Primary Instrument: Band/ensemble/orchestra
One of the original torch bearers for the revitalized young British jazz scene, Led Bib release their 5th album on Cuneiform Records in February 2011.
The band’s previous release, Sensible Shoes' was nominated for the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize and described as a modern classic by the press: “a hands-down triumph” said The Independent, “…a gale of fresh air” wrote The Guardian and the group were described as “the group bring jazz back to contemporary music's cutting edge” by The Sun.
Relentlessly dodging definition, Led Bib are both a maverick jazz band and an unlikely rock quintet. Taking their name from a protective garment used on patients during dental treatment, this Walthamstow based five-piece of twenty-somethings pride themselves on side- stepping convention, with incendiary results. The friends, who can usually be found in one another’s homes drinking tea and discussing the merits of biscuit types, have together torn apart the jazz world with their avant-jazz-euphoric-rock explosions of improvisation. And whilst fun may not be something which often comes to mind in relation to jazz, it’s the addition of this playfulness that has over years seen Led Bib throw out any jazz preconceptions and entice a whole new army of supporters to the genre. Combining the energy and passion of a rock outfit with the technical ability of trained jazz musicians their effect is exhilarating.
The group, formed in 2003 by drummer/composer Mark Holub established its current line up around seven years ago. Since then they have rocketed into the public consciousness within a swirl of critical acclaim, high profile shows, many TV and radio appearances, awards and a growing audience base, won over by their electric live sets - the sonic equivalent of a volcanic eruption backed by a fire storm.
The group released their first album in May 2005 to widespread critical praise and went on to win the 2005 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, whose previous winners include Soweto Kinch, Tom Arthurs and Empirical. Second album ‘Sizewell Tea’, released through Babel in 2007, moved the group into a new level of awareness with a string of high profile dates: 12 Points festival in Dublin where they represented Britain, the reopening event for the Royal Festival Hall, a 1 hour live session on BBC Radio 3 and a flurry of shows at leading venues including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Pizza Express Soho, North Sea Jazz Festival and more. 2008 saw them release a limited edition CD to more acclaim despite its unavailability in the shops.
The band experienced further widespread acclaim following the release of their 4th album Sensible Shoes when it was announced as an Album of the Year in the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. The ensuing media storm saw them reach in excess of 20 million people as they performed on TV & Radio sessions including Channel 4 TV News with Jon Snow and Radio 4’s Front Row. They watched on as sales of their album Sensible Shoes rocketed after their appearance on the BBC2 Mercury show and signed a synchronization deal with Faber Music & Media for film, TV and synch licensing and toured throughout Europe and the US.
Led Bib continue to appeal to all fans of good music �” it’s the reason that drum and bass heads, jazz aficionados and folk and pop fans are dotted across their audiences. They have drawn references from across the musical spectrum from Captain Beefheart and John Zorn to Pink Floyd.
With Bring Your Own they have created a record to rival their last. Not just an album of 2011, it has the markers of a jazz album of all time.
