Mastered by Grammy-nominated Glenn Sharp – Manchester jazz, alternative, world quintet continue to shine.
Manchester-based Unfurl are proud to announce the release of their EP titled Eastern Eye which is available to download in its entirety on 5 July 2024.
Unfurl is a musical collective that draws upon contemporary jazz and Indian classical music to create a sound which is completely unique. With a finely-tuned balance of tight arrangements and more expansive improvisatory sections, the group achieves a fluidity of playing that is intuitive and fresh.
The band is a long term passion of their band leader and acclaimed violinist Olivia Moore. Over the years they have been enthusiastically received at numerous jazz festivals across the UK, including Manchester, Marsden, Marlborough, Brecon and the London Jazz Festivals and countless different venues. Unfurl are currently organizing a tour between January and March 2024.
Moore says: “This EP was hugely inspired by my studies in Mumbai with my teacher Kala Ramnath (an internationally acclaimed Indian violinist) at the end of 2019. The ensuing lockdown periods were a perfect time for me to consolidate my studies and to create new music of my own”. I also had some very helpful composition lessons from Manchester Jazz Guitar Hero, Mike Walker during this time.
The layered violins of the loop based compositions Tide Turnings and Twinkle Snow were composed and recorded by Olivia in her home studio. As soon as they were able to meet after the lockdowns, the other musicians recorded their parts at Whirling Eye Studios in Manchester (Glenn Sharp).
Crowden, a contemporary classical ballad for bass and violin, was written by bassist Gavin Barras. It is named after a place in the High Peak of Derbyshire, where the landscape is barren and bleak – a favorite place of Gavin’s.
Coming Along and Eastern Eye were recorded at Limefield Studios (John Ellis). The latter was collaboratively composed by the band and is the most free flowing.
The EP is mixed and mastered by Glenn Sharp, the Grammy nominated guitarist and composer. He is a session multi instrumentalist for the TV and film Industry as well as being a world music producer
About Unfurl UK
Olivia Moore is the band leader and inspiration behind Unfurl. She is an experienced performer, bringing her energy and sensitivity to the band. Dedicated to Jazz and Indian classical violin, she tours nationally and internationally within her own projects and with other artists such as Elaha Soroor (Afghanistan).
Jim Faulkner, our guitarist can be heard in genres as diverse as straight ahead jazz, world music, contemporary classical music and progressive rock. He performs internationally and is a busy educator, holding teaching positions at LIPA, Chetham’s School of Music and gives regular workshops at the RNCM.
Gavin Barras is currently one of the most in demand bass players in the North West and a permanent fixture on the UK bass scene, acting as the bassist for Matthew Halsall and Arun Ghosh. He also teaches the double bass and the guitar.
John Ball, Unfurl’s tabla and santoor player, is the other Indian exponent in the band. He is a regular performer both as a classical soloist and is a member also of the fusion bands Mishra and Rafiki Jazz. He regularly tours with Indian dance companies led by Balbir Singh and Jaivant Patel and teaches at Sheffield University.
Jack McCarthy, Unfurl’s percussionist, spent his formative years studying with musicians in West Africa and Cuba and his drive to further his knowledge has led him more recently to southern Spain to explore Famenco and Arabic percussion techniques. He has performed all over Europe with artists such as London Drum and bass Legend “London Elektricity” and trumpeter Matthew Halsall. He most recently toured with the Lion King in the UK and Ireland.
Jem Girl at the Piano 