MOPOMOSO (MOdernismPOstMOdernismSOwhat?) are marking their twenty-one years of existence with a seven date tour (in partnership with Sound and Music) of the UK beginning on the 23rd April at Birmingham Hare and Hounds, and ending on the 30th April at Manchester St Margarets, Whalley Range.

MOPOMOSO was founded in 1991 by guitarist John Russell and pianist/trumpeter/composer Chris Burn with the aim of promoting free improvisation as a way of making music and showing its connection to other forms of contemporary composition. The series has gone from strength to strength, presenting hundreds of concerts, workshops and other events over the years.

John Russell says:

“With its monthly series, which currently takes place at The Vortex – ‘London’s listening jazz club’, Mopomoso offers audiences the chance to hear some of the best music around, in an intimate and friendly setting. Programmed by myself, and now in its 21st year, this tour will recreate some of that ambience with a varied programme of contrasting approaches to free improvisation from some excellent musicians. By its very nature no two concerts will be the same so we can safely guarantee you won’t have heard anything like this before!”

The tour has many different promoters, many of whom are also musicians. Each concert will open with support from musicians local to the city the band are playing in, and the rest of the programme will be as follows:

Duo:

Alex Ward (clarinet) and Kay Grant (vocals)

Alison Blunt Trio:

Alison Blunt (violin), Benedict Taylor (viola), David Leahy (bass)

Pat Thomas:

Solo piano and keyboards (on all gigs except Bristol)

Keith Tippett: