Two contrasting yet complementary improvising duos from the Sheffield jazz and improvised music scenes meet to play individual sets, plus a quartet performance.

not one not two
With music that is both meditative and explorative, focused and intense, Geoff Bright (soprano/bass sax/voice) and Hervé Perez (alto/soprano sax) create an explorative and thoughtful sound-world that unfolds in the moment, exploring all the possibilities from the depth and weight of the bass sax to the upper frequencies of the soprano sax. Their recent release on Sheffield's Discus label 'Openings and Samadhis' has justly received critical praise and we're delighted to bring their strange and wonderful music to The Lescar.

"Openings And Samādis dissolves the line between self and other, between musician and instrument, between noise and silence, offering instead a single, resonant truth: that creation itself is the act of awakening." - Mark Corroto, ALL ABOUT JAZZ

"A mysterious, sensuous, mystical vibe, rather prayer-like" - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery NYC

"a sustained feat of imagination... an absorbing, meaningful experience" - Dominic Rivron, INTERNATIONAL TIMES

Geoff Bright is an improvising musician, live art performer and writer/researcher on improvisation. He has had work installed in New York and France; performed in Tempelhof airport, Berlin, as well as working with Mick Beck, improvising choir Juxtavoices and many other line-ups.

Hervé Perez is a sound artist, improviser (saxophone, shakuhachi, laptop) active in the UK and European free improvisation scenes for 25 years. He has performed with Martin Archer, Peter Fairclough, Mick Beck, Mark Sanders, and many others.

"two voices merging into one timbral breath, yet maintaining their individual contours. The music is both conversation and contemplation." All about Jazz

whale detective
whale detective are Hannah Brady (clarinet/tenor sax) and Jez Matthews (piano/electronics). Their music moves organically through elegiac melodies and electronic textures that veer from the delicate and beautiful to the intense, with a sound that continues to evolve based around a shared understanding and language developed over 20+ years of collaboration.

Individually and as whale detective they've collaborated and performed with Will Shaw, Manon McCoy, Nicola Farnon, Seth Bennett, Johnny Hunter and many others, and have released 4 recordings to date, as whale detective, as one half of baleine, and a collaboration with cellist Nicola Farnon

"The musical chemistry between Hannah and Jez is undeniable and, with the aid of atmospheric electronics, their improvisations mesmerise." Now Then Magazine

They've also played at venues and festivals including Kelham Jazz Festival Hatch, and Refujazz festival in Leeds, as well as supporting Swiss-UK jazz sextet Moonmot, Juxtavoices, and Mick Beck.

Open, melodic and expansive music from a wonderful quartet, and one of the most exciting groups on the Leeds jazz scene, led by guitarist Ben Haskins, with Ben Powling on tenor sax, Owen Burns on bass, and Theo Goss on drums.

Touring guitarist with Jasmine Myra and K.O.G., Ben is very much in demand, performing at venues and festivals both in the UK and internationally as well as a monthly residency at Leeds' Domino Club, as well as appearing at Love Supreme festival, Glastonbury and on Later with Jools Holland.

You may have seen all of these wonderful musicians performing with the likes of Wandering Monster, Jasmine Myra, Vipertime, Mansion of Snakes, World Service Project, and K.O.G. & The Zongo Brigade.

It's such a wonderful and vibrant line-up, and together the Ben Haskins Quartet bring original and engaging music that ranging from the beautifully contemplative and lyrical to driving and energised.

Here's some of their music! https://youtu.be/UMZyZQehOz0?si=hUOXeyP56BjtXHCB

One of the most dynamic and joyous bands on the UK jazz scene right now, joining us after their recent performance at Love Supreme festival, and led by award-winning and inspiring drummer/composer Miles Pillinger, this quintet of some of the finest musicians around mix raw improvisation with rich, uplifting rhythms and melodies of Brazil.

Influenced by Hermeto Pascoal, Max Roach, Chick Corea, Miles brings a melodic and creative sound that's really having an impact on the UK jazz scene. He's performed with artists including Olivia Cuttill, Tara lily, Mica Millar, Chip Wickham and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and there's already a stir around his soon to be released debut album 'Belonging', a mix of Afro-Brazilian jazz inspired compositions, following his 2023 debut EP 'Sunrise'.

The full and wonderful line-up is:
Olivia Cuttill - Trumpet
Benjy Sandler - saxophone/ flute
Elliot Whitehouse - bass
Tom Harris - piano
Miles Pillinger - drums


Singable, meaningful melodies sit alongside colourful improvisation inviting you into a unique and really distinctive sound world

You may have caught Miles Pillinger at The Lescar in some of our best gigs over the last 2 years, with this quintet and also his band Mangorata, in Olivia Cuttill's Quintet, and in Lucas Walters' band, last November. He made his Ronnie Scotts' debut as a leader last year.

Award-winning at the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, trumpeter Olivia Cuttill brings an expansive sound rich with soul and influences from across the world of jazz and blues, a vibrant and expressive musician, she's visited us previously with her own quintet and in the bands of Miles Pillinger.

Multi-instrumentalist Benjy Sandler (flute/sax) is a member of NYJO and the London Improvisers Orchestra, a musician with a beautiful tone on his instrument who has performed at venues and festivals including the EFG London Jazz Festival and at Cafe OTO.

Tom Harris is a sensitive, interactive and boldly creative pianist who's worked with musicians including Rachael Cohen, Jean Toussaint, and Rosie Tee, and across disciplines including with dancers, poets, visual artists, puppeteers, videographers, and actors.

On bass Elliot Whitehouse is another great musician emerging from the London jazz scene, and very much set to make an impact.