Otto Willberg (double bass)

Andrew Lisle (drums)

Alex Ward (electric guitar & clarinet)

Charlotte Keeffe (trumpet & flugelhorn)

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Cath Roberts (baritone saxophone)

Olie Brice (double bass)

Alex Ward Item 4

Newly formed, Alex Ward’s Item 4 is a quartet consisting of Alex Ward on clarinet and guitar, Charlotte Keeffe on trumpet and flugelhorn, Otto Willberg on double bass, and Andrew Lisle on drums. In contrast with Item 10, a ten piece ensemble which concentrates mostly on composition, Item 4 aims to give room to all the musicians to improvise (both collectively and individually) while Ward’s interference as a composer is minimal. Keeffe’s fragile presence with her egoless contributions highlights the close listening of the group’s interactions. There is energy but without the typical high volume. Ward’s clarinet leads the group into more melodic territory, while his electric guitar results in more aggressive and fragmented interactions.

Cath Roberts & Olie Brice

Cath Roberts’ work explores free improvisation, composition and the music at their meeting point. Her primary outlet as a composer and improviser on baritone saxophone is the band Sloth Racket, which has toured widely and released several albums. She also improvises using live electronics and objects.

Olie Brice is a double bassist, improviser and composer.  He leads the Olie Brice Quintet, described by Richard Williams as “one of the most interesting and satisfying bands on the current UK scene”.  The Olie Brice Quintet have released two albums, ‘Immune to Clockwork’ in 2014 and ‘Day After Day’ in 2017.  He also leads an improvising trio, Somersaults, featuring Tobias Delius and Mark Sanders.