French jazz artist Sarah Murcia, a distinctive multi-talent as a bassist and composer, is bringing her Eyeballing quartet to Finland in October-November. The tour kicks off in Savonlinna on October 26. Afterward, the band will perform in Outokumpu, Raahe, Helsinki, Loviisa, Salo, and Turku, where the tour concludes on November 3. In Helsinki, you can catch Eyeballing quartet on Tuesday, October 31, at Hietsun Paviljonki. The concert will open with a duo performance by pianist Benoît Delbecq and saxophonist Mikko Innanen.
French bassist and composer Sarah Murcia founded the quartet Eyeballing in 2017. Their playing field spans uniquely from electro-jazz to alternative pop through captivating minimalism. Murcia has created songs based on the words of American writer Vic Moan, which she sings or recites herself. The precisely composed songs come to life organically in the hands of four master musicians and improvisers. She has invited two long-time collaborators: saxophonist Olivier Py and pianist Benoît Delbecq, who is also responsible for handling the drum machine. Delbecq's pianism has been admired in Finland since 1998 as a part of the Kartet group, and in recent years, with his own trio. The fourth member of the band is tuba virtuoso François Thuillier, known from Andy Emler's Megaoctet. Drummer Steve Arguelles produced and recorded the Eyeballing album (Bureau de Son / D-Stream 2020).
Sarah Murcia's expertise is extensive. After initially studying the piano and then the cello, she began playing the double bass as a teenager and soon began studying under the famous Jean-Francois Jenny-Clark. Her career, which began in the late 1990s in the Parisian music scene, is filled with diverse experiences. She has accompanied pop and rock singers, played with various jazz artists (including saxophonist Steve Coleman's band), composed and arranged music for dance and theater performances, as well as for films and TV programs. Often, she has favored long-term partnerships, such as with the renowned singer and oud player Kamilya Jubran, known for her innovations in Arabic music. With her own group, Caroline, founded in 2001, she has successfully toured France in recent years with the following programs: "Never Mind The Future" (2015), inspired by the Sex Pistols, which also featured the legendary choreographer Mark Tompkins, and "My Mother is a Fish" (2019), inspired by William Faulkner's work.
Sarah Murcia quartet Eyeballing (FR)
Sarah Murcia: Double bass, vocals, bass-synth
Benoît Delbecq: Piano, e-drums, keyboards
Olivier Py: Saxophone
Francois Thuillier: Tuba
Sarah Murcia quartet Eyeballing in Finland from October 26th to November 3rd, 2023
Thu, October 26th, at 7 PM, Savonlinna, Kulttuurikellari / Olavin Jazz
Fri, October 27th, at 12 PM, Outokumpu, Teatteri Kiisu / school concert
Sat, October 28th, at 6 PM, Outokumpu, Teatteri Kiisu / OutoJazz Live / in collaboration with Jazzkerho-76, Joensuu
Sun, October 29th, at 4 PM, Raahe, Friemanintalo / Rantajatsiklubi
Tue, October 31st, at 7 PM, Helsinki, Hietsu is Happening / also featuring Benoît Delbecq & Mikko Innanen
Wed, November 1st, at 7 PM, Loviisa, Marilyn / Free Okapi
Thu, November 2nd, at 7 PM, Salo, Musine / SaloJazz Live
Fri, November 3rd, at 12 PM, Salo, Musine / school concert
Fri, November 3rd, at 10 PM, Turku, Cafe Tiljan / Flame Jazz
Production of the tour: Bureau de Son
Booking and management of the tour: Vapaat äänet
Supported by: AJC, CNM, Adami, Spedidam
Sarah Murcia Eyeballing (c) Marc Domage