Seb Rochford and Finding Ways

Sebastian (Seb) Rochford is a singular force in British music, an extraordinary drummer, composer, and producer. His work with the iconic group Polar Bear helped redefine the boundaries of jazz and earned multiple Mercury Prize nominations. With a career spanning collaborations with Patti Smith, Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, Adele and Grace Jones, and his 2023 ECM duo album A Short Diary with Kit Downes, an album written for his father described as a "quiet masterpiece" , Rochford has carved out a unique space in contemporary music.Durham Jazz Festival is excited to be playing host to Seb, and Finding Ways, his new major project, marking a bold new chapter for Seb.
"Finding Ways, features among others, the dynamic lineup of Tara Cunningham, David Preston, Adrian Utley (Portishead), and Simon Tong (The Verve, Gorillaz), exploring various combinations and layering up to three guitars at once. The result is a striking blend of jagged experimental grooves and raw emotional depth, with an unaffected, pedal-less sound that evokes a timeless, exploratory edge. Rochford's music, as ever, defies categorisation-a sound that feels alive, fractured, and profoundly human, and all mixed by the singular talent and master of sound, Chad Blake.The title Finding Ways refers to a frame of mind he chose to adopt after multiple significant life events happening in a small amount of time. "It's about finding ways to keep ourselves moving forward and buoyant, transforming life's challenges into something meaningful, also in a practical, everyday type of way.In Finding Ways, it's direct, energetic music that refuses to be boxed in, a reflection of Seb Rochford's trailblazing spirit. For fans of his previous work and newcomers alike, this album is a testament to his ongoing quest to find emotional truth in sound"