UK jazz super group Empirical will be taking their music direct to Londoners this month.
For six days, from February 22-27, the band will take over a retail unit in the centre of Old Street Underground Station and transform the space into a pop-up Jazz Lounge. Listeners are invited to visit the lounge for lunchtime and evening commute live sets, with late night sessions scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Early birds will also be able to catch an 8am mid-week performance.
All gigs will be free of charge.
Road-tested in their six-day stint at the iconic central London bookshop Foyles in the run-up to the recording of their new album Connection, due out this Spring, the residency concept gives the band intense practice whilst allowing the audience to witness the creative process as the band develops new material.
Empirical are also inviting Hackney and Islington schools and community groups to sign up to free educational workshops during the Jazz Lounge, demonstrating the principles of jazz improvisation and giving younger audiences a chance to experience live jazz at more suitable times.
The group aims to take the idea nationwide in 2016/17, setting up in places not normally associated with jazz in major cities across the UK.