Some gigs you just can't miss..

Quick! Book now for Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center Orchestra@Harrogate Festival, Friday 20th June Royal Hall 8pm

The irresistibly swinging Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and its musical director Wynton Marsalis celebrate the 75th anniversary of iconic record label Blue Note. Launching in the UK right here in Harrogate, this show embraces the entire history of modern jazz from bebop to the dancefloor, performing big band arrangements of unforgettable classics. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see the most famous jazz musician of his generation right on your doorstep!

"It’s hard not to be impressed when you have the musical equivalent of ringside seats to the Harlem Globetrotters" - The Guardian

https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/2014-music/jazz-at-lincoln-center-orchestra-with-wynton-marsalis/

Book now before it sells out! Friday 20th June Royal Hall 8pm

Tickets: £44, £42, £36, £28, £22, Boxes: £90, £60

Box Office: 01423 562303

Ben at Bradford...

JATP Bradford have just have one gig in March st their new Glyde venue

Friday 07 March  - Ben Crosland Quartet

Ben Crosland chooses his musical company carefully: Steve Waterman, Steve Lodder, John Etheridge, Alan Skidmore, Brandon Allen and Jim Hart are just a few of the Jazz Cats with whom Ben has performed over the many years he has graced the UK jazz scene as bassist and composer. To be seen here in his excellent quartet format, expect some “killer” sax, piano and drums whilst Ben retains a vice-like on rhythm and melody: Rod Mason – saxes and all manner of paraphernalia, Paul Kilvington – piano, Ben Crosland – bass and Dave Tyas – drums.   

Doors 19:45 for 20:30
Admission £7 (£5 members and students)

Venue - Glyde House, Little Horton Lane, Bradford BD5 0BQ

New Jazz venue in Rothwell

Rod Mason

James Robinson writes -
"I thought that you may be interested that we, the James Robinson Quartet, have started a monthly Monday night gig at The Hare and Hounds in Rothwell, Leeds.  The band comprises of myself on drums, Adrian Ingram on guitar, Ian Rose on organ and Paul Chamberlain on bass. We will be playing on the first Monday of the month from 8.30pm and the current gigs are:

Monday 3rd March - Nicki Allan
Monday 7th April - Rod Mason
Monday 5th May - Terry Kenyon

www.facebook.com/TheJamesRobinsonQuartet

Huddersfield's new jazz venue selling out!

Huddersfield Jazz have found a second venue - the Keys Restaurant in Bryam Street - and it is proving popular with jazz fans - gigs are selling out fast. Roger Sawyer from Huddersfield Jazz writes

"It doesn't seem that long since we held our last gig with the excellent Alligator Gumbo at the Keys Restaurant, and those of you who were there will remember what a great evening that was. Well, it's nearly time for the start of our Spring season which, I hope you'll agree, promises to be an excellent one

You'll also notice that we're continuing to split our venues between the Lawrence Batley Theatre and the Keys Restaurant. As well as being a more economical venue, the Keys Restaurant provides a more informal atmosphere - and there's the added attraction of pie and peas!

First, on 29 March, we're very pleased to be able to bring to the LBT the wonderful American singer Marlene VerPlanck, who's  currently on tour in the UK. Then, on 12 April, at the Keys Restaurant, we have the Weave. On 3 May, we're back at the LBT for Dennis Rollins' Velocity Trio Finally, on 14 June, it's back to the Keys for Djangologie."

Further information is available on our website: www.huddersfield-jazz.co.uk

Gig listings- The Keys 

Saturday April 12th 8pm - from Liverpool "The Weave" and
and
Saturday June 14th 8pm - Gypsy jazz with "Djangologie"
Both gigs jointly presented with Jazz North
Tickets £13 including supper

The Keys restaurant
Bryam Street
Huddersfield
tel 01484 516677
www.keysrestaurant.com

Gig listings- the Lawrence Batley Theatre

Saturday March 29th 8pm American singer Marlene VerPlanck (pictured above - gig sponsored by Thornton and Ross)
and
Saturday 8pm May 3rd Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio (sponsored by Rath Trombones)
Each £16 in advance £17 on the door, student specail £6 on the door

Lawrence Batley Theatre
Queens Street
Huddersfield
tel 01484 430528

In the Pink (Lane) in March

Trio Riot

The Pink Lane Jazz Cafe, Newcastle is owned and run by Newcastle Arts Centre (not the same organisation as the Pink Lane Jazz Co-op mentioned in an earlier blog nb) . The cafe has a lovely jazz programme - here is the March listing:

Saturday 1st March 9.30pm –Graeme Wilson Quartet £4.00
Tenor-led original jazz with a top flight rhythm section : “…dazzled with brilliant playing all round. A cracking band.” (Bebop Spoken Here.)

Tuesday 4th March 8pm Free Pink Lane Jazz Co-op presents ‘Tuesday Jam’
Resident rhythm section : Peter Gilligan piano,Paul Grainger double bass and Paul Wight drums.

Friday 7th March 9.30pm – Mark Williams Trio £4.00
Original, contemporary, guitar-led trio with some new pieces with which to intrigue us.

Saturday 8th March 9.30pm – Zoe Gilby Trio £4.00
Zoe’s constantly expanding repertoire takes in originals penned with her husband/bassist Andy Champion,

Friday 14th March 9.30pm – Paul Edis Trio £4.00
With just six days to go to the astronomical start of Spring, our resident jazz trio invite you to their March extravaganza. A prize for the best March Hare costume.

Saturday 15th March 9.30pm – T.B.C.

Tuesday 18th March 8pm Free Pink Lane Jazz Co-op presents ‘Tuesday Jam’
Resident rhythm section : Peter Gilligan piano, Paul Grainger double bass and Paul Wight drums.

Friday 21st March 9.30pm – The Stu Collingwood Trio £4.00
Jazz organ based trio playing some original material and some hard-hitting, Jimmy Smith-style grooves.

Saturday 22nd March 9.30pm – Fusionhead £4.00
Tight arrangements and creative improvisations over groove-based jazz in a variety of styles.

Tuesday 25th March 8.00pm £8.00/ £6.00 Schmazz @ The Jazz Café presents Trio Riot
Anglo Scandinavian improvising trio.
www.jazznortheast.com www.schmazz.co.uk

Friday 28th March 9.30pm –‘Final Friday’ £4 The Mo Scott Quartet : Mo Scott vocals / Stu Collingwood piano/ Keith Peberdy bass / Lloyd Howell drums

Saturday 29th March 9.30pm – Alan Glen Trio £4.00
“be here tonight to witness an artist re-writing modern jazz piano.”
Alan Glen piano / John Pope double bass / Paul Wight drums

The Jazz Café is open as a Café by day and a Bar by night, a relaxed venue for drink, snack or meal. Work is proceeding to reopen the upstairs venue in time for the Jazz Café to be the official Late Night Jazz Club for the Gateshead International Jazz Festival at the beginning of April. The new venue will compliment the Newcastle Art Centre’s Black Swan venue and is available for hire from 8th of April.

******************************************************
Pink Lane Jazz Café  phone 0191 2229882
25-27 Pink Lane, near the Central Station
Open from 11am daily as a Cafe, closed Sun and Mondays.
Fridays and Saturday  - admission free up to 9.00pm, Live from 9.30pm - 11.30pm
admission for most events £4.00 on the door,( Except Schmazz events )
Full programme at www.newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk

White Canvas at Davenham jazz

Our Davenham gig on Thursday March 27th features White Canvas

A review from the Capstone Theatre in March 2013

"Clutching a few of their own compositions and a couple of great nods to some of the legends of the genre, Andy Hume, Barry Dallman, Adam Goldberg and Dean Ravera took the audience on a trip that excited everyone who felt very privileged to be there. The music flowed, diverted and took separate approaches but stayed true to the ideal of Jazz, so much so, that by looking down the rows of occupied seats there wasn’t a single person’s foot wasn’t visibly tapping away in time with the Jazz on offer".  - Liverpool Sound and Vision

The band are Barry Dallman – Piano, Andrew Hulme – Guitar, Grant Russell – Bass, Adam Goldberg – Drums.

Bookings 01606 74502 & 44253 or email jazz@davenham.co

Venue- Davenham Theatre: 59 Church Street, Davenham CW9 8NF

SPONSORED BY TATTON BREWERY
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk

Darlington Jazz Club gigs - March/April

Darlington Jazz Club Present - Jazz @ The Forum Music Centre. March/April Program 2014

Sundays
 Doors 5.30pm Live Music from about 6.00pm

March 2014
·       2nd March: Jazz ‘Combo’ Ray Dales £4/2
·       9th March: Jazz ‘Combo’ Jazz Tones £4/2
·       16th March: Jazz ‘Combo’: Dean Stockdale Trio £4/2
·    23rd March: Jazz ‘Combo’ Infusion £4/2
·    30th March : Jazz ‘Combo’ Alex Baker Quartet £4/2


April 2014
·       6th  April: Jazz ‘Combo’: TBC £4/2
·       13th April: ‘Big Band’ night: Stricktly Smokin’   £4/2
·       20th April: No Jazz: Easter Sunday

The 3rd DARLINGTON JAZZ FESTIVAL
Thursday 24th April: Jazz Workshop led by Matt Roberts
Friday 25th April: Burundanga at the Voodoo Café 10pm
Saturday 26th April: 2pm – 1am at The Forum
Sunday 27th April :2pm -9pm at The Head of Steam.

Dennis Rollins at Southport

Dennis Rollins

Our Southport Melodic Jazz gig in March is on Sunday 16th-8pm with Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Trio with Dennis (tmb) Ross Stanley (Hammond) and Pedro Segundo on kit. Lively stuff!

Tickets in advance from SMJ tickets 01704 541790
£14 each / members £13 /NUS £8 /Accompanied under 16’s free
Full details on www./jazzinsouthport.co.uk

The Royal Clifton Hotel, The Promenade, Southport PR8 1RB.

Geoff Matthews

Sam Watts@Sela in Leeds

Sam Watts Group

March 16th - Sam Watts Group (+ Andy French Quintet)

Graduate of Leeds College of Music Sam Watts has been busy completing his Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and we welcome him back to Sela for a gig showcasing his diverse musical talents, with influences of jazz to tango, Brazilian music, classical music and ragtime, with a big cinematic influence as well. There will also be support from the Andy French Quintet.

8:30pm start, main band on at 10pm.

Sela Bar,
20 New Briggate,
Leeds, LS1 6NU.

Matt Anderson

"Seven Deadly Sings" /Jean Toussaint @Seven Leeds!

Louise Gibbs and the "Seven Deadly Sings" Septet

I hope you've survived the February storms OK, managed to get out and see some jazz - and avoided all those politicians in wellington boots!

Seven Jazz's programme in Leeds for March is looking good with the premiere on Thursday 6 March at Seven Arts of a new jazz suite by singer Louise Gibbs "Seven Deadly Sings" with an all-star line up of musicians, Louise Gibbs - voice with a septet featuring Neil Yates - trumpet/flugel; Tony Kofi -alto /baritone Sax; Tim Whitehead -tenor sax/clarinet; Tom White -trombone; Sam Leak -piano; Oli Hayhurst -bass; Sam Gardner -drums/percussion; then on Thursday 20th March ex-Art Blakey saxman Jean Toussaint at Seven Arts with his exciting quartet (Jean Toussaint tenor sax, Andrew McCormack piano, Larry Bartley bass and Troy Miller drums) .

Watch out also for the showcase Sunday afternoon gig featuring five (!) trombones led by Kevin Holbrough "Slide Area" on Sunday March 2nd 1-4pm @Inkwell(are these the last five jazz trombones alive in the wild?) then saxman Toby Greenwood's "We Free Kings" @Seven Arts on Sunday 9th March 1-4pm. That'll be followed by the exquisite piano playing of Jamil Sheriff's Trio @Inkwell Sunday March 16th 1-4pm Krysztof Urbanski's "Urban Jazz Society" on Sunday March 23rd @Seven Arts 1-4pm and then to finish the month our jazz-karaoke-meets-jam session Spring Jazz cafe on Sunday March 30th@Seven Arts 1-4pm

That's always assuming we get through the gig by "Big Beat" this coming Sunday - another unusual line up, a two-drummer band led by brilliant young sax player Will Howard on Sunday 23 February@Seven 1-4pm - now where did I put those ear muffs...!

Seven Artspace
31(a) Harrogate Road
Chapel Allerton
LEEDS
LS7 3PD

Inkwell
(the former Shoulder of Mutton pub)
31 Potternewton Lane,
Chapel Allerton
Leeds LS7 3LW

Steve Crocker
www.sevenjazz.co.uk

Benet McLean and Dennis Rollins for Wakefield

Benet Mclean

Wakefield Jazz presents five bands in 4 Friday concerts during March.

The irrepressible Dennis Rollins brings his Velocity Trio on 7th March.   Ross Stanley gets to show off his brand new Hammond.

Fast-rising Benet McLean brings a band with Mark Mondesir on drums and will sparkle on keys and some hip vocals on 14th March

Pianistic genius Gareth Williams and bass veteran Dave Green pay homage to the work of Bill Evans and Scott LaFaro on 21st March

A Northern Line Double Bill completes the month for us on 28th March:    Jamil Sheriff's trio alongside the acoustic music of Richard Iles' Microscopic.    

A varied and exciting programme with something for every jazz taste.

Chris Desaram
Wakefield Jazz
Wakefield (College Grove) Sports Club
Eastmoor Road
Wakefield
WF1 3RR (Please use WF1 3RZ for satnavs)

Polar Bear/Jiggs Whigham for Band on the Wall

Jiggs Whigham

The Band on the Wall Manchester feature these March jazz gigs:

Mon 17th March: 2014 Greater Manchester Jazz Orchestra and Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra
GM Music Hub presents the Greater Manchester Jazz Orchestra and Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra (directed by Richard Iles and Dave Little) The reputation of Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra is known all over the world with the band producing over a dozen CD recordings and having worked with some of the biggest names in jazz. The newly established Greater Manchester Jazz Orchestra brings together the very best young musicians from the local youth jazz orchestras

Tues 18 March: The AMC Trio 
AMC Trio are one of the longest running groups on the Slovakian Jazz scene. Inspired originally by classic American Jazz trios, they quickly found that audiences responded more to their own compositions than recycled Jazz standards.  Expect the unexpected as AMC Trio bring their Eastern European take to the classic Jazz Trio.

Thursday 20th March: Polar Bear
Following a storming gig last year Mercury Music Prize nominees Polar Bear return to the Band on the Wall with a stellar line-up, featuring saxophonists Pete Wareham (Melt Yourself Down, Acoustic Ladyland) and Mark Lockheart (Loose Tubes, APPJAG's Musician Of The Year in 2010), Tom Herbert (The Invisible) on bass, as well as electronics wizard/guitarist Leafcutter John.

Sun 30th March 2014: BTS presents Jiggs Whigham ft: Soul Tubes. 
A special night of Jazz & Soul with guest soloist and trombone virtuoso Jiggs Whigham and featuring some of the finest trombonists in the U.K. This performance and post conference party is the culmination of the National Trombone Day event held at Chethams School by the British Trombone Society.

@Band on the Wall,
27 Swan Street,
The Northern Quarter,
Manchester,
M4 5JZ
http://bandonthewall.org/

March Jazz at Zeffirellis, Ambleside

Quay Change 

March Jazz at Zeffirellis, Ambleside, Lake District
Jazz on Saturday evenings (and a Friday)

Mar 1 John Bailey Quartet An unusual band, matching fine saxophonist Tim France with Bailey’s classical guitar, playing compositions from his new album ‘Heart Horizons’. Free 8:30 pm

Mar 8 Compass Quartet A real unsung hero, virtuosic Blackpool-based Italian guitarist Willy Fluss guides a drummerless chamber-jazz quartet featuring in-demand bassist Neil Harland through carefully selected pages from the Great American Songbook. Free 8:30 pm

Mar 15 Quay Change Excellent survey of  the jazz songbook from this fine and rightly popular Lancaster-based quartet featuring the fabulous vocals of Amy Worth with Frank Flynn on Piano, Dave Lee on Sax and Lawrence Canty on Bass

Mar 22 The Angry Men Fronted by bassist Paul Robinson & saxophonist Mike Smith, this new  Manchester-Liverpool quintet came to our attention via a recommendation from award-winning pianist Gwilym Simcock, so demanded serious consideration. Highly crafted & superbly played jazz-funk with a heavy nod to masters of the genre. Free 8:30 pm

Mar 28 Urban Jazz  Sam Gardner is a modest leader providing the appropriate support for every moment as the music develops.  Jamil Sheriff’s muscular piano playing upholds any harmonic exploration. Saxman Krzysztof Urbanski is a master in the making able to add excitement unexpectedly. Pete Turner’s accomplished bass never settles into a routine walk Free 8:30 pm

Mar 29 Paul Edis Solo piano performance from one of the country’s leading young jazz players, recently awarded a PhD in composition from the University of York. Free 8:30 pm

Zeffirellis
Compston Road, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9AD.
Tel 015394 33845
enquiries@zeffirellis.com

(Not) homeless in Harrogate

The Harrogate Jazz and Blues club had to leave their previous venue at Balcony, Harrogate Cricket Ground in the autumn but are no longer homeless. They have at last found a new venue, the intimate surroundings of the Harrogate Brasserie. Their first gig features trombonist Eugene Farrar and ageless saxman Frank Brooker - on Tuesday 4th March.

The Harrogate Brasserie also have regular live jazz on Mondays and Tuesdays 5.30pm - 9.30pm, with pianist David Bailey, Wednesday & Thursday 6.45pm - 9.45pm with vocalist Nicki Allan, Friday 7.45pm - 11pm & Sunday 7pm - 10pm.

The brasserie also welcome vocalist Mike Westerman and his band in their new regular slot on the 1st Friday of every month. Mike has worked all over the UK in Jazz venues, Ronnie Scott's to name one of the famous ones. He has also worked in both radio and television over in Ireland for many a year. Joining Mike are one of York's top pianists Andy Chollerton, and the very talented Keith Jevons on Bass, and together they will be entertaining diners with music from the American Songbook.

The Harrogate Brasserie, 26-30 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1DB

http://www.harrogatebrasserie.co.uk/bar/

Head of Steam steams back....

Dean Masser

Looks like the Head of Steam jazz session at Huddersfield is back from the dead under the promotion of drummer Paul Smith. An "eclectic mix of Jazz/Blues & Latin" is promised on a new Wednesday night slot at 8.15pm. Good to see that Mark Chandler back gigging on 30 April - on vibes!

26th Feb      Laurie Briggs (vocals by special request)

5th March    Rod Mason (sax) (Regular Rod)

12th March    Brendan Duffy (Evergreen Saxman)

19th March    "Five Pieces of Silver" with Stuart McDonald (sax)

26th March   Jon Taylor (sax) /Adrian Ingram (guitar) (the Stalwarts)

2nd April   Rod Mason (again!)

9th April   Eddie Martel (vocals - got him at last)

16th April      Dean Masser (Top Saxman )

23rd April     Matt Ball ("Blowin Away the Blues" Trombone)

30th April   Derrick Harris (guitar)/Mark Chandler (vibes)

House Band will be from from...

Andy Cholerton - keys
Andrzej Baranek... keys
Jason Scott...keys
Paul Chamberlain... bass
Paul Baxter... bass
Ben Crosland... bass
Ronnie Bottomley ... drums
Paul Smith ...drums
Derrick Harris....guitar

Head of Steam
Huddersfield Station
 St. Georges Square
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1 1JB
Tel:  01484 454 533

Ed O' Donnell and Brian Herbert RIP

Ed O Donnell - Leeds circa1960

Ed O Donnell@Chapel Allerton Festival 2011

 Brian Herbert at Seven Arts Leeds 2008

Sad to report the deaths of two of the North of England's best loved jazzmen this week. 

Trombonist Ed O'Donnell was a veteran of the Paramount and White Eagles Jazzmen. He was a traditional jazzman through and through. His favourite band was apparently the Vernon Street Stompers named after the street next to Leeds College of Art where the band rehearsed between 1959 and 1961. 

Dave Lewis (Leeds trombonist/bassist) writes - "The earliest I knew of Ed was that he was a Bevin Boy which means he chose the hard life of a coal miner rather than a soldier (a colleague of his there was the now infamous J. Saville). 

On to London where he met Ken Collier who was fresh back from New Orleans after studying the jazz there.  Ken played with the black marching and jazz bands but when they had a break for “refreshment” as a white boy he had to wait outside the establishments.

Ed swallowed this music totally and joined and recorded with Ken Collier, returning to Leeds in the late fifties carrying the message of New Orleans:  “The good oil” as he called it.  The music became the sound of the youth of the day.  Bands sprung up all over consisting of young men returning from the forces and university and college students.  Leeds Art College was responsible for many a fine musician.

Ed carried forward the flame of New Orleans music, which eschewed the slick professionalism of other music of the period – jazz in particular had modern jazz (dirty boppers, in contemporary parlance) or mouldy figs for traditional jazzers/

Ed kept the music close to its origins and gathered like minded musicians around him, playing almost up to the end of his life, his wit, humour and sometime acerbic tongue touched all who heard him together with his intensely personal approach to the music which was his life’s love.

It’s been said before but here is the truth. We’ll not see his like again." 

Dave Lewis 17/2/14

Brian Herbert was a guitarist with Martin Boyd's Jazzmen, Winstone's Pennine Jazz and many many others.  Brian actually played in Ed O'Donnell's band as a young 17 year old. He was an art teacher in Halifax, ending up as a Deputy Head. Brian lost his fight with cancer on Friday 7th February 2014 just after his 70th birthday. He was given a huge fitting send off by the local jazz community in Elland on 24th February. See the video clip here 

Both will be sorely missed.

Hey you! Yes you! Wanna buy a jazz club?

From Dave Parker at the Newcastle Pink Lane Jazz Co op - an invitation to invest in a music venue!

We are inviting music lovers throughout the UK to join us in a unique venture – a co-operatively owned live music and jazz education venue.

We are issuing shares to raise money to buy The Globe, a pub and music venue on the west edge of Newcastle city centre.We aim to establish The Globe as the place to go to hear live jazz and other music that is outside the mainstream.  It will be a place where musicians learn, share and develop their skills – a hub for jazz education.  It will be the first music venue to be owned by a co-operative committed to jazz.

We’ve already got promises of nearly half the money we need from two ethical funds.  Now we need to raise £125,500 from individual investors – maybe people like you.

You may invest any sum between £200 and £20,000.  You will become a member of the co-op and can become actively involved in this exciting project if you want to be.  Membership is open to any person (age 16 or over) or organisation that supports the objectives of the co-operative.

You can apply for shares online http://www.pinklanejazz.co.uk/invest or by post using the form on the last page of their share offer document on the same site

Dave Walsh's "Mind's Eye" project at the Venue

Monday 17 February 2014: Dave Walsh's "Mind's Eye" project

Led by Dave Walsh, the Mind's Eye Project is a piece inspired by childhood memories of the decaying industrial landscapes of 1970's Manchester. Memories that changed the band's perception of beauty in a world sculpted by humans.

Featuring Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra) – guitar
Lea Mullen (George Michael) –  percussion/effects
Richard Hammond (Tom McRae) - bass guitar
and LCoM alumnus William Howard – tenor sax

Time 7.30pm
Venue Recital Room, Leeds College of Music
Tickets £8 / £5 - tel 0113 222 3434
Free to LCoM students

Leeds College of Music
3 Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7PD

Revolutionary Jazz in Leeds tonight!

Tonight Thursday 13 Feb: Revolutionary Jazz Orchestra
10pm - midnight

The Revolutionary Jazz Orchestra is bringing it's massive sound along to the fantastic venue that is Sela Bar, one of Leed's finest bars

"The band's ethos is keeping alive the big band music from the 30s/40s swing style, through to styles such as Basie, funk, and latin/cuban. The band also has an eye to more forward thinking modern big band arrangements and plays a number of original arrangements from band members. Big band music is very much alive and swinging with The RJO, and hopes to bring a fresh sound to audiences, young and old." - The RJO Facebook

www.facebook.com/the.rjo
www.selabar.com

Line Up: Trumpets - Ciaran Diston, James Duckworth, Kim Macari, Kodai Kaneko, Chris Powell
Trombones - Chris Burge, Peter New, Patrick Martin, Chris Dale
Saxes - James Boyes, Nick Baya, Riley Stone-Lonergan, Laurie Covell, Dom Pusey
Rhythm - Tom Coppin, Aleks Podraza, Sam Quintana, Matt Exton, Brendan Bache

FREE ENTRY!
Sela Bar
20 New Briggate, LS1 6NU Leeds

Jazz at Manchester's RNCM

Tord Gustavsen Ensemble

Upcoming Jazz concerts this Spring at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music:

Saturday 15 March 2014 8:00 pm : The Tord Gustavsen Ensemble

Tord Gustavsen piano
Tore Brunborg saxophones
Mats Eilertsen double bass
Jarle Vespestad drums

We’re delighted to welcome Tord Gustavsen back to the RNCM to showcase his new ECM release Extended Circle. This time playing in a quartet format, Tord’s new material is pointing forwards in musical openness and creativity, while at the same time clearly picking up the quietness and grounded sensuality of the hugely successful trio albums. It includes several pure trio pieces, and is embracing anew the almost minimalistic simplicity and striking Nordic-Caribbean-Gospel-Impressionist-Bluesy touch that so many people came to love in Gustavsen’s début album.

‘A trilogy [that] could be the most essential jazz document of the last ten years. Sublime.’ (The Independent).uk/performance/tord-gustavsen-ensemble/

Tickets £14
http://www.rncm.ac

Saturday 22 March 2014 7:30 pm : RNCM Big Band with Tim Garland

Tim Garland director, saxophones

The first RNCM Big Band show of 2014 features Grammy Award-winning composer, globe-trotting saxophonist and RNCM Fellow Tim Garland. Tim is the creative nucleus behind Lighthouse, Storms/Nocturnes and Acoustic Triangle but he first forged an international reputation working with Chick Corea and Bill Bruford and he is a core member of Chick’s latest band, The Vigil. Tonight’s gig features some of Corea’s recent big band arrangements as well as a celebration of Tim’s own writing skills as he fronts our Big Band for the evening. Expect some surprises, including a decidedly gospel twist ending!

Tickets £14:Tickets
http://www.rncm.ac


Wednesday 28 May 2014 8:00 pm : Phronesis

Formed by Danish bass player Jasper Høiby in 2005, the energy and individuality of Phronesis comes from an extraordinary democracy of expression and intuitive empathy between the musicians – British pianist Ivo Neame and Swedish drummer Anton Eger come together with Høiby to create a propulsive groove-driven sound that is utterly accessible despite its underlying complexity.

Their vibrantly-titled new album Life to Everything will be released in April. Since the success of their fourth album Walking Dark two years ago, the trio have been on a meteoric rise, gaining acclaim from fans over two tours of the USA and Canada and a tour of Australia, whilst also rising to the forefront of the European club and festival scene.

With so much time spent on the road and a reputation for spellbinding roller-coaster live performances, it was only natural for the band to want to record their fifth album in front of a live audience; which they did over three sold-out shows ‘in the round’ at London’s ‘The Cockpit’ as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival in November 2013.

In Høiby’s words – ‘performing live has been the strength of this trio from the start – it sparks an extra focus, excitement and joy. As the album title suggests – it’s where everything comes to life’

‘One of the most exciting bands on the planet today’ (Jazzwise).

Tickets £15
http://www.rncm.ac

Royal Northern College of Music
124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
T 0161 907 5200
E  info@rncm.ac.uk

Kasseldown at Sproggits..

It's difficult not to get blasé about the Leeds jazz scene these days - it is just SO good. SPROGGITS is yet another funky jazz venue, a monthly night of new work, improvised music and jazz from young improvisers and composers (predominately) based in Leeds. It’s fun. And very busy if tonight's gig is anything to go by with Harry Orme's lovely new quintet "Kasseldown" and the highly talented young guitarist Loretz Bloom and his trio. There are two bands on every gig, normally one playing an improvised set and one playing some new composed music. You can sit on the floor and listen, or sit on a chair if you like. Run by Declan Forde, one of the nicest guys in the business. There’s good cheap beer and it’s in the very hip Wharf Chambers, 23-25 Wharf Street, Leeds, LS2 7GQ, the former Commonplace venue, or next to where Wharf Street Cafe used to be for those even longer in the tooth. £4/3 (conc.) and a bonkers raffle, in the great jazz tradition. Doors at 8pm.

Monday 10th February 2014: HARRY ORME QUINTET + LORENTZ BLOOM TRIO

Monday 10th March 2014: TORI FREESTONE TRIO + DAVE KANE solo bass

Monday 28th April 2014: OZZY MOYSEYS’ BIJOU BIG BAND

It's Cooler in the Sela!

Alex Merritt

Matt Anderson writes - after January's epic gig from Will Howard's Double-Drummer Quintet, The Cooler is back on February 16th with the Alex Merritt / Sam Leak Quartet, two London-based bandleaders who will blow you away with their standards-based but modernist approach.

We also have LCoM graduate Sam Watts making a homecoming on the 16th March with his band, having recently finished the Royal Academy of Music jazz masters programme in London. All in all, it's going to be a great couple of months!

Sunday February 16th - Alex Merritt / Sam Leak Quartet
(+ Moysey's Noisy Sextet)

The Cooler welcomes back rising stars Sam Leak (piano) and Alex Merritt (tenor saxophone) who will be making the trip up from London for an engaging set of jazz standards and original compositions/reharmonisations, with a highly developed harmonic and rhythmic concept particularly informed by jazz great Warne Marsh. We'll also have support from LCoM students Moysey's Noisy Sextet, led by Ozzy Moysey.

Alex Merritt is a tenor saxophonist and composer based in London and Cambridge. Drawing on classical composers and the contemporary European scene as much as the modern jazz greats, he cites influences as diverse as Messiaen, Debussy and Benoit Delbecq as well as Warne Marsh, Jimmy Giuffre and Sonny Rollins.

Sam Leak is a pianist and composer described by broadcaster Helen Mayhew as “one of the brightest young stars in the Jazz piano galaxy, a heavenly improviser and a brilliant prospect for the future.” He has performed with his own projects at a host of UK venues notably including Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Dean Street and The Vortex, and his latest album 'Places' was released last year.

Sam Leak - Piano
Alex Merritt - Tenor Saxophone
Bass and Drums tbc

“Alex has something special and original - an intriguing harmonic ear and an intrepid rhythmic flare.” Mike Gibbs

"The Royal Academy of Music's jazz programme has produced a remarkable crop of newcomers in recent times: notably Gwilym Simcock and Kit Downes. Now comes Sam Leak, an artist of comparable promise... Leak is a subtle storyteller who keeps the grooves and colours changing." John Fordham, The Guardian.

Also don't miss support band Moysey's Noisy Sextet, playing compositions by Ozzy Moysey.

Luke Ledger and Andy French - Tenor Saxophones
Joel Steadman - Guitar
Sam Quintana - Bass
Matt McGraw - Drums
Ozzy Moysey - Percussion / Compositions

Sunday March 16th - Sam Watts Group
(+ Andy French Quintet)

Graduate of Leeds College of Music Sam Watts has been busy completing his Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and we welcome him back to Sela for a gig showcasing his diverse musical talents, with influences of jazz to tango, Brazilian music, classical music and ragtime, with a big cinematic influence as well.

Sam Watts - Piano
Matt Anderson - Tenor Saxophone
Bass, Drums and others tbc!

Plus support from tenor saxophonist Andy French and his quintet - more on this soon!
Gigs start at 10pm, support acts at 8:30pm.

Free entry, but please purchase drinks to keep Sela bar booking live music!

www.selabar.com

Sela, 20 New Briggate, LS1 6NU.

Lunchtime Jazz in Clitheroe

Here's the Spring Jazz gigs from Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues society

Feb
14 Henry Botham Trio
21 CDF Sharp
28 Eric Ainsworth Quartet with Lynn Fairbanks

Mar
14 Mark Lewis trio with Lynn Fairbanks
21 Freddie Garner trio
28 Eric Ainsworth Quartet with Lynn Fairbanks

April
11 April Paul Rigby Quartet
18 No Jazz (Easter)
25 Eric Ainsworth Quartet with Lynn Fairbanks

£5/3 All gigs 12-2pm Friday lunchtime at the Grand, 14 York Street, Clitheroe BB72DL

Scarborough Jazz hits 30...

Ron Burnett

This is a big and exciting year for us at Scarborough Jazz.  We will be celebrating our 30th anniversary – a rather fantastic achievement, especially as we have gigs 50 nights a year. Our spring programme is as below and we have a special event to tell you about in the summer too.

Our weekly evening gigs are at 8.45pm every Wednesday at Cask Inn Cambridge Terrace, Scarborough,  YO11 2LQ, Tel: 01723 500570. Details as follows- £3 on the door

12 February James Lancaster and Ron Burnett
Trumpeter James Lancaster and trombonist Ron Burnett will play an accessible repertoire drawn from a hundred years of jazz history .

19th February: Toby Greenwood

Toby has been a professional saxophonist since the tender age of 16. 

26th February: Krzysztof Urbanski

Krzysztof is a fast rising tenor sax player who made his Cask debut last year. .

5 March Stuart McCallum Trio with the Real Strings
A guitar trio augmented with strings is a first for The Cask.  With Stuart McCallum – guitars, Pete Turner – bass, Dave Walsh – drums and a string quartet, this should prove a novel evening. £7 (£6 in advance) www.stuartmccallum.com

12 March Tim New
Tim is a saxophonist who covers a range of styles but is happiest playing standard jazz tunes and Latin-American numbers.

19 March Players’ Night
This is the jazz club’s open mic night and is always a fun event.  Anyone is welcome to sing or play with the resident trio.  Ring Mike (01723 379818 ) to discuss sitting in

26 March Frank Brooker
Frank’s warm tenor sax and clarinet sounds have endeared him to audiences for many decades.  He plays regularly with the Kid Boyd jazz band and the Dave Brennan band.

2 April The Revolutionaires
This is the Scarborough Jazz contribution to the Blues Festival. Described as a “sizzlin’ hot R&B combo”. www.the-revolutionaires.co.uk  £8

9 April Robin Porter
Saxophonist Robin knocked out the audience and fellow musicians at his first SJ appearance last June.

16 April Joel Purnell
Joel captivates festival and club audiences throughout Europe with his total commend of the tenor sax.  www.joelpurnell.com

23 April The Weave
This group of some of Liverpool’s finest jazz musicians brings together a rich range of musical experience to create a repertoire of warm, melodic and joyous originals.  www.theweavemusic.com. £7 (£6 in advance)

30 April Al Wood & Trevor Vincent
Multi-instrumentalist Al plays all the saxes plus trombone and trumpet.  Trumpeter Trevor was in the big bands of Ken Mackintosh and Ray McVay, and is active in today’s big band scene.

7 May Octopus
This band has an impressive library of big band arrangements made to fit an octet.   £5

14 May Anita Wardell /Dave O’Higgins Quintet
Anita is a major jazz artist whose amazing vocal abilities are captivating and mesmerising.  Dave is a popular and well known saxophonist on the international jazz scene.
www.anitawardell.com Tickets are £8 (advance £7).

21 May Jazz Aesthetic
This fine student band is the brain child of Peter Elsdon, Head of Jazz and Popular Music at Hull University.  This will be their fourth visit to The Cask.  www.hull.ac.uk/music £3

28 May Pete Lyons
Saxophonist Pete works with a wide range of musicians, and also leads and writes for his own quartets and quintets.  He plays in a wide range of jazz styles.  £3

Future diary dates:
4th June Alan Barnes, clarinet with Jack Emblow, accordion

26-28 September Scarborough Jazz Festival with highlights Nigel Kennedy and John Etheridge

As this is our 30th anniversary we are making June a special month with a commemorative Wednesday night at the Cask and a club night out in the Spa Vitadome on Saturday 14th June with live music, food, good company and, hopefully, drinks and dancing outside.  We will be letting you know prices soon. If you are interested in the Spa event and a great night out email Sarah on sarahdyson@yahoo.com or text her at 07411 222973

Dick