Will Barnes Quartet

This contemporary jazz ensemble led by the guitarist and composer is formed around Barnes’s compositional vision. They blend melodic guitar-led writing with open improvisation, drawing on modern jazz, post-bop, and cinematic atmospheres. The band has become known for their close musical rapport and responsive live playing. Their sound nods to figures like Pat Metheny, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Wes Montgomery while aiming for a distinct, contemporary voice that reflects the landscapes and narratives that inspire Barnes’s writing. Releases to date include the debut Source of the Severn and the follow-up Outside the Light. Source of the Severn introduced the band’s melodic sensibility and ensemble precision, while Outside the Light expanded the band’s conceptual focus—drawing on local folklore, seasonal cycles and changing landscapes—to deepen the interplay between composed material and improvisation. Across both records the group explores atmosphere, place and emotional arc without sacrificing swing, technical finesse or accessible melodic content. On stage the trio presents immersive sets that move between carefully arranged pieces and extended improvisation. They have appeared at prominent UK venues and festivals, received national radio play, and received positive press for their musicianship and evocative writing. At the centre of the project, Will Barnes combines a composer’s attention to narrative with a player’s commitment to conversation—leading to an ensemble that aims to be both expressive and approachable. Alongside Barnes are Aidan Thorne (bass) and Ross Hicks (piano), who are in demand musicians and have collectively toured globally playing with some of the top artists and groups on the jazz scene today. Aidan Thorne is a double bass, electric bass player and composer based in Powys, who is a prominent figure on the music scene in Wales and RWCM graduate. He leads his own band Duski alongside a number of duo projects with Guitarists Toby Hay and Jason Ball. He also performs with Beyond Borders Quartet, Amanda Whiting, Welsh Folk crossover band Burum and the Indian fusion band Khamira. Aidan has performed internationally at many of the top jazz festivals Ross Hicks is a Cardiff based Jazz pianist and graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying under the likes of Huw Warren, Iain Ballamy and Alex Merritt. Ross is a prominent figure in the Welsh and Southwest music scene, playing with a host of different artists with notable collaborations including Simon Spillett & Alex Goodyear Quartet, Alan Barnes and Alex Merritt. Ross also leads his own trio and his latest album ‘Three Elms’ was received to critical acclaim.