THE AVIARY
The forefront of this wonderful genre - Laboratorium MF (Poland)
Dazzled us with his virtuosity...[Tobie] truly is an inspiration - London Jazz News
Their immersive world presents an undeniably fresh perspective - Jazz Guitar Today (USA)
A Fine Violinist - Jazzwise
'Alice in Wonderland' Live from Vortex Jazz Club
The Aviary are the band of violinist Tobie Medland. Tobie has been widely credited as one of the foremost young British improvising violinists. Their genre-defying approach is distinctly modern, drawing on contemporary jazz, impressionist classical and free improvisation.
An accomplished violinist, producer and composer, Tobie has seen multiple Jazz-FM interviews and features, and contributed as writer to 'Jazz Journal' and 'Syncopated Times'. He has been interviewed in a range of international Jazz press including 'London Jazz News', 'JazzViews' and the 'Harmonious World' Podcast. Tobie's blossoming performance career has led to concerts with some of the most famous members of the international scene, including Stochelo Rosenberg, Fapy Lafertin, Paulus Schafer and Mozes Rosenberg.
The Aviary have released two albums, the second of which expanded to a nonet featuring leading British jazz musicians Sam Leak on piano, Tom Smith on clarinet, and a string section of Kit Massey, Helen Sanders-Hewitt and Shirley Smart. Both of these recordings have presented Tobie's compositions, which were lauded by popular blog 'Jazz Lives':
"You’ll notice that I haven’t compared Medland’s compositions to any familiar landmarks, nor attempted to describe it. To do so would do the textures and colors of this music an injustice. All I can say is “Listen!"
The Aviary are a rare voice in the UK. Queer-led, Drumless arrangements, driving rhythms, soaring melodies and atonal soundscapes support virtuosic but tasteful group improvisation and characterful performances. Ever future facing, the quartet offer a fresh, distinctive, dark and unmistakably modern sound.
A recent concert at LSO St. Luke's, London
An original composition, 'Murmuration'
Scroll for details on previous recordings
OUT NOW
'The Aviary'
The forefront of this wonderful genre - Laboratorium MF
Their immersive world presents an undeniably fresh perspective - Jazz Guitar Today
You’ll notice that I haven’t compared Medland’s compositions to any familiar landmarks, nor attempted to describe it. To do so would do the textures and colors of this music an injustice.
All I can say is “Listen!" - Jazz Lives
Swings like a mother - Marlbank
What amazes and fascinates here is the way [Tobie] Perceives and composes. A great album worth listening to - jazz-fun.de
Gypsy Jazz is often associated with the past and archaism. However, The Aviary, led by the talented violinist Tobie Medland, proves that this genre can be modern and fresh - Laboratorium MF
The listener enters THE AVIARY, which is lovely but unfamiliar, full of melodic and harmonic textures even when the rhythm isn’t clearly defined (the very antithesis of some contemporary “gypsy jazz”) - Jazz Lives
hugely talented Violinist and Arranger - Ronnie Scott's Radio Show, Jazz FM
Originally founded as a quartet, violinist Tobie Medland’s ‘The Aviary’ grew to include several heavyweights of British Jazz following the success of their debut record ‘Apparitions’. Featuring Sam Leak on piano, Tom Smith on clarinet, and a string section of Kit Massey, Helen Sanders-Hewett and Shirley Smart, the ensemble’s new sound is rich, complex, and full of twists and turns.
‘The Aviary’ aims to transport the listener to a world overrun by fantastical species of birds. As well as representing the personalities and individual tales of these strange avians, it is also an exploration of the mystery of finding oneself in this world.
The Aviary
Apparitions - out now!
Modern Jazz, Free Improvisation and Contemporary Classical collide in the innovative new album by 'The Aviary'.
The Aviary
Anthropology - Tobie Medland Ensemble | Gypsy Jazz Violin
Apparitions
As the half-light falls upon a secluded forest glade the spirits of the night emerge. Apparitions is a set of compositions and interpretations depicting a single night in the forest - from twilight, to the whispers of dawn. An ambitious debut recording from The Aviary, Apparitions weaves together strands of free improvisation, contemporary classical, modern jazz and an unmistakable nod to European jazz pioneer Django Reinhardt.
The Aviary features four prolific young musicians from across the UK. Manchester based Bim Williams combines masterful accompaniment with tasteful, lyrical Solos on Electric Guitar. Sol Grimshaw, from the Isle of White, provides a truly distinctive style of attentive rhythm guitar. Marcus Penrose's elegant, incorruptible Double Bass provides an inspiring bed over which the soloists can thrive. They play the compositions of refined violinist Tobie Medland.
Having been heard on BBC1 and Jazz FM, European stages like that of the Mostar Gipsy Festival and Jazzbina Sarajevo, and across the UK at leading venues like Ronnie Scott's, Leeds Town Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Vortex Jazz Club and Matt and Phreds, Tobie is rapidly establishing their unique voice on the UK jazz circuit. Exciting sold out concerts from 2022 have included with Antoine Boyer at Vortex jazz club and as part of Mozes Rosenberg’s quartet at Crazy Coq’s Soho. Tobie’s trio “Skylark Trio” continue to host the ever popular “Sunday Jazz at Signature Brew” series.
The Aviary are a rare voice in the UK. Queer-led, Drumless arrangements, driving rhythms, soaring melodies and atonal soundscapes support virtuosic but tasteful group improvisation and characterful performances. Ever future facing, the quartet offer a fresh, distinctive, dark and unmistakably modern sound.
