Noose

Noose is a project started in late 2009 and recorded in April 2010. The resulting album, High Windows, is a collection of musings around the idea of life and death, drawing upon the poetry of Larkin, Tennyson and Frost for inspiration. The bass-less lineup of sax, vocals, piano and drums has a unique sound and diverse possibilities which I have attempted to explore in this set of work.

Holly Thomas - Vocals
Currently studying on the Jazz course at Birmingham Conservatoire, Holly has also previously studied at Leeds college of Music and notably recorded with Grammy nominated producer/musician John Beck. As a member of recently signed Leeds based electro-folk group 'Black Diamond Bay', she has toured the UK and Europe including performances in Croatia and Lithuania.

Matt Ratcliffe - Piano
A jazz pianist of both creativity and versatility, Matt was first drawn to jazz at the age of 12 through the music of Sidney Betchet and Earl Hines. As soon as he could Matt began jamming and gigging with bands in the Derby and Nottingham scene. After completing a diploma in music (open) and his grade 8 piano (ABRSM) Matt moved to Birmingham in 2006 to study jazz piano at the Conservatoire under Liam Noble and is currently in his final year. Matt has had the privalidge of performing and gigging with Henry Lowther, Mornington Lockett (Brecon Jazz festival), Julian Stringle, Tony Kofi, James Tartaglia and Annie Whitehead. As well as being involved in college groups and Big Bands including a short tour with Mike Gibbs, Matt leads his own quartet and plays in Hammond organ in Mc3 organ trio. Matt is also fascinated by composition and particulaly influenced by the work of George Russell (Lydian Chromatic Theory Of Tonal Organization) which he hopes study further.

Euan Palmer - Drums
After starting the drums at a young age, Lancashire born Euan first played jazz at Steve Berry’s Burnley Jazz Summer-School, shortly after, Euan joined large Jazz ensemble Jam Factory, directed by Richard Ormerod. Now in his penultimate year at Birmingham Conservatoire, Euan studies with Jeff Williams, Tony Levin and Andrew Bain; and has had the opportunity to sit in with greats like Lee Konitz, Dave Holland and John Taylor.