Interplay has been cooking since 2009, based in Warwickshire. It has toured extensively across the Midlands, playing jazz clubs, concerts, festivals, community halls and parties. Founded by bassist and composer Adrian Litvinoff the band encompasses contemporary jazz, fusion, and global influences. These range across India, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; combined with Adrian’s personal creative palette they ensure the band has an attractive and unusual musical identity. Music critic Ian Mann (The JazzMann) attested to the band’s ‘distinctive group sound and philosophy’.rnrnIndividually the members are all uniquely talented and vastly experienced. Alan Wakeman (saxes, flute) has long-standing credits with Mike Westbrook, John Dankworth and David Essex, to name just a few. He recorded his first session as a leader for the BBC in 1969. As a soloist he communicates with a lot of feeling and always has something new to say. It’s about 50 years since Alan and Adrian first encountered each other musically – and they are still talking to each other!rnrnTrombonist Pete Johnson has a background including Ska legends Neville Staple (The Specials) and Musical Youth. He has also worked in and written for Rush Theatre’s highly popular play about the arrival of The Windrush. Pete is the band’s newest acquisition and his powerful sound is rapidly making his presence felt as a soloist and in ensembles.rnrnNeil Hunter (keyboard) has a unique talent and is much in demand when visiting American Jazz musicians come to the East Midlands. Originally trained as an organist, Neil has expanded his range hugely to include Bebop, Latin, Big Band and Electronic Dance Music. He has impressive keyboard technique which often manifests itself in surprising ways!rnrnDrummer and percussionist Dave Balen started out playing in Blues and Progressive bands in the 1960s when a trip to India led him to embrace music of the Sub-continent also. He has been on a bilateral mission ever since, and only this year returned to India to resume and refresh his studies on Tabla. His absorption in Indian music has played a central role in contributing to Interplay’s engagement with other cultural traditions.rnrnAdrian Litvinoff has been playing bass and writing since the age of 15. His experience ranges from Blues and Rock to many forms of Jazz, working with people such as Neol Davies (Selecter), Joe O’Donnell (Celtic Fusion) and the Don Ellis Big Band. As a bassist Adrian has supported some of Britain’s best, including Tony Oxley, Alan Barnes, Norma Winstone, Bruce Adams, Michael Garrick, Don Rendell, Digby Fairweather and Simon Spillett. rnrnAdrian’s compositions attest to his wide-ranging love of music. He explores a diversity of genres and styles, all linked by the need to make space for improvisation and the possibility of something unexpected happening. His writing has been a key source of energy for his playing career and sits at the heart of Interplay’s unique musical approach.rnrnThe band has been fortunate in working with some of the country’s best-known soloists. A series of events for International Jazz Day 2015 – 2019 featured Claude Deppa (trumpet), John Etheridge (guitar), Norma Winstone (voice) Annie Whitehead (trombone), Alina Bzhezhinska (harp) and Tony Kofi (saxes). rnrnInterplay has recorded two albums so far: “Introducing Interplay”, and “Global” which Gilles Peterson described as a “beautiful record’.