Curfew (band)
Encyclopedia
Curfew are a jazz fusion
band from England
. Having been described in the press as "jazz rock with a Weather Report
sound", the band are the self-proclaimed pioneers of the electric jazz genre; combining traditional instrumentation and performance with modern MIDI techniques.
Tracks from their latest album, Hold the Front Page, have appeared on radioplaylist
s in countries such as USA and Romania
.
, Alan Clayson
) and Steve Marshall (Jaco Pastorius
) as an outlet for their original jazz fusion
compositions.
The following year, the band augmented their lineup before gigging in 1990 with Bill Morrison on drums and Julian Costello on sax.
Following Morrison's departure in 1992, Shan Chana joined the band. With vocalist Rena, the band appeared at venues such as the Jazz Café
in Camden
, before entering the studio. The band produced a number of demos (which would later become the basis for their debut album).
, Adam Wakeman
), the band recorded their first album (Somewhere In The City) with guests Dave O'Higgins
(Frank Sinatra
, Jamie Cullum
) and Mark Hewins
(Bill Bruford
, Bob Geldof
). The album was released on Afterdark Records.
, flute
and EWI
), the band entered the studio in December 2004, before releasing Hold The Front Page in September 2005.
With Andrews preoccupied through 2006 with his solo album, the band reconvened in early 2007 for an appearance at the Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking
. Shortly after this, Wilson announced his departure from the band.
On July 20, 2007, Andrews stated on his personal website that Curfew will be performing at the 2007 alloutguitarFEST (formerly Kymfest). The festival took place on September 16 at the Roadmender
venue in Northampton
.
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Having been described in the press as "jazz rock with a Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
sound", the band are the self-proclaimed pioneers of the electric jazz genre; combining traditional instrumentation and performance with modern MIDI techniques.
Tracks from their latest album, Hold the Front Page, have appeared on radioplaylist
Playlist
In its most general form, a playlist is simply a list of songs. They can be played in sequential or shuffled order. The term has several specialized meanings in the realms of radio broadcasting and personal computers.-In radio:...
s in countries such as USA and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
Early years: 1988-1995
Curfew were formed in 1988 by Martin Lawrie (Jools HollandJools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
, Alan Clayson
Alan Clayson
Alan Clayson is a singer-songwriter, who was popular in the late 1970s as leader of Clayson and the Argonauts...
) and Steve Marshall (Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
) as an outlet for their original jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
compositions.
The following year, the band augmented their lineup before gigging in 1990 with Bill Morrison on drums and Julian Costello on sax.
Following Morrison's departure in 1992, Shan Chana joined the band. With vocalist Rena, the band appeared at venues such as the Jazz Café
Jazz Café
The Jazz Café is a music venue in Parkway in Camden Town, London, England. It opened in 1990, in the former premises of Barclays Bank, and has been run by Mean Fiddler Music Group since 1992, now a subsidiary of the MAMA Group.-History:...
in Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, before entering the studio. The band produced a number of demos (which would later become the basis for their debut album).
New line-up and album: 1995-1997
With the arrival of a new drummer, Russ Wilson (Theo TravisTheo Travis
Theo Travis is a British saxophonist and flautist.Travis received his degree in flute and saxophone from the University of Manchester and has worked among others with Robert Fripp, Gong, Porcupine Tree, The Tangent, Bill Nelson, Bass Communion, No-Man, Steven Wilson, David Sylvian, Harold Budd,...
, Adam Wakeman
Adam Wakeman
Adam Wakeman is the current keyboardist for Ozzy Osbourne's band and also keyboardist for Black Sabbath...
), the band recorded their first album (Somewhere In The City) with guests Dave O'Higgins
Dave O'Higgins
Dave O'Higgins is a British jazz saxophonist.Born in Birmingham, O'Higgins first emerged on the British jazz scene in the 1980s. After playing in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for three years O'Higgins joined the band of Jim Mullen before moving on to Martin Taylor's band.O'Higgins performs as...
(Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early...
) and Mark Hewins
Mark Hewins
Mark Hewins is a British jazz guitarist known particularly for his connections to the Canterbury scene.Hewins' professional career as a guitarist began in 1970 with the London band Mother Sun...
(Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
, Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
). The album was released on Afterdark Records.
Back to basics: 2004-present
With only occasional session appearances from Jones and Travis (as well as Lawrie's son Alex on saxophoneSaxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and EWI
EWI
EWI is the name of AKAI's wind controller, an electronic musical instrument invented by Nyle Steiner. The early models consisted of two parts: a wind controller and a synthesizer. The current model, EWI4000S, combines the two parts into one, placing the synthesizer in the lower section of the...
), the band entered the studio in December 2004, before releasing Hold The Front Page in September 2005.
With Andrews preoccupied through 2006 with his solo album, the band reconvened in early 2007 for an appearance at the Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
. Shortly after this, Wilson announced his departure from the band.
On July 20, 2007, Andrews stated on his personal website that Curfew will be performing at the 2007 alloutguitarFEST (formerly Kymfest). The festival took place on September 16 at the Roadmender
Roadmender (nightclub)
The Roadmender, Northampton Roadmender or Roadmender Centre is a nightclub and live music venue in Lady's Lane, Northampton, England...
venue in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
.
Personnel
- Steve Marshall - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening... - Martin Lawrie - KeyboardsMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
- Nick Andrew - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- David Bouet - Drums
Discography
- Somewhere In The City – 1997
- Return of the Jazz Fusioneers – 2001
- Hold The Front Page – 2005