F-IRE Collective

F-IRE Collective is a creative music community founded by Barak Schmool.{{Cite web |date=2005-10-13 |title=How jazz got hot again |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3647173/How-jazz-got-hot-again.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=The Telegraph}} It has been described as the UK's leading and perhaps most influential modern jazz group. {{Cite web |date=2013-10-22 |title=LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL: F-IRE Collective |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/music/london-jazz-festival-f-ire-collective |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Time Out London}} The Collective also has a record label.

In 2004, F-IRE Collective won the BBC Jazz Award for Innovation.{{cite web|title =Jazz Awards 29th July 2004: Innovation |publisher=BBC| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/jazzawards2004/innovation.shtml |date =March 2005 |accessdate =2010-11-26}}

Details

F-IRE (Fellowship for Integrated Rhythmic Expression) was named later in 1998 and came to encompass a community of artists whose outlook stretched beyond 'music alone'. Dance, poetry, film and other modes of creative expression were as much a part of their artistic conception as the sound they produced. F-IRE members attempt to cultivate their own directions and transcend categorical boundaries, circus or electronica, free improvisation or classical composition.[http://www.f-ire.com F-IRE Collective – Home | Live Jazz Music | Live Music London | Jazz Bands | FIRE Collective]

F-IRE has three main communal objectives: to sustain the creative lives of their members and the surrounding community; to ensure that their creativity functions well inside the wider community; to share their knowledge and opportunities. The collective's success is built on the quality of its work in education, performance and recording. Until 2005 these three principal spheres of activity proceeded without funding.

One of the members, Jonathan Bratoëff, is a Berlin-based guitarist.{{cite web|title =Jonathan Bratoeff, Between Lines |last=Fordham|first=John |author-link=John Fordham (jazz critic)|work=The Guardian| url =https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jun/10/jazz.shopping1 | accessdate =2010-03-30|date=2005-06-10}} He has also played with musicians like Julian Siegel, Soweto Kinch, and Orphy Robinson.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}