Simians of Swing
“"more groove than a barrel of monkeys"”
Evening Standard
Led by jazz trumpeter Andy Davies and bass player Lorenzo Bassignani this modern jazz quintet, with its mix of hard bop, 80's groove and torch song vocals, produces something unique on the London jazz scene. Originally from Wales, Andy's fluent, hard-bop influenced trumpet playing has been heard in a wide variety of settings and it is a reflection of the respect with which he is regarded that his quartet is currently the resident band at the Ronnie Scott Upstairs Wednesday night Jam session. Expat Italian bass player Lorenzo Bassignani moved to London to study at Trinity College of Music, and since then, he has worked with an impressive array of artists, including Lindsey Webster, Hazel O'Connor, Ola Onabule and Polly Gibbons at the likes of Tokyo Opera House, Pizza Express and the Manchester, Moleto and Varese Jazz Festivals. Tonight the guys will be performing material from their recently released, eponymously named, CD "Simians of Swing". I'll hand over to them to explain more: "Inspired by our favourite Marvel, Vertigo and DC comic books we have written a jazz soundtrack to create new original heroes and villains. Their stories will send shivers down your spine...each number...is a soundtrack to a hero or villain; some of the characters are good, most are bad … but all are legends with tales of revenge, tragedy and romance. Set in a post-apocalyptic world the Simians narrate their stories through the medium of jazz." All of the music is written and arranged by Andy and Lorenzo and to help them tell their "stories" they have put together an enormously impressive band of top class musicians in guitarist Ant Law (Jason Rebello), drummer Saleem Raman (Julia Biel) and the wonderful vocalist Sara Dowling. This promises to be not only music of the highest calibre...but also great fun. And to quote the Simians once more "Live in the present...cos in the future the living are dead!"
"Slow or fast, upbeat or downcast, the Simians of Swing is an impressive and enjoyable outfit" AllAboutJazz; "Andy Davies has a lovely trumpet sound...it blossoms" The Observer; "more groove than a barrel of monkeys" Evening Standard