Asaf Sirkis & the Inner Noise are:

Steve Lodder- Church organ, Keyboards
Mike Outram- Guitar
Asaf Sirkis- Drums

Composed and arranged by Asaf Sirkis, this work is influenced by modern classical music and in particular the music of organ composers such as Olivier Messiaen and Maurice Durufle. Combining modern jazz and elements of progressive rock (Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer), this album melds classical composing techniques with the nuances of jazz improvisation. The Inner Noise is an organ trio (organ, guitar and drums) with a new direction. By using church organ sounds rather then the traditional Hammond organ sounds, the trio creates a music that is rich and unique in spiritual tone.

...''Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise boldly go where fusion only hesitantly put out the odd foot before, and where prog rock could at best dream of going had it dared to. The music is vibrant, vital, exciting and fresh and even manages to surprise. One of these surprises is its wonderful accessibility and immediacy. "Inner Noise" has to be essential in any modern jazz and modern classical collection at the very least. Grab the original issue while you can as it's almost guaranteed to become a prized collectible''.

© 2004 Renaissance Man/Rainlore. All rights reserved


Steve Lodder- Church organ

After a classical degree course at Cambridge Steve tried teaching before deciding that running a coffee shop in Hampstead was the answer. From this base he began working with London’s Jazz Luminaries, including John Etheridge, Paul Nieman’s “Elephant”, Maggie Nichols, Sarah Jane Morris, Carol Grimes’s “Eyes Wide Open” while also writing music for film, theatre, and TV productions. At the end of the 80’s joined George Russell’s “Living Time Orchestra” where he met Andy Sheppard and played on a couple of his albums. In ’91 joined “Inco-motoin”, Andy’s electric band and made 4 albums, 2 for Island, 2 for Blue Note, sharing the production credits on the last 2. Other albums include “moving Image” for Verve, featuring music from the BBC profile of Peter Sellers, co-written with Andy, and “Inclassificable”, a trio with the Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos. Steve also works with John Harle, contemporary sax player (CD “Terror and Magnificence”); Mark Ramsden, with whom he recorded a CD of music for sax and church organ (“Above the Clouds”); Monica Vasconcelos’s “Nois”(CD released July 97), a Brazilian jazz line-up and he has also been musical assistant to Paul- McCartney, working on the “standing Stone” orchestral project. Steve writes a monthly column for the magazine “Making Music”. The Steve Lodder 4tet performs fairly infrequently to enthusiastic audiences. Andy Sheppard’s album “learning to wave” is currently in the Jazz charts.


…"The two bands (Andy Sheppard/District Six) shared a pianist in Steve Lodder who is increasingly coupling a warm, embracing emotionalism with his formidable but previously rather impassive virtuosity...he was exceptional in both bands."
Guardian 7/98



Mike Outram- Guitar

Mike was born in Manchester, England and moved to London in 1998. Since then
he has developed into one of the most original and exciting guitarists in the
UK and is sought after as an improviser and for his ability to contribute a
unique voice to any musical ensemble. He has been heard with Herbie Mann, Stan
Sulzmann, Photec and alongside guitarists John Etheridge and Martin Taylor. He
has appeared on over 30 CDs as a sideman, his most recent recordings being
with Nikki Iles (Veils),Tony Woods (Lowlands)and Jacqueline Dankworth who's CD
'As the sun shines down on me' he Co-Produced and contributed arrangements and
compositions to.

In addition to performing Mike is a widely respected teacher and has taught
at numerous workshops, clinics and summer schools around the world. He is
Professor of Jazz Guitar at Trinity College of Music, Middlesex University, The
Royal Academy of Music and The Purcell School and has recently taught on the
Glamorgan and Wavendon Jazz Summer Schools.

Recently Gooveyard, who Mike plays for, won the 'Best jazz group in Europe'
award and they will be travelling to Spain to collect the award and play at the
Granada Jazz Festival.


"Outram is a young jazz guitarist with world-class credentials''
John Fordham, The Guardian