About

"His ideas (are) eclectic in an unpredictable style that has outlasted the Coltrane clones of his generation," wrote the London Evening Standard's Jack Massarick when reviewing a performance by Art Themen.

Art's new Organ Trio - which has released the quirkily titled and critically acclaimed CD, Thane And The Villeins - features the soulful organ groves of Pete Whittaker and drummer George Double.

Performing tunes by, among others, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley and Sonny Rollins, the material spans slow ballads to sizzling swingers, and the CD prompted this from Jazz Views: “Art is one of the great tenor players that dominated the sixties and seventies: Thane and The Villeins shows that this great artist still has the power to absorb you.”

A stalwart of the British jazz scene for more than 50 years, Mancunian Art's saxophone style originally owed much to the influence of Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins, but later influences included such disparate saxophonists as Coleman Hawkins, Evan Parker and John Coltrane.

In 1974 Art entered what was to be one of his central musical relationships when he linked up with Stan Tracey, playing and touring with all of his groups.

During his illustrious career, Art has performed with the Peter Stuyvesant Jazz Orchestra, Michael Garrick, Ian Carr and Graham Collier, and toured with visiting US musicians, including Nat Adderley, Red Rodney, George Coleman and Al Haig.

Expect mischief and twinkly charm from a genuine treasure of British jazz.