The Gareth Lockrane Septet

The Gareth Lockrane Septet was formed in 2005 and in addition to Gareth on all the flutes, the band features some of the finest jazz musicians in the country - Robbie Robson (trumpet/flugelhorn), Steve Kaldestad (tenor sax), Trevor Mires (trombone/euphonium), Robin Aspland (piano), Matt Miles (double bass), Matt Home (drums).

The band was conceived when Gareth suddenly had a lot of time on his hands in autumn 2004 due to a wrist injury involving Cyprus, a few too many brandys and a steep cliff (or grassy knoll according to some witnesses) that put him out of playing action for 3 months, so he left the flute in the case and decided to write the material for a larger band that could allow the improvisatory talents of the individual players to come to the fore, yet in the context of richly scored original compositions and arrangements. Originally inspired by a lesson with the great Walt Weiskopf (who's own nonet records on Criss Cross are a pair of contemporary classics) and the likes of Thad Jones, Kenny Wheeler, Bill Holman, Jim McNeely, Jimmy Heath, Herbie Hancock and many other fine practitioners of the large/small group and band-within-a-band way of thinking, the septet features Gareth's dynamic original compositions which draw on influences ranging from contemporary jazz, hard bop, funk and world music.

They have completed work in Dec 2005 on a new album of Gareth's original compositions, visit the sounds section of the website to hear some samples!

Between them the members of the Septet have performed/recorded with Kenny Wheeler, Pete King, Hans Koller, Anita Wardell, Bobby Watson, Steve Grossman, Jim Mullen, Sam Rivers, Donald Harrison, Grooveyard, Matt Wates Sextet, Jazz Jamaica, The James Taylor Quartet and the Gwilym Simcock Nonet/Big Band.

Click here to listen to audio samples of the Septet.