Jazz unlike anything before

Polar Bear,  Exeter Phoenix, Thursday 19th November, 8pm

By Rich Cooke

Sometimes described as post-jazz, Polar Bear’s sound appeals as much to jazz traditionalists as to people who don’t normally do jazz, like hip hop and indie rock fans.

Using elements from beyond the vast history of jazz such as Stockhausen and Steve Reich, the punk funk of Pil, Rip Rig and Panic, or the laptop glitch of Fennesz, maybe even prog Gong, Polar Bear transcends those genres to make their own unique form of British jazz.

They’re led from the back by Seb Rochford, who is also the drummer in the Hendrix inspired Acoustic Ladyland and has played with such diverse artists as Joanna McGregor, Adele, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Patti Smith and Yoko Ono.

Polar Bear’s new self-titled album is their first since 2005’s Mercury nominated Held On The Tips Of Fingers, which also got a place in the Jazzwise 100 Jazz Albums that changed the World and The Guardian’s 1000 albums you must hear before you die.

Music unlike anything that has gone before.

Tickets cost £12, £10 concessions and are available from the Exeter Phoenix.