Alison Rayner Quintet

Led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner, multi award-winning quintet ARQ are widely celebrated from several years of extensive UK and European touring – and critically acclaimed for three album releases August (2014), A Magic Life (2016) and Short Stories (2019).  Their music combines richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies; this, along with their love of improvisation, creates a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality. ARQ play ‘songs without words’ and are lauded for their vibrant, communicative performances. Short Stories, supported by Arts Council England and the PRS Foundation, garnered extensive press acclaim and international radio play, with one song from the album winning an Ivor Nov

ello Award. This was followed by a twenty-four date UK promotional tour.  

Line Up: Alison Rayner – double bass, Buster Birch – drums / percussion, Deirdre Cartwright – guitar, Diane McLoughlin – saxophones & Steve Lodder – piano