Alto saxophonist Martin Speake and guitarist Mike Outram have collaborated for 25 years on many projects of Martin’s including the music of Charlie Parker, a quartet featuring Martin’s diverse and original highly melodic compositions and Charukesi his Indian/Arab music inspired groove band. This is the first time they will have played in the intimate duo setting. They will perform varied original compositions by Martin and arrangements reflecting many diverse influences including Charlie Parker, Hildegard Von Bingen, Paul Motian, Ornette Coleman, The American Songbook, Indian music from Ramamani and Karnataka College of Percussion, Rabih Abou Khalil, Keith Jarrett and many others.
Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB0kLFHy1Ek&t=4380s
Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgG1FqX-Xkk
Tickets £14/£12
Martin studied classical saxophone at Trinity College of Music. At that time there were no jazz courses in London, but he met some future jazz musicians at the college, including pianist Simon Purcell, saxophonist Mark Lockheart and the members of saxophone quartet Itchy Fingers who were studying at the Royal Academy of Music. He toured Europe, South America, Africa and the USA with Itchy Fingers appearing at major jazz festivals and playing on their first two CDs Quark (Virgin Records) and Teranga (Venture). In 1986 they won the Schlitz Young Jazz Musicians of the Year Award, which was televised by the BBC.
In 1988, he left the group to develop his own projects, which have been many and diverse, and establish himself as a composer and improviser.
Mike Outram is a guitarist, improviser and composer. He has toured internationally and recorded with Carleen Anderson, Mike Farris, Laurence Cottle, Hamish Stuart, Tim Garland, Theo Travis, Steven Wilson, Nikki Iles, and Laura Rossi. He is Guitar Professor at The Royal Academy of Music, Trinity Laban & The Guildhall, London.