Home » Member Page

Partikel

"One of the most exciting trios working in improvised music" Jazz Podium

About Me

Partikel are three London based musicians all with very different musical backgrounds who have come together to make music mixing all of their favorite influences in a melodic, coherent and accurate way. The music puts an interesting twist on the standard jazz format while still honoring the tradition of deep harmony and creative improvisation.

Drawing influence from African and Latin American music combined with the style of the contemporary jazz scene, Partikel produce a personal, committed and contemporary take on the saxophone trio. Soulful melodies are combined seamlessly with complex mixed meter vamps along with an instantly identifiable energy and band sound.

Since their Whirlwind debut as an acoustic trio (Cohesion, 2012), Partikel have progressively pushed at the developmental possibilities, and 2015’s String Theory – augmenting the line-up of Duncan Eagles (saxophones), Max Luthert (double bass) and Eric Ford (drums) with string quartet – generated significant interest, spawning numerous gigs both in the UK and internationally. These live experiences (including a month touring China) saw the band’s sound climbing to new heights, enhanced by the work of violinist Benet McLean and super-sized with the creative blends enabled by digital harmonizers, pedals and programming.

So vibrant new release Counteraction shifts up yet another gear, with music crafted specifically around this forward-thinking approach, while also introducing atmospheric electric guitarist Ant Law, flautist and baritone saxophonist Anna Cooper, and electronic sound designer Sisi Lu. The compositions (mostly by Eagles) explore fascinating textural avenues, balancing and integrating them with the band’s original sax, bass and drums identity to create often strikingly unusual resonances.

The band also have been running a successful night for the past 5 years at one of London's premier jazz venues The Hideaway in Streatham. As bassist Max Luthert rightly states “we have been hanging out and playing together so much over the past 5 years this is really starting to develop a strong and cohesive band sound.” Rarely do jazz groups get the opportunity to work together and develop their art as much as Partikel has resulting in a fresh, melodic and fiercely interactive set of passionate and sincere music, while presenting an original take on the classic jazz saxophone trio.

Cohesion was included in renowned critic Kevin Le Gendre's list of the top 10 Jazz Albums of 2012. Other artists in this top ten included Robert Glasper, Steve Lehman, Gregory Porter and Billy Hart. Partikel have also been nominated for the prestigious 'London Jazz Award 2011'.