AN eclectic mix of Polish folk, South Indian and Middle Eastern music will fill the Old Fire Station on Friday (April, 18.
Acclaimed group, the Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet has been touring the UK, bringing soulful melodies, strong grooves and jazz with an ethnic touch to audiences across the country.
The quartet is a fresh collaboration between Israeli-UK resident and drummer Asaf Sirkis, known for his work with the Lighthouse Trio, Larry Corryel and Tim Garland, and Polish vocalist and co-composer Sylwia Bialas, who is based in Germany.
Sirkis arrived in London at the end of the Nineties and quickly earned himself a reputation as one of the world’s best drummers.
Having played a range of genres from jazz-rock to world music, he has worked with the likes of Harold Rubin, Yair Dial and Eyal Sela.
He formed his first trio in 1995 and began writing his own music, before settling in the UK in 1998. By 1999, he had formed his band, Inner Noise, which released its first album in 2003.
The strong influence of Middle Eastern culture shows through in Bialas’s music and her voice has been likened to an adaptable, interactive musical instrument.
She has worked with musicians from across the world and has recorded for film and television, including soundtracks for Krabat with 20th Century Fox and Paradies auf Erden for a German art TV channel, and was the singer in the theatre production of Lucifer’s Matches in Germany.
Sirkis and Bialas will be joined by the UK’s Frank Harrison, who took up the piano aged 11 and began performing aged 15. After taking up a scholarship tp the Berklee School of Music, in Boston, USA, he returned to the UK and joined Gilad Atzmon’s band on piano and keyboards.
Bassist and harmonica player Patrick Bettison, born in England and raised in Australia, will complete the quartet. The self-taught bassist started playing the instrument aged eight and began writing music aged 13.
He turned professional aged 16, playing guitar, bass and piano.
The quartet has recently been recording its new album, Dreams Dreams, due for release in November this year.
The event at the Old Fire Station, Hadleigh, costs £5 entry and starts at 8pm.
For information call 07786 864 263.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here