Stonephace

Recording Session

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 6:52:09 -0400

We've been recording a new album at the Fish Factory in Willesden. All together in one very live room at the same time straight onto 16 track 2 inch tape, courtsey of Mr Studer, playing new material as well as accoustic version of pieces from the Stonephace debut album. We even did a version of the old Working Week favourite Soul Train from the Companeros album. Larry, pianist Zoe Rahman, percussionist Crispin "Spry" Robinson , Karl Rasheed Abel on bass and Pat Illingworth on drums. Proper old school jazz recording by Ben "Nostalgia 77"Lamdin. This is essentially the accoustic rythym section from Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra , so expect a synthesis of Exploratory Jazz with funk grooves, loads of percussion and eastern modes and Transcendental Euphoria.

We're mixing in November so watch this space for more news

New Video

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 7:00:22 -0400

Here's a new film based on our version of John Coltrane's "Africa" recorded live in August.

Soul Train LIve

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 6:58:16 -0400

We had some great gigs through the summer with some really appreciative audiences.

Here's a live version of the old Working Week favourite Soul Train from Brecon Jazz Festival in August.

Stonephace Stabbins Live

Thu, 26 May 2011 8:36:13 -0400

Stonephace Stabbins live band had a brilliant first gig in Bristol at St Georges last Thursday playing a mixture of new tunes, tracks from the Stonephace album and a couple of Working Week pieces. Great vibe in the hall, really appreciative audience and the new band were all fantastic.

Nice review in The Venue mag from Tony Benjamin :

The band simmers and shimmers into the music, with percussionists Crispin Robinson and Pat Illingworth locking tightly integrated Afro-Latin textures and Karl Rasheed Abel’s ear-grabbing bass adding precision and energy. Over their rhythms the dialogue between Stabbins saxes and pianist Zoe Rahman deft fingerwork is often spell-binding.

‘White Queen Psychology’, a number from his electronic album ‘Stonephace’ becomes something entirely new in this highly-skilled acoustic environment.
http://www.venue.co.uk/music-live-reviews-s/12540-stonephace-stabbins

We will be playing the Vortex in London on 2nd August http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/ and Brecon Jazz Festival on 14th August http://www.hayfestival.com/p-3856-stonephace-stabbins.aspx .

The new project, playing new material as well as accoustic version of pieces from the Stonephace debut album, features Mercury nominated pianist Zoe Rahman, percussionist Crispin "Spry" Robinson from 90's Jazz /Rap band Galliano, Karl Rasheed Abel on bass and Pat Illingworth on drums. This is essentially the accoustic rythym section from Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra , so expect a synthesis of Exploratory Jazz with funk grooves, loads of percussion and eastern modes and Transcendental Euphoria.

Watch this space for news of more gigs

Album Reviews!!

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:41:37 -0400

Here's a selection of the great reviews for the debut album:

“Startlingly good” – Phil Johnson, The Independent On Sunday

“Stonephace look likely to blow up … It is a trip” –Owen Adams, guardian.co.uk

“Idealised, stylised but never sanitised…The three noisemakers combine supremely in an upward, melded spiral of heated sax, beats and ectoplasmic guitar” –David Stubbs, The Wire

“Stonephace transcends the limitations of a genre” –Chris Arena, Wax Poetics

“There’s eleven tracks of this stuff and each one’s a treasure. Play it loud” –Tony Benjamin The Venue, Bristol

" hits the spot commercially and artistically." John.L.Walters, The Guardian

“A great, great record and a nice surprise from Tru Thoughts…Larry Stabbins is one of the real greats of British music.” Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio1)

“Easily the best contemporary album I’ve heard this year! FANTASTIC” – Sushil Dade -The Jazz House, BBC Radio Scotland

White Queen Psychology Video

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 8:48:44 -0400

Wedgehead Gets Lucky Video

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:42:56 -0400

Our first video for our debut album, made by Stella Marina - SpacEd Films.

What we've been up to September 2009

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:45:32 -0400

Asides getting this site together, we've recently completed an exclusive track for a Tru Thoughts 10th Birthday compilation, and we're very pleased with it. Titled Singularity, it's full of swamp guitars, rasping flutes and our sonic TARDIS rhythm section has landed somewhere closer to modern day.

Release Date Changed!

Sat, 02 May 2009 2:55:21 -0400

The release date has been put back to May 5th (demand exceeded supply). That said, we've had quite a few indicators that people have received vinyl from the labels web store : etchshop.co.uk. That's all gone now (possibly more on release day), so vinyl junkies will have to scout around stores to find a copy.

Yellow Brick Road Video

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 4:12:02 -0400

The second video from Stonephace with Stella Marina at the controls, and this one is even more out there. A third sneak preview will be around in the coming weeks.