"From his beginnings with the legendary Loose Tubes, through his worldwide collaborations, to his searching solo projects, UK composer, saxophonist, bandleader and educator Julian Argüelles has always spoken with a unique voice and is hugely influential to a new generation of British and European jazz musicians. His music has been described as supremely lyrical, with beautiful melodies whilst staying cliche free. He was nominated for Best CD in the 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Awards for Circularity (Cam Jazz label) and won best CD for his Let it Be Told CD (Basho Records) in 2016. Most recent award nomination includes JazzFM's "Live Experience Of The Year" in the public vote category (results tba 25 April 2017).

Born near Birmingham, UK, Julian moved to London at the age of 18 where he gained recognition as a creative and original musician. At 20 he joined the much acclaimed band Loose Tubes. Over the past 30 years, he has toured and recorded throughout the world with leading musicians such as Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Holland, John Taylor, Django Bates, John Scoffield, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Mario Laginha and Bill Frisell.

Julian's has, as at today's date, released 13 CDs as a leader that have won many awards and accolades and have become hugely influential to a new generation of British and European jazz musicians. He is due to release his next two CDs on the Edition Records label the first of which is with a new trio with Portuguese pianist Marhio Laginha and Norwegian percussionist Helge Norbakken (UK Tour planned for October 2017 to coincide with CD release). See official press release HERE for more information.

Julian's most recent CD as a leader "Tetra", with his critically acclaimed UK quartet of the same name, was released on the Whirlwind Recordings label.

Julian's current quartet brings together the best of Britain's young, contemporary jazz talent. Their much anticipated first CD together "Tetra" was release on Whirlwind Recordings label in October 2015 and there are plans for a 2nd in 2018. The band have featured across the UK and Europe at venues and festivals and Julian's manager is currently planning dates in European for November 2017. Julian's compositions have been described as "supremely lyrical, with beautiful melodies whilst staying cliche free" by the Irish Times and have received accolades from many others."

"One marker of bassist Michael Formanek's creativity and versatility is the range of distinguished musicians of several generations he's worked with. While still a teenager in the 1970s he toured with drummer Tony Williams and saxophonist Joe Henderson; starting in the '80s he played long stints with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Fred Hersch and Freddie Hubbard. (As a callback to those days, Formanek recorded with hardbop pianist Freddie Redd in 2013). The bassist has played a pivotal role on New York's creative jazz scene going back to the '90s when he notably led his own quintet and played in Tim Berne's barnstorming quartet Bloodcount. Nowadays Formanek's in the co-op Thumbscrew with Brooklyn guitarist Mary Halvorson and drummer Tomas Fujiwara.

Formanek is also a composer and leader of various bands. His principal recording and international touring vehicle is his acclaimed quartet with Tim Berne on alto saxophone, Craig Taborn on piano and Gerald Cleaver on drums, which records for ECM; 2010's The Rub and Spare Change and 2012's Small Places both earned coveted five-star raves in Down Beat. Formanek writes, and the quartet plays, compositions of great rhythmic sophistication that unfold in a natural sounding way - challenging music the players make sound like lyrical free expression. His occasional groups include the 18-piece all-star Ensemble Kolossus, roping in many New York improvisers he works with. Ensemble Kolossus recorded their first CD of all Formanek originals for the prestigious ECM label in December of 2014. The CD, The Distance was released in February 2016 and in addition to numerous other accolades also received a five-star review in Downbeat!

Formanek's other recordings as leader include Wide Open Spaces and Extended Animation for quintet and Low Profile and Nature of the Beast for seven players (all on Enja), and the solo album Am I Bothering You? (Screwgun). Mirage (Clean Feed) is by the occasional improvising trio of Formanek, tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin and pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn. Thumbscrew's 2014 debut is on Cuneiform Records. Michael Formanek has also made dozens of recordings as sideman, for among others Dave Ballou, Tim Berne, Jane Ira Bloom, Dave Burrell, Harold Danko, Marty Ehrlich, Tomas Fujiwara, Gary Thomas and Jack Walrath.

As composer of works for ensembles from duo to mixed jazz and classical orchestra, Michael Formanek has received institutional support from Chamber Music America, the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Peabody Conservatory, the Maryland State Arts Council and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. As an educator, Formanek teaches bass and other jazz courses, and leads the Jazz Ensemble at Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory."

"Thomas "Tom" Rainey (born 1957, Santa Barbara, California) is an American drummer.

After attending Berklee College of Music he moved to New York in 1979. He has played with American jazz saxophonist and composer Tim Berne, and also with Nels Cline, Fred Hersch, Tony Malaby, Tom Varner, Drew Gress, Kenny Werner, Mark Helias, and Simon Nabatov. A prolific session musician, he has appeared on close to eighty recordings over a career spanning over 25 years.

He released his own first album, Pool School (Clean Feed), in 2010."