Henry Lowther / Jim Mullen / Dave Green / Stu Butterfield

The Great Wee Band - THE SOUND OF MUSIC - TR584

"Every tiny nuance counts in this sublime example of small-band jazz"

Henry Lowther / Jim Mullen / Dave Green / Stu Butterfield - The Sound Of Music

Trio Records is very pleased to present this CD by four of the greats on the UK jazz scene. The Quartet was formed in 1999. Their first CD, Fungii recorded live in 2002, was described by Humph on ‘Best of Jazz’ as “music of the highest order.” The Sound Of Music follows in a similar vein.

The group’s name The Great Wee Band was coined by Jim to Henry after the first set of a gig, then stuck as a name the band referred to. They have made two National Tours in 2003 and 2005, and have performed at the Brecon International Jazz Festival, Wavendon, and for the All Party Jazz Appreciation Society at Portcullis House.

Henry Lowther’s beautiful trumpet and flugelhorn sound has graced jazz in the UK for several decades. He has performed at the Woodstock festival (with Keef Hartley Band), toured with Gil Evans, George Russell, and the London Brass Virtuosi as well as Kenny Wheeler’s Big Band. He also leads his own quintet, Still Waters.

Jim Mullen is one of the most instantly recognisable jazz musicians on the scene today with a vast array of experience behind him including co-leading the famous Morrissey Mullen Band and appearing as a featured soloist with visiting Americans such as Gene Harris, Mose Allison, and Jimmy Smith. He leads his own Organ Trio, frequently becoming a Quartet with saxophonist Stan Sulzmann.

Dave Green has to be the UK’s favourite jazz musician amongst his peers. His contribution to this album explains why. His career stretches back to accompanying Americans at Ronnie’s Scotts in the early days, including legends such as Hawk and Ben Webster, Sonny Rollins etc. Today he appears in many contexts including a contemporary trio of his own featuring Iain Dixon and Gene Calderazzo, the Scott Hamilton Quartet, and Chris Barber!

Stu Butterfield has established himself on the London jazz scene as a highly inventive and sympathetic drummer. He has hosted gigs across London last 16 years, is a founder member of Mingus Moves, co-leader of The Srayhorn Project with Phil Lee, and a member of Chris Biscoe Quartet which has also released a critically acclaimed CD on Trio Records Gone in the Air.

The material for the CD takes a new look at some jazz standards, as well as including a piece of Handel, and of course ‘The Sound of Music’.. which this CD is.

Henry Lowther / Jim Mullen / Dave Green / Stu Butterfield