Terry Cryer RIP

One of the most celebrated jazz photographers, Terry Cryer has passed away aged 82 on 17 January

He was a native of Leeds and was a close friend of the tuba player Bob Barclay, who had opened a cafe serving egg and chips with jazz records on the side in Upper Briggate Leeds (it is now the Sela Bar). This would become Studio 20, a celebrated after-hours nightspot with red beans and rice on the menu, in tribute to Louis Armstrong’s favourite dish, and in 1956 Cryer met Armstrong in Barclay’s company.

Cryer photographed many of the original visiting Americans coming to these shores - the bluesmen Jimmy Rushing and Muddy Waters, and the Eddie Condon and Count Basie bands. A selection of these photos are below

 Bob Barclay, Yorkshire Post Jazz Band and owner of Studio 20  

 Humphrey Lyttelton trumpet, Tony Coe sax, Brian Brocklehurst bass, Joe Temperley piano Studio 20

 Jimmy Rushing

 Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes at Studio 20 

 

 Sister Rosetta Tharpe at Leeds Town Hall 

Studio 20 

Val Wilmer's obituary in the Guardian here
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jan/20/terry-cryer-obituary

Preston Jazz Jam takes off!

First call! Soweto Kinch is heading up the new Preston Jam on Sat 1st April - no kidding! With Nerija and Lancashire band Atomic Brass it should be worth a ticket - only £15 for three bands, £7.50 students.

The Jam is part of a stunning 5 days of jazzy music - with improvisation running through the whole programme. It's a Pre-Ribble Valley Jazz Festival Fringe event - just a month before RVJazzFest - and organised by the University of Central Lancashire in association with the RVJazzFest folks

Tickets - from The Grand www.thegrandvenue.org.uk

Sundays at Kennedy’s Jazz Bar York

Adrian Ingram Jan 29 

Paul Smith sends his Sunday lunch listings for Kennedy's bar in York

Jan 15th - The Derrick Harris Trio - 
Derrick (guitar), Jez Platt (organ) Barry Rickarby (bass)

Jan 22nd - The Nick Svarc Set - 
Nick (guitar), Gary Jackson (bass), Paul Smith (drums)

Jan 29th - Adrian Ingram’s Cookbook -
Adrian (guitar), Jez Platt (organ) Paul Smith (drums)

Sunday Brunch at Kennedy’s Jazz Bar
Little Stonegate, York, YO1 8AX
Showtime 1.00pm

Wednesday at the Head of Steam Huddersfield

Brendan Duffy Jan 11

January dates at the railway station...

Jan 11th – Brendan Duffy (sax), Tony Spivak (sax) Jez Platt (keyboard), Ronnie Bottomley (drums)

Jan 18th – Frank Brooker (sax), Andy Henderson (trumpet), Ronnie Bottomley (drums)

Jan 25th – Tom Sharp (trumpet), Tom I’Anson (trombone) 

Rhythm section - Andy Cholerton or Andrzej Baranek/Paul Chamberlain or Paul Baxter

Free gig with raffle participation

Huddersfield Railway Station
Head of Steam bar
St George’s Square,
HD1 1JB

New Jazz Sessions 2017 @ The Grove Inn Leeds

The monthly gigs in October, November and December at Leeds Grove Inn  have started to show some of the fresh jazz talent on the Leeds music scene. The bands playing in the new year promise to build on that reputation.

Sunday 22nd Jan – King and I
Adding new ideas and arrangements to the benefits of an established band , King and I come to reconnect with the Grove, “one of our favourite small jazz venues”, where they played at the old Grove Jazz Club. And they play jazz you will know . But with vocals and lead trombone , they bring a distinctly different style to the party.
Sammy King – Vocals
Steve Simkins – Trombone
Les France – Drums
Joe Kent – Keyboard
Ruth Ker – Double Bass

Sunday 19th Feb - The Jeff Hewer Quintet
A line up of talented Leeds College of Music alumni who are establishing, both as individuals and as a band, a growing reputation in Leeds and beyond. Jeff is a jazz guitarist and composer from Toronto, Canada who now lives in Leeds. The band plays his original material as well as their arrangements of jazz standards, matching exciting group interplay with modern jazz styles and grooves.
Jeff Hewer – Guitar
Steve Hanley – Drums
Eliot Richards – Tenor Sax
Alex Podraza – Piano
Tom Riviere – Bass

Sunday 19th March – Phil Green’s Quiet Jazz Project
This promises to be an intriguing evening of music. Phil Green offers the following taster: “In an increasingly noisy world, the Quiet Jazz Project offers a respite, a brief period of calm. We have been exploring ways of physically playing our instruments very quietly, and ways of playing and interacting as a group, to produce an overall effect of quietness. And yes we really do have 2 electric guitars, a trumpet and drums ! Come and see what it ‘s all about. You may be surprised.....” The band play their own compositions, jazz standards , and free improvisation.
Phil Green – Trumpet\Flugel
Les Goldman – Tenor Sax\Bass Clarinet
Jonathan Lindh – Violin
Jeff Hewer and Jules Marley – Guitars
Sam Quintana  – Bass
Dom Moore – Drum

Sunday 23rd April – Jiannis Pavlidis Trio
This month an international talent leads a new young band. Jiannis has performed and recorded with greats such as David Liebman, Adam Nussbaum and Greg Hutchinson. His “Migration “ album, through FMR records was released all over Europe and the USA. He is based in Leeds and as a Principal Lecturer at Leeds College of Music, he encourages the developing talent of jazz students and alumni by bringing them into his projects. This trio comprises alumni bassist Sam Quintana and LCM student Jordan Dinsdale, on drums. They play original material and their own take on jazz standards.

All the gigs include a support set from the house band : Abtuse
Brian Whittington – Tenor Sax
Alex Celik – Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Joe Wistow – Keys
Steve Hemsworth – Guitar
Trev Prinn – Bass Guitar/Double Bass
John Bradford - Drums

For details contact b.whittington1@btinternet.com

The Grove Inn is on Back Row, off David Street, off Water Lane, Leeds, LS11 5PL

Refujazz benefit at Heart Leeds

From Lesley Jeffries and John Marley, Jazz at Heart

We're excited to present a day of live jazz performances and workshops in aid of several refugee charites. Some of Yorkshire's finest jazz musicians are coming together to help raise desperately needed funds for people fleeing war. Please come along and support this event and enjoy some incredible music.

The day is SATURDAY 11 FEB 12:00–23:00

The line up for the day is listed below. Tickets can be bought for individual shows (£5) or a full day pass (£20). events in the cafe are free entry but a donation would be gratefully appreciated.

12-12.45pm - Al Morrison Trio (Cafe)
1-1.45pm - Joe Boyes Trio (Main Hall)
2.15-3pm - Bassa Bassa (Main Hall)
3-3.30pm - Inside Out Duo (Cafe)
3.30-4.30pm - George Macdonald Trio (Main Hall)
4.30-5pm - The Irrelevance (Cafe)
5-6pm - Louie Mcdonald (Main Hall)
6-6.30pm - Sam Dunn (Cafe)
6.30-7.30pm - York Youth Jazz Orchestra (Main Hall)
7.30-8pm - Aleks Podraza Trio (Cafe)
8-9pm - Leeds Jazz Orchestra (Main Hall)
9-9.30pm - Phil Green's Sky High Jazz Trio (Cafe)
9.30-11pm - Kate Peters Quartet + Jam (Main Hall)

Workshops -
John Marley - Jazz Bass Time TBC
Sam Dunn - Jazz Guitar Time TBC

Jazz at Heart
Heart Centre
Bennett Road
Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 3HN

http://www.heartcentre.org.uk/jazz-at-heart

THREE new jazz jam session in Leeds

Inkwell Jazz Jam

White Rabbit jazz Jam

Chris Bland Trio - Hyde Park Book Club Jam

Three new jazz jams to add to the ever growing Leeds scene

Sunday afternoon at Inkwell in Chapel Allerton - starts Sunday 15th January 2017
If you’d like to sing or play a jazz song or two then why not come along to the first of the new monthly Seven Jazz Inkwell jam session starting this Sunday 15 January 1.30-4pm. Bring your axe, your voice and join in - or just come along and watch the fun. The Seven Jazz trio is there to support you with Pete Rosser piano, Steve Crocker bass and Steve Hanley (again) on drums. Phil Green's Quiet Jazz project are set to have their first public performance at 3pm A real fun jazz open mike afternoon - bit like a variety show!
1.30pm start
Inkwell Arts
31 Potternewton Ln, Leeds LS7 3LW

Tuesday evening at the White Rabbit starts on Tuesday 17th January
Sam Quintana has posted "Come on down to the first White Rabbit jam session of the New Year on Tuesday 17th January in the middle of Leeds! Just a jam from 8-11pm- plenty of time for everyone to get up and play a few numbers! Bring your horns/strings/sticks and come and play that tune you've been working on. Spread the word and see you there!"
8pm Start
The White Rabbit
11 York Place, Leeds  LS1 2DS

Thursday nights at the Hyde Park Book Club - starts 19 January 2017
Just round the corner from the well established Wednesday night jam at the LS6 club in Hyde Park, Pianist Aleks Podraza is hosting the jam with his quintet. The following week the Chris Bland Trio will do a set of original then support the players: Chris Bland - Piano Tom Riviere - Bass Steve Hanley - Drums. Come down for a set of originals, stay for the jam.
6pm start
Hyde Park Book Club
27-29 Headingley Lane, LS6 1BL Leeds

Other regular Jazz Jams in Leeds

• Heart Jazz Jam (first Friday every month 7.30pm) Headingley
• LS6 Jam at Ls6 Cafe Hyde Park (every Wednesday, band at 8pm, jam at 9pm)

pin

Chaos at the Etihad and all that jazz

Scarborough Jazz Festival's Mike Gordon shows Pep Guardiola the red card..

"It’s not often jazz hits the headlines. What a pity that when it does it displays ignorance of the genre (If every player plays like a jazz musician, it’ll be chaos, 4 January). Pep Guardiola may not like jazz, but he should be aware that it is a highly disciplined music which demands complex musical skills and team spirit. That’s why Ray Charles liked to choose jazz musicians for his tour bands and why many classical performers I know envy the improvisational skills of jazzers – which I would have thought football managers would encourage in their players."
Mike Gordon
Director, Scarborough Jazz Festival.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/06/chaos-at-the-etihad-and-all-that-jazz?CMP=share_btn_fb

Fusebox gets a Circuitbreaker

Fusebox Leeds has decided to take a 'pause' for a few months to refresh and re-design the way that we function in the future. We already have some exciting plans and just need some time to work on these new developments. BUT in order to keep the music alive we are planning CIRCUITBREAKERS, a series of curated pop-up shows across the city, continuing the Fusebox commitment to bring world-class, cutting-edge music to Leeds.

Strobes w/ Cameron Vale (support) + Survival Skills (DJ set)
Saturday February 4th, 2017
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (in Games Room)
£5 adv / £7 otd

STROBES
“a scattered assault of slightly math-rock explorations, soaring post-rock guitars, grooving African rhythms and glitchy, pulverising electronics”
Formed of keyboardist Dan Nicholls (who has worked with Squarepusher and Matthew Herbert), drummer Joshua Blackmore (Troyka) and guitar and synth man Matt Calvert (Three Trapped Tigers, Heritage Orchestra) – this band has created, via their debut release Brokespeak, an album that eschews genre and feels free from time-stamps. They are an intensely high-octane group that fire off frantic tempos and intricate complexities, yet they also retain an accessibility through fluid grooves and an engaging sense of melodic intuition
https://strobesband.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vCPfEp1PBs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PABXUzFd7q0

CAMERON VALE
A welcome and long awaited return to Fusebox for Cameron Vale who first played for us on 28th November 2014, when they made and left their mark.
Formed in Leeds in summer 2013, Cameron Vale is made up of members from diverse musical backgrounds. In their music, they combine improvisation, jazz, rock and electronics with original compositions. Expect a high energy blend of polyrhythms, improvisation and riffage.
https://cameronvaleband.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZuc6dGVVGw

Sproggits is back!

John Frisco

From Matt Aplin

The first Sproggits of the new year! With two excellent projects: Elliot Galvin and Andrew Woodhead, and John Frisco. Monday Jan 16 8pm

Elliot Galvin was a Yamaha Jazz Scholar in 2013 and won the 2014 European Young Jazz Artist of the Year Award - many will know him from Laura Jurd's first two records. Andrew Woodhead was awarded the Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition in 2014. Both are superb improvisors, and we're really excited to be putting on this project.

John Frisco comprise of three good musicians: Lara Jones on soprano saxophone, Jemma Freese on keyboards and Megan Roe on guitar. This is another exciting project, who did a really great set at Black Cygnet recently. Those that missed it, this is your chance to catch them.

£3-10 pwfy
Sproggits
Wharfe Street Chambers
Ground Floor, 23 - 25 Wharf Street, LS2 7EQ Leeds

January jazz into Doncaster

John Pashley and Friends 26 Jan

From Brian Askew

Just a quick reminder on our Programme for January 2017 to add to your calendar.

On Thurs 12 January we present the Doncaster Youth Stageband comprising of musicians from the Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra

On Thurs 26 Jan we present John Pashley and Friends Trad Jazz Band from West Yorkshire.

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year from JazzintoDoncaster.

Cheers

Brian

New jazz club in Shipley..

From Dave Cook
Happy New Year!

Since Jazz on a Saturday recently finished (after 20 years), at The Lightcliffe Club, I have had a number of requests to find somewhere else in which to carry on the format of creating a sociable Jazz inspired atmosphere where musicians and singers are encouraged to "sit in" with the 'Vibes lead' rhythm section.  The venue I have been fortunate to find this January and arrange to play on the 2nd and 4th Saturday nights in the month from 8-30pm is-

Low Hall, (Shipley Conservative Club),
82, Otley Road, Shipley, BD18 3SA

Best wishes
David

Latest Parr Jazz news....

Maria Dunsmore 31 Jan

Happy New Year to one and all! We hope you had a great Christmas too!

We had some amazing guests in 2016 and as we kick into the new year quite a few of our regulars have said to us - 'How do you follow that'?!

Well it's never easy to better what seems close to as good as it can possibly get but nevertheless we believe we may have done it! Some old friends, new friends and friends we haven't even met yet are all in the mix over the next few months and it's now beginning to look like our guest programme for 2017 is going to be even more exciting, interesting and varied than last year.

Jazz with a distinct 'left field' twist to kick start the year on the 3rd. Our first guest(s) are the amazing Kletzmer Group TROIKA!   Featuring the absolute best in jazz infused Pan European music from Left Bank Paris to East of the Volga with of course a big dollop of the sounds originally emanating from the Yiddish Night Spots of Odessa.

They're followed in on the 10th by a true giant of the British jazz scene. Super saxophonist ALAN BARNES! Great friend of all at the club and a brilliant player, composer and arranger.

Another talented friend on the 17th - Home grown too! It is marvelous to be able to welcome back once again the incredible multi-instrumentalist STEVE PARRY!  Trumpet / Keyboard / Drums / Vocals and more... possibly even the kitchen sink!

Tuesday the 24th means it's time for GINGER TUNES! This feisty four piece swing, rock & groove with the best. Very tasty!

To close out the month on the 31st, we're back to a guest soloist. So good to have a return visit from one of our all time favourite vocalists - The ultra sophisticated chanteuse Ms. MARIA DUNSMORE!

And so the 'ParrJazz Train' steams on into 'Fab Feb'! The goodies on offer then are mega too! But the nitty gritty about them and much more will all be revealed in the next edition of the 'ParrJazz Bugle'!

In the meantime come on down to 'Frederiks' any Tuesday. Always great things happening!

Just before we close this edition we want to shout out a GREAT BIG THANK YOU with our very best wishes to some unsung heroes. Firstly to the management and all the staff at Frederiks who apart from being supportive & helpful, believe in what we are about and what we are trying to do! And of course to all our wonderful jammers! Too many to mention by name but they're all very much appreciated and a key ingredient of our night. Newcomers always welcome by the way!

To each and everyone of you... keep swingin'!

Thank you all,
Your ParrJazz Team.

Parr Jazz
Fredericks
32 Hope Street
Liverpool

Check the Parrjazz website for April Listings- www.parrjazz.com

Going Dutch on Tyneside

Wilbert de Joode 

We at Jazz North East have long been in love with the older generation of Dutch jazz musicians who have brought humour and imagination to the European scene for many decades. But there’s a whole new group of younger artists, learning from their predecessors, but also tapping into other sources from across the musical spectrum. In fact the Netherlands scene is so inspiring that Amsterdam has become the base for an increasing number of musicians from elsewhere in the world - so American saxophonist John Dikeman and Slovenian pianist Kaja Draksler are just two from an international pool of hugely creative artists who have made their homes in the city.

What better way, we thought, to celebrate this new diversity (and to open our 2017 concert programme) than to bring together a group of players from across the generations and nationalities for an all day event? Add in a couple of outstanding young UK artists in Olie Brice (who has played several gigs at Amsterdam’s iconic Bimhuis) and Tyneside’s very own Faye MacCalman, and we have the makings of a hugely exciting day’s music on Sunday 22 January.

Over the course of two sessions, afternoon and evening, we will be showcasing the very best of today’s Dutch jazz scene, with everything from solo performances to rip-roaring ensemble excursions, from intricate compositions to spontaneous improvisation. Around half of the sets will come from established groups, while others will be meetings created specially for the occasion, giving the artists themselves the opportunity to forge new musical friendships. So the great Wilbert de Joode (recent winner of the prestigious Boy Edgar Prize) has asked to link up with fellow bassist Olie - a request we’ve been happy to meet. We’re still working on the detailed programme, but one thing’s for sure - this is going to be a brilliantly varied and imaginative spread of good things from the Netherlands.

In putting this together we have received enormous help from Dutch Performing Arts and the Jazz Promotion Network, who are working together to bring more Dutch musicians over in the coming couple of years. Jazz North East is proud to be at the vanguard of this project, and to be setting the ball rolling with this tremendous all-day showcase. JPN promoter members can apply for free tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/going-dutch-day-tickets-30919933353

Tickets for each session cost £12.00 or £10.00 concessions, but there’s a saving on all day tickets, which are priced at £20.00 / £16.00 concessions. You can get your tickets from the Lit & Phil (0191 232 0192), Reflex Records (0191 260 3246) or online from seetickets.com

Featuring
Ab Baars (reeds)
Reinier Baas (guitar)
Olie Brice (bass)
Wilbert de Joode (bass)
John Dikeman (sax)
Kaja Draksler (piano)
Onno Govaerts (drums)
Ig Henneman (viola)
Faye MacCalman (reeds)
Jasper Stadhouders (guitar)
Martin van Duynhoven (drums)

The first of two improv sets 2.00 - 5.30pm, and 7.00 - 10.30pm Sunday 22 January

Music is the remedy at Seven Jazz Leeds!

 

Riff Raff 8 January 

Cloudmakers "Five" 19 January 

Start the year listening to great jazz or come and join in too with our Seven Jazz choir, our workshop or our jazz jam session in Chapel Allerton, Leeds! Your new year jazz cure starts here..

Sun Jan 8 Dave Mannington’s “Riff Raff”  
@Seven Arts - doors open 1pm. Music 1.30-4.00pm Tickets £10/8 concessions
Brigitte Beraha – vocals, Tomas Challenger – Sax, Ivo Neame - Piano/accordion, Rob Updegraff – guitar, Dave Manington – Bass, Tim Giles – Drums

Jazz super-group "Riff Raff", features some of the most acclaimed musicians in the country, and led by founder member of London's Loop Collective, Dave Manington on bass, a musician who has played with an incredible array of stars (including Marius Neset and Gwilym Simcock) and also featuring Brigitte Beraha (Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther) on vocals, Tom Challenger (Outhouse, Red Snapper) on tenor sax, Ivo Neame (Phronesis, Fringe Magnetic, Cinematic Orchestra) on piano/Rhodes/accordion, Rob Updegraff (Ronnie Scotts All Stars, Eska, Zigaboo Modeliste) on guitar, and Tim Giles (Iain Ballamy, Art Farmer) on drums/percussion. This is jazz that draws on classical, folk and electronic music that is quirky, lyrical, and engaging. “Grooves like hell” – Jazzwise (£10/8 concessions, students £5)

Sun Jan 15 Jazz Cafe and Jam Session
@Inkwell doors open 1pm, music 1.30-4.00pm Tickets £7/5 concessions (concessions includes performers). A warm welcome to everyone to our new monthly jam session at Inkwell! Bring your instrument, your voice, even your band - or just come along and enjoy the fun! The Seven Jazz band will be there to support you.

The first of international jazz concert in on Thursday evening 19 January featuring vibesman Jim Hart:

Thurs Jan 19th: "Cloudmakers" feat. Hannes Riepler + Antonin Tri Hoang 
@Seven Arts - doors open 7.30pm, music 8-11pm. Tickets £16/14 concessions; full time students £5 on the door
Hannes Riepler: guitar; Antonin Tri Hoang: alto sax, Jim Hart: vibes; Michael Janisch: bass; Dave Smith: drums. 
Cloudmakers represents the culmination of over a decade of musical growth between three of the finest musicians in the UK, vibesman Jim Hart with drummer Dave Smith and MOBO award nominated bassist Mike Janisch.  Cloudmakers ‘Five’ is a new project which features special guests Antonin-Tri Hoang (France) on Alto sax and clarinet and Hannes Reipler on guitar (Austria). The quintet will be playing all new music drawn from such diverse musical worlds—including free-jazz, funk, electronic experimentation, pure swing and unbridled improvisation. "Their music is impossible to resist" - 4 Stars, Downbeat Magazine
Support is from Seven Jazz's own Jean Watson sextet 8pm

Sun Jan 22 "Perpetual Motion Machine"
@Seven Arts, doors 1pm, music 1.30-4.00pm. Tickets£10/8 concessions; full time students £5 on the door
Sam Dunn and Jamie Taylor guitars, Ben Lowman and Riley Stone-Lonergan on saxes Garry Jackson bass and Steve Hanley drums
Perpetual Motion Machine play their own original music; a dynamic mixture of jazz, rock, funk and ambient soundscapes, with an energy and dynamism that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Sun Jan 29 Leeds University Union Big Band
@Seven Arts, doors 1pm, music 1.30-4.15pm Tickets £10/8 concessions; full time students £5 on the door
Trumpets- Dan Coulthurst, Rich Hodgson, Sam Rosenbach, George Pierson, Ed Harrison; Trombones -Elliot Crouch, Charlie Knighton,Lewis Hammond,Alex Barrie Alto Saxes - Jasmine Whalley, Danielle Drew, Tenor Saxes - Paul Smith, Olivia Rome, Baritone Sax - Sarah Austen. Guitar - Elliot Wenman, Bass - Dave Edwards, Keyboard - Joe Whelan, Drums and Percussion - Chris Cox and James Law Vocals - Michael Ahomka Lindsay and Mared Williams
Formed in 1987 as part of the Leeds University Union Music Society they have moved from its humble beginnings to an independent, semi-professional band gigging around Leeds, the wider Yorkshire area and further afield. The repertoire features tunes by the likes of Count Basie and Thad Jones, and with Big Band arrangements of pop tunes ranging from Michael Jackson to Justin Timberlake.

Seven Jazz Workshops and Jazz Choir:
Don't forget also if you'd like to take part in our workshop classes then our Seven Jazz Voices Choir start their rehearsals again @Inkwell on Monday 9 January 7-9pm led by Tessa Smith - just come along, join in and sing, or contact crockersteve@ntlworld.com. The Jazz Workshop is now based at Inkwell on Sunday morning 10-12pm on the first and third Sundays of each month starting on Sunday 8 January led by Tom Sharp and Dom Moore - for information about this, contact jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.com

Inkwell Divas
Saturday 7 Jan 1.30-3.30pm – the first "Inkwell Divas" of 2017 features talented jazz vocalist and flautist Sarah Henderson with the Seven Jazz trio (Inkwell's vegetarian cafe too! Payf collection)

Rush Hour Jazz 
Wednesday 18 Jan 6-7pm - Rush Hour Jazz in the bar at Seven Arts with James Boyes (tenor sax) and the Seven Jazz trio (payf collection)

Our details: 
Seven Artspace: 31 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD.Tel 0113 2626777.
Inkwell: 31 Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3LW. Tel  0113 3070108.
Our Seven Jazz Website is www.sevenjazz.co.uk where there are links so you can follow us on our Facebook and Twitter sites.

We’ve got six fantastic evening concert happening this spring - why not buy a season ticket and see all for £70 or £60 concession? Tickets here Also, if you'd like a copy of our new Spring 2017 leaflet with all the details you can also pick one up at Leeds Visitor Centre next to the Central Library, at Jumbo Records, Chapel Allerton library and at our two venues, Seven Arts and Inkwell.

We wish you all a happy New Year and look forward to seeing you soon at a Seven Jazz event!

Steve Crocker
Seven Jazz Leeds

Ribble Valley Jazz Collective gigs

Trish Ferrarin’s Breaking Jazz 8 January 

Here is the listing for the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues club this January

Ribble Valley Jazz Collective and Blu Funk Syndicate.
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 2017 From 7:00pm, Stage: 7:45pm to 10:30pm
Venue: The Grand Theatre, 18 York Street, Clitheroe BB7 2DL Tel: 01200 421 599 Web: www.thegrandvenue.co.uk 

RV Jazz and Blues 10th Anniversary 2017 marks 10 years of the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club. And to celebrate this landmark, a year of special events gets underway when the club’s two resident big bands lock horns.

The Ribble Valley Jazz Collective are a community band formed in 2012 featuring 20 enthusiastic local musicians who have been expertly led by Paul Rigby, one of the most talented band leaders in the North West. Three years on, the collective has grown in confidence and musical ability and never fail to entertain audiences from all across the County and beyond.

Blu Funk Syndicate feature Matt Collinge on Bass guitar and the delightful, charismatic singer Abigail Fielding on vocals. Embarking on another busy year, expect a more 'funky' repertoire of tunes from this band who are also mentored by Paul Rigby. Bring your dancing shoes!

Tickets: Tickets: £8 - Members £6 (please contact the Box Office on 01200 421599) Book now: from The Grand's website

Trish Ferrarin’s Breaking Jazz
SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2017 From 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Venue: The Spread Eagle Inn, Sawley Near Clitheroe BB7 4NH Tel: 01200 441202 Web: www.spreadeaglesawley.co.uk 
Tickets: FREE, but table booking advisable.

Julie Edwards & Kevin Dearden
THURSDAY 12 JANUARY 2017 From 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Venue: The Shireburn Arms Hotel, Whalley Road, Hurst Green, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 9QJ | Tel: 01254 826 678 Web: www.shireburnarmshotel.co.uk 
Tickets: FREE, but table booking advisable if dining.

Jazz Jam at the Brewery
The Engine Room Holmes Mill
THURSDAY 19 JANUARY 2017 From 7:30pm to 10:00pm
Venue: Holmes Mill, Greenacre Street, Clitheroe BB7 1EB
Web: www.holmesmill.co.uk 
Tickets: FREE, but table booking advisable if dining.

More details http://www.rvjazzandblues.co.uk/

Jazz North East highlights of 2016

 Bonga Champion Mwamba

Josh Sinton Trio

From Paul Bream from Jazz North East

As usual, I approach the task of identifying my jazz ‘highlights’ with considerable reservations. Jazz today is so wonderfully diverse that I’m not sure there are any yardsticks by which you can measure it, let alone compare gigs that have very different approaches. And because one of the glories of jazz is that it is constantly evolving, an imaginative approach (even if it doesn’t entirely fulfil its ambitions) means as much to me as a technically flawless but creatively safe performance.

Fortunately Jazz North East’s 50th anniversary year has yielded a rich crop of performances that have surprised and delighted me in equal measure. Making a choice has been tough (and on a different day I’d probably come up with a completely different list), but here goes . . .

I’m going to start with what were the first and last of JNE’s 2016 presentations, which between them give a good idea of our schtick as promoters:

* Paris-sur-Tyne : this all-day event kicked off our year with eight French and Anglo-French bands, between them packing in a glorious variety of approaches and managing simultaneously to be distinctively French (even though there wasn’t an accordion in sight) and yet clearly drawing from the same creative well as many of the UK’s most interesting young contemporary bands.

* The Jazz North East Fluid Orchestra : a 12-piece band put together by JNE, with musicians from across the North in a decidedly unusual instrumental line-up (with theremin and viola alongside the more conventional front-line horns), and performing specially commissioned music reflecting - very loosely - the five decades of our existence. A high risk project that proved a triumphant success, with a constantly gripping mix of serpentine themes, unusual aural textures, and inspired soloing. A superb climax to our year.

In between those chronological extremes there was so much good stuff: these are just a few . . .

* Ingrid Jensen Quartet : ours was the first gig in her short tour, and there were a few ‘What happens next?” moments, but there was clearly so much enjoyment and mutual respect between Ingrid and the UK trio that it was a joy to hear.

* Ray MacDonald & Günter ‘Baby’ Sommer : the Scottish saxophonist and the veteran German drummer (believed in some quarters to be my long-lost brother) played improvised music of great imaginative intensity whilst also managing to be hilariously entertaining. Unforgettable.

Sommer and Bream

* Bonga, Champion & Mwamba : why on earth South African born saxophonist Ntshuks Bonga isn’t better known is one of those mysteries that beset jazz. Here he gave an inspired performance of free improvisation, bringing out the best in bassist Andy Champion and vibes maestro Corey Mwamba.

* Corrie Dick ‘Impossible Things’ : we were fortunate in getting the 9-piece version of the Scottish drummer’s debut CD line-up, so wonderful tunes and tremendous solos from Laura Jurd, Joe Wright, Matt Robinson - in fact from every member of a brilliant young band.

* Josh Sinton Trio : another figure little known in the UK, Brooklyn reedsman Sinton was a revelation.  In the company of guitarist Han-earl Park and bassist Dom Lash, he unleashed sinuously flowing lines which were freely improvised but always with a profound melodic underpinning. Instant composition at its best.

Highlights of the Northern jazz year!

The real new years honours list didn't, as usual didn't do much for jazz, so for the third year running we've done our own! The North of England is the best place to see jazz in the UK, second only to London in the quality variety of jazz being played, composed and recorded so we have a lot to celebrate. We've ask some Norvoljazz promoters what they remember as the highlights of 2016 for our NorvolJazz New Years honours list! So here's some of those highlights....

Gill Wide Cleethorpes Jazz Festival, Grimsby Jazz
There were two supremely memorable events for me. The first was the Cleethorpes Jazz Festival - it will be the last organised by me as I've handed it on to Charlotte Bowen, Director of Arts organisation "The Culture House". But this year all the stops were pulled out with an amazing line up of artists making it a very extraordinary weekend.

The second event follows on from this.  The Commission of a Suite  of new music, composed by Alan  Barnes and Pat McCarthy, and arranged by Alan, is outstanding, it also has the challenge of responding musically to the wonderfully evocative poetry of Josie Moon. "The Grimsby Fish Tale" uses the language of the fishing industry, its superstitions and culture The music brings together a unique combination of regional and London musicians, Alan Barnes, Dean Masser and Gilad Atzmon on saxophones, Neil Yates on trumpet, Dave Green on double bass, Pat McCarthy on guitar, Mark Nightingale on trombone and John Perry on percussion. They go into the recording studio at the end of January and will be touring it during the second half of 2017.

Chris De Saram/Wakefield Jazz:
It's been a good year for Wakefield Jazz. The outstanding highlights of the year began in February when Simon Spillett’s band was followed by John Etheridge in duo with the amazing singer Vimala Rowe.  John Law’s New Congregation provided some sophisticated listening for our 1,000th gig in April and Ingrid Jensen’s band (a NorvolJazz/Appolo tour) closed our season for the Summer in June.   The Autumn gave us two further highlights, the International quintet of The Impossible Gentlemen and the wonderful tribute to the music of Ornette Coleman led by Tony Kofi.

Paul Thomas/Sheffield Jazz
Here are my personal highlights of 2016:
• Benn Clatworthy Quartet in September at Crookes Social Club and (prior to that) at Scarborough Jazz Festival. Beautiful playing by the whole band and a timely reminder of just how good Benn is and what a fine, lyrical pianist John Donaldson is. A great start to our first season at Crookes too with an audience of 160!

(Crookes Social club - new venue)

• Peter King Quartet at Millennium Hall in January: Peter still playing beautifully despite not being in good health. Great support from Tom Cawley on piano.
• Jason Rebello solo piano at Millennium Hall in March. A fine intimate gig by a truly original and inventive pianist.

• Kofi/Barnes Aggregation at Crucible Studio in March. Excellent interplay in a barnstorming gig.
• Vein Trio plus Greg Osby at Crookes Social Club in May. Hastily moved from Millennium Hall to Crookes due to the collapse of facilities at the former and had to be squeezed into a small room at Crookes. The small space made for a great atmosphere and Greg Osby was a revelation on sax.

Steve Crocker/Seven Jazz Leeds
2016 wasn't everyone's favourite year but we have a lot of  people to thank who have made our musical lives so enjoyable over the past twelve months! Here's my particular highlights

• Our first Village Jazz Festival held in September was a great success with an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, the spoken word and salsa (photos of Steve Phillips by Chris Charlesworth)
  

• Our weekly gig series never failed to entertain with legends like Ian Shaw, new stars like Mads Mathias, the amazing sax improv of Ellery Eskelin (a NorvolJazz/Appolo tour promoted by Kim Macari) and the stunning young Nerija band that gave us all hope for future..

• We've helped start a new big band associated with Seven Jazz, Mojo78, run by Leeds pianist Dave Evans
• We successfully crowdfunded to raise money to purchase a new piano for our Inkwell venue.

• The icing on the cake for us was winning the Parliamentary Jazz award in May 2016 for the UK's best jazz venue - now we really have something to live up to!

Ian Darrington and Mary Haynes Wigan Jazz Club and Wigan International Jazz Festival 

From Ian: we held the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra, the organisation that in the mid 1980s was responsible for the creation of the Wigan Jazz Club and the Wigan International Jazz Festival involving a sell out concert featuring special guest Eric Marienthal performing with WYJO and this in turn led to the release of the latest WYJO album ‘Live @ 40’.

Many of the Orchestra’s past members attended the concert, including founder members Andy Prior (below front row far left; not his political position) and Carolyn Cheetham (front row 7th from the left) Also attending the Festival to hear Georgie Fame (one of his best friends) was legendary rugby player Billy Boston pictured here with former WYJO bassist Ben Darrington.

From Mary: lots of good music this year, however the most memorable concert of my year was Friday Afternoon at Wigan Jazz Festival.  Friday afternoon is when we invite the local schools into the venue  (mostly juniors).  We booked The New York Brass Band and the kids loved them.  The teachers tried to keep them all in their seats, but didn't succeed, and the afternoon ended with hundreds of children joining the Band in a long line conga-ing round the hall.  I just hope some of them will be encouraged to learn more about Jazz!

Mike Gordon: Scarborough Jazz and Scarborough Jazz Festival
Lots of highlights including the best attended and most successful Scarborough Jazz Festival to date. Overall the one personal highlight was seeing Nikki Isles and Stan Sulzman at the Cask - lovely music.

So a happy New Year from us all at the NorvolJazz network - here's to a lovely jazz year. Check out about Norvol Jazz Network here - http://www.norvoljazz.org/