After seeing free Jazz quintet ‘Polar Bear’ at Marlborough Jazz festival last month I bought a copy of their latest record ‘Peepers’. Led by drummer Seb Roachford (also member of Jazz/Punk fusion group Acoustic Ladyland) and hailing from Shoreditch, Polar Bear are top of their game in the experimental Jazz world, while still achieving some cross-over success – especially in ’05 when their phenomenal second record ‘Held on the Tips of Fingers’ was nominated for a Mercury Award.
Polar Bear combine Free Jazz with poppy guitar figures and sample based electronics creating expansive soundscapes upon a bed of discordant, inharmonic jazzy clutter. Not for the casual Jazz fan, but the dedicated listener will eventually be rewarded and (like I did) become submerged into their chaotic sonic vision. (I spent nearly 3 days with my headphones on)
They've also collaborated with renowned Beatboxer Shlomo and its a simply unbelievable paring! watch the video below!!!
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