The Impossible Gentlemen have been confirmed as Sligo Jazz Project’s band-in-residence, a new initiative by the combined festival/summer school for 2015.
Their appearance will follow not long on from a new recording stint as the band bunker down in Sussex to work on tracks for their third album. The Gents’ bassist ex-Pat Metheny Group fusion legend Steve Rodby, a popular newcomer to the Sligo set-up this year, has been tempted back by festival director Eddie Lee and the Illinois-born player brings with him fellow Gents, Welsh-born jazz and classical pianist Gwilym Simcock, Salford guitar hotshot Mike Walker, and cult drummer Adam Nussbaum, the rhythm rainmaker intrinsic to the early period “Sco flow” when John Scofield was getting his thing together from the late-1970s on.
Ernie Watts, with Kurt Elling
Tenor titan Ernie Watts – best known for his work with Cannonball Adderley, the late Charlie Haden in Quartet West and with Kurt Elling – plus singer Liane Carroll, whose rendition of ‘Ithaca’ recently on Simon Purcell’s new album Red Circle, has been a choice vocal highlight of 2014, are also heading way out west. Bassist John Goldsby, a longtime member of leading German big band the WDR, will once again be part of the faculty and perform. Sligo dates are 21-26 July for 2015, and summer school enrolment begins in January. SG
Gwilym Simcock, top left, Steve Rodby, Adam Nussbaum, and Mike Walker. photo: impossiblegentlemen.com