The Beginning
Steve Howlett
Probably better known as an internationally exhibited sculptor and wood turner with work in the V&A, Sainsbury Centre, National Museum of Wales among others, my love of jazz has been with me since I heard the Tubby Hayes/Ronnie Scott Jazz Couriers in the 1960s. I began playing guitar late in life, age 27, and am, as with most things, self-taught. Influences range from Jim Hall and Bill Frisell to Hendrix & John Scofield, Miles, Mingus & Monk, really too many to mention here.
Through the '80s & '90s I played in many jazz and rock outfits in west Wales and on numerous occassions with the late Nik Turner’s Fantastic All Stars during the first few years of this century, In 2005 I performed with the legendary, Damo Suzuki (improviser and former vocalist with the influential German band Can) where I also met and played alongside Maggie Nichols for the first time. Formed Dynamite Dream with Maggie Nichols in 2006 and then formed the improvising trio Triosh 2009 - 2011. After a break from music due to family health problems, in 2019 I joined the acoustic heavy rock quartet Kubris, and in 2022, the jazz quartet, Frantasmagoria with which I still play.
2023 and from the ashes rises Triosh3!
With Maggie Nichols
A little acknowledgement of the importance of Maggie Nichols to my musical development as she gave me the opportunity and encouragement to explore free improvisation which has been essential in the formation and philosophy behind Triosh.
A little bit about Maggie Nichols
Maggie Nicols has worked on almost every kind of project since the mid 1960s and is still active in the improvising world. A dancer at the age of 15, she became obsessed with jazz and has since worked with almost every top improvising musician in the UK. Part of John Steven’s Spontaneous Music Ensemble with Trevor Watts (1968), Keith Tippett's magnificent fifty piece band "Centipede" which included Julie Tippett, Phil Minton, Robert Wyatt, Dudu Pukwana and Alan Skidmore. She formed the vocal group Voice with Julie Tippett, Phil Minton and Brian Ely. Maggie has also collaborated with percussionist Ken Hyder, pianists Peter Nu and Steve Lodder, has toured and recorded 3 CDs with pianist Irene Schweizer and bassist Joelle Leandre, as Les Diaboliques. Maggie regularly performs throughout Europe and at jazz and improvising festivals around the world.
Dynamite Dream
After performing and recording a cd (unpublished) as a duo, we added bass and percussion in the shape of Glenda Pescado and Sam Christie in order to play at the 2006 Fishguard Jazz Festival. Ajijo replaced Glenda on bass for the rest of Dynamite Dream's existence. The band folded in 2007.
Triosh the First
with Geoff James & Sam Christie
2009 saw the formation of Triosh with Sam Christie on percussion and Geoff James on alto and tenor sax. Sam and I met through Maggie Nichols and I'd played with Geoff at various jam sessions. The first Triosh was formed in order to give a performance, alongside an exhibition of my art, to raise funds for Sesiwn Fawr at Tŷ Siamas in Dolgellau, North Wales. We played no other gigs but did record the Sesiwn Fawr Appeal gig. My first attempt at creating an improvising trio.
Recordings of the gig are on the music & video page
Triosh the Second
with Niall Ross & Gary Foote
I met Niall Ross and Gary Foote in 2008 at a monthly jazz jam in Oswestry which, coincidentally, was organised by Barry "Bazzmatron" Edwards (more of whom later). So, in 2011, I asked if they wanted to be the new Triosh. Both are incredible musicians and hugely creative, they were so exciting to play with and stretched me out of my comfort zone on many occassions. There's a brief biography of Niall which you can read on the home page, so here's a bit about Gary Foote taken from some PR material in 2011.
"Gary's been playing drums since the age of 11, at 20 he started playing saxophone and has since been involved in music in every conceivable form — jazz, rock, dance, ambient, techno, folk, blues, ska, reggae, pop and world music. At the time he was playing drums, percussion, sax and flute with Joan Armatrading, his other regular gigs were with British soul legend Zoot Money and Jacqui McShee's Pentangle Amongst the many great musicians he's made music with are Jools Holland, Jamiroquai, Tom Jones and The Bee Gees"
Sadly, we didn't play many gigs but one in Oswestry was caught on a rather lo-fi video and another was recorded on a mini-disc. Both on music & video plus some rehearsal tapes.
Unfortunately, just at this time, my wife became increasingly ill and my energies had to be focused elsewhere.
Triosh3
with Niall Ross & Barry "Bazzmatron" Edwards
And so to the present...
Niall and I agreed the time was right to resurrect Triosh in 2022 but we needed a drummer, who should turn up in May this year? Barry "Bazzmatron" Edwards! Three old friends having great creative fun together. Love, respect and improvisation. What more could you want? The future beckons...
