Jazz at Progress: Empirical

Empirical: Nathaniel Facey alto saxophone, Jonny Mansfield vibraphone, Tom Farmer bass, Shaney Forbes drums with guest pianist Will Barry

Empirical have been described in Downbeat magazine as, 'One of the great British contributions to European jazz'. This welcome return to Jazz at Progress will present music from their latest album, 'Wonder is the Beginning'; a showcase for the unique qualities of sophisticated, thoughtful writing and spontaneous improvisation which have earned them multiple awards over their astonishingly successful 15+ years of collective music-making.

Empirical have a knack of pushing boundaries and taking risks, not only in their music, but in their efforts to win new audiences for jazz. In 2016 they set up the now legendary 'Pop-up Jazz Lounge' at Old Street underground station in London, entertaining morning commuters over the course of six days and attracting close to 3,000 listeners, many of them new to jazz.

We promise that you will be equally bowled over by their music.

'Empirical move the music forward to a new paradigm in a characteristic and sophisticated manner,' Jazz Journal 2024