ZHENYA STRIGALEV – SMILING ORGANIZM
FEAT. AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE, ERIC HARLAND, LARRY GRENADIER, TAYLOR EIGSTI, LINLEY MARTHE
Zhenya Strigalev altsax, Ambrose Akinmusire trompet, Taylor Eigsti piano, Larry Grenadier, Linley Marthe bas, Eric Harland drums
Alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev likes to set a high bar for himself with exuberant, fast-paced licks in the spirit of Charlie Parker and Art Pepper. On top of that he brings an impressive list of all stars from London and New York to the Bimhuis. His band Smiling Organizm features trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Taylor Eigisti, drummer Eric Harland and no less than two star bass players: Larry Grenadier (Brad Mehldau Trio) on upright acoustic and Linley Marthe (Joe Zawinul Syndicate) on electric bass. The music juxtaposes acoustic bop with electric funk, with room for Russian melancholy, free improv and contemporary hip-hop beats.
The Russian-born, London-based Zhenya Strigalev leads Smiling Organizm, a band with a shifting, ‘organic’ line-up. The second Smiling Organizm album was recorded recently in New York, with Eric Harland producing. It’s the follow-up to the band’s debut, 2012’s Smiling Organizm Volume 1, ‘a scorching mix of edgy post-bop and gritty fusion, all served up by two stellar US/UK line-ups’ (Time Out London).
The Bimhuis restaurant is open prior to the concert from 6.30 til 8.30PM (reservations via 020-7882158). After the concert, the Bimhuis Café is open (free entrance).