Partisans

PARTISANS celebrate their 12th year with the release of their fourth CD 'BY PROXY'. This marks a return to the core quartet line up after the successful collaborations with special guests over the last few years including the great US guitarist Wayne Krantz at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and on the band's previous Babel release, 'MAX', the UK Stars Trumpeter Chris Batchelor, on Hammond Jim Watson and in demand South African Percussionist Thebe Lipere
“If the first impression is immediate, 'By Proxy' (Babel Label) has all the power and personality needed to keep you coming back, the playing is superb… filled with hooks and riffs and sly twists and turns.” Duncan Heining Jazzwise June 2009
Since its formation in 1996 Partisans has been thrilling audiences with its ferociously energetic performances of tightly knit themes and the great freedom coming from their years of playing together. Partisans are real band, where the combination of each member's influences feeds a genuine creative spark generating huge excitement and energy. Co-led by Phil Robson (guitar – best musician 2009 Parliamentary Jazz Awards) and Julian Siegel (reeds - best instrumentalist BBC Jazz Awards 2007) the quartet line-up is completed by Thaddeus Kelly (bass) and Gene Calderazzo (drums).
By Proxy is Partisans’ 4th album and packs a punch. A great set of original tunes is caught live and at full throttle in the studio, beautifully engineered by Philip Bagenal at London's Eastcote Studios. 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 and with fresh departures into electronica notably on Thad Kelly's distinctive remix of Duke Ellington's 'Prelude to a Kiss'. 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.
"One of the most exciting all star experimental groups in Jazz today"BBC
Radio 3 Jazz Line-up.
"Its bad man!" Delfeayo Marsalis
PARTISANS previous CD 'MAX' NOMINATED FOR ALBUM OF THE
YEAR IN THE BBC JAZZ AWARDS 2006