Rubik

Tim Fairhall, bass | Andrew Oliver, piano | Jon Desbruslais, drums

Rubik was formed out of a mutual love of the classic piano trio format, and an enduring interest in the re-invention of the jazz repertory.  The trio utilises contemporary rhythmic approaches and reharmonisation to create vigorous interpretations of jazz standards, and also performs original compositions by band members. The musicians share a deep understanding of the jazz tradition and a collectively wide experience of performing other music including flamenco, tango, Ladino and West African. The resultant trio sound is energetic and rhythmically acute, with a keen attention to melody; playful, highly interactive, and performed with commitment.

Andrew Oliver (piano) is originally from Portland, Oregon, and has lived in London since 2013. He received a scholarship to study at the renowned Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music in 2009, and his Sextet released two albums to critical acclaim. An interest in West African musical traditions led to the formation of The Kora Band, whose album ‘Cascades’ won NW Jazz Album of the Year 2010 from Earshot Jazz and peaked at #12 in the US World Music Radio Charts.

Tunnel Six was formed with fellow Banff alumni, and has released two albums to date and toured Canada and the US four times. The Oregon Arts Commission awarded Andrew a 2011 Fellowship and Grant, which enabled his subsequent studies with the composer John Hollenbeck. Andrew’s Portland-based quintet The Ocular Concern performed a film score inspired by those studies, and has gone on to record two albums.

Andrew has also released a pair of contemporary tango albums in collaboration with dancer and musician Alex Krebs. He was the co-founder and former executive director of the Portland Jazz Composers’ Ensemble.

Tim Fairhall (double bass) has performed on many of the most significant stages in Britain and internationally, including the Barbican, the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Cologne Philharmonic, Gulbenkian Grande Auditorium Lisbon, and many others. In 2008 he graduated with distinction from the M(Mus) in Jazz Performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and since then has played widely on the London jazz scene and around the world, including extensive touring with world music superstar Yasmin Levy.

Regular projects include:
– The Imaginary Delta, originally commissioned for the 2011 Manchester Jazz Festival (the recording of which was selected as Jazz Album of the Year by US website Bird Is The Worm).
– The Markov Chain, a free improvisation trio with improv luminary Paul Hession on drums and Adam Fairhall on piano (new album to be released in Summer 2014 on Bruce’s Fingers).
– Piano Interrupted, a laptop & piano-led post-classical quartet. The album ‘The Unified Field’ featured on several ‘Best Of 2013’ lists.
– The John Martin Quartet (album released on F-ire in 2010).
– Ti/om, an improvising duo with Tom Ward on bass clarinet and flute (debut album forthcoming).

Jon Desbruslais (drums) also graduated from the Guildhall School, and in September 2012 was nominated one of six up-and-coming jazz musicians to watch by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Since then he has been performing across the country with many ensembles as a jazz, latin and session artist. Jon plays for a number of ensembles including a jazz/flamenco group led by John Cervantes, Las Vegas superstar Buddy Greco, sax multi-phonic specialist John Martin, and has most recently joined the funk band Fudge and the Frequency. He also leads his own exciting quintet, performing Jon’s original compositions.