Phronesis

Phronesis (Ancient Greek: φρόνησις, phronēsis) is a Greek word for a type of wisdom or intelligence. It is more specifically a type of wisdom relevant to practical things, requiring an ability to discern how or why to act virtuously and encourage practical virtue, excellence of character, in others. Phronesis was a common topic of discussion in ancient Greek philosophy.

The word was used in Greek philosophy, and such discussions are still influential today. In Aristotelian ethics, for example in the Nicomachean Ethics, it is distinguished from other words for wisdom and intellectual virtues – such as episteme and techne. Because of its practical character, when it is not simply translated by words meaning wisdom or intelligence, it is often translated as "practical wisdom", and sometimes (more traditionally) as "prudence", from Latin prudentia.

Early thought

Socrates is known to have considered phronēsis to be the same as being a virtuous person. By thinking with phronēsis, a person has virtue. Therefore, all virtuousness is a form of phronēsis. In the mind of Socrates phronēsis equals virtue, they are the same thing. Being good, is to be an intelligent or reasonable person with intelligent and reasonable thoughts. Phronēsis allows a person to have moral or ethical strength.

Ivo Neame

Ivo Michael Beale Neame (born 13 March 1981) is a British jazz pianist, saxophonist and composer. He is a member of London's Loop Collective, and leads his own trio, quartet, quintet and octet as well as performing in many other bands.

Biography

Neame, a grandson of composer Shena Fraser, was born in Kent into the Shepherd Neame brewing family. He attended The King's School, Canterbury, and studied jazz saxophone at London's Royal Academy of Music in a year-group that included pianist Gwilym Simcock, and was mentored by Martin Speake and Steve Buckley, as well as F-IRE Collective founder Barack Schmool.

Since leaving RAM in 2003 Ivo has performed with highly esteemed musicians at home and abroad such as David Binney, Kenny Wheeler and Hermeto Pascoal; has played on more than 40 albums as a sideman and a leader; and tours regularly with his quintet, octet and now solo piano, as well as with Phronesis and Marius Neset. Ivo was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2013 and he is also a Principal Lecturer in Jazz Piano at Leeds College of Music.

Anton Eger

Anton Eger (born 1980 in Norway) is a Norwegian/Swedish Jazz drummer, known from a series of recordings and collaborations with musicians like Django Bates, Marius Neset, Daniel Heløy Davidsen and Ivo Neame.

Career

Eger studied jazz at the Copenhagen Rhythmic Music Conservatory under the guidance of Django Bates among others, and played drums on Bates album Spring is Here (Shall We Dance?) (2008). Within the Scandinavian quintet JazzKamikaze he partisipates on several album releases and appeared at the international jazz festivals Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Moldejazz, North Sea Jazz Festival, Bangkok Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival as well as being part of the opening of the annual Rio Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

He also collaborates within the trio Phronesis with double bassist Jasper Høiby also including pianist and saxophonist Ivo Neame. They have released four albums so far (2013) Organic Warfare (2007), Green Delay (2009), Alive (2010) and Walking Dark (2012). Alive was nominated jazz album of the year by Jazzwise and Mojo magazines.

Edition Records

Edition Records is an artist-based, European indie record label. It was founded in 2008 by pianist/composer Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.

Background

In 2008, pianist and composer Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson launched Edition Records as a new label for jazz, contemporary composition and improvised music. As of December 2014, the catalogue consists of 52 recordings. In 2013 the label launched Edition Classics to focus on new music and chamber music from international ensembles and soloists. The label is distributed in the UK by Harmonia Mundi. The label is known for its "accessible adventurousness" and rigorous quality control. The label is also praised for its ability to spot innovation and potential winners.

Notable artists

Tim Garland, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, Marius Neset, Jasper Høiby (with Phronesis (band)), Ivo Neame, Geoff Eales, Mark Lockheart, Martin France, John Taylor (jazz), Kit Downes (with Troyka), Tim Garland, Ivo Neame, Olavi Louhivuori, Daniel Herskedal, Alexi Tuomarila, Robert Mitchell (jazz pianist), Martin France, Kit Downes with Troyka, Mark Lockheart.

Jasper Høiby

Jasper Høiby (born 10 May 1977 in Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Danish Jazz musician (double bass).

Career

Høiby started to play the double bass in Denmark before he moved to the U.K. in 2001 to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where got into the London jazz scene. This led to membership of the Loop Collective, where he later collaborated with Ivo Neame. Now Høiby established himself as a bassist at the London Jazz scene, with performers such as with vibes player Jim Hart, saxophonist Mark Lockheart and vocalist Julia Biel.

Høiby formed Phronesis in 2005, and the debut album Organic Warfare (2007), featured Magnus Hjorth (piano). The second album Green Delay (2009), was dedicated to Høiby's sister Jeanette, who lost her sight, and features the current lineup with Neame and Eger. Both albums were received well by critics and fans and helped to establish Phronesis' reputation as one of Europe's best up- and-coming bands. It was Alive (Edition Records, 2010) that really broke big, gaining rave reviews and Best Album awards from Jazzwise and Mojo. The album was recorded at the Forge in Camden, London. Due to a last-minute problem, Eger was unavailable. American drummer Mark Guiliana took his place temporarily, for the concerts that formed the basis of the album, before Eger returned to the fold.