Sat 21 Nov 09, Doors 8:00pm Concert 8:30pm PORTICO QUARTET Lakeside Theatre, University of Essex A welcome return to the Lakeside from the young guns described as being like an Indy band that plays post-jazz, Mercury award nominated Portico Quartet, play melodic, rhythmic music that mixes the inspiration of Philip Glass and Steve Reich with a very contemporary kind of jazz improvisation. It’s the blend of ethereal saxophone, the steel pan-like Hang, clattering drums and earthy double-bass that gives their music it’s unique, beautiful sound.  Their dance friendly brand of hook-laden, post-jazz was honed busking across Europe and playing in unusual spaces; churches, galleries, chill-out zones and has earned them a cult following.  They have created an inimitable sound that has been compared to the Penguin Café Orchestra, E.S.T and The Cinematic Orchestra amongst others and their new album ‘The Visitor’ will be released on Real World Records on October 19th. www.myspace.com/porticoquartet “Try to imagine the coolest film never made. We mean really cool. Steve McQueen and Samuel L, on 'Easy Rider' choppers, in a French film-noir spy film, infiltrating a Yakuza Samurai cult. Portico Quartet would provide the soundtrack” (Channel 4.com) ‘Fresh, fun and different” (Jazzwise) "A strikingly original sound.” (The Times) Tickets: £10 / £7 concessions Box Office provided by the Mercury Theatre Box Office: Mercury Theatre Balkerne Gate Colchester CO1 1PT Tel: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

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