The Philip Clouts quartet above
Pianist Philip Clouts is to release a new quartet album of original compositions spanning east European folk music, klezmer, Township, Indian music and latin jazz in the autumn. Titled The Hour of Pearl, named after a line referring to the eerie immediate pre-dawn taken from John Steinbeck’s 1945 novel Cannery Row, the album is to be released by Clouts’ own label Point records on 23 September to be followed by a 10-date tour beginning in October. The Bill Evans-influenced player emerged with his 2010 album Sennen Cove, and the new album builds on its achievements even if there has been a three-gap since its release. Born in Cape Town, the Lyme Regis-based player is probably best known for his appearances with world-jazz bands Zubop and ZubopGambia. On The Hour of Pearl Clouts is joined by Mandorla’s Carlos Lopez-Real, a strong presence on the north-east London Walthamstow scene, the most influential local London neighbourhood jazz scene at the moment. The quartet also features Viva La Revolucion! drummer Jon Desbruslais; and bassist Alex Keen, known for his work with both Jim Mullen and Tim Whitehead.