The last time Tim was in Bristol was as part of the wonderful New York Standards Quartet I put on at the Colston Hall 2 back in April 2012 and that was a great gig and showed what a talented saxophonist Tim Armacost really is.

Tim Armacost has led a life of constant motion. He has gathered knowledge and experience around the globe, which forms the foundation of his passionate brand of jazz. After landing in New York in 1993, Armacost quickly established his presence as a leader, releasing his first two albums, “Fire” and “Live at Smalls” to critical acclaim.

His hard hitting third release, “The Wishing Well”, announced the arrival of Armacost’s working unit, featuring Bruce Barth, Ray Drummond, and Billy Hart. The group completed six successful tours in Europe and Asia and followed up with an inspired second recording, “Brightly Dark”. Armacost’s current release, “Rhythm and Transformation”, features the quartet augmented by Ray Spiegel playing Tabla, and the great Eddie Henderson on trumpet.

Working with his quartet: the cooperative group Hornz in the Hood with fellow saxophonists Craig Handy and Ravi Coltrane, Ray Drummond’s “Excursion Band,” and co-leading the Brooklyn Big Band with Craig Bailey, Armacost is now seriously in the New York mix. Armacost's career is already distinguished by performance and recording credits alongside the likes of Al Foster, Jimmy Cobb, Kenny Barron, Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, Victor Lewis, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Peter Erskine, Roy Hargrove, Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Kikoski, Lonnie Plaxico, Randy Brecker, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and the David Murray Big Band.

Armacost describes his early upbringing as a pendulum swing between his hometown of Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Washington D.C. He began his musical training on clarinet in Tokyo at the age of eight. By sixteen he had switched to tenor saxophone, and was working in big bands around Washington.

Armacost graduated Magna Cum Laude from Pomona College with a major in Asian Studies in 1985. His restless spirit took him to Amsterdam later that year, where he established himself on the jazz scene, attained fluency in Dutch, and became the head of the Sweelinck Conservatory's saxophone department. After gaining seven years’ worth of extensive performing, teaching, and recording experience in Europe, Armacost raised his stakes once again and headed for India. Having studied melody and harmony for twelve years, Armacost arrived in New Delhi with the goal of concentrating on rhythm. He had the good fortune to become a student of the tabla master Vijay Ateet. Armacost performed frequently with Indian jazz and classical musicians. He returned to India to play at the Jazz Yatra, Bombay’s International Jazz Festival in 1998. Indian rhythmic concepts continue to be a source of inspiration in Armacost's development as an improviser.

Throughout twenty-five years of frequent traveling to Japan, Tim Armacost has developed a deep and special relationship with its people. He is a fluent speaker of Japanese, and is an active student of Japanese culture and religion, living there for many months of the year.

Michael Janisch is a keen improviser. He has been described as virtuosic and emphatic (The Guardian) and Bass Musician Magazine asserts Janisch is one of the few bass players out there who plays both electric and upright with equal facility, passion and musicality.

His debut solo album Purpose Built established his international reputation as one of the premier bassist-bandleaders-composers working in contemporary improvised music, and drew together his sure-footed bass work (both electric and acoustic), original compositions, and arranging skills along with some characteristically strong performances from a group comprised of prominent musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, including Jim Hart, Walter Smith III, Mike Moreno, Jason Palmer, Paul Booth, Aaron Goldberg, Phil Robson and Johnathan Blake. Jazz Times Magazine called it the complete package; while making a number of 'Best of the Year' critics' lists. Purpose Built was also the impetus for the creation of Janisch's new record label, Whirlwind Recordings which made an immediate impact on both sides of the Atlantic.

In addition to performing Michael is an adjunct Professor of Double Bass at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music in London, while performing masterclasses at universities and festivals around the world.

Drummer, bandleader, composer and arranger Klemens Marktl was born in Austria in 1976. After studying classical piano at a very young age Klemens discovered his passion for playing the drums. He studied drums in Austria, The Hague, Amsterdam and New York with Carl Allen, Ralph Peterson, Greg Hutchinson and Ari Hoenig, among others. During 1997-2003; Klemens was living in the Netherlands and worked professionally as a drummer/bandleader in the international jazz scene. He has toured and recorded with great jazz artists such as George Garzone, Seamus Blake, Aaron Goldberg, Chris Cheek, Matt Penman, Johannes Weidenmueller, Barry Harris, Jesse van Ruller, Ferdinand Povel, Michael Erian, Rick Margitza, John Swana, Rob Bargad and Kenny Werner. In January 2001 Klemens won the first prize at the Leidsche Jazz Award (Netherlands).

After 5½ years living in the Netherlands he moved to New York in 2003 where he quickly became part of the upcoming jazz elite around the likes of Vincent Herring, Rob Bargard, John Swana and played in the late night jam sessions in clubs and homes of Robert Glasper, Aaron Goldberg, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Chris Potter and Wynton Marsalis. At this time he founded together with Chris Cheek (sax), Aaron Goldberg (piano) and Matt Penman (bass) his own quartet, with which he published his 2nd album Ocean View.

At the end of 2004 the charismatic Austrian felt drawn to home and moved to Vienna as his working base. From here he made himself distinctive as sideman and bandleader in the national and international jazz scene.

This again is another chance to hear outstanding musicians coming out of New York and Europe, Armacost is in the forefront of the music emanating from the Big Apple, catch these guys yourself in Bristol tonight. timarmacost.com

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