Empirical are back this month with their third album. The palindrome-loving band’s bassist Tom Farmer talks to Stuart Nicholson about Empirical’s remarkable journey so far, from complete unknowns to international touring band with a trunkful of awards and plenty more to prove. It’s a story of numbers and words that rather appropriately, as Nicholson discovers, is never odd or even.

Empirical are getting serious. With a new album called Elements of Truth about to be released by the Naim label, the band who won last year’s MOBO award for best jazz act are set to become an even stronger presence on the UK jazz scene during the ensuing 12 months. “We’re really excited about the new album and the tours we’re lining up,” says bassist Tom Farmer. “We feel like we have had a year off, although we’ve done a few gigs, but we now have this album together and now it’s time to get serious.”

Recently selected as Golubovich Jazz Scholars, Empirical took up the prestigious post of artists-in-residence in the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance at the end of September. “We’re going to be dealing with students, giving master classes, performances, special collaborations, which is really exciting. We’re also doing a tour in February, March time – a regional tour and we’re going to Berlin and Cork before that in November, it’s really starting to happen for us, and with the new album out, it’s going to be a really exciting time.”

This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #158 – to read the full article click here to subscribe and receive a FREE CD...