ᴊᴀᴢᴢ: arche – Steve Saunders (Guitar) Asger Nissen (Saxophone) Jeff Williams (Drums)

UK guitarist Steve Saunders (Xhosa Cole, Paul Dunmall) and Berlin-based saxophonist Asger Nissen present arche (ar-kay), a bass-less trio featuring legendary New York jazz drummer Jeff Williams. Arche have worked throughout the UK and Europe at venues ranging from the prestigious Birmingham Symphony Hall Stage to Donau115 in Berlin, where Asger and Steve worked with rising German drummer Marius Wankel. The group perform original compositions collaboratively composed by Asger and Steve, exploring contemporary music techniques within an open, improvisatory framework. The result is an original, unified language in which compositions and improvisations blend seamlessly together, demonstrating diverse influences from classical figures such as Pierre Boulez, Elliott Carter and serialists Morton Feldman and Milton Babbitt, all whilst drawing upon the depth of the jazz and improvised music tradition.

An open instrumentation set forth by the great Paul Motian, the group provides a contrasting and contemporary take on this unique ensemble configuration whilst keeping in tradition with its legacy.

The above video is taken from the trio’s filmed and recorded performance on the Birmingham Symphony Hall Stage, UK, hosted by B:Music. It features three compositions by the band: