Ant Law & Chris Montague
Two of the most exciting guitarists to emerge for the UK in recent years, Chris Montague and Ant Law have formed a quartet with brand new material written together. Ant and Chris have huge mutual respect for each other’s playing and writing and decided to compose a set of material together, it will also feature the incredible Conor Chaplin on bass and Jeremy Stacey on drums.
Initially conceived after a duo performance several years ago, this is the debut performance of this thrilling new collaboration. Ant and Chris have expanded the concept into a quartet a diverse mix of contemporary influences.
Chris Montague is widely recognised for his skills as a guitarist, composer and producer. As a founder member of Troyka he has gained a reputation for his distinctive approach to the guitar and has received much acclaim for his contribution to many contemporary recordings as player, writer and producer.
Chris was born in Gateshead (UK) and began playing guitar at an early age. Some of the musicians and bands Chris has worked with have included; Troyka, Squarepusher, Benny Greb’s Moving Parts, Janek Gwizdala, Sarah Gillespie, Monocled Man, Charlie Watts, Darry Jones, Chuck Leavell, Dave Douglas, Django Bates, Shinya Fukumori, BJ Cole, Colin Town’s Blue Touch Paper, Nick Smart’s Trogon, Trish Clowe’s, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Chris is also a Spitfire Audio recording artist
As a composer Chris has received several commissions to write for different musicians, including: Royal Academy of Music Big Band, Threads Orchestra, EFG London Jazz Festival and several large guitar ensemble pieces for Hull and London Jazz Festivals.
‘Its nimble music, the composing is original and as modern as the minute, and the virtuosity and power of the jamming makes your hair stand on end.’ – The Guardian
British guitarist Ant lives in London and is “a game changer” and “an innovator” according to The Guardian. His 6th album ‘Ensconced’ is a collaboration with Milan-born Turkish singer Brigitte Beraha and will be released (on Ubuntu Music) 16th August 2024. His previous album ‘Same Moon in the Same World’ (Outside in Music) was released on 4th November 2022.
Same Moon is an ongoing collaboration between Ant and the brilliant saxophonist & composer Alex Hitchcock. Recorded in 2020/2021 across multiple continents, bridging the gap between London, Amsterdam and New York, it brings together a stellar cast of guest musicians performing new compositions: vibraphonist Joel Ross, bassists Linda May Han
Oh, Ben Williams and Jasper Høiby, and drummers Jeff Ballard, Kendrick Scott, Sun-Mi Hong and Eric Harland.
The Same Moon quartet toured in Europe in December 2022: Ant, Alex Hitchcock (saxophone), Conor Chaplin (bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums) who appears on the album. In
2023 Ant and Alex toured with Jasper Høiby (bass) and Sun-Mi Hong (drums), both of whom also feature on the album. Tour booking is underway for this lineup throughout 2024 and 2025, and this quartet have recorded a brand new album – stay tuned for more information!