Pianist and Loop Collective member Dan Nicholls talked to us about his first full-length album Ruins, to be launched tomorrow night (1st June 2013) at the Vortex (where there will also be a visual accompaniment).

In this interview, Dan explains the concept behind the album, the players he worked with, and the intriguing technique of using lo-fi field recordings to provide samples behind the music.

The other musicians on the album are Kit Downes, Shabaka Hutchings, James Allsopp, Dave Smith, and Tom Challenger. It has been produced by Matt Calvert and Dan Nicholls

“This music is always engaging but never obvious. Covering a broad spectrum from complex written material through to spacious improvisation which ranges from the muscular and strident to the subtle, understated and suggestive – truly jazz of the 21st century” – Iain Ballamy

“Listening to this album is a timely reminder of the wide ranging talent and inventive minds that populate the UK jazz scene. These improvisations, compositions and sound sculptures move between many moods yet seem to belong together. A rich sounding palette of colours expertly handled by the kind of virtuoso players who can leave space as well as groove hard.” – Liam Noble

Musical Examples:

Missing in Action at 3:00
Withdrawal at 9:46                                                                                       (pp)