Monsterosa emerged from a lockdown project by Edinburgh saxophonist Graeme Wilson to write new songs and instrumentals for five jazz musicians based on Italo Calvino’s Marcovaldo collection. The stories follow a man trying to recapture country life in an urban setting, and the music follows the joy in each moment of possibility he finds: for sleeping outdoors, or gathering firewood, or eating well.
Sung by the wonderful London-based singer Rebecca Hollweg (“a great singer who I love very much” – Jamie Cullum), the melodies are rooted in jazz, taking in Wilson’s wider love for soul, folk, and Latin music. UK Jazz News said of their 2024 LP release, The Seasons in the City, that “the band are terrific…the whole ensemble play with a deftness and sensitivity… a joy to listen to”.
Rebecca Hollweg has released three albums of her own songs (June Babies, Orange Roses and Country Girl) and an album of other people’s songs. She has been hailed as ‘akin to an old Brill Building songsmith’ (UNCUT); the Sunday Times praised her “soaring vocal lines”.
Saxophonist Graeme Wilson has recorded with his own quartet, Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, ACV, Paul Edis’ Ushaw Ensemble, Raymond MacDonald and Bill Wells, and performed with the likes of Fred Frith, Marilyn Crispell, John Faddis, Julian Siegel and Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He has written widely for ensembles such as John Warren’s Voice of the North Jazz Orchestra, with work performed at venues such as Sage, Gateshead and Festspielhaus Hellerau, Dresden.
Mike Outram is a guitarist and improviser who has worked with Tim Garland, Donny McCaslin, Till Brönner, Carleen Anderson, Theo Travis, Jeff Williams, Steven Wilson, Tony Remy, Herbie Mann, Tim Ries, Nikki Iles, Gerard Presencer, and Laura Rossi. He teaches the guitar at the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.
Ewan Hastie, bassist and composer and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2022, has performed with Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Jean Toussaint, Denys Baptiste, Fergus McCreadie, Nikki Yeoh and many others.
Tom Gordon holds the drum chair in the BBC Big Band and has worked with artists including the Woody Herman Orchestra, NDR Big Band, Lalo Schifrin, Al Jarreau, Joe Sample, James Morrison, Jamie Cullum, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, Eliane Elias and Sammy Nestico.
