Get your copy here: https://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-exu-182cd-2025
"Glorious music making. Highly recommended." – Bandcamp UK Jazz & Improvised Music
"An acoustic splinter bomb from the first to the last note" – Georges Tonla Briquet, JAZZHALO
"This is a joyful and really good-natured collection that once again finds a sympathetic trio on exquisite form, tying the listener up in unexpected knots and then soothing their brow and lulling them before the next switchback. Free music, grunge, hip-hop, bebop; it is all in there, lurking, awaiting discovery and The Exu is well worth your time." – Mr Olivetti, FREQ
Named after a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting and inspired by the artists multi-faceted stylistic approach - known for its raw, expressive, and dynamic qualities, blending street art with neo-expressionism to create bold, thought-provoking work. The Exu make layered, intense, creative & beautiful, thought provoking, genre fluid improvised music.
The trio brazenly draw their musical influences from the worlds of free jazz, grunge, death metal, hip hop, bebop, & experimental music. Kane says ‘we are the sum of our record collections, the films we have seen, the books we have read. It all goes into the mix to make our music.’
Kane & Mainwaring share the compositional duties while young Norwegian drummer Emil Karlsen brings versatile, intricate textures and groove. Mainwaring (of Mercury Prize-nominated Roller Trio) blends fiery and sensitive saxophone approaches with playful edge, while double bassist Dave Kane ignites each performance with cathartic, heartfelt energy that lingers long after the final note.
James Mainwaring - saxophones
Dave Kane - double bass
Emil Karlsen – drums