British Post-Jazzers Polar Bear Interviewed at AAJ

During the six or seven years since its formation, British quintet Polar Bear has garnered extensive praise from critics, fans and fellow musicians. Most famously, perhaps, the band was described by music critic Paul Morley as “dream jazz"--high praise, indeed. The band's second album, Held On The Tips Of Fingers (Babel, 2005), was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. The band has a great reputation as a live act, attracting audience members from the jazz world and beyond. On the eve of the release of its fourth album, Peepers (Leaf Records, 2010), Polar Bear's leader and percussionist, Seb Rochford, and its bassist, Tom Herbert, met at Herbert's house to take part in a telephone interview about the band's development, the creation of Peepers and their plans for the future.

AAJ Contributor Bruce Lindsay spoke with Rochford and Herbert about the new release, Peepers, as well as the group's history and where it's heading in a changing landscape.

Check out Polar Bear: Raw and Spontaneous at AAJ today!