LIVE 2024
19.03 Bristol The Greenbank*
20.04 Swindon Swindon Jazz Festival**
01.05 London Spice Jazz @ Crazy Coqs*
02.05 Bristol The Greenbank***
31.05 Bristol St. Ambrose Church
13.06 Stroud Stroud Brewery
13.07 Swanage Swanage Jazz Festival
28.07 London High Tide Festival
16.09 Cheltenham Irving Studio Theatre
04.12 Bristol Bristol Music Club
* with Jake McMurchie ** supporting Darius Brubeck
*** with Arun Ghosh
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THE BAND
'Yetii' is a Bristol based acoustic jazz trio. The group creates a sound world of complex yet consonant harmony supporting simple, singable melodies. Solos morph into intense group improvisations that focus on interlocking, minimalist fragments: a shared single voice that ebbs and flows between and within the band’s original compositions.
Whilst most of the audience wouldn’t have previously identified as jazz fans what they do pick up on is the spirit of interplay at work between the musicians in front of them. Throwaway washy quintuplet outros, B sections like a Disney movie chorus: this is serious jazz craft in an accessible guise facilitated by detailed compositions that give space for the musicians to be spontaneous and change direction.
“all played with great beauty and sensitivity… A standing ovation greeted the end of their set”
“a performance that both enthralled and delighted the audience ★★★★★”
DEBUT ALBUM
Yetii are an acoustic piano trio who have built a following through a monthly residency at The Greenbank in Bristol for the last 3 years. In the last year, the residency has really taken off, selling out every month.
The band released their debut album ‘Live at The Greenbank’ in November 2022 to critical acclaim. This album was recorded live at the band’s July ‘22 Greenbank show, and was released alongside 4 live videos taken on the night and a 9 date UK tour.
“it’s dreamy, it’s acoustic, it’s everything we think of a contemporary piano trio”
“a beautifully evocative live album of original compositions and stunning improvisation”
THE PEOPLE
ALEX VEITCH (composer and pianist): Alex moved to Bristol 5 years ago after graduating from the Guildhall Masters program. He has since held a bimonthly residency upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s and plays prolifically as a side musician in Bristol in no less than 5 regular outfits.
ASHLEY JOHN LONG (bass): Ash is an award-winning virtuoso double bassist and composer. He has performed and recorded internationally with some of the UK's leading Jazz musicians, including John Law, Keith Tippett, and Nigel Price, whilst his work as a soloist has seen the premiers of numerous new works for solo bass. He also works as an educator and is a lecturer at Cardiff University and Coleg Gwent.
ALEX GOODYEAR (drums): Alex is a Cardiff based Drummer, Bandleader and Composer. Since graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2019, he has become a regular of the South West Jazz scene, working with artists including Sam Crockatt, Alan Barnes, Steve Fishwick, Denny Ilett, and Rebecca Nash. Alongside working with Yetii, Alex’s current projects include John Law’s “Re-Creations” Quartet, and the “Energizer” Trio, co-led by Alex Merritt on sax and Ashley John Long on bass.
“they are exuberant yet controlled, untamed yet finessed. Yetii also has something else – a connection with the past and present, which few bands have achieved recently”
“a trio of fluent and wildly inventive improvisers”
VIDEO PROJECT
Alongside The Greenbank, the band have launched an ambitious video project over the course of the last year, documenting their original compositions and arrangements in their Home Studio (17 tracks to date!). Videos have included their versions of Beatles tunes featuring Jake McMurchie (Get the Blessing) and Radiohead with Alun Elliot-Williams (Ishmael Ensemble), with their most watched video ‘Summer’ gaining over 18,000 views! It’s been fun! It’s probably the biggest enterprise any of us have been a part of and it’s been a really rewarding process both to rehearse and record the tunes, and also to watch them back.
“their own impressive brand of improvisation-rich, acoustic, Scandi-flavoured jazz”
“instinctive and impressive ★★★★”