Pinski Zoo

Pinski Zoo, an exuberant and high-volume UK ensemble, forges an inviting strain of harmolodics by fusing the free-jazz language of the 1960s, the funk-fusion pulse of the 1970s, and the technologies of later periods, much in the manner of a more approachable Last Exit. Jan Kopinski, the band’s guiding force, names Yma Sumac, Jimi Hendrix, and John Coltrane among his formative influences, though the imprint of Albert Ayler and Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time is equally evident. Formed in Nottingham, England—the same city that produced Kopinski and co-founder Steve Iliffe—the group stands among the most animated and thrilling ensembles currently active. Earlier configurations included Tim Bullock on drums, Tim Nolan on bass, and Mick Nolan on percussion and vocals, while the early-90s lineup consisted of Kopinski on soprano and tenor saxophones, Iliffe on keyboards, Karl Wesley Bingham on electric bass, and Steve Harris on drums. The albums Rare Breeds and East Rail East drew widespread admiration from UK jazz writers. Kopinski and Bingham rank among the most distinctive and vital figures in present-day jazz.