New Irish dates for Phronesis are coming up with dates at Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge (Wednesday 4 February); Triskel Christchurch, Cork (Thursday 5 February); The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon (Friday 6 February); Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny (Saturday 7 February); Whelan’s, Dublin (Sunday 8 February); and Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar (Monday 9 February). 

The cult Avishai Cohen-inspired New Melodic jazz trio released their latest album in 2014 recorded live in the Cockpit theatre at Jez Nelson’s Jazz in the Round over the course of two nights of the 2013 London Jazz Festival, the artwork to Life to Everything released by Edition records has a quotation from Plato on the back worth mentioning as it explains the title: “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”

Phronesis first made their mark properly with Alive, another live album recorded not far away from Marylebone in Camden, but that was a little different as its drummer was future Mehliana rhythm matador Mark Guiliana although the character and shape of the music was clear. In those days the band had a stronger Avishai Cohen influence than now, although you can still hear it a bit (for instance ‘Herne Hill’) but Phronesis have their own sound which is very distinctive, exciting, New Melodic, full of individuality, sheer verve and improvisational resource that goes way beyond mere technical command although all three players have this in abundance. Phronesis: Ivo Neame, top left, Jasper Høiby, and Anton Eger