QOW TRIO are a fearless jazz trio pushing the boundaries of the tenor trio tradition. Their third album on the prestigious Whirlwind Records sees them venturing further than ever into uncharted musical terrain, blending the deep jazz heritage of melody and swing with untamed free improvisation.

At the heart of the band is the unmistakable beat of drummer Spike Wells, who this year celebrates his 80th birthday and the 65th year of his extraordinary career at the forefront of UK jazz. Wells’ dynamic drumming has driven legends from Tubby Hayes and Bobby Wellins to Stan Getz and Roland Kirk, and continues to provide the pulse and propulsion behind QOW TRIO.

Joining him are rising star Riley Stone-Lonergan on saxophone, whose inventive compositions and boundless improvisational imagination consistently dazzle audiences, and Eddie Myer on double bass, whose big-toned playing anchors and completes the trio’s sound.

QOW TRIO’s first album, QOW TRIO, was selected as a Critics’ Choice by Jazzwise Magazine in 2021. Their follow-up, The Hold Up, was hailed by BBC Music Magazine as “a stunning achievement” and awarded four stars by The Times and The Scotsman. Since then, they’ve toured extensively across the UK and Europe, honing their collective voice to new heights.

Their latest release, The Rule of Three, confirms that three really is the magic number. The album offers their most coherent, wide-ranging, and adventurous set of recordings yet—moving seamlessly from Ayler to Strayhorn, from bebop to calypso, and from cowboy movie soundscapes to free-jazz shootouts. With total sincerity, conviction, and an unwavering desire to bring their audiences along for the ride, QOW TRIO continues to redefine what a jazz trio can be.