Primary Instrument: Bass, electric
THE WAY OUT OF TOWN TRIO
Conceived online, born in Helsinki and test-run in Tallinn, Way Out of Town Trio is a dynamic new improvising group featuring Helsinki-based Puerto Rican guitarist Neff Irizarry, UK-based Puerto Rican electric bassist Antonio Quijano and Irish drummer David Lyttle. The players' collective credits include Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Greg Osby and Eddie Gomez, and their own musical preferences merge to form a style where jazz, lounge, ambient and hip hop are all identifiable. So don't be surprised if free turns funky, and then funky gets swinging, because this trio is way out of town...
NEFF IRIZARRY (guitar)
When you see Neff, you can’t help but to notice his big smile and enthusiasm while he performs. His taste, chops, guitar sound and composer’s palette are eclectic. When you combine that with his blend of funk, latin and ambient modern jazz: Caramba! Modern Latin Jazz Guitar is here! Puertorican guitarist and composer Neff Irizarry (b.1973), whose daring, fresh and exploring take on Contemporary Jazz with a strong Latin tinge has been hailed by such names as Steve Khan, Jimmy Haslip (The Yellowjackets) and Paquito D'Rivera. He can be heard on his debut CD Nepenthe (produced by Haslip) firing away his distinctive fusion of Coltrane-influence hard bop and pianistic montunos. The opening track ‘Despedidas’ was included in the first-ever European Real Book, a collection of the best European jazz compositions and in the Digital Real Book by Sher Music. A young guitarist on the rise and a Berklee Alumni: Neff has played, studied and been in close quarters with some of the best names in contemporary jazz today. Steve Khan, Eddie Henderson, Jimmy Haslip, Randy Brecker, Azymuth, Will Calhoun, Andy Emler, Evan Price, Antonio Sanchez, Victor Mendoza, Jeff Lorber, Lonnie Liston Smith, Lee Pearson, Jean Caze, Stephen Webber, Brian Melvin, Gianni Bardaro, Sebastian Studnitzky, Gene Perla, Rick Peckham, Brett Willmott, Jon Damian, Marc Quiñones, Bobby Allende, Leslie Lopez, to name a few. He currently teaches at the Helsinki Pop & Jazz Konservatorio in Finland.
www.neffirizarry.com
ANTONIO QUIJANO (bass)
Antonio Quijano is a composer, theorist and electric bassist. Author of a 1,258 book compilation, the Secessionist Method of Composition Encyclopedia which discuses the dozens of theories he has developed over the years. Composer of more than 150,000 pieces of music and creator of the 2:1 technique for stringed instruments. He has lectured at major universities as an independent cultural researcher, writer, and theorist and is a pioneer in posthuman music and new music theory. Quijano has performed and/or recorded with Paul Dunmall, Neil Metcalfe, Eddie Gomez, Rob Smith, Villu Veski, Andy Emler, Dave Valentin, Edgar Abraham, Anthony Carrillo, David la Mole, Gilberto Santarosa and Endel Dueno, as well as the legendary Marvin Santiago, one of the founding fathers of plena music, Marcial Reyes and the avant-garde piano genius, Don Pullen. He currently has students of the Secessionist Method of Composition all over the world.
“Your playing is amazing” - Jeff Berlin
“This impressive work by Antonio Quijano (the Secessionist Method of Composition) challenges the musician to break out of conventional traditions and re conceptualizes the systems by which composition and improvisation are possible. I recommend it to anyone who wishes to think outside the box” - Eddie Gómez
www.secessionistmethod.com
DAVID LYTTLE (drums)
Born 1984 AD, David Lyttle is an Ireland-based performer and composer working extensively in the jazz and folk idioms. His earliest musical experiences were as a child in 'The Lyttle Family', performing folk music on cello, bodhrán and lambeg drum. Self-taught on drum kit since the age of eight, Lyttle also received classical training on cello but began to focus his efforts towards drums in his late teens after taking a serious interest in jazz. A graduate of the University of Ulster, he has also studied under scholarship at the Banff Centre (Canada) and Skidmore Jazz Institute (New York).
Lyttle has worked professionally in the US, Canada, Britain and Europe, with a wide variety of internationally-acclaimed artists. In the jazz world these include Greg Osby, David Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Tommy Smith, Soweto Kinch, Matt Penman, Jason Rebello, Jaleel Shaw, Dave Allen, Jamie Baum, Jonathan Kreisberg, Louis Stewart, Jacqui Dankworth, Ronan Guilfoyle and Michael Buckley, who is featured on his 2007 release 'True Story'.
“...notably assured technique, greased lightning reflexes and an unfailing sense of swing...a prolific composer too.” - Jazzwise (UK)
“...a drummer of real talent.” All About Jazz (USA)
www.davidlyttle.com
