John Law's Congregation

Combining intricate yet strong, highly melodic acoustic instrumental compositions accompanied by subtle, electronic ambient textures, John Law’s music treads a path between contemporary jazz, rock and his original classical background, to produce highly visual music, almost filmscapes, each one in its own particular emotional sound world.

John Law, 2020 winner of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists, brings together, in his Congregation three outstanding young musicians from the world of contemporary jazz, each of them highly skilled in many musical genres. 

Featuring the young musician James Mainwaring, from Mercury Prize jazz winners and European Jazz Competition finalists Roller Trio, playing both saxophone and guitar, and adding occasional subtle electronic textures to the music. 

Philharmonic Young Composer Ashley John Long is one of the most in-demand young bass players in the UK; alongside his varied work in jazz, from mainstream to freely improvised avant-garde playing, he is also a classical virtuoso, playing in many contemporary and baroque ensembles and is widely known as a contemporary classical composer. 

Joining the quartet for this tour is the brilliant drummer Dave Hamblett, the most in-demand and sought-after jazz drummer in the UK, a subtle powerhouse behind countless live British bands and recordings.

Alongside concerts in the UK the quartet’s most recent tours have taken them all through Germany and recently on a PRSF/Arts Council/British Council funded tour of India. This concert forms part of an Arts Council funded UK tour and John Law’s Congregation are very grateful for this support.

“One of the UK’s most imaginative and versatile pianists” - International Piano Magazine 2014

"...combining the vocabularies of jazz and classical in a singular and seamless way, coalescing improvisational surprise and a deep elegiac musicality..." - All About Jazz 2011

"...so full of joy that it can renew your faith not just in jazz, but music itself." - Phil Johnson, Independent on Sunday 2011

“John Law remains one of the under-recognised giants of British modern jazz/new music piano” - Downtown Music Gallery, New York

“A brilliant new group…a band heading for great things!” - John Fordham, The Guardian

 “When he records for ECM he’ll become a star!” - Jazzthetik, Germany