Seb Pipe - Alto Sax
Arthur Lea - Piano
Larry Bartley - Double Bass
Chris Vatalaro - Drums

SEB PIPE’S LIFE EXPERIENCE comprises forward-thinking musicians who share a passion for creative musical expression and communication. Their music is forged from idiosyncratic concepts, tight grooves and bold improvisations. Following the completion of their new album (funded partly by their development prize received from the ‘Musicians Benevolent Fund’ in 2006), and thanks to the success of their ‘Jazz Services’ supported tour in July 2006, their performance at the ‘Spitz’ in November 2006 as part of the ‘London Jazz Festival’ and all performances up to the present time, they have built up, developed and honed a diverse gamut of highly innovative, original and electrifying compositions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click here to download a pdf. press pack

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Press Quotes:

Seb Pipe's Life Experience Live @ Vortex Jazz Club, Wednesday 2nd April 2008

"Alto player/composer Seb Pipe was clearly so keen to air his set of originals ­ his band's eponymous album, after all, has 'Music is Life' as its motto ­ that he played a hundred-minute set without an interval on this, his first gig at the Vortex with his quartet: pianist Arthur Lea, bassist Larry Bartley, drummer Chris Vatalaro.

This intensity was faithfully reflected in his music: over the characteristically hard-driving bass provided by Bartley and the constantly probing drums of Vatalaro, Pipe soloed with a passionate energy tinged with just enough nervy restlessness to bring one of his old saxophone tutors, Steve Coleman, to mind.

Another former teacher, Jean Toussaint, has said of Pipe: 'One of the most difficult tasks for aspiring musicians is to come up with a fresh approach in any given musical idiom. Sebastien has certainly done this with great style and panache. Sebastien is pushing the boundaries and experimenting with some very innovative concepts.'

In this quest, Pipe is considerably aided by a highly original pianist; Lea not only negotiated the trickiest passages of Pipe's music with assurance, but also soloed with grace and aplomb throughout a wholly absorbing set of material that positively bristled with ideas, all addressed with infectious energy and commitment by an enthusiastic but tight and musicianly band.

Yet more evidence, were it needed, of the extraordinary strength in depth of the current UK jazz scene." - Review by Chris Parker

"It's certainly a strong quartet...lots of healthy four-way interaction and the feeling that they think on their feet." - Peter Bacon (The Birmingham Post 04/02/08)

"It's a group we'll likely be hearing from in 2008."
- John Fordham (The Guardian Newspaper), Friday January 4, 2008

“It is rare to find someone of Seb’s age with such insight and focus in his chosen field. He knows exactly what he wants to do, and what he needs to do to achieve it. Seb is pushing the boundaries and experimenting with some very innovative concepts and I think his efforts are worthy of support because it is individuals like him who move the art form forward. He has his own unique personal style of playing and composing, which is unusual at such a young age, and I guarantee that any investment in this gifted and musical young man will be a sound one – for both Seb as an individual, and for jazz in the UK (and even further, for I am sure he will go very far). “
- Jean Toussaint (Tenor Saxophonist and former member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers)

"I'm impressed..this is good stuff...it is deep"
- BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-up [01/12/07] Claire Martin and Jack Massarik

"distinctive, highly original quartet music, addressed with musicianly verve and commitment by the agile Pipe and his energetically responsive band – pianist Arthur Lea, bassist Larry Bartley and Brooklyn-born drummer Chris Vatalaro – and as well as showcasing the leader's strengths as both composer and soloist...a fine, vigorously interactive unit."
- Chris Parker (The Vortex Jazz Club, Nov. 2007)

“London Jazz Festival 2006: Tony Kofi + Seb Pipe's Life Experience
Recommended
Sat Nov 11th Spitz, Old Spitalfields Market, 109 Commercial St, E1 6BG
A fantastic double bill with altoist Kofi breathing contemporary life into the classic Hammond organ trio format and fellow altoist Seb Pipe playing idiosyncratic, highly original melodic jazz.”
- Timeout (Nov. 2006)

“My biggest applause, though, went to Seb Pipe's band…No wonder the bard wrote: O it came o’er my ear like the sweet sound that breathes upon a band of violets.”
- Edward Fennell (Times Newspaper 21/06/05)

“Swings like crazy…effortless playing and a unique pure sound”
- Kunitachi Magazine (Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 2004)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Band Biographies:

SEB PIPE: ALTO SAX
Seb is continuously expanding his interest, appreciation and love of music of all forms. His main musical focus lies in the African Diaspora, the Balkans, Far East, India and Western Classical. Seb was drawn to music from an early
age, picking up the saxophone at the age of 7 then later guitar, piano and drums. Seb’s most influential teachers include Jean Toussaint, Steve Coleman and Julian Argüelles. Seb’s most important performances have taken place in Tokyo (as special guest with Andy Davies Quartet), Lisbon (with Pequeños Mundos) and at the Spitz in London, leading Seb Pipe’s Life Experience as part of a double bill with Tony Kofi as part of the London Jazz
Festival 2006.

ARTHUR LEA: PIANO
Arthur started piano at the age of 7 and Tenor Horn at 8. Early gigging experiences ranged from London venues to the Twin Towers, New York. Arthur studied jazz piano at the Royal Academy of Music with a scholarship. Teachers included Pete Saberton, Robert Mitchell, Liam Noble and Mike Mondesir. He has led his own 7-piece ensemble at the 606 Club, City of London Festival and Pizza Express.

LARRY BARTLEY: DOUBLE BASS
Larry has become one the most sought after players on the London jazz scene. Musicians he has worked with include Courtney Pine, Jean Toussaint, Denyse Baptiste, Byron Wallen and Jason Yarde. He has toured with several musicals and dance collaborations such as ‘The Nat King Cole Story’, ‘Grapevine the Music of Motown’ and Jonzi D’s ‘Airplane Man’. He has also released his own album ‘Along this Way’.

CHRIS VATALARO: DRUMS
From New York, Chris moved to London where he quickly made his mark on the London jazz scene, collaborating with wide variety musicians including Ingrid Laubrock and Jonathan Bratoeff. Chris has performed in the U.S. with Eric Biondo, Akemi Naito, Afro Beat Orchestra: Antibalas. A player to watch out for.

 

[Many thanks to Michael Valentine for the above photo]