Julian Siegel (reeds) Phil Robson (g) Thad Kelly (b) Gene Calderazzo (d)
Since 1996 Partisans have been thrilling audiences with their energetic performances of tightly knit themes and groove-based sound, bridging the gap between New York swing, European improv and UK jam band. Co-led by Julian Siegel and Phil Robson, Partisans are real band, honed over their years together, where the combination of each member’s influences feeds a genuine creative spark, and are widely acknowledged as breaking the ground for the new wave of British jazz.
In 2009 Partisans released By Proxy, their 4th album on the independent Babel label, and a testament to their maturity and continuing inventiveness as composers and musicians. Partisans cook up a trademark shot of gritty be-bop and hard bop, early electric Miles, ballads with sustained delicacy, rock riffs mixed with P-Funk grooves. The richly lyrical and strongly melodic compositions written by Robson and Siegel provide the framework and starting point, underpinned by the rock solid, freewheeling and supercharged rhythm section of Kelly and Calderazzo.
“Partisans present some of the most refresh ing music I’ve heard in a long while, uncom promising, very well written and very well played. It demands serious attention. I hear in these players a sense of common pur pose and resolve, and a strong command of a dialect uniquely suited to this music. It’s
heartening to hear music that looks to find its own particular place.” Steve Swallow
Partisans have worked with American greats, such as Steve Swallow and Wayne Krantz (who wrote ‘Partisans’ and ‘Partisans #1’ for their albums, 2005 Max and 2009 By Proxy), and played European and UK festivals including Berlin, Banlieues Bleues, Bath, Brecon, Coventry, Cheltenham, Manchester, Jazzahead Bremen, Jyväskylä, Haarlem, and London Jazz Festival. The members have all individually played in the US with their other projects.
From 2011 Jazzahead! “The group swung hard when it wanted, but its concepts of harmony and intricate melodic invention were as bleeding edge as it gets, and while the energy level was high, the contrasts—essential to building great tunes, great solos and great live performances—remained in full view throughout. …Hearing Partisans perform rendered a longtime wish a reality.” John Kelman, Allaboutjazz.com
‘This foursome are often cited as godfathers of the ferocious “post-jazz” groups’ The Times****
‘…tricky zigzagging heads are played with flawless attack, and the quartet’s trademark of seamless idiom and time shifting within each piece operates with a gleeful tautness’. Guardian****
Julian Siegel – tenor & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet
Julian is an in-demand saxophonist on the UK and European Jazz scene who has worked with many of the top figures in the music including Andrew Hill, Julian’s Trio with Joey Baron and Greg Cohen, Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow, Django Bates, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Colin Towns and the NDR Big Band. Along with an appearance at London Jazz Festival 2011 with Hermeto Pascoal, he has previously toured the UK with Hermeto’s big band and performed at the Ruhr Triennale festival with Laurie Anderson. In 2007 he was awarded the BBC Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist. Along with Partisans, his current bands are the Julian Siegel Trio with Joey Baron and Greg Cohen, and the Julian Siegel Quartet with Liam Noble, Oli Hayhurst and Gene Calderazzo. www.juliansiegel.com
Phil Robson – guitar
Playing in Europe & beyond, UK-based guitarist Phil is also leader of IMS Quintet’ (featuring Mark Turner), Six Strings & the Beat, Phil Robson trio (with Billy Hart & James Genus), Phil Robson quartet with Dave Whitford and featuring David Liebman & Jeff Williams, and regular sideman with Christine Tobin. Phil tours the UK with Dave Liebman and was recently hand-picked to complete Barbra Streisand’s quartet for a live performance on BBC TV. Phil was awarded Jazz Musician of the Year in the UK 09 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and has recorded three albums under his own name on Babel, along with his latest, on Whirlwind Recordings, The Immeasurable Code featuring Mark Turner. www.philrobson.net
Thad Kelly – bass
Thad turned down a proper job to become a bass player, ‘the instrument that likes to be talked over’. As well as touring with Partisans he can often be seen ripping it up the with musical anarchist Billy Jenkins, he is a member of Orquestra Mahatma with multi-instrumentalist Stuart Hall and percussionist Paul Clarvis, he played with the vocalist Ian Shaw at the Lincoln Center New York Jan 04 and other jazz festivals in the USA and has worked with Slim Gaillard, Julian Arguelles and Iain Ballamy. He has completed remixes (with Big Hair) for Billy Martin (Medeski Martin & Wood). Recently Thad has been playing with Ashley Slater’s ‘Big Lounge’ (of ‘Freak Power’).
Gene Calderazzo – drums
NY-born Gene grew up surrounded by the cutting edge of the 80’s jazz lions and has played with many greats including Branford Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Steve Lacy, Steve Grossman, Mike Gibbs, Sting, Radiohead, Ulf Wakenius, Gary Husband, Wayne Krantz, Evan Parker, Randy Brecker and brother Joey Calderazzo. As well as his part in Partisans, he is the beat in Phil Robson’s Six Strings & the Beat, and regular with Zoe Rahman, Hans Koller, and the Crass Collective. Gene also featured in The Talented Mr. Ripley as the quintessential jazz drummer and toured with Pharaoh Sanders in 2011.
