JOHN MARTIN’S HIDDEN NOTES: The Hidden Notes offers a window into a unique sound world. It is a celebration of the saxophone and all the beautiful colours that are hidden just beneath the surface.
When a musician plays a note of a certain pitch, the musical instrument vibrates or resonates, producing a complex pattern of sound waves made up of many different frequencies. The most noticeable sound wave is called the fundamental, but there are other waves with higher frequencies, called harmonics. These are the hidden notes.
John Martin has spent the last 4 years coaxing these rather shy and often badly behaved notes out from their hiding places. Through the use of special fingerings and blowing techniques it is possible to produce several notes simultaneously, extending the sound world of the saxophone from a monophonic to a polyphonic instrument. Martin’s focus is on incorporating these polyphonic sounds into tonal music. Circular breathing then allows for the development of continuous rhythmic patterns, opening up many new exciting rhythmic and textural possibilities.
John Martin – tenor saxophone
Ralph Wyld – vibraphone
Tim Fairhall – double bass
Rob Updegraff – guitar
Tim Giles – drums
The JOHN GARNER QUARTET offers up a mixture of original compositions and arrangements of a diverse spectrum of artists. With a focus on exploration and experimentation, incorporating unorthodox instrumental textures and electronics, the group still keeps a firm hold on their classical roots. Covering artists as diverse as Abdullah Ibrahim, Tan Dun, Joni Mitchell and Pearl Jam, nothing is off limits. After the release of their sophomore album ‘Blue Fields’ in early 2015, The JGQ made their BBC Proms début, performing at the Proms Extra Lates alongside poet Jon Stone.
John Garner – violin & electronics
Toby Nelms – keys
Jamie Kenny – double bass
Dan Day – drums
