Jazz at the Poly: Ayatori

Ayatori, which means ‘cats cradle’ in Japanese, is a mixed media project developed remotely between the UK and Japan with composer and saxophonist Ed Jones, renowned international photographer Yuriko Takagi, digital interfaces with Dr Matthew Yee-King and curated by En Rapport. 

Ayatori at The Poly combines composed and improvised sound, photography, and film, with unique AI technology.  

Yuriko Takagi - photo/video - yurikotakagi.com

Born in Tokyo, Takagi studied graphic design in Tokyo and fashion design at Trent Polytechnic in England. She began her career as a freelance designer in Europe and took photographic portraits as she journeyed through Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East, focusing on “human existence” —- a unique perspective involving fashion and the body. Recently Yuriko has been the lead photographer for the Christian Dior 75th year celebration exhibition and book, with sold out exhibitions in Paris and Tokyo.

Ed Jones - sax, composition - www.edjonesjazz.co.uk

An award-winning London based saxophonist/composer, and educator, works in the UK and internationally with a wide range of his own projects and collaborations, incl. Horace Silver, George Benson, Dianne Reeves, Dr Lonnie Smith, Herbie Hancock, Incognito, Us3 and many more. He is a senior lecturer at Leeds Cconcervatoire. 

Dr Matthew Yee-King - drums, digital interface and sound: www.yeeking.net/ 

As an academic in the department of computing, Goldsmiths, University of London, he has carried out research into audio analysis and creative applications of machine learning, including a series of commissioned musical AI systems that have performed alongside human musicians on BBC national radio and at venues such as the Wellcome Collection. As a musician he has combined live drumming with digital interfaces to stunning effect.

Keith Michael - drums: www.en-rapport.org    

Keith is curator and director of En-Rapport and an accomplished Jazz drummer who has performed in the UK and internationally with an impressive range of players and settings. He has run and played for jazz at the Poly from its beginning in 2018, and here brings together the two worlds of live jazz and Ayatori, a key en rapport project. 

En Rapport - www.en-rapport.org

With a keen interest in the use of improvisation as a key element in the interaction between musicians and artists from diverse artistic mediums and cultural backgrounds, En Rapport creates opportunities for artistic and cultural exchange.  

Based in Cornwall, southwest England, and with strong ties in Japan, En Rapport is active in these diverse and distant parts of the world.  Coming out of lockdown En Rapport is rebuilding and reshaping projects put on hold during this period. 

Saturday 15th July 3.00pm

Price: £14/£10/£8

A £1 Poly Fund payment is added to each ticket sold.