He writes: “Unusually for my compositions, For To End Yet Again has by circumstance very little rehearsal time, so the score has been structured to reflect this, but also to challenge all of us to listen and work together (…) For To End Yet Again is dedicated to Marek Winiarski who has made so many projects possible and to György Kurtág who has been musically inspirational”.
The project’s cryptic title comes from one of Samuel Beckett’s 8 short prose pieces, released as Fizzles 1977. In 1993 Guy, inspired by Beckett’s prose, recorded an album of the same title. Add to that the eight miniatures from Hungarian composer György Kurtág, and we have a recipe for truly thrilling musical experiences served by 11 world-class musicians under the leadership of Barry Guy. And if anything can match Guy’s musical ingenuity, it’s only his talent for surrounding himself with equally outstanding artists.
The twelve-person supergroup includes other Kraków usuals, Ken Vandermark and Mats Gustafsson. Vandermark is known as one of the most outstanding saxophonists in recent decades, but also as a culture animator, festival curator and workshop organizer. Since 1993, he has played on over 60 albums. His Swedish colleague Mats Gustafsson is known for projects like The Nu Ensemble, Fire! or The Thing, but also for cooperating with a diverse range of world-renowned artists, including Sonic Youth, Peter Brötzmann, Merzbow, BNNT, Jim O’Rourke or Neneh Cherry. His encyclopedic musical knowledge (he is inspired by jazz, blues, folk and contemporary music) and commitment to each new project makes him one of the most esteemed saxophonists in improvised music. Another musician with whom the festival’s crowds are familiar is the sought-after Catalan pianist Agustí Fernández – Guy’s permanent associate at Blue Shroud Band and Barry Guy New Orchestra, lecturer at Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona, co-author of over 80 albums.
In this good company we will also hear such outstanding professionals as rabid fan of jazz, flamenco and Hindu music Ramón López; multi-instrumentalist and composer Percy Pursglove (Blue Shroud Band, Amy Winehouse); Torben Snekkestad, a Norwegian saxophonist who has Raymond Strid, Peter Evans and Paal Nilssen-Love among his musical collaborators; Swiss violinist and co-founder of Maya Recordings, Maya Homburger (Blue Shroud Band, Orchester Révolutionnaire Et Romantique, The Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra); Norwegian saxophonist Mette Rasmussen (Alan Silva, Chris Corsano, Ståle Liavik Solberg, Trio Riot); English drummer Paul Lytton, a regular associate of Guy, Gustafsson and Vandermark, but also of Evan Parker; the bassist who draws on Taoism in his musical work – Rafał Mazur (Polish Improvisers Orchestra, Keir Neuringer / Rafał Mazur Duo, Ensemble 56), and classically educated but seasoned in international collaborations, “ambassador of Lithuanian jazz” Liudas Mockūnas.
Barry Guy is a bassist and composer born in 1947 in London. He has worked with, among others, Tony Oxley, Evan Parker, Mike Westbrook, Peter Kowald, Trevor Watts, but also with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, Monteverdi Orchestra and Jane Manning. He is the founder and artistic director of the 21-person London Jazz Composers Orchestra. Together with his wife, Maya Homburger, they run Maya Recordings.
Agustí Fernández (ES) – piano
Barry Guy (GB) – double bass
Ramón López (ES) – drums
Ken Vandermark (US) – saxes, clarinet
Mats Gustafsson (SE) – saxes
Percy Pursglove (GB) – trumpet
Torben Snekkestad (NO) – soprano & tenor saxes
Maya Homburger (CH) – violin
Mette Rasmussen (DK) – saxes
Rafał Mazur (PL) – acoustic bass guitar
Paul Lytton (GB) – drums
Liudas Mockunas (LT) – tenor & soprano saxes
Thursday : (11-10-2018)
FIRST SET : Ramon Lopez / Rafal Mazur / Percy Pursglove
SECOND SET : AURORA Trio / Ken Vandermark / Barry Guy
THIRD SET : Percy Pursglove / Ken Vandermark / Barry Guy / Paul Lytton
Friday : (12-10-2018)
FIRST SET : Torben Snekkestad / Agustí Fernández / Barry Guy
SECOND SET : Barry Guy / Ramon Lopez / Ken Vandermark , Mette Rasmussen/ Torben Snekkestad
THIRD SET : Mette Rasmussen, Barry Guy, Paul Lytton / Agustí Fernández, Percy Pursglove
Saturday : (13-10-2018) final of the residence
Sunday : (14-10-2018)
„Baroque Alchemia evening“ with Biber, Bach and Saxophone Solos !
Maya Homburger (CH) – violin
Barry Guy (GB) – double bass
Mette Rasmussen (DK) – saxes
Mats Gustafsson (SE) – saxes
Torben Snekkestad (NO) – soprano & tenor saxes
DATE : 13.10.2018
VENUE : Radio Krakow, Studio S-5 Aleja Juliusza Słowackiego 22
TIME : 8.00 pm
TICKETS : 40 PLN in presale, 50 PLN on the day of the show
Residence pass (includes all events 11-14.10): 90 PLN