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Partisans
Since their formation in 1996 Partisans has been thrilling audiences the world over with their ferociously energetic performances of tightly knit themes and the great freedom coming from their years of playing together. Partisans are real band – known for bridging the gap between New York swing, European improv and UK jam– where the combination of each member’s influences feeds a genuine creative spark generating huge excitement and energy. Co- led by two of the preeminent musicians of their generation, Phil Robson (guitars) and Julian Siegel (tenor sax & bass clarinet), the quartet line-up is completed by Thaddeus Kelly (bass) and Gene Calderazzo (drums). They are widely acknowledged as the godfathers of the new wave of British post-jazz and improv, and have outlived many of the bands that have come since their formation. BBC Radio 3 asserts they are “one of the most exciting all star experimental groups in jazz today”.
Partisans cook up a trademark shot of gritty be-bop mashed with hard bop, early electric Miles (one of their main influences), ballads with sustained delicacy, rock riffs mixed with P-Funk grooves and with fresh departures into electronica. The richly lyrical and strongly melodic compositions written by Robson and Siegel provide the framework and starting point, underpinned by the rock solid, freewheeling and supercharged rhythm section of Kelly and Calderazzo.
With years of touring around the globe and a cult following in their native UK, where they have played every conceivable venue from backwater pubs to the largest concert halls and festivals, Partisans have released four albums to date: their self-titled debut (1997, EFZ), Sourpuss (2000, Babel), Max (2005, Babel) and By Proxy (2009, Babel). They have also collaborated with many icons of modern music, most notably Steve Swallow and Wayne Krantz, the former who exclaims “Partisans present some of the most refreshing music I’ve heard in a long while, uncompromising, very well written and very well played.” September 2014 sees Partisans release their fifth studio album Swamp on the Whirlwind Recordings imprint. This new album is deeply rooted in the Partisan trademark vibe and sound, but completely blows open their already eclectic and unpredictable palette, taking their music to new heights as a result of their near 20 years together.
Phil Robson - Guitar
UK-based guitarist Phil Robson is a seminal figure in contemporary British music. Along with Partisans he is the leader of the Immeasurable Code Quintet feat. Mark Turner, and regular sideman with Christine Tobin (Best Vocalist BBC Jazz Awards 2008). His other bands have included Six Strings & the Beat, Phil Robson trio (with Billy Hart & James Genus), Phil Robson Quartet with Dave Whitford and featuring David Liebman & Jeff Williams. Phil tours the UK with Dave Liebman and has also performed with the Barbra Streisand quartet most recently on BBC TV. Phil was awarded Jazz Musician of the Year in the UK 2009 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and has recorded three albums under his own name on Babel including a commission for Six Strings & the Beat. www.philrobson.net
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Partisans: Nit De Nit
by Roger Farbey
Definitely not to be confused with the Welsh punk rock group of the same name (albeit with the added definite article in the title), Partisans have been around for well over two decades. Their debut album Partisans was released jointly under Julian Siegel and Phil Robson's names on the EFZ label in 1997. Since then, as Partisans, they've released Sourpuss (2000), Max (2005) and By Proxy (2009) on the Babel label and more recently, Swamp (2014) on Whirlwind Recordings.
read moreLive From Birmingham: Partisans, Rascals Of Rhythm, Amok Amor, John McEntire & Schneider Kacirek
by Martin Longley
Partisans Wolverhampton Arena Theatre November 14, 2015 Partisans have now been playing together for two decades, in a completely unchanging four-piece configuration. Bonds have been formed, lines have intertwined, rapport greases repertoire negotiation, and comfort encourages greater risk-taking. The band made several comments about savouring the Arena Theatre's vibrations, and well they should, given that its acoustics are paramount, imbued with a softly glowing warmth and closeness. The auditorium size is also just ...
read morePartisans: Partisans - Swamp
by Phil Barnes
Partisans, seen by many as the godfathers of the flourishing UK prog jazz scene, plough their own idiosyncratic path on this their fifth album, and first to appear on London label of the moment Whirlwind. The title conjures up fears of a blues rock abomination but thankfully the gentlemen have refrained from donning bandanas or placing cigarettes in the band of a wide brimmed hat to instead produce an eclectic treat. The dominant colour of the musical palette ...
read moreTD Ottawa Jazz Festival 2014, Days 7-9
by John Kelman
Days 1-2 | Days 4-6 | Days 7-9 Anat Fort / Susanna Torben Waldorff Wah Wah / Norma WInstone Partisans TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Ottawa, Canada June 20-July 1, 2014 For the last three days in Ottawa before heading to Montréal for five days of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the emphasis was entirely on the Improv Invitational series, at the National Arts Centre's intimate, club-like Fourth Stage. It ...
read morePartisans: Never the Same Way Twice
by John Kelman
It's been five years since Partisans--the British jazz group (not to be confused with the also-British punk rock band The Partisans) cited as the godfathers of the new wave of British jazz, first emerging in 1997 with the out-of-print self-titled debut on the EFZ label--last released an album, specifically the superlative By Proxy (Babel, 2009), which All About Jazz's Chris May called the group's long expected masterpiece" and one of the most exciting albums to be released on either side ...
read moreJazzahead 2011: April 28 - May 1, 2011
by John Kelman
Jazzahead Bremen, Germany April 28-May 1, 2010 Jazz may be a marginalized genre with shrinking CD sales and, at least in North America, a painfully low profile in popular media, but just a few days at Jazzahead in Bremen, Germany, leave a much different impression. A trade show for all things jazz, Jazzahead is in its sixth year, and has become the annual focal point for the jazz industry in Europe. Make no mistake: ...
read morePartisans: Blowing a Storm in Cyberspace
by Bruce Lindsay
Partisans has been gigging in cyberspace--playing a virtual nightclub in Second Life. Over 13 years and four acclaimed albums, Partisans has developed a strong reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative bands on the British jazz scene. One of the band's strengths is its willingness to keep up to date with technology and experiment with it whenever this might help to expand their work. As a result, the night before saxophonist Julian Siegel and guitarist Phil Robson took ...
read moreBritish Group Partisans Interviewed at AAJ
Source:
All About Jazz
Partisans has been gigging in cyberspace--playing a virtual nightclub in Second Life. Over 13 years and four acclaimed albums, Partisans has developed a strong reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative bands on the British jazz scene. One of the band's strengths is its willingness to keep up to date with technology and experiment with it whenever this might help to expand their work.
The night of Friday November 6, 2009 saw Partisans' debut gig in Second Life, ...
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“Intelligent, varied and often dazzling.” - The Evening Standard
“Partisans are one of the most consistently inventive and original bands.” – The Scotsman
“Partisans always sounds like the regular confederacy it’s been since 1996 – the tricky zigzagging heads are played with flawless attack, and the quartet’s trademark quality of seamless idiom and time-shifting within each piece operates with a gleeful tautness.” – The Guardian
“Godfathers of the ferocious UK ‘post-jazz’ groups.” - The Times