Electronic Press Kit

Q3 release new album “Water Speckled Midnight” in January 2024


Cambridge-based jazz quartet Q3 have released their third album, “Water Speckled Midnight,” in January 2024. This is a welcome follow up to the well-received release “The Monkey Puzzle Tree” in 2019. Featuring 10 new compositions by pianist Martin Hallmark, the album is an eclectic mix of jazz with latin, funk, arabic and mediterranean influences. The music is exquisitely crafted, quirky, melodic and highly listenable.


There is a high quality line up which delivers some fine soloing. Kevin Flanagan on tenor sax remains at the top of his game and produces some masterful moments and a wonderful tone. Tiago Coimbra is one of the UK’s finest electric bassists, and his solos alternately touch on North African, flamenco and funk influences. Martin Hallmark’s piano solos are beautifully crafted interspersed with Corea-esque lines. Drummer Oscar Reynolds anchors the album with a delicate touch allowing the fluidity of the music to shine through.


Q3 was formed in 2013 and the band has released three albums: Spider Dance (2014), The Monkey Puzzle Tree (2019) and Water Speckled Midnight (2024). The new album was recorded in Alpheton New Maltings studio in Suffolk which recently hosted Brad Mehldau.


US saxophonist Kevin Flanagan has been a major player in the UK jazz scene since the 1980s, recording with members of Pink Floyd, the Sex Pistols, Portishead and Led Zeppelin, and performing with Tommy Chase, David Gordon and his own quartet.


Tiago Coimbra is one of the UK’s leading jazz electric bassists. He has been a sideman with global piano superstar Hiromi, and performs with jazz-funk band Resolution 88 and Dennis Rollins.


Pianist and composer Martin Hallmark formed Q3 in 2013 and has written the music for the band’s albums. His inspiration for setting up the band came from studying with Chick Corea in 2012, with whom he performed one of his own compositions.


Oscar Reynolds is a drummer based in Cambridge and London. He performs with a wide range of groups across jazz, funk, soul and blues, including the Phil Stevenson trio, Amy Bird, Lepage Dean, Cath Coombs, and H eldritch.


Link to high definition images




Release 1-sheet


Artist: Q3

Album title: Water Speckled Midnight

Release date: January 2024


Track listing:


  1. Through the Clouds
  2. Odyssey
  3. Emerald Eyes
  4. Nomads
  5. Nocturne
  6. Water Speckled Midnight
  7. Rondo di Girulata
  8. A Good Day For Breathing
  9. Turnaround Time
  10. Postlude



Recorded at Alpheton New Maltings Studio, 21-23 August 2023

All music composed by Martin Hallmark

Recording engineer: John Ward

Mixed by John Ward

Mastering: Barry Gardner, Safe&Sound Mastering


Personnel:


Tiago Coimbra - Bass

Kevin Flanagan - Tenor Saxophone 

Martin Hallmark - Piano

Oscar Reynolds - Drums



Q3 release new album "The Monkey Puzzle Tree" on 1st May 2019

Cambridge-based Q3 was formed in 2013 and has a high quality line up featuring Kevin Flanagan on sax (Rip Rap, Tommy Chase, Chris Ingham), Martin Hallmark on piano (Helen McDonald and Juba, Andy Bowie Quartet), Tiago Coimbra on bass (Hiromi, Resolution 88, Dennis Rollins, Orphy Robinson, Myles Sanko) and Steve Hynes on drums (Daphna Sadeh, Superstition, Chicago Blues Brothers). The band plays contemporary jazz and jazz-funk featuring original compositions by pianist Martin Hallmark.

The band's new album "The Monkey Puzzle Tree" is an exciting set of original material drawing on inspiration from Chick Corea and Robert Glasper, and was released in May 2019. The album is also a welcome return of legendary sax player Flanagan, a veteran of the UK scene since the 1980's whose fluidity and tone is reminiscent of Michael Brecker. There are high quality original compositions by pianist Hallmark, with strong melodic lines over jazz and funk grooves combined with a subtle complexity which make an extremely listenable album.

Added to this is the excellent rhythm section of Steve Hynes (drums) and Tiago Coimbra, one of the UK's most in-demand electric bass players who provides some fine solos. As well as being very well played and written this music is pretty catchy, whilst still allowing the musicians the opportunity for adventure and creative solos.

Mix and mastering are also excellent from the highly regarded Andrew Tulloch.

Reviews

"This is an extremely quirky album from Q3....enough strong melodies and fine solos to satisfy the most demanding die-hard jazzer....this is a set that provides fun in abundance.....generating this sort of excitement in the studio is one thing, and I'm sure that this band blow a storm when heard live"

-Nick Lea, Jazz Views album review

“Martin Hallmark – pianist and composer, leads this tight unit, comprised of master multi saxophonist Kevin Flanagan, super groovy Tiago Coimbra on 5 string electric bass and snappy, funky drummer Steve Hynes. The album of instantly accessible, mostly funk/fusion original compositions is recorded in crystal clear quality and played deftly with passion as well as eyebrow raising virtuosity from these gifted, empathetic musicians.

“There are moments of beauty too, especially on the waltz – ‘Tarka and the Mount’. A fine body of work from a great band.”

- Nigel Price, award winning jazz guitarist

"Beautiful changes combined with contemporary grooves. The songs are intricately crafted without sounding obviously complex - just listen and enjoy it!" - Tom O'Grady, Resolution 88

"This music has an urgency and intelligence that demands close listening" - David Ellingham, Local Secrets


Band discography

Riprap, Kevin Flanagan Quartet
Snow Blue Light, Riprap Quartet
Textile Lunch, Flanagan Ingham Quartet
Groove Merchant, Tommy Chase
Credits include Roger Waters, Jools Holland, The Buckinghams 

Resolution 88, Press Play, Afterglow, Revolutions - Resolution 88
Inside Out, Bringing It All Back Home, Somnia Memoriae - Kuba (3)
Gavin Harrison and 05Ric Band, Myles Sanko
Hiromi

Martin Hallmark
Spider Dance, The Monkey Puzzle Tree - Q3

Band biography

Kevin Flanagan - tenor sax, bass clarinet
Kevin is a veteran of the UK music scene having recorded with B.B. King, members of Pink Floyd, the Sex Pistols, Portishead and Led Zeppelin in the 80s. He shifted primarily to jazz playing with his own groups and the Tommy Chase Quartet. His is also a prolific composer from jazz to modern classical music. His current composition project is inspired by Roman Road the Peddars Way in Suffolk, using the coordinates of the 13 churches on the route as the basis for the music.

Tiago Coimbra - bass guitar
A scholarship at Berklee College of Music saw Tiago record with Spontaneous and Hiromi’s Explosion Trio. Tiago has toured the world, recording and performing with various bands including the Gavin Harrison and 05Ric Band, piano superstar Hiromi, soul singer Myles Sanko,  jazz funk band Resolution 88, Orphy Robinson, Cleveland Watkiss, Malik and the O.Gs, and Dennis Rollins.

Martin Hallmark - piano
Martin studied music at Jesus College Cambridge. He has played with jazz and funk outfits including Helen McDonald, the Andy Bowie Quartet, Juba and the Ben Martin Quartet. He carries out his music whilst having a full time job in the City. Inspired by a short period of study with Chick Corea in 2012, he took a year out to devote time to his music projects, forming Q3 and writing and recording the band's first album Spider Dance.

Steve Hynes - drums
Steve works with a wide range of bands across jazz, funk, pop and in musical theatre.
He is influenced by modern legends like Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Peter Erskine and Will Kennedy. Artists he has worked with include Pete King, Mark Nightingale, Steve Waterman, Alan Barnes, Don Airey, The Nolans, Toyah Wilcox, 78 RPM Big Band and The Eddie Seales Big Band.
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