Pete Roth Trio

Stadium-filling prog-rock hero Bill, idolised for his work with King Crimson, Yes and, briefly, Genesis, has long been fascinated by and involved in jazz. He followed his own jazz-fusion outfit Bruford (which included Allan Holdsworth) with the hugely successful Bill Bruford’s Earthworks that involved, at various times, collaborations with heroes of the genre such as Django Bates, Iain Ballamy, Tim Garland and Gwilym Simcock.

Having retired from making music in 2009, he recently returned to the stage, and has played a series of low-key dates in the South East with this newly-formed group. The NAC gig sees him and the band beginning to spread their wings across the UK.

The Pete Roth Trio features leader Pete on guitar, Mike Pratt on bass, and the incomparable Bruford on drums. The band creates jazz for a new generation of music enthusiasts, exploring beyond traditional jazz conventions. A jazz standard might reveal its essence only in the final moments of performance. Roth’s original compositions, such as “Dancing with Grace,” the Trio’s collaborative works like “Trio in Five” and “Looking Forward to Looking Back,” or their reinterpretation of masterworks like Anton Dvorak’s “Largo from Symphony #9,” offer just a few gateways into the creative world of the Pete Roth Trio—a world that will likely reshape your perspective on what the guitar trio format can achieve.

Germany-born Pete found inspiration as a youngster in the raw emotion of blues and the electrifying energy of rock. However, his musical horizons expanded when he ventured to England to study jazz. There, he delved into the rich complexities of the genre, drawing influence from luminaries such as Joe Pass, John Scofield, and Julian Lage.

​Equipped with a passion for innovation, he embarked on a solo career, culminating in the recording of two albums under the banner of MGP Records. His artistic journey continues to evolve with this exciting new endeavour.

Bassist Mike performed fortnightly at Ronnie Scott’s for several years in the ensemble Shorter Than Miles. He plays and writes for the jazz fusion project KGQ with Kieron Garrett featuring Dave O’Higgins and Duncan Eagles on saxophone, with two albums on 33 Jazz Records. He has performed with Acantha Lang and Liane Carroll, and at the Cape Town Jazz Festival, the Jazz Cafe and The Royal Albert Hall.

In an interview with website thestrangebrew.co.uk, Bill explained his return: “Finding my way back after a long time in academia, was explosive, unexpected, and very sudden. I remember passing someone else’s kit one day, sitting down, and feeling exhilarated all over: urgently and violently keen to start all over again.”

Of playing with Pete, his drum tech in Earthworks more than 20 years ago, he told the website: “It’s a privilege to support and mentor a much younger player, and I get to play whatever I want on the tubs. We prefer smaller places where we can see the whites of your eyes, hear your breathing in the quiet bits and have a musical relationship with you, of the sort that not possible in the big places. Believe me, I’ve tried ‘em both. Great to be back!”