Projects

The Ache at Breath’s End” is part of an unreleased suite of compositions reflecting the love I have for my family and the determination to nurture my kids in a challenging world.

‘Best known as one third of MOBO and Mercury Prize nominated Roller Trio, here saxophonist James Mainwaring turns away from their catchy hooks and crunchy riffs to concentrate on a more studious exercise. Using a system derived from serialist composers, he sets out a suite of improvisations based, he says, on eight of the 12 possible trichords, extemporising permutations on the chords and the notes contained therein.

It’s an approach that John Coltrane explored in his later work, but Mainwaring gives it a modern twist, adding ominous drones, synth squiggles, twitchy electro beats and field recordings of birdsong, rainfall, rushing water and other tantalisingly indefinable atmospherics. Given the academic seriousness of the project, what’s surprising is just how accessible – and varied – his explorations are. In one, he’ll offer up delicate bleats that coagulate into complex clusters. In another, shrill, see-sawing announcements glide effortlessly into a triumphant melody. The careful use of overdubbing provides another dimension, adding swift asides and rejoinders to his own statements. In all, it’s a thoughtful and wholly successful investigation into the manifold possibilities inherent in judiciously applied creative limitations.’ Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise Magazine

Was amazing to work with this lovely bunch:

Aby Vulliamy – viola, vocals.
Michael Bardon – cello, double bass.
Fergus Quill – double bass.
Steve Hanley – drums.
Chris Sharkey – electronics.
James Mainwaring – saxophones, compositions, arrangements, lyrics, vocals, field recordings / granular synth, Fender Rhodes, piano, and flutes.

Mycorrhiza is the term describing the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and a plants root system. The fungi forms networks between the trees, allowing them to communicate. Often nicknamed the ‘wood wide web’, the network allows trees to send each other nutrients and warn each other about predators such as bugs, deer, or harmful pathogens. This album is inspired by natural systems like this and is concerned about the human impact and the corruption surrounding it.

If the one-touch hipness of the mid-60s Miles Davis band and the methods of a free-improv conceptual revolutionary like saxophonist Evan Parker had ever fused, the result might have sounded a bit like The Earthworm’s Eye View – the debut of a new project by Roller Trio and Django Django saxophonist James Mainwaring, with Michael Bardon and Joost Hendrickx on bass and drums, and their formidable Leeds College mentor Matthew Bourne on Fender Rhodes. They take jazz, improv, contemporary-classical and world music in their stride, and Bourne’s experience and imagination let him prod and shadow them everywhere. Sax phrases like drum hits draw on hip-hop, while there are keyboard collages recalling Bitches Brew, and sax outbursts as ferocious as Parker’s or Peter Brotzmann’s. Playful, dark, skilful and spontaneous, it’s not just a free-jazz fan’s set, but a surefooted trip across many persuasions in contemporary music.

‘Switching the feel of a tune in a heartbeat from edgy improv to anthemic power riffs to reverb-swamped note storms, Roller Trio are powerful and progressive. For this album, the line-up includes Chris Sharkey, a guitarist at the cutting-edge of contemporary guitar improv, alongside James Mainwaring, saxophone & electronics and Luke Reddin-Williams, drums. Their mix of high octane technicality and deceptively catchy tunes has transcended their Jazz heritage, bringing them acclaim from fans and critics alike.’

‘Mercury Nominated Roller Trio roar back with their powerhouse second album, ‘Fracture’. Featuring the band at their most punchy and compelling, the material was extensively toured before recording, allowing the band to bring all the vibrant brilliance of their electric live show to the studio.’

In July 2014 Roller made it to the EBU European Jazz Competition finals in Rotterdam. One week before the competition James (sax) broke a bone in his right hand which left us unable to play our regular set. Instead of forfeiting the competition we decided to throw ourselves into 4 days of writing/rehearsing in which we came up with half an hour of new material which James could perform with one hand. The resulting music still prominently features the saxophone but with a greater emphasis on electronics, looping and ambient effects.

A dynamic live set from Roller Trio, recorded during their standout performance at London’s Jazz in the Round series.

The debut album from Roller Trio that established their reputation as boundary-pushing innovators in modern jazz. A Mercury Prize-nominated release.