ROB TERRY TRIO
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ABOUT THE TRIO
The Trio was created to bring a new “Jazz” perspective to the “Classically” modelled compositions of pianist Rob Terry and explore the extraordinary musical relationship between him, bassist Paul Jefferies and drummer Charlie Stratford. Drawing on their quite different musical backgrounds, the trio move effortlessly from skilfully arranged Modern “Classical” textures to engaging Jazz improvisation - whilst keeping a cohesive and unique “sound” and feel to their performances.
In their debut recording “The Unexamined Life”, compositions reminiscent of Satie, Prokofiev or Stravinsky are energised with rhythms and motifs drawn from Modern Jazz, Gospel and Latin American music. Brimming with evocative melody, “The Unexamined Life” can be at times meditative and uplifting, or at times dramatic and hugely exciting.
Paul Jefferies began playing guitar when he was seven, but moved naturally to bass guitar and was performing to great acclaim with progressive rock and jazz fusion bands throughout his teens. Following a long break from the music, he only began studying double bass technique in 2005 and was soon playing with mainstream and modern jazz combos locally in Oxfordshire.
An inventive and lyrical bassist, he appears regularly with a wide range of ensembles including, Gypsy Fire, ‘3bpm’, the Frank Hockney Project, DOME, Rob Terry Trio, Sophie Garner Jazz Project and his own hard edged nu-jazz trio 'Tantrum'. Paul has also performed with some of the leading names in jazz including Art Themen, Tommaso Starace, Tina May, Juliet Kelly, Nicolas Meier, Steve Waterman and Roger Beaujolais.
A performance and composition graduate at the University of Birmingham and one of the rising stars of jazz piano in the nineties, Rob took time out of the jazz world to perform with a plethora of popular artists including Eartha Kitt, Gloria Gaynor, Dave Stewart, Marc Almond and Lulu. In the subsequent years he returned to his study of composition and developed a style mixing elements of Western ‘Classical music’ with Jazz.
More recently, in addition to performing with his own trio, Rob has appeared and recorded with Stewart Curtis’ K-Groove, Koby Israelite Band, Sophie Garner Jazz Project and Neil Stacey’s Kimbara Brothers. He has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, the Vortex Jazz Club, the 606 Club and Ronnie Scott’s.
Charlie started playing the drums at the age of 12 and soon became involved with various jazz groups and orchestras. In 1993 he won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, where he took lessons from Joe Hunt (Stan Getz) and Skip Hadden (Weather Report). He then returned to London and studied privately with Ed Thigpen (The Oscar Peterson Trio).
Charlie has performed with artists including Humphrey Littleton, Scott Hamilton, Jamie Cullum and Suggs, and at venues including Buckingham Palace and The Royal Albert Hall.
“This is a mesmerising musical project. It had been billed as a fusion of jazz and classical music, but what I wasn’t expecting was the incredible depth and breadth of the musical references and yet the originality of the compositions.”
The Vortex
“My imagination was led by the titles of the pieces; An Unexamined Life, Mr Gurdjieff, Life Goes On.......throughout, the players didn’t so much ‘solo’ as highlight individual talents – and they’re impressive.”
The Oxford Times
“A sparkling and original interpretation of the piano trio, combining grace with a subtle edge, bringing together influences from Ramsey Lewis to Jarrett to Chopin, within a wrapper of deeply creative compositions,a delight.”
Ealing Jazz Festival
“One heck of a powerful trio - that’s musically powerful I mean - no self indulgent meanderings here, just pure musical entertainment with lots of virtuoso attitude.”
Burton Jazz Festival
“Terry plays unusual, angular lines...........the listener was transported back a century into the world of Russian futurism and the musical language of
Prokoviev – superb.”
London Jazz Blog
“Simply astonishing.” Chesterfield Jazz Club