His new quartet, which features rising star Samuel Eagles on saxophone, plays uplifting melodic jazz in moods ranging from lilting calypso to driving Latin American grooves, hypnotic swirling melodies, Afrobeat, township rhythms and gospel-fired hymns.
After living in London for many years and building a career that has included appearances at Ronnie Scott’s, Symphony Hall, and Glastonbury and Womad festivals, Clouts moved to Dorset where he has added music reflecting the sights and sounds of the area to his canon.
His quartet’s previous album, The Hour of Pearl, has been enthusiastically received by Jazzwise magazine and the Jamie Cullum Show in particular. Tonight the band will be launching the new CD Umoya which captures their wide-ranging music superbly and in concert, Clouts, saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Alex Keen and drummer Dave Ingamells bring it alive with tremendous imagination, vim and vigour.
The dancing exuberance of South African Township music, the convivial groove of gospel-influenced soul jazz, the joyful sway of Cuban guaguanco rhythms, the bluesy melodies of middle eastern praise songs and so much more all come together in pianist Philip Clouts’ superbly accomplished quartet.
Clouts was born in Cape Town and the music of his homeland has stayed with him as he has continued on a voyage of discovery that has led him across all five continents, soaking up Caribbean calypso and the soulful strains of the Indian subcontinent while honouring and learning from jazz heroes including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd.
As a key member of the popular London-based world jazz ensemble Zubop and its offshoot ZubopGambia, a collaboration with BBC World Music award-winner Juldeh Camara, Clouts created a solid body of work with African roots and since moving to Dorset in 2006 he has responded to his new surroundings with impressionistic compositions that complement and chime with his world music interests, resonating with folky themes and packing pungent rhythmical punch.
His quartet’s last album, The Hour of Pearl, which has been enthusiastically received by Jazzwise magazine and the Jamie Cullum Show in particular, captures this wide-ranging music superbly and in concert, Clouts, saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Alex Keen and drummer Dave Ingamells bring it alive with tremendous imagination, vim and vigour.
“Luxurious melodies, woven with subtle influences from Clouts' forays into world music” Jazz UK
'Thoughtful, intricate writing and superb musicianship' London Jazz News
“Pulsating groove-orientated music…distinctive…spiritual and soul jazz…strongly melodic themes” Jazzwise
“Combines lightness of touch with a rhythmic sensibility: a winning combination.” All About Jazz
“A characteristic mix of strong melodies allied to Clouts' extensive knowledge of global jazz styles. Well written, attractively melodic, stylistically varied and superbly played.” Ian Mann
Kwartet utalentowanego pianisty Philipa Clouts z ktὀrym wystąpi nowa gwiazda Samuel Eagles na saksofonie, zagra melodyjny jazz o szeroko zrὀżnicowanym nastroju. Bȩdą luksusowe rytmy calypso, latynoamerykański grooves, hipnotyczne i wirujące melodie afrobeat oraz gorące rytmy gospel. Dzisiejszy koncert bȩdzie promocją nowego CD „UMOYA”, ktὀry fantastycznie łączy ich muzyczne talenty. Podczas koncertu zagra Philip Clouts na pianinie razem z saksofonistą Samuel Eagles, basistą Alex Keen i perkusistą Dave Ingamells przekazując olbrzymią wyobraźniȩ muzyczną, energiȩ i wigor. Pulsująca, atrakcyjna i zrὀżnicowana muzyka łącząca w sobie rytmiczną lekkość i wrażliwość bȩdzie świetnie zagrana na scenie Jazz Cafe POSK.
„Luksusowe melodie, tkane z subtelnymi wpływami z wypadów Clouts.." - Jazz UK "Troskliwa, zawiłe tresci i wspaniała muzykalność" - London Jazz News "Pulsująca muzyka groove ... charakterystyczny ... duchowe i dusza jazz ... zdecydowanie melodyjne tematy" Jazzwise "Łączy w sobie lekkość z rytmicznym wrażliwości: zwycięskiej kombinacji." All About Jazz "Charakterystyczna mieszanka mocnych melodii Clouts rozległej wiedzy światowych stylów jazzowych. Dobrze napisane, atrakcyjnie melodyjne, stylistycznie zróżnicowane i znakomicie zagrane. "Ian Mann