Kate Williams' Four Plus Three is a collaboration between acclaimed jazz pianist/composer Kate Williams and the Guastalla Quartet. It was launched in spring 2016 with a short UK tour and support from Arts Council England. The band received support for the recording from The Ambache Charitable Trust which is active in raising the profile of women composers.

Kate first met violinists John Garner and Marie Schreer, the co-leaders of the quartet, whilst working on Bill Evans And The Impressionists at the 2014 Guildhall Jazz Festival. The programme featured works by piano legend Bill Evans which Williams arranged for her jazz trio and full orchestra. 

The repertoire for this project includes material by Bill Evans, Cole Porter and A.C. Jobim as well as originals by Williams. The style of writing and arranging  exploits the varied sound pallet of both string quartet and jazz trio, creating contrasts between the improvised and the notated, and between sustained textures and strong grooves.  As with her previous arranging ventures, Kate is seeking a fully integrated approach (this is definitely not a jazz trio with string accompaniment!), as this line-up provides a wealth of interesting instrumental sonorities. 

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Four Plus Three has collaborated with Gareth Lockrane, Mike Outram, John Williams and, most recently, Georgia Mancio.

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Kate Williams - piano/composition/arrangements

Oli Hayhurst - bass

David Ingamells - drums

John Garner - violin

Marie Schreer - violin

Francis Gallagher - viola

Sergio Serra - cello

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Past members: Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Olivera (viola)

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