Pete Canter’s Sky Ensemble
Wednesday 14 March 2018
Pete Canter is an accomplished jazz saxophonist and a prolific and original composer of jazz and contemporary music. His jazz repertoire draws upon hardbop, bebop and latin jazz, and increasingly upon his own compositions which bring together elements of contemporary jazz, folk and classical music.
Pete first played on the 1980s London jazz scene and moving to the Southwest in 2001. He has gone on to establish himself on both the local jazz scene and further afield across the U.K. as a fine saxophone player, composer and band leader responsible for a number of creative jazz projects. His composing projects include writing for his own jazz combos, for larger ensembles which include jazz and classical instruments and writing for contemporary music ensembles.
Pete has recorded several well received jazz albums and has played at major U.K. festivals including Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Bude Jazz Festival and Exeter Vibraphonic Festival. His bands have supported Polar Bear and Kyle Eastwood and he has played with Iain Ballamy, Christian Brewer, Harry Beckett and many more.
Pete Canter’s Sky Ensemble presents his “dreamy and joyful” original music for saxophone, flute, strings and rhythm section bringing together contemporary jazz, strong melodies and Latin grooves with distinct folk and classical influences.
After captivating listeners at their debut performances the quintet line up of the band has gone on to release their superb new album “Strange Bird”. Now expanded to a septet with the addition of flute and viola, the ensemble brings well-crafted arrangements to life with exciting improvisation, soaring backing lines and anthemic melodies.
This group approaches the music from a decidedly European perspective and includes elements of folk, Latin and classical music. The folk influence is particularly strong, and this, combined with the distinctive sound of Canter’s soprano is sometimes reminiscent of perhaps Jan Garbarek or even John Surman.
Line-up: Pete Canter – soprano & tenor saxophone, Marius Rudnick – flute & alto flute, Lucy Welsman – violoncello, Iona Padel Collins – violin, Matt Johns – piano, Jim Rintoul – double bass, Gary Evans – drums