Composer Award for the track ‘There Is A Crack In Everything’. Winners of the Parliamentary Jazz Award and British Jazz Award for Best Small Group in 2018, ARQ has toured extensively across the UK and Europe. Distribution via ECN Music/Proper Music http://www.ecnmusic.com https://www.propermusicgroup.com/