Downstairs

Tony Bianco Memorial

Wed 29 April 2026, 6.15PM

FREE ENTRY

Photo Credit: Steven Cropper | www.transientlife.uk

**Please note this is a free event and entry will be admitted on a first come first serve basis**

Doors 6:15 PM, Music 6:45 PM

 

Line-up:

Faith Brackenbury – violin, viola
Alex Maguire – piano
Michel Delville – guitar
Loz Speyer – trumpet
Mike Fletcher – saxophone
Mark Hanslip – saxophone
Oli Hayhurst – bass
Jair-Rohm Parker Wells – bass
Gary Willcox – drums

 

About the Event

This gathering brings together close collaborators and musical allies of the late drummer Tony Bianco for an evening of performance, remembrance, and shared musical language. The music will draw from Bianco’s compositions, repertoire closely associated with him, and open improvisation. The intention is to honor his legacy through the very thing he gave so much to: live, spontaneous creation in the moment.

ARTIST SNAPSHOTS

Alex Maguire – A central figure in UK improvised music, Maguire has worked extensively with Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Tony Oxley, and Elton Dean. He co-founded the trio douBt with Michel Delville and Tony Bianco and has recorded widely across leading experimental labels.
Michel Delville – Belgian guitarist and composer known for The Wrong Object and collaborations with Tony Bianco in Machine Mass and douBt. His work bridges jazz, progressive rock, and experimental music through collaborative composition and live exploration.
Faith Brackenbury – A key collaborator with Tony Bianco from 2020–2025, releasing acclaimed duo recordings and performing extensively. Their work combined improvisation with deep conceptual and spiritual influences, including projects inspired by Hildegard von Bingen.
Loz Speyer – Trumpeter and composer with a long history in both structured jazz ensembles and free improvisation. His collaborations with Bianco date back to the late 1990s, spanning trio and quartet settings and ongoing experimental projects.
Oli Hayhurst – A widely respected bassist who performed with Tony Bianco and has worked with Zoe Rahman, Pharoah Sanders, and Julian Siegel. Known for his deep, lyrical approach within both jazz and improvised contexts.
Gary Willcox – Drummer rooted in the jazz tradition, influenced by masters such as Max Roach and Art Blakey, while active in contemporary improvising ensembles including Loz Speyer’s Inner Space.
Jair-Rohm Parker Wells – Electric bass violinist and improviser whose work centers on long-form structures, texture, and spontaneous composition. His solo program Resonance: The Tesseract Singularity continues to build international momentum across Europe and the US.

MUSIC FOR THE EVENING

Selections may include Tony Bianco compositions such as:
Relative Grace
Cosmic Circus
Talking Eagle
Repertoire associated with Bianco including Africa and In A Silent Way
Material from douBt and related projects
Open improvisations in tribute to Bianco’s approach

ABOUT TONY BIANCO

Tony Bianco was a singular voice in improvised music, known for his explosive energy, deep listening, and fearless commitment to the moment. His work spanned free jazz, structured improvisation, and cross-genre collaboration, leaving a lasting imprint on musicians across Europe and beyond.
This evening is not a retrospective. It is a continuation.

CONTACT / PRESS

For press inquiries, additional materials, or interviews: Jair-Rohm Parker Wells jairrohm@gmail.com