Steve Argüelles
Babel Discography
Busy Listening (CD currently out of stock. mp3 downloads available)
Blue Moon in a Function Room
Circuit
A native of Birmingham born in 1963, from the age of 16 he became the drummer backing the visiting performers at Ronnie Scott's, through his seminal work as a founder of the 80s group Loose Tubes, and his work with Django Bates in the early Human Chain, he has shown an innovation beyond the usual role of the drummer. He doesn't just support the band, but leads from the front. It confirms what Richard Cook wrote in The Wire when reviewing his first album: 'Argüelles could be reshaping the drummer's entire role in British jazz.' Indeed, as Pete Martin wrote, 'to describe him just as a drummer does him less than justice.'Steve now lives mainly in Paris, working on his Plush record label for which he is also involved in programming and production He returns to London to work with his own sparring partners, both in his own band and also Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, John Taylor and Billy Jenkins. In Europe, he forms part of the Hask collective in Paris and is known for work with Christy Doran, Marc Ducret and, recently, Robert Dick.
His group The Recyclers, with leading young French musicians, Benoît Delbecq on prepared piano and Noel Akchoté on guitar, has a release on ZZ and Plush Records (his own label) and a Babel release Visit. He also has a duo with Benoît Delbecq called Ambitronix who have recently released an album on Plush. His intention is to move the central pivot of music away from the 'tradition' of melody and rhythm instruments.
He also led the quartet on Blue Moon In A Function Room (with Stuart Hall, Billy Jenkins, Steve Watts), playing unusual versions of jazz standards - a Spike Jones for the end of the twentieth century.
Of his music, John Fordham in the Guardian, gave the CD, 'Busy Listening' (Babel BDV 9406), a top 4 star rating, calling it 'quirky acoustic music in the inimitable Loose Tubes tradition'. The band plays 'dance music of the twenty-first century', according to Jörg Solthurnmann of Swiss Radio. Many of the tunes in this group are by Steve himself, and the whole retains the dynamism, intensity and joy of his previous album, and his previous work in the original line-up of Human Chain with Django Bates. As well as these there are lively and occasionally manic versions of tunes by John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Charles Mingus and George Gershwin.
Accordionist and pianist Huw Warren, well known from his work in his own band Perfect Houseplants, as musical director to June Tabor and Christine Tobin and recently with Billy Jenkins and The Fun Horns.
The music has a tautness and intensity lightened by the playing of his brother Julian, reminding us of his skills on the higher saxes - since in his live work he has been more recently been heard on baritone in the big bands of Carla Bley, Hermeto Pascoal, Mike Gibbs, Andy Sheppard and Django Bates. Stuart Hall once again has a chance to show his skills as a multi-instrumentalist on stringed instruments, hinted at in his work with Django Bates' Delightful Precipice and in 'Blue Moon In A Function Room' (BDV 9402). Steve Watts shows why he is one of the supreme bass players on the British jazz scene, with an effortless technique. Steve's credits include recordings with Christine Tobin, Billy Jenkins, Iain Ballamy and many others.
'Always an active collaborator rather than simply a hired accompanist, he has contributed attractively supple, exuberant drumming. He continues to make witty but cogent recordings under his own name.' (Rough Guide to Jazz)
' Outstanding' (The Guardian)
'Eclectic, jaunty and light-hearted.' (Gramophone Guide to Jazz)
'A superb pot pourri of tango, rumba, jazz and C & W. ' (Neville Hadsley, Birmingham Post)
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