★Alison Rayner Winner The Ivors Academy award for ‘jazz composition for small ensemble’.
★ Alison Rayner Nominated: Best Double Bass 2019 British Jazz Awards
★ Deirdre Cartwright Winner public vote: Guitar 2019 British Jazz Awards
★ Winners: Jazz Ensemble of the Year 2018 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
★ Shortlisted: Best Small Group 2018 British Jazz Awards

Described by LondonJazzNews as ‘a celebration of life itself’ their music is ‘inventive, vibrantly colourful and unfailingly melodic, possessed of a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality, frequently inspired by personal experiences’ (the jazzmann.com).

Their combination of richly nuanced compositions with folk-infused grooves, skilful musicianship and a love of improvisation, creates a compelling and coherent whole. ARQ play ‘songs without words’ and are known for their vibrant, communicative performances.

2018 was a great year for ARQ, with UK festival and club dates, successful tours of Germany and Scotland and then Winners of ‘Ensemble of the Year’ in the prestigious 2018 All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

ARQ’s profile has risen dramatically over the past five years, with extensive touring and critical acclaim for their two albums ‘August’ (2014) and ‘A Magic Life’ (2016). They have built a substantial and wide-ranging audience, receiving national and international radio play and four and five-star reviews in jazz and national press. Their 40-date ‘A Magic Life’ UK tour 2016-17 was supported by Arts Council England.

ARQ third album, ‘Short Stories’ – is released October 2019, with UK promotional touring Autumn 2019-Spring 2020.

Individually, the group’s track record includes work with such international artists as Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, George Russell, John Harle, The Guest Stars, Marjorie Whylie, Sharon Freeman, Jayne Cortez, Tal Farlow and BBC TV’s Rockschool series, broadcasted in both the UK and USA.

Reviews:

‘Inspired by real-world ideas, people and situations but infused with the kind of heady imagination that transforms their resonances into a series of vivacious musical adventures’ ★★★★★ BBC Music Magazine

‘Purposeful, full-toned and melodic…a beautifully integrated band’ ★★★★ The Observer

‘Unified musical dexterity, not a note wasted and with sound as story — clear and undisguised, deeply affecting and unashamedly open’ The Morning Star

‘A gorgeous album synthesising mood, melody and the interplay between musicians totally at home with each other’ ★★★★ Jazzwise

‘If the first rule of life is to do what makes you happy… this album tumbles and flows with such a spirit, performed by a quintet whose musicality and heart enables it; a celebration of life itself‘ LondonJazzNews

‘Spirited, eloquent and graceful’ ★★★ The Guardian
‘Full of energy, wonderful melodies, grooving rhythms and a musical togetherness that make it a true celebration’ Melodiva, Hamburg

‘The playing, both individually and collectively was superb throughout and Rayner’s bass playing was always at the heart of the music… in many ways the quintet IS her instrument. Rayner’s late blooming into a composer of some stature is one of the most satisfying stories of British jazz in recent years’ thejazzmann.com

Recent Press Interviews:

Nov 2018: http://www.londonjazznews.com/2018/11/featureinterview-alison- rayner-blow.html

Jan 2018: http://www.londonjazznews.com/2018/01/previewinterview-arq-alison- rayner.html

In ARQ, Alison Rayner has gathered a group of fine musicians who sympathetically support her music: Steve Lodder on piano, Deirdre Cartwright on guitar, Diane McLoughlin on saxophones and Buster Birch on drums. The group’s imaginative and assured playing are superbly suited to Rayner’s compositions and reflect a confidence inspired by working intensively together.

“In a Jazz age with an abundance of technical excellence – and ARQ have it in great quantity – we look for something else as well. ARQ bring to the stage a musical bond that is expressed in such fun and joyful moments that it is a pleasure to be in the room with them. Jazz of the highest quality.”  Phil Rose, Birmingham Jazz

A Magic Life is bursting with melodic and harmonic references from jazz, classical and folk musics. Rhythmic grooves and great solos abound. Rayner cites both Charlie Haden and Eberhard Weber as influences – but there is always a strong sense of Rayner’s musical personality evident in the poignant folk-inspired melodies, rootsy grooves and improvisational invention.

Listen to album tracks and read full reviews HERE

‘I was inspired to call the album A Magic Life because of two recent incidents. The loss of a friend last year, who wrote in her own epitaph about how magic her life had been; then a chance encounter with a young boy, who asked me “Is music stronger than magic?” I replied that to me, music is a merging of magic and logic. These events set me on a course of thinking about connections between memory, mortality, magic – and music.’

“Inventive, richly nuanced and vibrantly colourful, possessed of a strong narrative and cinematic quality.” Ian Mann thejazzmann.com

Described by the Guardian as ‘spirited, eloquent and graceful’ and by the Observer as‘a beautifully integrated band’, their music is inventive, vibrantly colourful and unfailingly melodic, possessed of a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality. Their combination of richly nuanced compositions – frequently inspired by personal experience – with folk-infused grooves, skilful musicianship and a love of improvisation, creates a compelling and coherent whole.

“A master-class in empathetic playing with superb solos and a rhythm section of the highest calibre. Don’t miss these virtuoso musicians when they come to town.” Phil Webb, Restormel Arts, Cornwall

They have built a substantial and wide-ranging audience, receiving national and international radio play and four and five star reviews in jazz and national press. Their recent 35-date ‘A Magic Life’ UK tour, supported by Arts Council of England, concluded with a sell-out night at the Soho Pizza Express Jazz Club.

ARQ will be playing Festivals including Swanage and Brecon this Summer, touring in Germany in September and in Scotland in November.

‘Inspired by real-world ideas, people and situations but infused with the kind of heady imagination that transforms their resonances into a series of vivacious musical adventures’ ***** BBC Music Magazine

‘A gorgeous album synthesising mood, melody and the interplay between musicians totally at home with each other.’ **** Jazzwise

‘A celebration of life itself ‘ LondonJazzNews

Their first album ‘August’ was released in July 2014.

“August could hardly represent a sharper reminder to the British jazz world of the breadth and depth of Alison Rayner’s often unsung talents. It’s taken a while for Alison Rayner the composer to step all the way out of the shadows. But on the strength of this fine album, she might have to get used to the spotlight”.

John Fordham May 2014 

“The group’s tight and assured playing are superbly suited to play Rayner’s compositions, her thoughtful and melodic soloing being a particular highlight. The debut album couldn’t be stronger”

LondonJazzNews October 2014

“Deliciously upbeat, groovy and thoughtful jazz…the recent album August shows her to be a superb composer to boot… a perfect showcase of Rayner’s diverse talents”

Jazz UK October 2014

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Six of London’s finest Landladies unplug their hoovers and plug in their guitars and mics with their favourite pop classics, 
tamla, soul, funk and disco. Aretha Franklin, 
Annie Lennox, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce and more. Relive all your past relationships and dance at the same time!

Between them the individual members have been at the core of nearly every memorable womens group in this country including Jam Today, Sisterhood of Spit, Hi Jinx, Di’s New Outfit, The Guest Stars, Emma Peel Fan Club etc.  They have the rare quality of combining wonderful musicianship with energy, great grooves, and fun.

They have performed at the Ocean, the main stage at Pride, Stratford Town Hall, Chats Palace, Forum Kentish Town, many local festivals and played at the reopening of Stoke Newington Town Hall when 300 people were turned away.

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“If there is a more complete guitarist in contemporary music than Deirdre Cartwright – I’d like to know who it is”                    Dave Gelly The Observer

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Invoking the spirit of the great American jazz guitarist Emily Remler who died in 1990 at the age of 32. These two distinctive voices on the guitar perform jazz and latin standards as well as some Remler originals.

“Their soulful playing on this tune (Softly as in a Morning Sunrise) was a particular highlight, showcasing Deirdre’s lyrical lines as she skillfully dug into the harmony, choosing only the most meaningful intervals to define Kathy’s solid accompaniment.”

– Simon Crook ‘All things Emily website’

“Kathy and I met in 1984 and realised that we were the only two professional women jazz guitarists in the UK. Twenty five years later, when we decided to form the duo, to celebrate our love of the guitar and our admiration for American jazz guitarist Emily Remler, guess what? We were still the only two – we must have been great role models!

Most of the tunes on this album are associated with Emily Remler in some way or have been written by us for the duo Emily Remembered.”

Deirdre and Kathy met in 1984 and realised that they were the only two professional women jazz guitarists in the UK; Twenty five years later, when they formed the guitar duo, they were still the only two.

Since getting together to celebrate their love of the guitar and their admiration for American jazz guitarist Emily Remler (she died in 1990 at the age of 32) this duo has been going from strength
to strength. They have toured across the UK and performed in Italy.

Their two distinctive voices on the guitar perform jazz and latin standards associated with Remler, plus some Remler originals and a couple of their own compositions specially arranged for this project.

Deirdre rose to fame on BBCTV’s Rockschool and has since developed into an imaginative, melodic player;
Kathy similarly is a highly-respected instrumentalist, teacher and composer on the North West scene.

We are a jazz guitar duo that celebrates the life and work of guitarist Emily Remler. We perform swinging jazz standards, bossa nova, Remler originals and some of our own compositions.

We also have a programme that includes vocalist Sarah P, which features poetry based repertoire, songs from eg Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith and some originals.

Our first album was released in February 2011 with a double launch at Band on the Wall Manchester and Ronnie Scotts Club, London.

“The event at Mills’ Café was remarkable; the sheer expertise and beauty of the guitar music by Deirdre Cartwright and Kathy Dyson. Included in their two sets of guitar duets – a performance of a Neruda poem, with vocals by Sarah P, a similar treatment of a Lorca poem – La guitarra – and, most deliciously, a performance full of passion and – dare I say it – of duende of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Take this Waltz, a version of a poem from Lorca’s ‘Poet in New York’. Brought the house down.”

– Lorca in England festival, June 2011

Workshops

We are very experienced jazz and music educators. Deirdre is the guitar syllabus coordinator and composer for the popular Rock School graded exams and Kathy received Jazz Educator of the Year from the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2010. We can offer a range of different types of workshops for ensembles, improvisation, songwriting and pop, rock and jazz guitar playing for all ages and abilities.

“Kathy Dyson and Deirdre Cartwright are both superb players albeit with contrasting styles that, nevertheless, complement each other perfectly. “All The Things You Are” reminded me of MJQ. The interplay between the guitars could have been created by Milt Jackson & John Lewis – that’s how good it was.”

– Lance Liddle, Newcastle gig review

Gigs

We are low maintenance, high quality, friendly, adaptable and completely self-contained.
For smaller venues we simply require a plug socket into a safe source of electricity. We have extensive experience of working with voluntary promoters at festivals and small venues.

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