Bray Jazz Festival 2023

SKYLLA (Italy/UK/Ireland)

SKYLLA´ is a project of composer and bassist Ruth Goller - featuring herself on bass guitar and a trio of voices – her own - and those of singers Lauren Kinsella and Alice Grant.

Formed in London where the musicians all live, SKYLLA draw inspiration from Eastern European folk song and free jazz – Goller’s bewitching compositions, featuring bass guitar harmonics sparkling underneath other-worldly three-part song.

´SKYLLA´ is named after the mythical three-headed sea monster of the same name.

The project shines a long-awaited light on one of the most interesting musicians to have emerged in the UK improvised music of the past two decades. Goller has played with some of the most influential and popular bands in contemporary UK jazz including Acoustic Ladyland, Melt Yourself Down, and Let Spin, and with artists such as Shabaka Hutchings, Kit Downs, Sam Amidon, Mark Ribot, Rokia Traore and Paul McCartney.

Working with different tunings for each song, Goller composes instinctively based on what she hears in every moment. As Goller puts it, “at that point muscle memory doesn’t work anymore so I have to trust my ear completely”.

‘…ethereal, multi-layered vocal sounds sometimes suggestive of 1980s Laurie Anderson’

The Guardian.
Brayjazz Logo 2023

This is an offsite event: Town Hall, Main St, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 D2X9