Since the release of their critically acclaimed 2019 debut A State of Flow, Ishmael Ensemble has become a platform for band leader & saxophonist Pete Cunningham to subvert the conventional notions of producer/artist relationships, unsettling genre tags, and transcending the familiar landscape of UK jazz itself. Their highly anticipated follow up album Visions Of Light received instant praise from journalists & broadcasters alike with glowing reviews from The Observer, Future Music, Uncut & Dummy as well as huge support from BBC Radio 6 Music with both singles Morning Chorus & The Gift being playlisted, Huey Morgan choosing the record as his “Album Of The Year” as well as regular appearances on NPR, BBC Radio 1’s Chillest Show & Jazz FM. The record’s success culminated in a 17 date UK & EU tour in November 2021 with sell out shows at London’s iconic Jazz Cafe & Bristol’s legendary Thekla. Initially a project started by Cunningham to break the mould of making music alone, Ishmael Ensemble’s richly inventive debut A State Of Flow marked them out as an explosive new force in UK jazz, imbuing lush cinematic compositions with left-field dub and electronic sensibilities redolent of Bristol’s vital musical landscape. Named The Guardian’s ‘Contemporary Album Of The Month’ and MOJO’s ‘Jazz Album of The Month’, it saw the group perform Maida Vale sessions for both Gilles Peterson and Tom Ravenscroft, as well as feature on compilations for Brownswood Recordings and Soul Jazz Records. Cunningham’s rise as an in-demand producer has led to remixes for the likes of techno royalty Carl Craig, as well as legendary jazz label Blue Note Records. By starting the new year with a performance at New York’s WinterJazz Festival at the invitation of Gilles Peterson & BBC Introducing as well as plenty of new music up their sleeve, 2022 is set to be a prolific & exciting year for Ishmael Ensemble.
