The faces of jazz lovers are sure to light up with joy at the sound of this band’s name. Those who haven’t heard of Nu Band need to know that it’s made up of veterans of jazz and improvised music. But that doesn’t mean they lack anything in energy or new ideas.
The group was formed in 1999 on the initiative of Roy Campbell and Lou Grassi. Campbell was often called the most talented trumpeter in improvised music. He was the creator of Pyramid Trio, in which he played with William Parker and Hamid Drake. Lou Grassi is a percussionist who collaborated with such musicians as Johnny Hartman, William Parker and Perry Robinson. Saxophonist and clarinetist Mark Whitecage is an 80-year-old multi-instrumentalist and composer who has more imagination and ingenuity than a lot of much younger musicians. The band’s leader is Joe Fonda, whose collaborators include Archie Shepp, Bill Dixon, Perry Robinson and Curtis Fuller, a longtime member of Anthony Braxton’s sextet.
The great American quartet has performed many times in the United States and Europe, also visiting Krakow. The end of October this year marked 10 years since the group’s concert at the 2nd ever Krakow Jazz Autumn.
After Roy Campbell’s premature death in 2014, the band decided to continue playing under the Nu Band name. They are now joined by another skilled trumpeter, Thomas Heberer.
The four titans of improvisations will perform on 24th November at Alchemia
(tickets: 30/40 PLN)
