Martin Speake (alto saxophone); Alyson Cawley (tenor saxophone); Jakub Cywinski (double bass); Adam Merrell (drums);

We are delighted to welcome award-winning saxophonist Martin Speake, one of the most fluent and creative musicians and composers in the UK.

“A saxophonist with an unusual turn of phrase, a persuasively gentle sound … Martin Speake is not just a distinctive improviser but a striking composer too” – John Fordham, The Guardian

Video clip 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XegPkpHv8NE

Video clip 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAp8l8dhwU

Martin Speake says: “I have been drawn to Ornette’s music since I began playing alto saxophone nearly 50 years ago. In 1974 after I had left school at 16, I was working in an office and saved up enough money to buy a saxophone after realising there must be more to life than filling out motor insurance claim forms and staring at the office clock hoping it would get to 5pm quickly each day.

Ornette was an early influence and the album Live At The Golden Circle was the first I purchased (along with Bird and Diz) and the tune Dee Dee was the first I tried to learn. The saxophone I bought was a white plastic Grafton alto as I had seen a photo of Ornette with one on those early Atlantic Records albums.

Over the years in my musical and personal development I have a returned to Ornette Coleman and Charlie Parker for further inspiration and each time discovering something new about them and deepening my connection with this music. I have had projects playing this music with like minded souls over the years.

I am going through an Ornette period again now and have transcribed many of these wonderful melodies. In fact working out these tunes has kept me going through this challenging period in our history. This new band are all more recent collaborators and is wonderful to hear how they interpret these melodies as inspirations for improvising together and telling their own story.

Many of Ornette’s melodies have become ‘standards’ being played by many musicians all over the world such as Lonely Woman, Ramblin’ and Law Years but there are many undiscovered gems that are not played as often or at all by others.

We have 90 tunes to draw on already and the repertoire is growing.

This music is endless. Ornette is the supreme melodist.”

Do not miss this special evening “In All Languages”

Doors open at 7pm, music starts at 8pm. Please book a ticket in advance.

VENUE: MAAD (fka Karamel), 4 Coburg Rd, Wood Green, London N22 6UJ

The premises has a fresh air ventilation system installed throughout the restaurant and theatre. Menu is available at maad.co