Hornweb
Hornweb was formed by Martin Archer and Derek Saw while both were still members of Bass Tone Trap.
There was a fashion for swinging, jazzy saxophone quartets on the jazz scene in the
early 1980s, but the model for Hornweb was far removed from this. Archer and Saw preferred
a model closer to the AACM music which took in abstraction alongside the simpler
R&B structures which formed the starting off point for many of the American players
favoured most by the founders. This was the vision which the group adhered to throughout
its ten year lifespan, and which one critic described as " a searing mixture
of abstraction and roots".
Primarily designed as a live group, Hornweb was able to take advantage of the
many jazz club and arts centre opportinities which exisited in those days, and
was able to play several hundred concerts during its existence.
Versions #1 and #2 of the group were documented across the three LPs still
available through Discus. Responding to the near disasterous departure of
Vic Middleton forced Derek, in the absence of any other suitable player, to switch to
mainly baritone, but also prompted 2 further versions of the group whose
quintet format enabled the group to write its most sophisticated and challenging
music. Sadly, this version of the group did not make a studio recording although
many concert tapes exist which may form the basis of a future Discus release.
Against a background of declining performance opportunities, the group was disbanded by
Archer in 1993, with version #1 of the group reforming for a short
reunion concert in 2000. The 2005 version of the group is now operational...
Version #1 - 1983 to 1987
Version #2 - 1987 to 1990
Version #3 - 1990 to 1991
Version #4 - 1991 to 1992
Version #5 - 1992 to 1993
Version #6 - 2005 onward
Martin Archer - soprano saxophone
Derek Saw - alto, tenor, sopranino saxophones, clarinet
Nigel Manning - tenor, alto saxophones, flute, clarinet
Vic Middleton - baritone saxophone, flute
Martin Archer - soprano saxophone
Derek Saw - alto, tenor, sopranino saxophones, clarinet
Pete Lyons - tenor saxophone
Vic Middleton - baritone saxophone, flute
Martin Archer - soprano saxophone
Derek Saw - baritone, alto, tenor, sopranino saxophones, clarinet
Keith Jafrate - alto saxophone
Pete Lyons - tenor saxophone
Martin "Mad Dog" Jones - trumpet, fluegelhorn
Martin Archer - soprano saxophone
Derek Saw - baritone, alto, tenor, sopranino saxophones, clarinet
Keith Jafrate - alto saxophone
Pete Lyons - tenor saxophone
Simon Pugsley - trombone
Martin Archer - soprano saxophone
Derek Saw - baritone, alto, tenor, sopranino saxophones, clarinet
Keith Jafrate - alto saxophone
Pete Lyons - tenor saxophone
John Jasnoch - electric guitar
Dave Wilkinson - double bass
Martin Archer - sopranino, alto and baritone saxophones, Bb and bass clarinet, bass recorder, software instruments etc
Derek Saw - trumpet, tenor horn, tuba etc
Charlie Collins - vibraphone, percussion, lamellophones etc
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