Portico Quartet
Encyclopedia
Portico Quartet are a 4-piece modern jazz
group from London
and Southampton
. Their sound is made distinctive by the use of the Hang, a 21st Century percussion instrument used on all their tracks. The group is composed of Jack Wyllie (soprano and tenor saxophone), Duncan Bellamy (drums), Milo Fitzpatrick (double bass), and Keir Vine (Hang and percussion). Nick Mulvey, former Hang player and percussionist, left the Portico Quartet in early 2011 to pursue his career as singer-songwriter. He is replaced by Kier Vine.
After nearly two years of playing mainly small gigs and busking
regularly outside the National Theatre
in London, they signed to Babel Label
in 2007. Their first album, Knee-deep in the North Sea was released on 5 November 2007, coupled with performances at the London Jazz Festival
at Purcell Room
together with pianist Michiel Borstlap
and drummer Bill Bruford
.
They are now signed to Real World Records
and have released their second album 'Isla'. The name portico comes from when a gig was rained off in Italy and they played under a portico
.
at #186.
It was Time Out's best jazz album of 2007. It was re-released by Real World Records on 31 January 2011. The album has been remixed by John Leckie
and was the first time selled on vinyl and as deluxe edition with three extra (live) tracks on CD.
Produced by Portico Quartet
Co-Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Sonny.
Assisted by Kevin James Feazey and Simone Filiali
Mastered by Andrew Tulloch at The Blue Studio, London
Executve Producers Oliver Weindling and Will Gresford
Design, Artwork and collages by Duncan Bellamy
Photograph by Matt Crossick
(Hidden Track: "Prickly Pear" - 5:47)
and Fish Factory Studios, May 2009
Produced by John Leckie
, assisted by Chris Bolster at Abbey and Desmond Lambert at Fish Factory
Mixed by John Leckie and Portico Quartet
except Shed Song (Improv. 1), recorded at the end of our garden, 20.01.09
Mixed at Real World Studios
, assisted by Robin Baynton
Mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios
Painting, artwork and design by Duncan Bellamy
(Bonus Download Track: "Su-Bo's Mental Meltdown" - 5:50)
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
group from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. Their sound is made distinctive by the use of the Hang, a 21st Century percussion instrument used on all their tracks. The group is composed of Jack Wyllie (soprano and tenor saxophone), Duncan Bellamy (drums), Milo Fitzpatrick (double bass), and Keir Vine (Hang and percussion). Nick Mulvey, former Hang player and percussionist, left the Portico Quartet in early 2011 to pursue his career as singer-songwriter. He is replaced by Kier Vine.
After nearly two years of playing mainly small gigs and busking
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
regularly outside the National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
in London, they signed to Babel Label
Babel Label
The Babel Label is a record label was founded in 1994 by Oliver Weindling. It primarily records and releases jazz albums from UK artists. Ongoing relationships include artists such as Billy Jenkins, Christine Tobin and Huw Warren. A close relationship has been forged with a number of musicians from...
in 2007. Their first album, Knee-deep in the North Sea was released on 5 November 2007, coupled with performances at the London Jazz Festival
London Jazz Festival
The London Jazz Festival is a London-wide music festival held every November. It takes place in a variety of London venues, including larger concert halls—such as the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall—and smaller jazz clubs, such as Ronnie Scott's and Vortex...
at Purcell Room
Purcell Room
The Purcell Room is a concert and performance venue which forms part of the Southbank Centre, one of central London's leading cultural complexes. It is named after the 17th century English composer Henry Purcell and has 370 seats....
together with pianist Michiel Borstlap
Michiel Borstlap
Michiel Borstlap is a Dutch jazz pianist and composer.Borstlap started playing piano at the age of 5 years....
and drummer Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
.
They are now signed to Real World Records
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
and have released their second album 'Isla'. The name portico comes from when a gig was rained off in Italy and they played under a portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
.
Knee-deep In The North Sea
The band's debut album 'Knee-deep in the North Sea' was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize. The week after the awards show it debuted on the UK Top 200 Albums ChartUK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at #186.
It was Time Out's best jazz album of 2007. It was re-released by Real World Records on 31 January 2011. The album has been remixed by John Leckie
John Leckie
John Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
and was the first time selled on vinyl and as deluxe edition with three extra (live) tracks on CD.
Credits
Recorded and Mixed at Livingston Studios, London on 7th, 8th, 9th February and 6th, 7th, 8th August 2007Produced by Portico Quartet
Co-Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Sonny.
Assisted by Kevin James Feazey and Simone Filiali
Mastered by Andrew Tulloch at The Blue Studio, London
Executve Producers Oliver Weindling and Will Gresford
Design, Artwork and collages by Duncan Bellamy
Photograph by Matt Crossick
Track listing
All tracks composed, arranged and performed by Portico Quartet.- "News From Verona" – 4:24
- "(Something's Going Down on) Zavodovski Island" – 4:22
- "Knee-Deep In The North Sea" – 4:52
- "Too Many Cooks" – 5:32
- "Steps In The Wrong Direction" – 6:09
- "Monsoon: Top To Bottom" – 4:14
- "The Kon Tiki Expedition" – 4:29
- "Cittàgazze" – 4:47
- "Pompidou" – 3:08
(Hidden Track: "Prickly Pear" - 5:47)
Credits
Recorded at Abbey Road StudiosAbbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
and Fish Factory Studios, May 2009
Produced by John Leckie
John Leckie
John Leckie is a British music producer, notable for producing many high-profile albums such as The Stone Roses's debut and Radiohead's The Bends...
, assisted by Chris Bolster at Abbey and Desmond Lambert at Fish Factory
Mixed by John Leckie and Portico Quartet
except Shed Song (Improv. 1), recorded at the end of our garden, 20.01.09
Mixed at Real World Studios
Real World Studios
Real World Studios is a residential recording studio in Box, Wiltshire, England associated with the Real World Records Ltd. record label founded by rock musician Peter Gabriel...
, assisted by Robin Baynton
Mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios
Painting, artwork and design by Duncan Bellamy
Track listing
All tracks composed, arranged and performed by Portico Quartet.- "Paper Scissors Stone" – 5:27
- "The Visitor" – 5:31
- "Dawn Patrol" – 6:00
- "Line" – 7:30
- "Life Mask (Interlude)" – 1:16
- "Clipper" – 6:31
- "Life Mask" – 7:17
- "Isla" – 5:09
- "Shed Song (Improv. No 1)" – 8:23
(Bonus Download Track: "Su-Bo's Mental Meltdown" - 5:50)