To Read: On Rory Simmons / On Fringe Magnetic
The idiomatic versatility of Simmons himself, principal composer and a dominant voice on trumpet"
GUARDIAN
"Simmons is a trumpeter whose instrument very much embodies the jazz tradition while souding very much his own man"
JAZZ UK
"More than a touch of harmonically audacious phraseology"
JAZZWIS
"Simmons' brassy trumpet dances among the ensemble"
MOJO
"Simmons’ melancholy trumpet is the perfect foil for the fragile beauty of the song"
JAZZMANN
"Stunning trumpet and flugel-horn playing"
SUNDAY HERLAD
"Simmons is impressive"
EVENING STANDARD
"That’s a lot of diverse ingredients but Simmons marshals his resources with a light touch, creating music that’s by turns pastoral, melancholy, slightly frivolous, challenging and eminently hummable"
SUNDAY HERALD
"By turns lyrical and dissonant, serene and jagged, the grip of this oddly compelling music doesn't loosen for a moment. An enchantinq introduction to a challenging but rewarding oeuvre."
MOJO
"The group illustrate how good a jazz/classical collaboration can be: they sound danceable while bending the expectations of melody – and they don't need to turn the volume up to 11."
GUARDIAN
"Intricately layered compositions like mischievious sprites are the stuff of gothic dreams"
METRO
"Fidgety, convoluted themes are delivered with engaging instrumental textures – spiky and scaly one moment, silken and luxuriant the next, but there's still a sparkling depth to be admired"
BBC MUSIC
"The influence of European art mustc that comes through most strongly here - Messiaen, Schoenberg, Weill. Absolutely fascinating and very different."
JAZZ UK
"Very strong debut"
JEZ NELSON, BBC RADIO 3
"Tricky as riddle, a major work by one of our most important contemporary artists"
JAMIE CULLUM
"A tantalising tentet, a delectably dark and quirky debut"
Jon Newey,Editor, JAZZWIZE
"Making merry in the spaces between jazz and contemporary classical"
THE TIMES
"Fringe Magnetic blend Nordic darkness with English whimsy to beguiling effect"
METRO