Biography
Geoff Hearn – Saxophones, flutes and shakuhachi
Music from the heart and spirit, music for the imagination.
Spontaneous musical conversations!
Born in London England lived in Liverpool via South Africa before settling in Brighton. He has been playing tenor and soprano saxophone for many years in a wide range of genre’s; blues, jazz, soul jazz, rock, world, and mostly ‘free improvisation’. He has also for the last 20 years been playing world flutes and in particular the shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute)
Based in the south of England, Hearn is one of Britain’s most vibrant musicians on the creative music scene today, he is seriously overlooked and has led many inspired bands including, Hoboko, Kasanga, Ten Men, Hipnosis, Up Down And Strange, Amigos, Planet Earth Ensemble, Jump Street, Tetragon, Steam, Torque, Organ-ics, and AKIMA who sometimes collaborated with a troupe of African Yoruba bata’ drum masters with great success. Stints with America jazz singer Joe Lee Wilson, Vibraphonist Johnny Lytle and r’n’b legend Tommy Brown. One of his main interests is improvisational ‘sonic sculptures’ which is most evident in his work with his trio TORQUE with legendary drummer the late Steve Harris and the extaordinary Canadian guitarist Jim Black and of course the ground breaking ‘shape shifting’ ensemble ZAUM and a ‘free’ improv trio with bassist Olie Brice and drummer Milo Fell, that trio led to a duo of saxophone and drums with Milo Fell (Hearn and Fell) playing spontaneously improvised music in the moment now!
“Geoff Hearn is blessed with a big passionate sound and his saxophone playing is always informed by the highest quality of solo lyricism and a profound grasp of group values, his music covers everything from the blues to the furthest reaches of free improvisation. He plays tenor saxophone with a deep earthy ‘gritty’ searching visceral energy rooted in the blues and jazz, his soulful and urgent sound draws the listener into a direct and joyful exploration of the outer edges of free improvisation and into a sound world that is both entirely his own yet steeped in the tradition. To hear him play is to be taken on a journey toward the very essence of music making”
(Professor Michael Tucker – Jazz Journal)
ZAUM
In 2004 Hearn became an original member of ZAUM formed by the late Steve Harris and also with Harris in his improvising trio TORQUE featuring Canadian guitarist Jim (‘j’m) Black . ZAUM gained world wide acclaim as a ground breaking, innovative group of improvisers. ‘Above Our Heads The Sky Splits Open’ received a coronet and four stars in the Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (the books highest honour) The authors called ZAUM “The most exciting improvising group in Europe today” and ‘Above Our Heads’ is included in the books 1001 best albums in jazz history! ” It’s quite simply the best British improvisation record in more than a decade!” Brian Morton – The Wire
Zaum recieved numerous rave reviews fom the international music press. All reviews from The Wire, Jazz Wise, The Guardian and more can be seen on the reviews page. Hearn remarked – “Playing with Steve and Zaum changed my whole perception of playing music forever” (see reviews page)
Torque….
Torque was a short lived but exceptionally original ‘free jazz’ trio that managed to record one album thankfully. It’s from two brilliant live concerts recorded in 2006 and 2007.
Hearn – tenor and soprano saxophones, the remarkable Jim Black – guitar/electronics and the great Steve Harris on drums. Such a shame this special trio was so short lived due to the very sad and untimely death of Harris, it had a hell of lot more creative music to offer.
*The ‘Lost And Found’ cd review from Jazz Journal can also be found on the reviews page.
*All Zaum and Torque recordings are now available here….https://steveharriszaum.bandcamp.com/
Geoff’s earliest collaboration with Steve Harris was in Ten Men along with pianist Josh Greifer and bassist Nigel Thomas…TEN MEN were one of the few groups in Brighton back in the early 1980’s that were playing a more adventurous ‘contemporary improvised music’ as a modern alternative to the more traditional jazz played around the town back then. They were very popular having taken inspiration from Miles Davis’s electric period (‘Live Evil’) early Weather Report and influences from some of the early ‘free jazz’ exponents of the day… The Art Ensemble Of Chicago and Henry Threadgill’s trio Air.
Steve Harris along with Zaum members Cathy Stevens,Udo Dzierzanowski and Karen Wimhurst formed ‘Safehouse’ a centre for improvised and experimental music in Poole Dorset. Inspired by Steve’s success Geoff and Stuart Revill formed ‘Safehouse’ in Brighton. This led to Geoff doing his own series of workshops ‘ Voyages In Improvisation’ held at the Dome Pavilion Theatre in Brighton. Although no longer involved, ‘Safehouse’ continues to flourish! Hearn and Harris also played together as a duo many times in collaboration with numerous film makers, visual artists and dancers.
The Blues
His love of blues music began when he lived in Liverpool listening to the records brought over from America by his older seafaring cousin, these records were not available in the UK, records by Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker,Son House, Charlie Patton, Skip James and Sonny Boy Williamson along with many other great blues legends. Attending a star studded blues concert in the 1960’s when I was about 16 called ‘The American Folk and Blues Festival on Tour’ and hearing Howlin’ Wolf sing ‘Smokestack Lightnin’ and Muddy Waters singing ‘Got My Mojo Workin’ from a few feet away became “a real life changer for me” he once remarked in a interview.
Trio Akima
Trio Akima is a scaled down version of the much larger Akima and is still very much inspired by traditional folk music of the world interwoven with improvisation. The trio features Hearn on Native American flutes, and tenor saxophone / Hugh Bance on guitars and Joseph Philogene on percussion.
Root Strata:
Root Strata is a duo with pianist/composer Simon Robinson. Root Strata have released three recordings ; ‘The Secret of Root Strata’, ‘Deep Song’ and the latest Affinty Suite. ‘Deep Song’ received a 5 star review in www.jazzjournal.co.uk and is available on Bandcamp. Their music has been described as “A unique blend of world music, improvisation and electronic sound design” (see reviews and Akima Music page)
‘Affinity Suite’ is completely different from the previous two Root Strata releases in that it features orchestral and choral passages, piano and tenor saxophone. A sophisticated soundscape of electronic sound design and meditative melodic tenor saxophone improvisations.
Beginings……
Hearn started out playing bass guitar in rock n’ roll bands during the Merseybeat boom in Liverpool in the late 60’s then switched to tenor saxophone after hearing Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster and John Coltrane. His other favourite musicians include: Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Illinois Jacquet, Joe Henderson, Jimi Hendrix, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Steve Lacy, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters among many many others!
An admiration for the early tenor saxophonists from the 40’s,50’s and early 60’s, players who had a big blues flavour to their styles such as Illinois Jacquet, Gene Ammons, Willis Jackson, Arnett Cobb etc; along with ‘free’ exponents Sam Rivers, Charles Gayle, Ivo Perelman, Peter Brotzmann, David S. Ware, Evan Parker, Paul Dunmall and Ellery Eskelin.
The Blues Corporation
Hearn is also known for his soulful, earthy “out there” tenor saxophone style in the long running, highly popular Blues Corporation a nine piece band which he co- founded with bassist/vocalist Nigel Thomas back in the early 80’s resulting from their mutual love of the blues. The band only performs a few times a year these days and the shows are always sold out. One very special gig is on New Years day which is a charity event that has been running for around 40 years raising thousands of pounds for worthy causes. Many well known great musicians have passed through the ranks over those years and the band continues to entertain audiences when ever they play!
Inspirations:
Early inspirations on tenor saxophone: Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Yusef Lateef, Sonny Rollins, Gato Barbieri, Illinois Jacquet, Albert Ayler, Gene Ammons and Arnett Cobb.
Inspirations on the shakuhachi and flute : Watazumi Doso Roshi, Koku Nishimura, Katsuya Yokoyama, Tajima Tadashi, Goro Yamaguchi, Masayuki Koga, Hariprasad Chauasia, Jorge Pardo, Yusef Lateef, Roland Kirk, Eric Dolphy, and Jeremy Steig.
Other inspirations include….Lao Tsu’s ‘The Tao Te Ching’, Kahil Gibran, the Sufi poet Rumi, Eckart Tolle, Japanese Haiku poetry. Film makers Andrei Tarkovsky and Werner Herzog. Painters… Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Mark Rothko. The ‘philosophy’of Zen, the spirit of the shamanic tradition in music, Native American history, music and culture and ornithology.
Articles:
Jazz Journal… ‘Blues in Space’ www.jazzjournal.co.uk (filed under ‘features’)
by Michael Tucker
‘Meetings With Remarkable People’
‘Inspirational free improvising saxophonist Geoff Hearn’ by Mathew Grey
Discography……
*All Zaum and Torque cd’s are available from www.bandcamp.com filed under Steve Harris Zaum.
Zaum …… ZAUM debut album 2002
Zaum…… Above Our Heads The Sky Splits Open 2004
Zaum…. A Little Flash Of Letting Go (Live) 2005
Zaum… I Hope You Never Love Anything As Much As I Love You (with Andrea Parkins) 2006
Zaum… A Is For OX (Live double album) 2006/2007
Zaumesque …..Epilogue
As Slow As Flowers Geoff Hearn / Steve Harris duo (Invisible Paradox) 2003
(“A Masterpiece!” – Penguin Jazz Guide.)
Torque… Lost And Found (rare recordings of two live concerts in 2006 and 2007) available from www.bandcamp.com
The Blues Corporation ‘Canned’ 2010
The Secret Of Root Strata…. Geoff Hearn / Simon Robinson 2011 *Re-titled Mystical Journey (Lemoncake LCM 0171)
*Root Strata ‘Deep Song’….Geoff Hearn/Simon Robinson 2020. See the 5 star review in www.jazzjournal.co.uk. available from : bandcamp.com
Root Strata ‘Affinity Suite’….Geoff Hearn/Simon Robinson 2021.available from: bandcamp.com
The Journey… AKIMA duo Geoff Hearn and Joseph Philogene 2018 available from www.bandcamp.com
Equipment……….
Saxophones:
1953 vintage Selmer SBA tenor saxophone with a vintage 1960’s Berg Larsen 100/2 M metal mouthpiece and Vandoren or Rico # 3 reeds.
JP custom silver soprano saxophone with a Jody Jazz HR* 6* ebonite mouthpiece/Legere Signature # 2.5 reeds.
Samson wireless sax mic system. AKG D5 mic and DPA headset flute mic.
Behringer 200 watt portable PA system.
Boss VE-20 sound processor pedals.
Shakuhachi:
1.6 Shakuhachi (I Shaku Roko Sun) in Madake bamboo, Kinko Ryo utaguchi, by Hikichi Yozan.
1.6 Shakuhachi (I Shaku Roko Sun) in Japanese Maple Kinko utaguchi. (unknown maker)
1.8 Shakuhachi (I Shaku Ha Sun) in Madake bamboo with a Kinko Ryu utaguchi, hand made by Japanese master maker Endo Yasuhiro.
1.9 Shakuhachi (I Shaku Kyu Sun) with a Kinko Ryu utaguchi hand made by Wada-Gakki.
2.1 Shakuhachi (Ni Shaku I Sun ) Vintage Nobekan Ji-Nashi in Madake bamboo, date and maker unknown.
Other flutes:
Mateki solid silver concert C flute.
Bauhaus alto flute.
A collection of handmade Native American flutes in various keys and woods and assorted wooden and bamboo transverse flutes .
For more information and bookings:
Tel: 07895 707233 or 01273 721290
Email: geoffhearn@tiscali.co.uk
Links
Rupert Noble: Saxophone Repair
Rupert Noble: A genius and true magician of saxophone repair who has been fixing my instruments for many many years.
A true artisan and a lovely guy!
Raymond Chandler: The Pencil
“On the stage, Doug Devaney—an excellent actor and playwright of my acquaintance—read an edited version of Chandler’s original story as a series of huge, blown-up, un-lettered frames from the strip of the story were projected onto the wall behind him. The performance was further enhanced by the musical talent of jazz saxophonist and composer, Geoff Hearn, who created and played ’50s style jazz during regular pauses in the reading. He even composed a special Marlowe theme to open and close the performance.”