“With her new solo album ‘Song’, Sophie Agnel has reached a sovereign maturity, setting a new milestone in the history of this music where improvisation merges with composition.” (Joël Pagier)
“When something magical happens, you see it in people’s eyes. They always give it away, are aligned with their smiles, expression of surprise or bafflement. You could see it after the concert by Sophie Agnel , John Edwards and Steve Noble.” (Guy Peters)
With her solo work, pianist Sophie Agnel has achieved a poetic dimension that is unrivalled. Between delicate intimacy and eruptive exuberance, she unfolds a spectrum of tonal and emotional forms of expression that always remains surprising and suggestive. In her trio with bassist John Edwards and drummer Steve Noble, Agnel once again enters new spheres. Her sounds are mirrored, fragmented, exaggerated and multiplied. The three push each other in all directions at the same time, creating curious and rapidly changing sound vignettes: a marching band in a back alley, a monastery trio, carpenters on a business trip. It is the range of their music that impresses, and which is characterised by precision, humour and sincerity.
Sophie Agnel is a pianist and sound explorer whose work dissolves the boundaries between instrument and imagination. With roots in classical piano and deep immersion in the world of free improvisation, she has developed a singular voice on the prepared piano, transforming it into a poetic field of friction, resonance, and tactile invention. Her solo performances evoke abstract landscapes that range from whispering intimacy to eruptive density, full of nuance, unpredictability, and emotional weight. Agnel has collaborated with key figures of the international improvisation scene and is acclaimed for her ability to render complex sonic textures that are at once delicate and forceful, cerebral and sensual.
John Edwards is one of the most dynamic and versatile double bassists in contemporary improvised music. With a physical, fluid, and wildly inventive approach to the instrument, he constantly expands the sonic vocabulary of the bass. Whether anchoring a group with muscular propulsion or engaging in intricate counterpoint, his playing is marked by intuition, speed, and a fierce sense of presence. Edwards is a cornerstone of the UK and European improvisation scenes and has worked with countless artists across styles and generations. His performances radiate immediacy, depth, and a raw, unfiltered musical intelligence.
Steve Noble is a drummer whose playing fuses precision with volatility, structure with explosion. With roots in free jazz, punk, and experimental music, he has cultivated a percussive language that is at once razor-sharp and wildly expressive. Noble’s drumming can be architectural – building tension and space – or volcanic, unleashing sudden bursts of energy. He is known for his close listening and his ability to shape group dynamics with subtle shifts or decisive gestures. A longtime collaborator in duos, trios, and larger ensembles, Noble brings both force and finesse to every performance.
19:00: soundwalk with Thomas Gerwin
