Rob Townsend & Arnie Somogyi
Biography Rob Townsend & Arnie Somogyi
Arnie Somogyi
is one of the UK's most in-demand bass players and has played on over 60 albums, including five with his own projects as a leader.
He has recorded, performed and toured with many of the world’s leading jazz musicians including Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Henderson, Steve Grossman, Scott Hamilton, Mal Waldron, Seamus Blake, Sonny Fortune, Arturo Sandoval, Jorge Rossy, Joe Chambers, Rene Marie, James Moody, Joey Calderazzo, Art Farmer, Chris Botti and The Mingus Big Band as well as international stars Tom Jones, Charlie Watts, Amy Winehouse, Richard Ashcroft and Omar.
He has appeared frequently at world-renowned jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, both as a sideman, leader and member of The Ronnie Scott's All-Stars.
His music has featured on radio, television and in the feature films 'The Talented Mr Ripley' and 'An Education', and he has performed around the world in a wide variety of formats.
Arnie is currently involved in a new project, ‘Albuca’, which includes pianist Mark Edwards, saxophonist Ben Castle and drummer Darren Beckett. The band put their own spin and fresh arrangements on jazz standards, established and modern, as well as music, both composed and improvised, drawn from the outer edges of their eclectic influences and experience. They are booked to appear as part of the 2019 EFG London Jazz Festival.
Albuca completed their first tour in the spring of 2019 and recently recorded their debut album in one live room at Echo Zoo Studios, Eastbourne, directly to analogue 2-track tape.
The album, to be released later this year, was produced by legendary guitarist and composer Adrian Utley of iconic Bristol band Portishead. It centres around the Steinway grand piano, rescued from Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre, and played in December 1973 by Duke Ellington on his final recorded concert, ‘The Eastbourne Performance”, released on the RCA label in 1975.
