Andy Howells chats to guitarist Ant Law ahead of his appearance at Swansea Jazzland on January 22

Guitarist Ant Law was a scholar at both Edinburgh University and Berklee College of Music until moving to London in 2008. Upon arrival he picked up work with artists such as Mica Paris, Leon Ware, Koby Israelite, Camille O’Sullivan, Britain’s Got Talent star Tony Laf, X-factor winner Steve Brookstein and Eileen Hunter, and members of Incognito and Level 42.

He was honoured to be featured in the July 2011 issue of Europe’s biggest selling “Total Guitar” magazine. Additionally he is a pioneer of a new “Perfect Fourths” tuning system for guitarists.

Whilst touring internationally, he composed music intensively. He makes regular trips to New York to study with his heroes Ben Monder, Lage Lund, Adam Rogers, Gilad Hekselman, Tim Miller, and significantly Ari Hoenig. These influences are audible in the music. Working with the heaviest young cats in the UK, a core lineup and repertory eventually settled, becoming the “Entanglement” album.

This project was awarded funding from the Jazz Services Recording Support Scheme and released on the 33 Jazz label. The band will begin their second long tour in early 2014 then head into the studio to record the second album.

Where are you from and how did you get into music?

I was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but my dad is from Essex and my mum is from London. They really love music, so we always listened to it, mainly blues, folk and rock. I discovered jazz in the clubs in Edinburgh when I was studying(/drinking) there.

How would you describe your music style?

The music is Jazz, but it draws on a huge variety of influences - pop, middle eastern music, rock, blues, south indian music and so on.

What's been your best live experience?

My best live experience ever was hearing the audience sing the melody of one of my tunes really loudly at a gig! It was at one of the Edinburgh University student unions.

What can people expect from your forthcoming Jazzland gig?

People can expect hooky melodies and exciting, spontaneous improvisation

Where can people hear your music?

My music can be heard on my website

http://www.AntLaw.co.uk

my soundcloud

http://www.SoundCloud.com/Ant-Law

and on UK jazz radio stations.