25 October – ARQ Jazz (Blow the Fuse)

The much-lauded, award-winning and eclectic quintet ARQ, led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner, are widely celebrated from over ten years of extensive UK and European touring across a complete range of jazz clubs, concert halls and international festivals. They regularly sell out London clubs such as Ronnie Scott’s and the Pizza Express Jazz Club, as well as regional venues across the UK.

ARQ 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 have developed over years of collaboration. “Each musician in this band has theirown voice, but together we have built something greater than the sum of its parts”.  Their new album SEMA4 (released March 2025) showcases the quintet’s stylistic virtuosity and masterful interplay. This follows their three previous critically acclaimed releases: August (2014)

A Magic Life (2016) and Short Stories (2019). All garnered extensive press acclaim and international radio play, with Rayner also winning a coveted Ivor Novello Composer Award for ‘There is a Crack in Everything’ from Short Stories.

With richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies, their music carries a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality. The group are noted for their vibrant, communicative performances.

PRESS
• ‘Bright, open jazz music that rejoices in human experience without sentimentalising it’
★★★★ BBC Music Magazine
• ‘Openly and joyously communicative’ John Fordham, UK Jazz News
• ‘Accessibly idiosyncratic’ Eddie Myer, Jazzwise ★★★½
• ‘Engaging and melodic…inspired improvisation running through the songs’ ★★★★ All About Jazz
• ‘I’ve seldom heard a group sound so tightly inside each other’s mind pockets’ Jazz Views
• ‘From pure jazz to folk, blues, and Latin… versatility and expertise’ Maxazine (FR)
• ‘Lively fusion and virtuoso improvisations’ Esensja (PL)
Live:
• ‘One of the best contemporary jazz groups around – these musicians are making some of the best music of their careers’ thejazzmann.com at Shrewsbury Hive January 2025

AWARDS:
★ Ivor Novello Composer Awards 2019 Alison Rayner
★ All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2018 ARQ – Ensemble of the Year
★ British Jazz Awards 2018 ARQ – Best Small Group (Public Vote)

Website: http://www.alisonrayner.com/
Video:  ARQ SEMA4 mix

Alison Rayner: bass | Buster Birch: drums | Deirdre Cartwright: guitar | Diane McLoughlin: saxophone |
Steve Lodder: piano