Julian Arguelles

Ever since his emergence into in the fertile London scene of the 1980s with the seminal Loose Tubes, saxophonist/composer Julian Argüelles has maintained his position in the front rank of contemporary musicians with a career that has matched a comprehensive musicality with an endlessly inquisitive, searching disposition.

Atlântico is the second album from the European jazz super-trio of Julian Argüelles, Mário Laginha and Helge Andreas Norbakken. Effortless, flowing and lyrical, the trio melds together worlds of folk song, powerful African groove with the American tradition and a sophisticated European jazz sensibility.

Phronesis have built a formidable reputation over the last decade as one of the most powerful and energetic small ensembles on the European jazz scene. Known for their virtuosity, dynamism and telepathic group interplay, the trio have commanded impressive media attention and established a substantial fanbase on a global level. Following six critically acclaimed trio albums, the band have now completed their most ambitious recording to date with the release of The Behemoth. Consisting of ten arrangements and re-imaginings of compositions from their back catalogue by Julian Argüelles, this remarkable, vibrant new album featuring the Frankfurt Radio Big Band is rich in colour and bursting with spirit and creativity.

Esteemed British saxophonist Julian Argüelles brings his working quartet, Tetra, to Whirlwind in an immersive, hour-long sequence of material written specifically with his colleagues in mind: pianist Kit Downes, bassist Sam Lasserson and drummer James Maddren. Known widely as an original member of seminal big band Loose Tubes, as well as for his outstanding compositional and performing involvement with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, smaller creative ensembles have always been close to Argüelles' heart, previously recording with such luminaries as Mike Walker, Dave Holland, Martin France and the late John Taylor. On 'Tetra', his respect for, and collaboration with, today's eclectic strain of younger jazz musicians kindles a mutually imaginative spark with an equal emphasis on composition and freedom of improvisation, often melodically or texturally blurring those divisions.

Julian Argüelles, the saxophonist and composer who emerged on the Loose Tubes wave in the 1980s, now has an international reputation for both his playing and his powerful writing, but this tribute to South Africa’s world-jazz impact highlights his gifts as an arranger. Argüelles appears here with his drummer brother Steve, and with pianist Django Bates – all of them having worked with late lamented South African exiles including Chris McGregor and Dudu Pukwana. Those influences course through this effervescent set, on which the Argüelles siblings, Bates, and the soloists of the punchy Frankfurt Radio Bigband bring some timelessly thrilling music back to life. Pukwana’s pounding classic Mra Khali gets a pin-sharp ensemble treatment that doesn’t cramp its old joyousness; Miriam Makeba’s swaying Retreat Song gets imaginatively talkative muted-trombone variations from Peter Fell and a swerving accordion-like keys break from Bates; the arrangement of Abdullah Ibrahim’s The Wedding hides the melody in a slow rapture; and the band’s hard-hit riffing on Pukwana’s gleeful Come Again makes you jump gratefully out of your skin. It’s a delightful album.

European Jazz at its finest blending Spanish roots, Nordic space and sound with one of the brightest and most talented British bands around.

Phronesis have built a formidable reputation over the last decade as one of the most powerful and energetic small ensembles on the European jazz scene. Known for their virtuosity, dynamism and telepathic group interplay, the trio have commanded impressive media attention and established a substantial fanbase on a global level. Following six critically acclaimed trio albums, the band have now completed their most ambitious recording to date with the release of The Behemoth. Consisting of ten arrangements and re-imaginings of compositions from their back catalogue by Julian Argüelles, this remarkable, vibrant new album featuring the Frankfurt Radio Big Band is rich in colour and bursting with spirit and creativity.

European Jazz at its finest blending Spanish roots, Nordic space and sound with one of the brightest and most talented British bands around. Tonadas (simply meaning Tunes) is the lyrical and vibrant new quartet album from saxophonist Julian Argüelles. Drawing on his Spanish roots Argüelles has produced a gem - a beautifully warm, harmonically rich and melodic album, abundant with an elegant tone and absorbing colour. Tonadas has everything you’d want and expect from a contemporary Jazz album, yet it surprises on another level. With shifting turns of phrase and effortlessly flowing band interplay, Argüelles’ growing status as a master composer, bandleader and creator are clear. This music is profoundly joyful and masterfully produced.