The band's core of Martin Lawrie (keyboards), Steve Marshall (bass and flute) and Nick Andrew (guitar) has been together for several years now, but the band’s origins go back to the late ‘80’s (see ‘History’ below). Throughout the band’s philosophy has been the same: to play exciting, original, melodic, energetic, rhythmic, progressive contemporary music under the banner of ELECTRIC JAZZ (click on the link to find out more).

REVIEWS

"The musicianship across the board is really quite spectacular and I have no doubt that seeing these guys live in concert would be quite a treat."

"All black belts in their respective instruments."

"First class musicianship and mind blowing solos." (Mark Robinson - All Out Guitar)

"Making the much-travelled road of jazz fusion sound fresh and interesting is just about as difficult a job as there is in music, but Curfew have succeeded hands down." (Adrian Creek, Surrey Advertiser)

"Jazz-rock with a Weather Report sound." (Jack Massarik, Evening Standard)

"Should clean up on the London jazz scene." (Line Out magazine)

HISTORY

2006/2007 – Nick Andrew busy with recording, release and promotion of solo CD "Solo?". Band reconvenes early 2007 for return to Watermill Jazz Club, a headlining appearance at the prestigious Electric Theatre in Guildford, and a show-stopping performance at the Allout Guitar festival in September. Work begins on the Zawinul Legacy project for launch in 2008.

2005 – further work on new CD – released September 2005, and Marlborough Jazz Festival

2004 – writing, rehearsing and recording for third CD, ‘Hold The Front Page’ – tracks recorded at new Earth Terminal, again with Lewis Childs

2003 – gigs around UK, increasingly with 4-piece guitar/keyboards/bass/drums line-up

2002 – gigs with Ed Jones, Theo Travis and Martin’s son Alex Lawrie on sax, flute and EWI

2001 – second CD ‘Return of the Jazz Fusioneers’ recorded, again at Earth Terminal with Lewis Childs, with guest sax player Ed Jones. All original material, including many new band compositions plus reworkings of ‘Commuting’ and ‘Sunrise Boulevard’

2000 – guitarist Nick Andrew joins. Live highlights include Greenwich Festival (with Theo) and 2 appearances at Marlborough.

1999 – return to instrumental line-up - more gigs in London and Home Counties, both as jazz 3-piece and as quartet with Ed Jones or Theo Travis on sax. Extensive demo recording in 3-piece line-up

1998 – busy promoting CD, including London gigs with guest sax player Ed Jones and first of numerous appearances at the Marlborough Jazz Festival, on this occasion with Theo Travis on sax

Marlborough Jazz Festival, 1998. Theo Travis, Martin, Steve and Russ

The Orange, London, 1998. Martin, Russ, Ed Jones, Steve.

1997 – first CD ‘Somewhere In The City’ recorded at Earth Terminal studio in Surrey with guest players Dave O’Higgins (sax) and Mark Hewins (guitar)

1996 – gigs include London’s Barbican – first gig with guitar in line-up (guest appearance by Kev Dyson) - demos recorded with sax player Jane Tuff (from Jazz-a-Belles)

1995 – drummer Russ Wilson joins the band. Extensive work on new material and covers combining jazz and soul influences, including adaptation of the Manhattan Transfer treatment of Joe Zawinul’s classic ‘Birdland’, Jaco Pastorius’s ‘Come On Come Over’ (both still in the set as instrumentals today) and Stanley Clarke’s ‘School Days’ with lyrics by Steve

1994 – further demo recorded featuring ‘Sunrise Boulevard’, set-opener at most gigs since then, plus guest appearance on vocal version of ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’ of singer Rena, who becomes a band member and prompts move to more jazz/soul sound

1992 – highlight of gig schedule is appearance at London’s Jazz Café

1991 – more gigs plus 6-track demo completed at the ‘House In The Woods’ studio

1990 – first gigs as Curfew – set includes ‘Waltzing on Water’ (also reworked on ‘Hold The Front Page’), ‘Commuting’ (later to appear on the band’s second CD) and Joe Zawinul’s ‘Mercy Mercy Mercy’, a staple in the live set since then

1989 – auditions – work with a number of sax players and drummers before being joined by Julian Costello (soprano and tenor saxes) and Bill Morrison (drums) – lots of rehearsals

1988 – Martin Lawrie & Steve Marshall (bandmates since 1974) establish new band Curfew to play original jazz fusion compositions. Year spent writing material – initial repertoire includes early version of The Dance of the 3 Famous Belgians, revived and reworked on ‘Hold The Front Page’ in 2005.