Sat 30th January 2010, Doors 8:00pm Concert 8:30pm POLAR BEAR Lakeside Theatre, University of Essex Making a welcome return to the Lakeside to support the release of their new album Peeper (Leaf Label) Polar Bear are a young London based avant-garde jazz combo led from the back, by the outstanding Seb Rochford. They are part of long great jazz tradition of drummer led bands stretching back through Art Blakey and Chick Webb. Drummer in the Hendrix inspired jazzers Acoustic Ladyland Seb Rochford has  played and recorded with a remarkably diverse range of people including Joanna McGregor, Adele, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Patti Smith and Yoko Ono. He also drummed in an early incarnation of Pete Doherty's Babyshambles playing on their first single. Their sound appeals as much to jazz traditionalists as to those people who don't normally do jazz. Polar Bear transcend genres creating a new form of British jazz that is uniquely their own and reflects UK music and life in the twenty first century. Featuring Seb Rochford (drums); Pete Wareham (tenor saxophone); Mark Lockheart (tenor saxophone); Tom Herbert (double bass) and Leafcutter John (mandolin and electronics). "Here's something worth your time. Polar Bear are a significant ripple in the new wave of youthful, post-jazz". Independent on Sunday "This is not nu jazz, acid jazz, Jamie jazz, Parky jazz, Brit jazz, beardo jazz, post-jazz or twee jazz. It's dream jazz." Observer Music Monthly "The big-hitters of the current new wave.” Independent On Sunday "Polar Bear blast out of the past, full of straight, cool school skills, and detonate the past, bursting with edgy, forward-looking lust." Observer Music Monthly www.polarbearmusic.com ________________________________________________________ Booking information: Ticket Hotline: 01206 573948 Book Online: www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/artson5 In person: University Gallery Monday – Friday 11 – 5, Saturday 12 – 4 Tickets Full: £10.00, Concs: £7.00 << BACK TO WHAT'S ON << HOME