LATEST NEWS
read Theo's interview for tourdates.co.uk
Travis & Fripp - Thread
Music performed and composed by Theo Travis and Robert Fripp
Thread is a collection of nine pieces by Theo (alto flute, soprano sax) and Robert Fripp (guitar, soundscapes) - the legendary guitarist, composer and founding member of seminal rock band King Crimson. It was recorded at DGM Soundworld by David Singleton on one extraordinary day in January 2007, with later editing, mixing and mastering by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree/ No Man). The album is a continuation of the work started on the Double Talk album - particularly the duet "The Endless Search", and released on the Panegyric label (associated with DGM)
The collaboration has yielded a very beautiful sequence of recordings that neatly avoid many of the clichés routinely associated with terms such as "ambient" and "improvised", while encompassing the core elements of both forms of music. In common with the best such meeting points between musicians and musical styles, the resulting hybrid defies easy categorisation or pigeon-holing content instead to occupy its own musical space.
The improvisational core of the music gives the performances space to breathe allowing for a sense of movement and change often lacking in the glut of pre-programmed ambient music in the marketplace. The strength of the duo as players and listeners never allows the improvisational base to sound "insular"; the overall sound is expansive and inviting for the listener, the passion and commitment of the players audible from the first moments. Unfashionably, perhaps, in an era where music is often portrayed as ephemeral or disposable, it is an album that rewards repeated listening, revealing new depths with each play.
Now available for pre-order - £12 including p+p. (see ORDERING)
Theo Travis - Double Talk
The new Double Talk CD was released on 19 November to much acclaim.
Jazz UK magazine gave both the CD and touring band a great review -
" As a saxophonist, Travis can bridge swing-sax romanticism, Ronnie Laws funkiness, or a little of Andy Sheppard’s quirky , asymmetrical phrasing. As a flautist who sparingly deploys hypnotic electronic assistance, he can be as poetically minimalist as any ECM Records star. But he can be a headlong groover too, and there’s plenty of that on the Double Talk project, with its fierce organ-blasting, driving guitar soloing from the gifted Mike Outram, and no-prisoners drumming from the excellent Roy Dodds. "
The Guardian Guide chose Double Talk as the No 1 Jazz gig Pick of the Week - 30 November 2007. Also on 6 December the Guardian singled out Double Talk as the single Critics Choice Jazz gig.
The Scotsman Newspaper gave Double Talk 4 stars saying " Travis is a gifted improviser in a variety of settings, from the beguilingly melodic approach he adopts here through to free-jazz blowing. His compositions have a spacious openness that allows his collaborators to make their own telling contributions"
the US Webzine All About Jazz states that Travis and his new group " deserve to emerge from hidden treasure status"
The BBC Website describes the CD -
"Double Talk sees (Travis) stepping out in front of a powerhouse trio featuring Peter Whittaker on Hammond, Mike Outram on guitar and Roy Dodds on drums, with a special guest appearance from Robert Fripp and his array of guitar-based soundscapes. The choice of guest gives the biggest hint as to the direction of this album. Travis' tenor is a warm, mellifluous instrument and together with the luscious, bluesy Hammond organ they create something rather unexpected...a prog-rock/jazz/blues hybrid album of genuine power and excitement..."
The tour has gone dowm a storm with several venues selling out. It continues into 2008 with further gigs currently being booked.
check out the live page for latest tour dates.
Theo tours UK Cinemas with new Cipher live score to the the Phantom of the Opera (1925)
The 1925 silent film version of The Phantom of the Opera, stars Lon Chaney in the title role as the masked and facially disfigured 'Phantom'. It is a masterpiece of horror that shocked cinema for decades. This grand atmospheric melodrama with it’s balance of terror and tragedy provides a perfect vehicle for the dark ambient jazz soundscapes of Cipher who will premiere their brand new live score to the film at the Bradford International Film Festival on 13 March 2008 and then tour it around Independent cinemas in the UK.
Cipher comprises Theo on saxes, flutes, clarinet and loops with Dave Sturt on basses and sounddesign and atmospheres. They have been developing their own original film scores since 1996 utilizing contemporary digital sound-processing techniques, acoustic instruments, voices and natural sounds. Their music features the use of looping technology, effects, improvisation, and melodic composition. The music is intense, emotional, often dark, spontaneous and lyrical. See live dates page for details.
photo left : Koji Iida
David Sylvian World tour
Theo was invited at short notice to join the band for the tour by the English singer/composer David Sylvian. David Sylvian was formerly the front man of 1980's band Japan and he has subsequently had a fascinating solo career producing wonderful albums such as Brilliant Trees, Secrets of the Beehive and Nine Horses/Snow Bourne Sorrow - influenced by electronic and ambient music and jazz. On his many albums he has collaborated with such musicians as Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Derek Bailey, Robert Fripp and Mark Isham and produced a superb body of work. Theo joined the band for the concerts in Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, London (Royal Festival Hall), Birmingham, Manchester, Brussels and Paris.
Download Store
Theo now has his own official download store at Burningshed.com. You can downolad Theo's albums both in mp3 format and high resolutin Flac format. There will also be exclusive download tracks only availalbe there. This will include EP type length releases, live performances and other tracks. Theo fully endorses Burning Shed and please be aware that if you buy downloads from there as opposed to any other site, Theo will actually get payed for them!
New Tangent CD - and book
In March 2008 the new Tangent CD called "Not as good as the book" is released on Inside Out records. It is a double Cd of new material plus in the special edition a sci-fi/ prog fantasy book by Andy Tillison with specially commissioned drawings/cartoons by the French artist Antoine Ettori. Theo appears looking something like this...(!)
This is the fourth Tangent CD to feature Theo and last year a DVD was released of the band live in Southend. On this album, Theo plays tenor and soprano saxes and flute. The new line up of the band with its wonderful Swedish rhythm section is -
Andy Tillison - vocals, keyboards
Jakko M. Jakszyk - electric guitars and vocals
Guy Manning - acoustic guitars and mandolin
Theo Travis- saxes and flutes
Jonas Reingold - bass
Jaime Salazaar - drums
The music is written by Andy Tillison and is unashamedly progressive rock, influenced by for example Van Der Graaf Generator, Yes, Hatfield and the North, etc but with its own angle. See thetangent.org for more info and soundbites.
Soft Machine Legacy
The new Soft Machine Legacy album "Steam" is now available.
The album features three new compositions by Theo, together with three band improvisations and pieces by the other members of this great band.
Gone are the keyboards that so defined 1970s Soft Machine. In their place are modernistic sampling/looping and sonic processing, creating expansive soundscapes not possible during Soft Machine heyday. Between Etheridge broad sonics,Hopper's legendary bass loops and "fuzztonics" and Travis system of ambitronics - allowing him to sample his saxophones and flutes in real time and naturally layer unpredictable harmonies - Soft Machine (Legacy) often sounds larger than a quartet.
Powerful rock rhythms, funky jazz-rock grooves and abstract interaction are interspersed with muscular soloing and dense textures. A modern look at Chloe & The Pirates from 1973 "Six" is brought into the 21st Century, anchored by Etheridge loops and the light but insistent groove of Hopper and Marshall. The group is driven by a tradition of experimentation and unfettered improvisational abandon that remains purposeful, hard-edged and exciting.
The limitless possibilities of the band forward-reaching innovations will not only appeal to fans of 1970s Soft Machine, but to anyone who likes their fusion wide open, their jams loose and totally spontaneous, and their jazz combined with potent grooves and fiery energy.
$14 (usa/can) - $17 (elsewhere) (including shipping)
To purchase the CD and for audio clips and more info, go to
moonjune.com
Slow Life
The Dutch label Tonefloat will be releasing a Deluxe Double LP Gatefold Vinyl Edition of Theo's 2003 CD "Slow Life" in Mid March 2007. The album which features Theo soley on alto flute and loops has been very highly acclaimed (see reviews page), and for this version of the album, there will be three previously unreleased tracks. Two are outtakes from the original recording session, and the third which takes up the entire Side Four of the album, is a brand new 17 min 50 track by Bass Communion (aka Steven Wilson) which is a "reconstruction" made out of further unreleased outtakes from the original sessions. The piece involves only Theo's flutes but processed, filtered, layered and looped into a huge and beautiful sound canvas structured like a four part journey through a glorious 17 mins 50 secs. This will no doubt become one of Bass Communion's rarest releases. The album will be released in a gatefold sleeve featuring more of Mark Nelson's beautiful snowscape photography that graced the original CD cover.One album is white vinyl, the other black vinyl. The limited edition album will be available through Tone Float.
side 1
1 salad noir (6.02)
2 chasing the slow train (3.32)
3 love is not enough (6.02)
4 sleep (4.44)
side 2
5 cloudfire (8.02)
6 strange life, waking mind (4.29)
7 who stopped you (10.10)
side 3
8 stereo (2.20)
9 mellotromatic (10.29)
10 if not now (5.35)
11 the endless drift (5.44)
side 4
12 behind these silent eyes (parts I-IV) (17.50)
- a construction by bass communion
Eight Bowls of Acidophilus Flute Salad
The third pressing of this vinyl album featuring Theo's live improvised performance of "Flute Salad" on the Gong World tour of 2000/2001 is now available but only as part of a Five LP box set from Tonefloat. This stunning set also includes the vinyl albums -
1) vow of silence by in-existence,
2) indicates void by bass communion,
3) the mousehill daydream by the use of ashes,
4) the carnival of ourselves by fear falls burning.
The five limited edition records have been carefully packed in handmade indian paper, ribbons, lacquers, and a numbered booklet. There are only a few left from Tonefloat itself and Theo has 3 exclusive copies which are signed by him and available via paypal (travis@travis33.demon.co.uk) for £75 each inc p+p. Please e mail theo@travis33.co.uk to reserve your order first.
The Tangent
Theo is featured in another new release the live album by The Tangent. A double live CD with bonus DVD from their recent Southend gig, the album shows what the band can do live.
To see a trailer for the new album , see
"Going off on one" at YouTube
SEE VIDEO CLIP (3.06).
real player required
RICHARD SINCLAIR - THEO TRAVIS LIVE AT THE CANTERBURY FESTIVAL 2003.
THEO TRAVIS - JOHN ETHERIDGE LIVE IN GERMANY 2004. Filmed by Dave Cook in Wuppertal
Theo is now accepting pupils in and around the London area for individual tuition for regular, occasional or one off classes. He would be happy to hear from any saxophone and flute players who are looking for some direction or advice in music.
A book of sheet music is available of Theo's compositions. Parts are both in concert pitch and Bb pitch for Tenor/Soprano saxophone or trumpet etc. Tunes included are Lulworth Night, Shore Thing, The Book, I'm Coming Home, Freedom, Out of Sight Out Of Mind, Three People, Full Moon Rising, Sex Food and Money (pt 2), Fish and Waterlily Boogie.
The book costs £11 including postage.
See also thetangent.org
Scottish Islands tour 2002
(see also SCOTLAND TOUR DIARY) In October 2002, the Theo Travis Quartet undertook a 13 date tour of Scotland, including a trip to the Islands of Orkney, Mull and Iona. The band line up was Theo on tenor sax and flute, Phil Peskett on piano, Andy Hamill on bass and Marc Parnell on drums. Some of the gigs were return visits after the quartet's triumphant Scottish tour of 1998 and some were new venues for the band. Audiences were very appreciative and friendly and the band was made to feel very welcome wherever it went. The whole band was blown away by the incredibly beautiful scenery around the Highlands and great hospitality. Island crossings were trouble free except for a booking on a ferry that did not exist! Although it was late October, the band saw schools of dolphins and seals which is a rare treat on the way to a gig! An interview/feature was printed in the Inverness Courier and the quartet got a four star review in the Scotsman. The tour was a great success and the band hope to return in the not too distant future.
Gong World Tour 2000/2001 see list of GONG TOURS
SEE VIDEO CLIP - ( 2.47 - best with broadband).
real player required
GONG with THEO TRAVIS. Live at the Subterania. London 2000.
