3rd July 2012: WWR Signs Multi-Instrumentalist Jim Hart and set to release ‘The Cloudmakers Trio’ Live in London feat. Ralph Alessi Sept. 10th Worldwide

Whirlwind Recordings is proud to announce the signing of one of Europe’s most exciting multi-instrumentalists: Jim Hart, the London Based Vibraphonist, Drummer, and Pianist.  Jim is one of the most active and influential bandleaders working out of London today, playing across a multitude of genres within creative improvised and jazz musics. The album was recorded live during Hart’s UK tour in 2010 at the famed Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, London and includes Jim’s new working group– ‘The Cloudmakers Trio’– featuring percussionist extraordinaire Dave Smith alongside WWR’s own Michael Janisch on double bass.  What’s more is that the album features the immense trumpet playing of one of the world’s preeminent creative musicians in Ralph Alessi, currently based in NYC.  We are also equally excited to announce the official release for his inaugural WWR release is Sept 10th Worldwide.  We’ll have an album page made up very soon as well as sound samples, but for now here’s a sneak preview on what’s in store below as well as the new album cover image:

JIM HART’S ‘CLOUDMAKERS’ TRIO  Launching their new recording:

Cloudmakers Trio with Ralph Alessi

Live at the Pizza Express

 on Whirlwind Recordings Ltd Sept 10th 2012.

“the cream of London’s first call rhythm section players” – Jazzwise

Featuring:
Jim Hart, Vibraphone & Compositions
Michael Janisch, Double Bass
Dave Smith, Drums and Percussion

Special Guest: Ralph Alessi, Trumpet

About Cloudmakers Trio:  Under the leadership of the award winning multi-instrumentalist Jim Hart, the Cloudmakers Trio represents the culmination of nearly seven years of musical growth between three of the finest and in demand younger generation musicians currently working on the international jazz, improvised, and creative music scene.  Their enviable resumes boast a collective experience working across all genres of music while enjoying first call status to the stars.  And they have no boundaries; everyone from Wynton Marsallis to Evan Parker to Sir John Dankworth to Outhouse Ruhabi to Lee Konitz to Stan Sulzman have hired these popular musicians for their virtuosity and unbridled creativity, securing their reputations as guiding lights amongst musicians of their generation.
Having performed as a trio for countless touring projects over the years, Hart had the good sense to make this group the focus of his new compositions and arrangements.  With US born, London based Michael Janisch on acoustic bass, and long time musical associate David Smith on drums and percussion, Cloudmakers Trio officially formed in July, 2010 and embarked on a critically acclaimed inaugural tour around the UK.   They aspire their sounds to defy category yet draw influences from the entire scope of humanity’s music traditions, while maintaining a devotion to raw energy, in the moment risk taking, a dedication to groove and rhythm, strong melody, and above all transcending themselves and the listener through their music to that magical place that can only exist when musicians of this level come together to perform with true empathy. Aptly titled and ferociously skilled, the Cloudmakers Trio represents one of the newest additions to the list of most exciting contemporary groups working in jazz and improvised music today.

 JIM HART:  Originally form Cornwall, Jim Hart began playing piano and drums aged four and soon extended this to include tuned and orchestral percussion.
A founder member of London’s LOOP collective he is one of the most in demand musicians on the British scene as a soloist and and as a sideman on both drums and vibes. He has recored three albums under his own name with his own bands Gemini and The Jim Hart Quartet and his other major projects include The Cloudmakers Trio, Stan Sulzmann’s Neon Quartet, The Liquorice Allsorts with Alan Barnes and Paul Clarvis and the Ivo Neame Quartet. Jim can often be found as a guest with other Loop collective bands such as Phronesis (on drums) and Fringe Magnetic (on vibes).
Jim has toured extensively with many visiting American musicians in the last few years including Ralph Alessi, Joel Frahm, Jaleel Shaw, Terrel Stafford, Logan Richardson and Richie Barshay and he was recently a special guest with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra as part of their London residency with the Barbican centre.
Jim was nominated for musician of the year in the 2011 Parlimentary jazz awards. A British Jazz award winner in 2006, 2007 and 2008 he also received the Worshipful Company of musicians Bronze medal in 2006. He was also selected to be a participant of the Jerwood/PRS Foundation Take Five Initiative in 2009. He has also played with Phil Woods, Clarence Penn, Jonathan Blake, Walter Smith III, Franco Ambrosetti, Julien Arguelles, Iain Ballamy, Dominic Miller, Shaun Escoffery, The Herbaliser and The Heritage Orchestra, to name a few.

“one of the UK’s most creative new jazz artists.” – The Guardian
“Outstanding” – Financial Times
“Hart has developed an impressively individual voice.” -Jazzwize.
“Jim Hart’s vibraphone work shows why this lonely instrument deserves more ears” JazzTimes
“His vibes playing is a revelation” – The Times
“Definitely the best vibes playing I’ve heard in a long time.” – Joe Locke
www.jimhart.co.uk