Vipertime [New Generation Jazz]

“That was Vipertime. I wouldn’t mind hanging out somewhere where that was going on. I guess I’d have to go to Leeds” – Iggy Pop

Born in the snake pit of Leeds house parties, aggro-jazz four-piece Vipertime have earned a ferocious reputation making a series of incendiary appearances at venues and festivals across the UK, honing their craft while pushing their line up of saxophone, bass and twin drum sets to its sonic limits. Both live and in the studio, their music is a sweaty dance floor incarnate. A heady brew blending 70s Ethio-jazz, the 60s proto-punk of The Stooges, Alice and John Coltrane, Fela Kuti and Lee Perry. Music of joy and rebellion.

Beginning as a free-improvising group, Vipertime swiftly began writing and moved into the studio to create 2019’s Shakedown, 2020’s Limbs/All Our Heroes Are Dead and 2023’s critically acclaimed Arise. These releases received airplay on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Introducing and Worldwide FM and were lauded by Iggy Pop, Gilles Peterson and Colin Curtis.

Where Shakedown captured the band’s raw live energy, on Arise Vipertime embraced the possibilities of the studio. The global pandemic became a period for the band to grow as composers, before entering Eiger Studios in Leeds under the guidance of veteran producer and engineer Will Jackson. Their explorations of the borders of modal jazz, post-punk, dub and afrobeat have built a sound that is simultaneously unique to the band and a microcosm of the thriving UK scene.

“Technically outstanding and phenomenally imaginative” – Louder Than War

“Dance floor ready” – Jamie Cullum

“They have that deep, angry sound that you find in Gato Barbieri and Steve Grossman” – Colin Curtis