Perfect Houseplants

Formed in 1992 by four of the most distinctive jazz musicians and composers in Britain, Perfect Houseplants rapidly achieved a reputation as one of the most innovative and challenging jazz groups to emerge in the 1990s. The group’s unique and colourful compositions and musical interaction have established them as an adventurous but accessible group on the cutting edge of European music. This is their reunion tour

Perfect Houseplants is renowned for its cross-over projects with the award-winning Orlando Consort, violin genius Andrew Manze and, on their latest recording of radical re-workings of English folk music, virtuoso recorder player Pamela Thorby.

Although the group’s debut album, simply entitled ‘Perfect Houseplants’ was met with a positive response, the band’s second album ‘Clec’(1995) opened a significantly larger sound world by using accordion, prepared piano, percussion, cello and sampled sounds as well as the more conventional line-up of saxophones, piano, bass and drums. The album was reviewed to critical acclaim.

The period between 1996 and 1997 also saw two important cross-over projects with musicians from the Early and Baroque worlds. ‘Extempore’ (Linn CKD 076) brought together Perfect Houseplants with the award-winning early music group The Orlando Consort. Taking modes and plainchant as the starting point, the project has appealed to a large cross-section of listeners and has led to concerts in Europe such as La Biennale di Venezia. A project commissioned by BBC Radio 3 with violinist supremo Andrew Manze was broadcast the same year.

The Millennium saw Perfect Houseplants performing in Europe and many International festivals as well as recording their fifth album entitled ‘New Folk Songs’ (Linn AKD 165). This is considered by many to be their most accomplished recording so far and started as a commission to write new music based on folk music from East Anglia. The album features the virtuoso recorder playing of Pamela Thorby on four radical re-workings of traditional songs. After this rest period of many years, they reform in 2018 for this short tour of the UK.

The members of Perfect Houseplants have played and recorded with a glittering array of American and European artists including: Dave Holland, Django Bates, June Tabor, Kenny Wheeler, Manu Katche, Lee Konitz, Ralph Towner, Steve Swallow, Prefab Sprout, Radiohead, Mike Gibbs, Colin Towns, Andy Sheppard, Billy Cobham, Robert Wyatt and Jah Wobble.

Line Up: Mark Lockheart – soprano & tenor saxophones; Huw Warren – piano, accordion & percussion; Dudley Philips – acoustic & electric bass and Martin France – drums & electric percussion.

Tickets:

Advance: £12.50/£10 Members/Students £3

On the Door: £15/£12/£5