Monsterosa ft Graeme Wilson & Rebecca Hollweg + Exhibition: Alexander Hollweg-the 606 Paintings
Monsterosa emerged from a lockdown project by Edinburgh saxophonist Graeme Wilson to write new songs and instrumentals for five jazz musicians based on Italo Calvino's Marcovaldo collection. The stories follow a man trying to recapture country life in an urban setting, and the music follows the joy in each moment of possibility he finds: for sleeping outdoors, or gathering firewood, or eating well. Sung by the wonderful London-based singer Rebecca Hollweg (‘A great singer who I love very much…’, Jamie Cullum), the melodies are rooted in jazz, taking in Wilson’s wider love for soul, folk, and latin music. UK Jazz News said of their 2024 LP release "The Seasons in the City" “The band are terrific…the whole ensemble play with a deftness and sensitivity… a joy to listen to”. The band, in addition to Graeme on sax, bass clarinet & flute and Rebecca on vocals is indeed All-Star in every way: Mike Outram-guitar (Tim Garland, Donny McCaslin, Trish Clowes, Steven Wilson), Andy Hamill-bass (Laura Mvula, Natacha Atlas, 4 Hero, Eska, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, Rumer) and Andres Ticino-drums/percussion (Giorgio Serci, John Crawford).
EXHIBITION: this performance will also mark the launch of a very special art exhibition near and dear to us: the paintings of Alexander Hollweg, Rebecca's father. Alexander Hollweg (1936-2020) exhibited internationally during his 60 year career, through long relationships with galleries in London, New York and Italy, and achieved both commercial and critical success. The New York Times described his works as “secreting a poetic charge”, and as “witty, intelligent and serious investigations of a middle ground that lies somewhere between painting and sculpture.” His large mural at the Charlotte Street Hotel has become a London landmark, and he has works in many public collections including Tate and Pallant House, and in private collections across the world.
From the late 1990’s onwards he was a frequent visitor to the 606 Club, and produced a small collection of paintings and drawings based on gigs he saw. Featuring members of our brilliant London jazz community, they express the excitement he felt at visiting from his home in rural Somerset and experiencing their virtuoso playing. He was a much-loved jazz musician and singer himself, and often listened to jazz while painting and felt a strong connection between the two. It is a selection of these works that we will be displaying at the Club until the 26th of October. alexanderhollweg.com
monsterosa.bandcamp.com/album/the-seasons-in-the-city
UK Jazz News Feature: ukjazznews.com/alexander-hollweg-the-606-pictures/
Photo by Ed Allnut
