Jazz In The Round is delighted to announce an extra, special edition for the 2026 London Jazz Festival featuring one of our fvourite bands – EMPIRICAL.
Join the multi award-winning UK jazz ensemble for a performance of their second release on Whirlwind Recordings, their forebodingly titled eighth album Like Lambs: To The Slaughter.
Empirical, Nathaniel Facey (alto sax), Tom Farmer (double bass) and Shaney Forbes (drums), have enlisted long-time collaborators Ivo Neame (piano) and David Preston (guitar) to lend their distinctive musical voices to the album.
A radical reworking of drummer Shaney Forbes’ unconventional long-form suite, first issued as a self-released EP, the album unfolds as an uninterrupted 51-minute musical story. Originally conceived during the pandemic, Like Lambs: To The Slaughter explores ever-more relevant questions around the human capacity for independent thought versus herd-like behaviour, and the line between innocence and ignorance. Traversing the musical terrain between contemporary classical music, soundscape, post-bop and free jazz, the music often reflects our frantic, split-attention world where individualism reigns supreme, but also represents a refusal to relinquish faith in the possibility of spiritual and intellectual enlightenment.
Having started their journey in 2007, Empirical continue to be at the centre of the UK jazz scene owing to their trademark combination of complex, thoughtful writing and spontaneous improvisation reflecting years of collective music-making.
With this album Empirical have created an astounding and formally cohesive new articulation of their unique sonic world, made possible by the exceptional virtuosity, musical empathy and daring emotional expressiveness that make Empirical stand out consistently on the musical landscape.
Jazz In The Round is at the forefront of new music, offering a platform for emerging artists alongside established names.
Its flagship in-the-round night takes place monthly at The Cockpit in London’s Marylebone and has become one of the most respected nights in the Capital’s jazz calendar. Each event features three sets: an Emergence slot for new talent, a solo performance exploring new directions, and a headline set from leading artists in the scene.
Beyond its monthly programme, Jazz In The Round also curates pop-up events, festival stages, and shows for the EFG London Jazz Festival, maintaining a strong commitment to grassroots development and artist support. It is a Cockpit Production and a proud partner of One Jazz.
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Tickets are available from thecockpit.org.uk
