Learn jazz in Leeds...

Tom Sharp (photo Ben Powling)

From Jean Watson

Hi everyone!

Hope you're all keeping warm...  Reminder that we have a very  inviting jazz workshops this Spring at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton in Leeds from 2 pm to 4 pm.  Cost £10/£8 concession, as usual.

Our tutor this season is the wonderful sax player Will Howard, who will I think be leading us through a lovely standard or two.  Do hope you can join us.  If you know of people who are interested to come along and see what our workshops are like, do tell them they are welcome to listen the first session if they wish (but nice if they play).

We're having some changes of tutor this term, owing to Robin (Porter) having to tear himself away and do some work on a Caribbean cruise...  And Will Howard is now going on a tour of Holland at the beginning of February, for a month!  Dominic is trustily doing his share of the workshops, and we now have a guest tutor on Saturday 21 February - Tom Sharp who is a wonderful trumpet player.  You can catch him playing with 'Coney Island Babies', our support band for our Liane Carroll gig @Seven Arts next Thursday, 5 February (tickets selling fast, if you haven't yet decided).

So the workshop dates and tutors for the rest of this spring term are:

Saturday 31 January: tutor Will Howard
Saturday 14 February: tutor Dominic Moore
Saturday 21 February: tutor Tom Sharp
Saturday 7 March: tutor Dominic Moore
Saturday 14 March: Will Howard & Dominic Moore to share the session

Sunday 15 March: Jazz Cafe jam session, 1.30 to 4.00 pm, at Inkwell Arts 

Look forward to seeing you, at workshops and/or our gigs!  Keep supporting live music!

Jean x
Seven Jazz Leeds

February at Newcastle's Jazz Cafe

Tom Green Septet

Friday 6th February 8.00pm – The Paul Edis Trio    £5.00 (£3.00 before 7.30pm) “World class jazz...stupendous piano playing...the best in the business working with the best piano player....the Paul EdisTrio residency at the Jazz Cafe is the gig.” Bebop Spoken Here (December ’14)

Saturday 7th February 9.00pm - free – Paul Gowland / Dean Stockdale Duo Straightahead jazz from dynamic sax/piano duo
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Tuesday 10th February 8.00pm – Improvisers’ Workshop Admission Free

Thursday 12th February 9.00pm – Stuart Davies and The New Standard £5.00 on the door Groove and R&B with just enough jazz. Dance if you want to. “This was an experience! Quite a band.” Bebop Spoken Here.

Friday 13th February 8.00pm – Bradley Johnston Quartet £5.00 (£3.00 before 7.30pm) Young guitarist with growing reputation heads contemporary outfit.

Saturday 14th February 9.00pm – Mark Williams / John Pope Duo Admission Free.Music inspired by the great guitar/bass duos from two of Newcastle’s finest musicians.

Tuesday 17th February 8.00pm – Tuesday Jam Admission Free

Friday 20th February 8.00pm – The Noel Dennis Trio £5.00 (£3.00 before 7.30pm) North super group explores the music of Miles Davis, Bill Evans and other US star names.

Saturday 21st February 9.00pm – Zoe Gilby / Andy Champion Duo. Admission Free This innovative voice and double bass duo inspired by the legendary Sheila Jordan has been taking audiences by storm throughout the UK and Europe.

Tuesday 24th February 8.00pm – Schmazz presents The Tom Green Septet £10.00 & £8.00 conc. on sale in adv. from the Jazz Cafe 0191 222 9882 and from Reflex Records 0191 260 3216. Winner of the Dankworth Composition Prize and named ‘one to watch’ by Jazzwize Tom Green writes music which combines striking melodies, colourful harmony and propulsive grooves.

Friday 27th February 8.00pm The Lindsay Hannon Plus £5.00  (£3.00 before 7.30pm) “...in the top bracket of singers currently working the jazz club circuit.” Bebop Spoken Here

Saturday 28th February 9.00pm – James Birkett / Giles Strong Duo. Admission Free Djangologie’s acoustic guitar stars go electric and tackle a wider jazz repertoire.

Jazz Café,
Pink Lane
Newcastle,
NE1 5DW  
tel: 0191 2229882
www.jazz-cafe.newcastle.co.uk
www.newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk

Spring calls at Huddersfield Jazz..

Christine Tobin

Roger Sawyer writes

As it’s only five weeks to the start of our Huddersfield Jazz Spring season I thought it was time to let you know what’s in store over the next few months so that you can plan your social calendar (for those of you who have one!). The four artists we’re presenting are featured on the attached poster, and we think that they will all continue to maintain the standard you expect at Huddersfield Jazz.

First, on 7 March, we're very pleased to be able to bring to the Lawrence Batley Theatre the wonderful Dublin-born jazz singer Christine Tobin, whose 2014 album “A Thousand Kisses” featuring the songs of Leonard Cohen, attracted glowing reviews and gained her the “Herald Angel” award at the Edinburgh Fringe. Her new 2015 UK tour, entitled “It Might As Well Be Spring” is named after the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic 1945 song and shows another aspect of her wide-ranging audience appeal. Her band for this gig is: Phil Robson: guitar, Dave Whitford: double bass, Matt Home: drums

Then, on 18 April, at the Keys Restaurant, we welcome back Matt Roberts, this time with his Sextet featuring his tribute to the trumpet player Fats Navarro. The Sextet consists of: Matt Roberts: trumpet, Ben Lowman: alto sax, Matt Aplin piano, Simon Read: bass, Sam Gardner: drums

On 9 May, we're back at the Lawrence Batley Theatre  for the Kit Downes Trio. Kit is a graduate of the Royal College of Music, and was one of the original members of the most forward-looking of UK bands, Empirical. After leaving that band, he formed the progressive jazz group Troyka, who played at last year’s Marsden Jazz Festival. Here, though, you’ll find him in trio format playing his expressively original compositions with passion and commitment, marking him out as a significant figure on the UK jazz scene.

Finally, on 6 June, it's back to the Keys Restaurant, for Unfurl, a five-piece band who combine Indian ragas, contemporary jazz, flamenco and Arabic rhythms to create an uplifting fusion and original sound.

I hope you’ll all agree that this is a suitably appetising programme for our Spring season, and I hope to see you there!

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

Lawrence Batley Theatre
Queens Street
Huddersfield
tel 01484 430528

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

Diachronicx and Safe Sextet at the Co-op

Diachronicx

Gabriele writes

The next two gigs in the Jazz Bar at the Globe in Newcastle demonstrate the wide spectrum spanned by local jazz.

On Saturday 31 January we present Diachronicx, a duo of Gabriele Heller (vocals and electronics) and Steve Glendinning (guitar). Gabi is well known for her work with experimental theatre. She burst onto the Newcastle jazz scene in late 2011 with Nat King Cole style trio called Gabriele Mit Drei. Diachronicx is her latest project (again with jazz guitarist Steve Glendinning) that includes ‘original songs, jazz standards, blues, poems and more around the theme of the Great City’. Prepare to be amazed, intrigued and entertained.

On Saturday 7 February, one of the longest established bands in Tyneside jazz comes to the Globe. The Safe Sextet, led by post-bop trumpeter and arranger Don Forbes, used to play every Friday for nearly 20 years at Keith Crombie’s Jazz Cafe. Several members of the band helped to set up the Jazz Coop when Crombie died. We are delighted to welcome them to the Globe. They will be playing tunes composed by Stan Tracey, Mike Carr, Lee Morgan and McCoy Tyner together with some original tunes by Don Forbes.

Play Jazz! workshop
It’s time to enrol for the next Co-op Play Jazz! workshop, which will take place on Saturday 7 February from 2pm to 6pm at Sage Gateshead Newcastle. These workshops appeal to a wide range of musicians including those who play other styles of music but are new to jazz play written music but want to learn to improvise have not played for …

Jazz.Coop, The Globe, 11 Railway Street,
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7AD

http://jazz.coop/

Liane and Chloe headlne@Seven Jazz Leeds!

Two talented women in the jazz world headline at Seven Jazz Leeds in February.

Liane Carroll, who has won many jazz awards with her soulful voice and piano is at Seven Arts on 5th Feb, then BBC New Generation Artist saxophonist Trish Clowes, brings her stunning band featuring pianist Gwilym Simcock and guitarist Mike Walker to Seven Arts on 26 Feb.

Also this coming month there is  young trombonist Tom Green with his London based septet on 25th Feb at Seven Arts, our new Inkwell jazz jam session on 15th Feb, a welcome return of veteran UK guitar fusion legend Gary Boyle with his special quartet at Seven Arts on 8th Feb, and to start with this coming Sunday afternoon 1 Feb at Inkwell a real treat as we feature American trumpet star and jazz educator from Georgia State University, Gordon Vernick. Come and enjoy it all!

Sun Feb 1 Gordon Vernick Quartet  @Inkwell 1.30-4pm 
Gordon Vernick trumpet, Martin Longhawn piano, Angus Milne bass, Tim Carter drums.US trumpet star with his quartet, Professor of Music, Georgia State University. “Wonderful writing, exceptional soloing”

Thus Feb 5 Liane Carroll trio @SevenArts 8pm 
Liane Carroll (vocals/piano), Roger Carey (electric bass) and Mark Fletcher (drums) Liane Carroll is one of the UK’s greatest musical treasures. A soulful, impassioned singer and superb pianist – her range runs from a heartbreaking ability to live an emotional lyric to breathless vocal virtuosity that makes an audience jump with joy. Here’s a chance to see her back with the trio – arrive early!  Support from Coney Island Babies

Sun Feb 8 Gary Boyle Quartet@SevenArts 1.30-4pm 
Top British jazz fusion guitarist and local hero Gary Boyle (ex Isotope, Triple Echo, and albums like Electric Glide) to bring his quartet to Seven Arts  - featuring Jonathan Hartley on drums, Ed Harrison bass, Andrzej Baranek keyboards.

Sun Feb 15 New Inkwell Jazz Jam 1.30-4pm 
Bring your horn, your axe, voice or just come and listen to the fun! Spanish born and Leeds based jazz pianist Victor Gutierrez to lead the rhythm section trio.

Sun Feb 22 Tom Green Septet @SevenArts 1.30-4pm 
Tom Green – trombone,Tommy Andrews - Alto/Soprano Saxophones, Sam Miles –  tenor sax, James Davison – trumpet, Sam James – piano, Misha Mullov– Abbado - double bass, JJ Wheeler – Drums "Some of the most exciting original new music I have heard for a long time” Dame Cleo Laine. "Remarkable… only the very best arrangers can get a sound like that from four horns" Evan Parker

Thus Feb 26 Trish Clowes Quintet with Gwilym Simcock @SevenArts  8pm 
Trish Clowes: sax; Gwilym Simcock: piano; Alex Munk: guitar; Calum Gourlay: bass; James Maddren: drums Top class quintet showcasing BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist, Trish Clowes. Inspired by her visit to meet major influence Wayne Shorter in California, her music explores a fascinating hinterland between jazz and contemporary classical – fluent, thrilling improvisation, languid, evocative melodic lines and shifting textures. Support from Stretch Trio (Andy French - Saxophone Calvin Travers - Guitar Tom Higham – Drums)

All concerts promoted by Seven Jazz Leeds at our two venues:
Seven Arts in Chapel Allerton : 31 Harrogate Road, Leeds LS7 3PD
Inkwell in Chapel Allerton 31 Potternewton Lane LS7 3LE
Tickets Online: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenjazzleeds
Kids under 16 free
Full time students get into all our gigs for £5
You can purchase tickets on the door if not sold out.

More information on our website www.sevenjazz.co.uk

Convicts at Ribble Valley...

Andy Sheppard

Geoffrey Jackson writes:

Home Office approval for convicts appearing at Ribble Valley Jazz Festival May Day Bank Holiday weekend may not be needed!   Mainly because it’s the Blackburn band, the Soul Convicts, appearing at the British Legion Social Club and heading this year’s festival innovation - a Soul Stage - imitating a successful Blues Stage

But the BIG NEWS is confirmation of the biggest & best programme for the 6th Annual Festival 1/4 May 2015.   Stacey Kent heads up the headliners, accompanied by Andy Sheppard, Soweto Kinch, Alan Skidmore Quintet, and Paul Rigby’s Northern Jazz Orchestra with Georgina Jackson, all appearing at The Grand, ‘The best small theatre outside London’ - James Taylor.

Jazz North’s bands Dread Supreme, John Ellis Trio, and Unfurl, bring Northernline quality to the Atrium Cafe Bar.   Inspired Manchester-based band, Baked a la Ska, ensure a lively late-night dancing gig.

Festival Fringe gigs feature on all 4 days in hotels, restaurants, pubs and villages.  Street Festival Saturday promotes youth bands in Clitheroe’s main street which is closed to traffic.  Bank Holiday Sunday & Monday sees 10 bands on Clitheroe Castle’s outdoor bandstand.   The Festival gives plenty of choice in live music with crossover arts activity complimenting a strong jazz programme.   Hence 4 bands appear on the three year old Blues Stage, and two bands start the first Soul Stage.

The festival programme has strengthened in recent years thanks to private and public sector support.   Unistage, the festival’s main sponsor, provide bespoke staging solutions for the festival.  Arts Council grants have given Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues confidence to expand an ambitious festival that brings social, cultural, and economic benefit to jazz communities, and to Clitheroe and Ribble Valley.

Colour brochures will be available in February, with more information on www.rvjazzandblues.co.uk , www.facebook.com/RVJazzEventsFestivals , and Twitter @RVJazzFest. Email contact is info@rvjazzandblues.co.uk. More Information - Geoff Jackson, Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues - 07870908159
geoff@rvjazzandblues.co.uk

News from Southport's Winter Weekend

Dmitry Baevsky

From Geoff Matthews

More news from the Jazz on a Winter’s Weekend 6-8 Feb Southport

The two US based stars appearing on Saturday 7 Feb 7.30 pm – Russian altoist Dmitry Baevsky and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli gigged recently on in Smalls Jazz Club Manhattan  (see picture Jan 2nd 2015)
Also Dmitry hit the big time with a feature in the New York Jazz Hot House Mag

There are just 17 tickets left for this gig!!

Norwegian Marius Neset, appearing with fellow countryman Daniel Herskedal at 2.30 pm on Sat 7th Feb has  just awarded Norwegian Grammy equivalent. Marius Neset & Trondheim Jazz Orchestra were awarded the most important Norwegian music award for their critically acclaimed album "LION", the Spellemannprisen, Norway´s equivalent to the GRAMMY®. The prestigious and multi-genre award was presented in an awards ceremony last Saturday and broadcasted live on national Norwegian television to hundreds of thousands of viewers.

On 30 January Marius Neset will release his new album "PINBALL" (ACT). Besides himself on tenor and soprano saxophones it features Ivo Neame on piano, Jim Hart on vibes, Peter Eldh on bass and Anton Egger on drums and as co-composer. Further guest appearances include classic cello virtuoso Andreas Brantelid, Ingrid Neset on flute and Rune T. Sorensen on violin.

From February 7 onwards Marius Neset and his quintet will be on tour until the end of the year including a gig at Leeds 7 Arts on April 16th.

There are only 23 tickets left for this one at the Winter Weekend at The Royal Clifton Hotel Southport PR8 1RB!!

To book tickets ring SMJC Tickets 01704 541790. Or go on line to www.jazzinsouthport.co.uk to view the programme

Mullen and more at Scarborough

Jim Mullen 

Scarborough Jazz give us their February listings

4 February Jim Mullen Organ Trio
www.jimmullenjazz.co.uk
As winner of a clutch of ‘Best Guitar Awards’, Jim is first choice of guitarists for visiting US musicians such as Mose Allison, Jimmy Smith, Gene Harris, Plas Johnson and Teddy Edwards.  Naturally, Jim has played with every top UK Jazz musician.  Jim’s fellow musicians in this trio are the very accomplished Mike Gorman on Hammond Organ and the world class Matt Skelton on drums.  Jazzwise magazine wrote of them, “ Rush to hear this ferociously swinging supergroup! “.  They will surely provide a high point of our Winter season.  Tickets are £8 (£7 in advance)

11 February Frank Brooker
Frank’s tenor sax and clarinet skills have endeared him to audiences for decades.  He plays regularly with the Kid Boyd jazz band and the Dave Brennan band.  Frank leads his own quartet and trio and works as a soloist throughout the North.  He presents a repertoire from across jazz history, often reviving unfairly neglected tunes.  His playing sounds effortlessly fluent and he swings wonderfully. with Mike Gordon trio.  £4

18 February Jim Birkett
www.jamesbirkettmusic.com
A swinging and melodic guitarist, Jim has played with Scott Hamilton, Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore and Snake Davis.  After studying at the Leeds College of Music at the same time as Alan Barnes and David Newton, Jim went on to gain a Phd in teaching jazz improvisation.  Since retiring from his educational work, Jim is even more active on the jazz scene, leading a trio, working as a duo and playing with the gypsy jazz group Djangologie.  For this gig he is a soloist with  the resident Mike Gordon trio.  £4.

25 February Tom Green Septet
www.tomgreen.org.uk
Tom Green is one of the most exciting young trombonists currently active in the UK.  He has played at Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex and the 606 Club as well as the jazz festivals of Montreux, Toronto and Montreal.  His septet brings together some of the most talented young musicians on the London jazz scene. They create a warm, melodic sound using the full range of textures available to a seven piece ensemble.  The band weaves diverse influences together to form striking melodies, colourful harmonies and propulsive grooves.  “ Some of the most exciting original new music heard for a long time” said Dame Cleo Laine.  Tickets £7  (£6  in advance)

All gigs start at 8.45pm.

Scarborough Jazz @ The Cask Inn
Cambridge Terrace, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 2LQ

01723 500570

For more info go to www.scarboroughjazz.co.uk

February jazz at Wilmslow and Cheadle Hulme.

Dave Newton

Graham Brook brings you up to date with what's happening at Wilmslow and Cheadle Hulme.

February 3rd:- DAVE NEWTON (piano), DAVE MINSHULL (drums) and DAVE TURNER (bass)
February 10th:- MARILYN ROYLE (vocals), DAVE ROBERTS (reeds) and the STEVE HALL trio
February 17th:- LEN SKEAT (bass), TOM KINCAID (keyboard) and GAZ HUGHES (drums)
February 24th:- DON WELLER (sax) with the ANDRZEJ BARANEK trio

"Tuesday Jazz and Swing" every Tuesday night upstairs at Wilmslow Conservative Club, 15, Grove Avenue, Wilmslow SK9 5EG. 8.30pm start. £7 on the door.

"THE SINATRA SWINGERS" appear every first Thursday of the month at Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club

February 5th - DEBBIE WILSON vocals with DAVE BROWNING (trumpet), GORDON ROBINSON (trombone), NIGEL CRETNEY (drums), DAVE TURNER (bass) and VINNIE PARKER (keyboard)

Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club, Mellor Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5AT. Show commences 8.30pm. £6 on the door

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Young bands with the big names at Grimsby

Matt Holborn

Gill Wilde from Grimsby Jazz writes

Grimsby Jazz is looking forward to its next gig on 25th February, when the Matt Holborn Gypsy Jazz Quartet will perform at the Old Clee Club. The talented violinist Matt Holborn will spend all his Wednesday nights in February in Grimsby with the North East Lincolnshire Music Hub. He will be leading workshops with the Eclectic Strings Group which is led by Sue Baker. On the fourth week he will perform with them when they appear as the support act at the club at 7.00pm

This is one of the youngest groups appearing at the club in 2015 but there are several more support acts to follow in the following months. The Jam Experiment are not only providing the support act, for 7 Pieces of Silver at the Club on 11th March but also leading a workshop at Franklin college during the afternoon. We also have Will Howard, ex Leeds College of Music saxophonist coming 22nd April supporting Swiss trio "Vein".

All the Acts have been finalised for Cleethorpes Jazz Festival  26th, 27th & 28th June, so watch out for the Festival postcards circulating the country!

Tickets available from Available from Gill Wilde 68 Welholme Ave Grimsby DN32 0BP Tel: 01472 873730. Please make cheques payable to GRIMSBY JAZZ.

Also available Cleethorpes TIC. Tel 01472 323111.and 'Off the Beaten Track' 36 Aswell St Louth Tel: 01507607677

Wild Flower LCoM launch on 3 Feb

Matt Anderson writes

Wild Flower Sextet is an all-star band led by saxophonist Matt Anderson playing original music inspired by the sound and approach of jazz legend Wayne Shorter, alongside new arrangements of classic and lesser-known Shorter compositions. At this very special album-launch gig in the LCoM Recital Room, the band will be working with the Leeds-based Jellymould Jazz label to release their debut album in the very same space in which it was recorded in 2014.

Matt Anderson graduated from Leeds College of Music in 2010 with First Class Honours, also receiving the Sam Hood Rosebowl for Outstanding Performance. He has since studied with Iain Ballamy and Stan Sulzmann, and was awarded ‘Young Musician of the Year’ at the Jazz Yorkshire Awards 2010. The Matt Anderson Quartet toured nationally in 2012, with JazzUK commenting: “melodic standards and original tunes… impressive throughout,” and he has gone on to work with many of his former tutors, currently appearing in bands led by Jiannis Pavlidis, Jamil Sheriff and Jamie Taylor as well as featuring on Taylor's latest CD 'Introducing Outside Line'.

The sextet draws on an all-star line-up of UK jazz musicians. Laura Jurd is an award-winning young trumpeter making waves on the UK jazz scene with the Laura Jurd Quartet (currently pairing up with the Ligeti string quartet) and the Chaos Orchestra, and also as a member of ensembles such as the London Sound Painting Orchestra and Blue-Eyed Hawk. Guitarist Alex Munk is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and is currently working with a number of distinguished UK musicians/groups including Stan Sulzmann Big Band, Ivo Neame and Trish Clowes. Pianist Jamil Sheriff is Pathway Leader for Jazz at Leeds College of Music and is well known for his own projects such as his Octet and Big Band. Finally, drummer Sam Gardner and bassist Sam Vicary have built up a rapport playing together in a variety of settings, from appearing with jazz artists such as Jiannis Pavlidis, Tim Whitehead and Krzysztof Urbanski to performing and recording with ambient hip-hop band Ikestra.

Needing no introduction, Wayne Shorter is a legendary figure across the whole spectrum of jazz, from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and his own seminal albums on Blue Note Records through the Miles Davis Second Great Quintet and Weather Report to his new Quartet.

Matt Anderson – Tenor Saxophone
Laura Jurd – Trumpet
Alex Munk – Electric Guitar
Jamil Sheriff – Piano
Sam Vicary – Double-Bass
Sam Gardner – Drums

It's at the Leeds College of Music Recital Room, Quarry Hill, Leeds, pricing is £12/£10/£8 (staff/students).

February at Wigan...

From Alan White

As always, the club meets on the last Sunday lunchtime of the month, with a 12:30pm start. Our session on February 22nd certainly fulfills our mission to bring the best of regional and national jazz to Wigan - Phil Shotton brings his SWINGSHIFT BIG BAND, always popular visitors to the club, but this time featuring the UK's number one big band drummer and bandleader PETE CATER.

The venue, as always, is Whelley Ex-Servicemen's Club, in Vauxhall Road, Wigan WN1 3LU.

Admission is £11, £10.50 for concessions and £10 for Wigan Jazz Club members - no need to book, just pay at the door.

Full details of this and future concerts can be found at www.wiganjazzclub.co.uk 

Cinnamon Club in February...

Theo Jackson

Neil Hughes writes:

"Here's the Cinnamon Club listing for February 2015

Thursday 5th Sue Barron Jazz Quintet
Sue Barron is a local singer who has been performing with her band of excellent musicians in the North West and beyond for a number of years. They have performed at the Cinnamon Club many times. The repertoire is a mixture of Jazz Standards, some lively latin numbers, some familiar more contemporary songs and beautiful ballads.

Friday 6th  The Magic Beans
The Magic Beans are a band with an ear for a quirky cover and have the imagination to take it in a completely new direction. Also incorporated into the mix are some rootsy originals that draw influence from folk, jazz & world music traditions. Uli Elbracht & Matt Owens are self-effacing accompanists: they provide minimal velvet for the jewel of Zoe Kyoti’s voice, which is magical in its smoothness, nuance and tenderness. They have performed throughout the UK with appearances including The Manchester Jazz Festival, Rainow Jazz Festival & Zeffirellis Ambleside.

Saturday 7th Theo Jackson Quartet
While his heart belongs to jazz, Theo Jackson’s soul lies in music which has the ability to cross boundaries and genres, appealing to a wide audience. A storyteller by nature, many of his songs are observations of people from his home-town of London.

Newly signed to US label Dot Time Records, this engaging and charismatic British jazz songwriter will be releasing his first album in April 2015. "Shoeless and the Girl" features 10 original songs, ranging in approach from jazz arrangements to solo piano and voice.  The album will also feature an adaptation of Wayne Shorter's 'Footprints'.

Friday 27th Mike Walker & Stuart McCallum
Two of Manchester’s finest guitarists get together for a gig that will be a joy for all their fans. Differing styles “mesh intuitively” says Mike Butler who has followed these musicians for years.

“Anything McCallum can achieve by synthetic means, Walker can replicate with nylon and blood. McCallum proposes chilled-out bliss; Walker offers sublimated yearning. Well, don’t say synthetic; say rather electro-acoustic, which fits the music to a tee. Other pairs of opposites spring to mind: bitter-sweet, yin-yang, introspective, and, well, introspective. Anything but aggressive” Mike Butler

Saturday 28th Mads MathiasAlready somewhat of a star in his native Denmark, Mads Mathias is a vocalist/songwriter and saxophonist, who has captured the hearts of music lovers with his charismatic performances, spirited personality and entrancing original songs with the feel of timeless swing-era classics.

All concerts start 7.30pm
The Cinnamon Club
The Firs
Bowdon
Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2TQ
0161 926 8992
www.thecinnamonclub.ne

Perform at Lancaster Jazz Festival!

Lancaster Jazz Festival is now open for artist submissions for their open programme during the annual contemporary jazz festival held in the centre of Lancaster between the 17th and 20th September 2015. The submission process is quick, easy and open to all artists - follow the links at www.lancasterjazz.com before the deadline on Friday 27th March.

For the first time LJF is also holding a call for submission for their Youth Jazz Commission at the same time as their open call. If you're an emerging artist under the age of 25 then Lancaster Jazz will pay and support you to write a brand new work to be premiered at the festival. If you have an idea follow the links at www.lancasterjazz.com before Friday 27th March 2015

Matt Robinson
Lancaster Jazz Festival

Burton Agnes gears up

Denise McDonagh writes

The 9th Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival is taking place this summer, from Friday 3rd July to Sunday 5th July 2015.

Surrounded by the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds, the Festival is set in the award winning grounds and Great Hall of this stunning Elizabethan stately home, which has stayed within the Cunliffe-Lister family for more than 400 years. Fifteen generations have filled the Hall with treasures, from magnificent carvings commissioned when the Hall was built between 1598 and 1610 by Sir Henry Griffith, to French Impressionist paintings, contemporary furniture, tapestries and other modern artwork in recent years.

2015 marks one hundred years since the birth of perhaps the greatest of all jazz singers, Billie Holiday. To celebrate, the critically acclaimed tribute to Billie, ‘Lady Sings The Blues’, is coming to Burton Agnes, featuring Val Wiseman, twice crowned ‘best singer’ in the British Jazz Awards. Six jazz stars will perform alongside Val Wiseman, including Alan Barnes and Digby Fairweather; all bar one are British Jazz Awards winners.

‘This is a very English festival, with a wonderful laid-back atmosphere…superbly organised and efficiently run, which brought together such a wide range of musical styles across a successful weekend’ Fatea Magazine

Tickets are now on sale from here http://www.burtonagnes.com  by telephone 01262 490324 (weekdays 9am-5pm), or from any of the shops at Burton Agnes Hall.

Early bird tickets are currently on sale and priced at £60 for the full weekend; children under 12 are free with an adult. Concessions: OAPs, Burton Agnes Hall members, students and children aged 12-15 are £58.
(Families need only buy one concessionary ticket to cover all their children aged 12-15)

More acts will be announced during the coming weeks and if you would like to receive more information about the 2015 Jazz & Blues Festival, please visit www.burtonagnes.com 
or email:  denise@manillapr.com 

The venue is Burton Agnes Hall, Burton Agnes, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 4NB
Tel: (00) 44 01262 490324

Learn more about jazz improvisation!

Hey you - FOUR opportunities to learn more about jazz improvisation!

1. Half day workshop at HEART led by Matt Roberts on April 25th from 2.30 - 4 p.m. Cost: £15.
2. Weekend workshop at DALESBRIDGE near Settle with Matt Roberts, Sam Watts (and possibly Sam Gardner too). May 8th - 10th Cost: £250.
3. Summer school at HEART led by Matt Roberts and Matt Anderson.3rd - 6th August inclusive. Cost: £200  (accommodation, food, tuition).
4. Continuing Monday evening workshops 7.30 - 9 p.m. Cost £8 per session

MORE DETAILS email lesley@jazz-at-heart.org.uk 
 
 - book early as places are limited!
 

Jazz at Heart

Heart Centre

Bennett Road

Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 3HN 

United Kingdom

Dave Hatfield - sad news

Dave Hatfield second to the right with Denis Dalby, Mike Short, Peter Nix, Dave Gadd, Pete Robinson from Leeds Jazz final event - 26 Nov 2009

Sad news to pass on to you. Dave Hatfield, the organiser of Fusebox in Leeds and one of the leading lights behind the former Leeds Jazz died on Monday this week.

Dave requested that a New Orleans inspired procession lead his hearse through Chapel Allerton, stopping at Seven Arts in Chapel Allerton, before the funeral, from around 2pm. 

The funeral will be at Rawdon Cemetry in Leeds on 29th January at 3pm.

At 4.30pm afterwards there will be a celebration of Dave’s life at Seven Arts, with lots of music, to which everyone is very welcome.

Do pass this on to anyone else who you think may have known Dave, thanks

Dave’s co-promoter Bill Chatwin at Fusebox has posted a tribute on http://www.fuseboxleeds.org.uk/?p=1175. 

Here's a video of the marching band at Dave's funeral  (very Yorkshire weather!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYkgwV8VwrY

Ten Wakefield gigs get the Jazz year going with a bang!

Chris DeSaram writes

The Wakefield Jazz programme for January to Easter has singers, star soloists and a range from swing to contemporary jazz.

We are particularly happy to be the only club to bring certain bands to the North of England providing a unique opportunity to hear them.  First in that category is Laura Jurd’s Human Spirit on 30 January concluding their 11 date tour on their way home from Scotland.  The inclusion of the startling singer Lauren Kinsella and veteran second trumpet Chris Batchelor makes this a flexible and intriguing band.   Next is the “at last” debut band led by bassist Alison Rayner featuring Steve Lodder, Deirdre Cartwright and Diane McLoughlin. These Blow the Fuse musicians are rarely invited out of London and make a special trip to visit Wakefield on 20 February.   Another bassist with an unusual band is Andy Cleyndert who brings the de Jong Cleynderts on 27th February with Ross Stanley and Martin Shaw.   Yet another exceptional bassist is the prodigal son of British Jazz Phil Donkin with his international quartet on 13th March.  This talented Maccem left for New York some ten years ago and then as his international reputation burgeoned based himself in Berlin.  His long awaited return to the UK visits Wakefield at the climax of his release tour of the album “The Gate” – look out for U S drummer Colin Stranahan.     The American Tim Armacost plays second tenor with Alex Garnett in his Bunch of Five on 23 January, a really exciting band with Liam Noble, Mike Janisch and James Maddren.

Zoe Gilby kicks things off on 16 Jan.; Alan Barnes on 7th February (note, a Saturday) followed by David Newton’s new Big Screen trio on 13th February.  Guitarists Mike Walker and Stuart McCallum on 6th March and singers Beverley Beirne and Esther Bennett on 20th March complete the offering.

You can buy online via the gig’s page on the website www.wakefieldjazz.org  at the club or by post to Judith Waterhouse,  3, Bramley Park, Church Lane, Bramley, Rotherham, S66 2RU.   Please make cheques out to Wakefield Jazz and include a S A E.

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

Update at the Spa

Dear Jazzers

Apologies for the late arrival of the new programme - due to our creative guru being seriously indisposed with the lurgi over the festive period. Delighted to hear that the first session with the Savannah went well - it's always an uplifting evening after the New Year break. The website is now updated with all the gigs until the end of May and the" Future Dates for your Diary" page has all the specials currently booked to the end of the Year. In response to a number of requests, we have managed to arrange a second session with Hot Fingers and Emily Campbell for November as well as the original session in June. Thanks again for all your support and encouragement. Kind regards

Les + the Team at Boston Spa

January 2015
17th – Andy Henderson Swingtet – here’s a nod towards the quartets and quintets of the 40s and 50s and the standards made famous by the swing bands of the era.

24th - Alan Barnes + John Hallam + Tom Kincaid Trio – one of the most enjoyable musical combinations we are privileged to present. First set up by Tim in 2011, this is one of the highlights of our annual programme. Two of the UK’s finest saxophonists supported by a superb rhythm section. £10

31st – Mart Rodger Manchester Jazz – here’s more enjoyable sounds by one of the most respected traditional jazz groups in the North.

February 2015

7th – Frank Brooker’s Happy Chappies – this one is close to home. Our local hero, Frank on reeds, leads a line up of local worthies including Greg Wadman on trumpet, Jim Wright on banjo/guitar, Phil Kampen on bass and all driven along by our favourite drummin’ man, Rod McNamara.

14th – Maine Street Jazzmen – and to help drive away the wintertime blues, one of the most stimulating traditional jazz bands in the North which has quickly established itself as a Boston Spa favourite.

21st – Boston Spa Real Ale Festival – featuring Ron Burnett’s Mardi Gras Jazz Quartet. No evening session this week as the Hall is transformed into a Mecca for Real Ale enthusiasts with over 30 ales to choose from. The Mardi Gras Quartet will be on stage from 2.00.pm to 4.00.pm – sponsored by Jazz in the Spa. The Festival opens at 12 noon and entry is £5 to include a Festival glass.

28th – Spirit of New Orleans – and to round off the month, a highly regarded Yorkshire based band with a delightfully relaxed, wide ranging and distinctive style.

NB Cans into the Red Bucket to support the Air Ambulance Landing Strips  for Children’s Hospitals

Jazz at the Spa is at the Village Hall High Street Boston Spa, Leeds LS23 6AA

Situated just off the new section of the A1(M) at Junction 45 signed Wetherby and Otley.

Leeds Jazz Club listings

Chicago Teddy Bears

Leeds Jazz Club  Spring programme (Tuesdays)

13 Jan Spirit of New Orleans
20 Winston's Pennine Jazz
27 Gavin Lee's New Orleans Band

3 Feb Louis Louis Louis
10 Feb Peter Frank's Dixieland All Stars
17 Feb Funky Butt Hall N/O Jazz Band (first time at club)
24 Feb Savannah Jazz Band

3 Mar Alligator Gumbo
10 Mar Harlem Hot Stimpers
17 Swingamathing (young 7 piece swing band)
24 Yorkshire Stompers
31 Cafe Society (jazz cabaret)

April
7 Tame Valley Stompers
14 Chicago Teddy Bears (£7)
21 Leeds City Stompers/Frisco Bay Hot Stompers
28 Jump Jive and Wail

£6 entry 8-10.30pm

www.leedsjazzclub.com

Leeds Jazz Club
Armley Conservative Club
Ridge Road
Armley
Leeds
LS12 3LE
0113 252 3844

New Year jazz in Rothwell

Howard Alden (pic Tom Swire)

The Hare and Hounds is pleased to announce the jazz line-up for 2015. Having kicked off 2015 with a fantastic night featuring Russell Van Den Berg on saxophone and look forward to presenting: 

Monday 2nd February - Laurie Briggs – vocals

Monday 2nd March - Ian Chalk – trumpet

Monday 13th April –  Cherie Gears - vocals

Monday 11th May - Howard Alden - US guitar legend tbc

Monday 1st June - Anita Lee – vocals 

Monday 6th July - Riley Stone-Lonergan - saxophone

As ever, it is free admission and the gig starts at 8.30pm. All acts are supported by The James Robinson Quartet which normally features Adrian Ingram [guitar], Ian Rose [organ], Paul Chamberlain [bass] & James Robinson [drums] 

www.facebook.com/TheJamesRobinsonQuartet

We look forward to welcoming friends both old and new for what promises to be another exciting year of jazz 

The Hare and Hounds 

Commercial St, 

Rothwell, 

Leeds, 

LS26 0UE 

Tel: 0113 282 2089

January Jazz at Heart

Lesley Jeffries writes "Jazz-at-Heart presents:

Tom Rivière Quartet-  January 24th 2015 7.30 p.m.

Playing new compositions from the leader and songs from the past. The music echoes old ballads, appropriates familiar structures and delves into more abstract places.

Tenor saxophone: Matt Anderson
Piano: Martin Longhawn
Double bass: Tom Rivière
Drums: Steve Hanley

Tickets £8 (£6 concs) from HEART reception or http://www.heartcentre.org.uk/whats-on

Don't forget on Monday (12th Jan) we resume our workshops for all adult amateurs. For five weeks we have the talented Will Howard with an Ellington and Strayhorn series of workshops. The workshops last from 7.30 to 9 and cost £8 per session. Just turn up! Matt Anderson will be back after his triumphant tour!"

HEART – Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre
Bennett Road
Headingley
Leeds
LS6 3HN

Watermelons in Harrogate...

Emily Brown

Keith Jevons writes with news from Harrogate Jazz

"Tuesdays at the Brasserie will feature a guest instrumentalist along with the Watermelon Men. Yes, back to the four piece line up of guitar, piano, bass & drums.How can we afford it you may ask? Well we can’t without your support and generosity with the raffle, so please come along and bring a friend or two if you can. It’s still free entry"

Thursdays at the Red Lion, Upper Poppleton the Andy Cholerton Trio will be alternating with the Karl Mullen Trio + guests

Tue 13th Jan - Harrogate Brasserie, free entry 8.15pm - saxophonist Brendan Duffy

Thu 15th Jan - The Red Lion, Upper Poppleton free entry 8.30pm - vocalist Kate Peters

Tue 20th Jan - Harrogate Brasserie, free entry 8.15pm - vocalist Emily Brown

Tue 27th Jan - Harrogate Brasserie, free entry 8.15pm - saxophonist Russ Henderson

Thu 29th Jan - The Red Lion, Upper Poppleton free entry 8.30pm - trombonist Eugene Farrar

Tue 3rd Feb - Harrogate Brasserie, free entry 8.15pm - multi instrumentalist Al Wood

Thu 5th Feb - The Londesborough Club, vocalist Cherie Gears

Tue 10th Feb - Harrogate Brasserie, free entry 8.15pm - The Watermelon Men + guest t.b.c.

Thu 12th Feb - The Red Lion, swinging vocalist Mike Westerman

Tue 17th Feb - Harrogate Brasserie, free entry 8.15pm - Jon Taylor

Tue 24th Feb - Harrogate Brasserie, free entry 8.15pm - The Watermelon Men + guest t.b.c.

Thu 26th Feb - The Red Lion, Upper Poppleton free entry 8.30pm - vocalist Tessa Smith

Fri 27th Feb - The Crown Hotel, Harrogate 6.30 - 9.30 Buffett - saxophonist Jim Corry (the 1st of several special jazz events to be held at the Crown Hotel. More details to follow.)

All the best

Keith

http://www.harrogatejazzblues.blogspot.co.uk

News from "the fixer"....

                           

 Jenny Smith

Jazz collective "fixer" Paul Smith gives us his latest listings

Jan 7th    Mike Cox’s Senior Saxes - Al Wood, Bill Charleston, Rod Mason

Jan 14th    Jonny Faulls (sax), Damien Bell (trumpet) ‘Miles Theme’

Jan 21st     Al Wood (sax), Matt Ball (trombone)

Jan 28th     Jon Taylor (sax), Dave Tyas (drums)

Feb 4th       Rod Mason (sax), Ken Hickey (drums)

Feb 11th     Jenny Smith (vocals), Jez Platt (keyboards), Ken Hickey (drums)

Feb 18th     Kieran Matthews (sax), Nick Walters (trumpet)

Feb 25th      James Lancaster (trumpet), Stuart McDonald (sax)

with (from) Andy Cholerton    Andrzej Baranek  Paul Chamberlain     Paul Baxter

Wednesday Head of Steam
"Huddersfield’s Premier Jazz Venue"
St George’s Square, HD1 1JB
Show Time 8.30pm
support the music with raffle participation

Back at the Central...

Richard Hardy writes- Jazz at the Central (Wellington Street in Leeds LS1 4LT) is back Thursday evening 8 Jan at 9pm. 

Free entry!

Walker/Mccallum at Davenham

Spring gigs at jazz@davenham

Thursday 15th Jan: Mike Walker, Stuart McCallum / guitars

An intimate collaboration between two musicians with international reputations, playing 5 guitars between them and performing originals and standards re-imagined and re-sculpted into fresh music, characterised by focus and restraint. The duo have now released their debut album Beholden to coincide with their northern line tour. With the support of Jazz North

“Quiet but compellingly lyrical music.” The Guardian
“Grey skies and rain-soaked red bricked terraces as seen through a cosy cup of hot, sweet tea.” Jazzwise

On Thursday 15th January jazz@davenham present Mike Walker and Stuart McCallum 

Following gigs include Slowlight Quartet (26th Feb) Rachel Cohen Quartet with Phil Robson on guitar (26th March) Simon Read Octet (23rd April) Magic Beans (28th May) Jazz Worriers (18th June)

Tickets (2 gigs ahead only) from jazz@davenham.co, 01606 74502 or 01606 44253

Gig venue - Davenham Theatre: 59 Church Street, Davenham CW9 8NF

Sponsors - Tatton Brewery
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk