Newcastle Jazz Co op celebrate International Jazz Day

Custom House Big band

Sunday 30 April, 2pm - midnight 
30 April is International Jazz Day and it is also the day when, in 2014, Jazz.Coop bought The Globe and started creating the UK’s first community-owned live music venue/bar.

This year we will be celebrating with live music all day and night. The programme includes jazz of all styles from trad to free improvisation, from duo to big band. There are 12 acts together featuring about 50 of the North East’s jazz musicians.

Running order (may be subject to change)
14:00 – 15:00 TAKE IT TO THE BRIDGE – mainstream jazz from regulars of the North East’s longest running jam session
15:15 – 16:00 COOKING WITH THREE – in-the-moment free improvisation
16:10 – 16:50 SPACE GONG – sax/electronics quartet – psychedelic jazz rock
17:00 – 17:40 BIG MUDDY – jazz/blues septet – horns, vocals, happiness
18: 00 – 18:45 CUSTOMS HOUSE BIG BAND WITH RUTH LAMBERT – large, loud, luscious swing
19:00 – 19:30 JAMES BIRKETT & BRADLEY JOHNSTON DUO – two superb jazz guitarists
19:40 – 20:00 LA MILONGA DE LOS DOMINGOS – Argentine tango demonstration dance
20:10 – 20:40 VIEUX CARRE JAZZMEN – finest foot-tapping trad jazz
20:45 – 21:15 GABRIELE MIT ZWEI – charismatic vocalist with guitar and bass
21:20 – 21:50 JOEL BROWN & MATT MACKELLAR – next generation of jazz talent (piano/drums)
21:55 – 22:25 LINDSAY HANNON & ALAN LAW – top quality vocal/piano duo
22:30 – 23:00 SAFE SEXTET – tight creative hard bop
23:00 – LATE JAM SESSION – the sound of surprise
Admission free – donations very welcome

Other upcoming events at the Jazz Co-op

Songsmiths and minstrels
Eight two-hour sessions (Mondays 7-9pm) at the Globe. The next course starts on 24 April 2017. The tutor is Bethany Elen, community musician, folk singer and political activist. Course description This engaging course will explore various elements involved in the creation of song writing, composition, arrangement and performance of new music material.

New street band
The Globe is forming a new street band led by the energetic multi-instrumentalist Stuart Finden. The band will rehearse once a fortnight on Saturday mornings from 10am to 1pm at The Globe, Railway Street, Newcastle NE4 7AD. When they are ready the street band will perform at various events and festivals and at The Globe, of course.

Visit our website to see all gigs at the Globe and much more jazz.coop/whats-on

DJazz Festival and more in Durham

DJAZZ: The Durham City Jazz Festival 
June 2nd, 3rd & 4th
Over 25 events, spread across 7 venues over 3 days.
Live jazz / DJ sets / jam sessions /club night / beer festival / and so much more
This is the first DJAZZ festival so we’re giving you all of this for only a tenner per wristband at  buytickets.at/djazz

Empty Shop HQ
The Miners Hall
The Barber of Neville
Old Cinema Laundrette
Jam Jah
Studio

Final venue to be announced soon

Empty Shop gigs in May 
Working in association with Newcastle's Jazz Co-Op, The Jazz Sessions bring top class bands to Durham's Empty Shop venue on the first Thursday of every month.

Budtet
Thursday 4th May
Doors from 7:00pm // Music starts at 8pm // £5 / £4 students - pay on the door
Sextet mixing bebop, songs and originals featuring 2 singers, 3 horns and a solid rhythm section.

Hand to Mouth
Thursday 18th May
Doors from 7:00pm // Music starts at 8pm // £5 / £4 students - pay on the door
A great new guitar duo from the incredibly talented Bradley Johnston & Lindsay Hannon taking a cue from Joe Pass & Ella Fitzgerald.

Empty Shop CIC
35c Framwellgate Bridge
Durham, Durham DH1 4SJ
United Kingdom

Jazz Co op - http://jazz.coop/

May gigs at Kennedy’s Jazz Bar York

     

Jade Harris May 14th 

May 7th - Nikki Allen’s Combo - Nikki (vocals and keyboard), Ben Crosland (bass) Paul Smith (drums)

May 14th - Jade Harris and Friends - Jade (vocals), Jez Platt (organ) Derrick Harris (guitar)
                                                               
May 21st - Adrian Ingram’s Cookbook - Adrian (guitar), Jez Platt (organ) Paul Smith (drums)

May 28th – The Nick Svarc Set – Nick (guitar), Barry Rickerby (bass) Paul Smith (drums)

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

May gigs at the Head of Steam Huddersfield

Munch Manship May 3

Here's the listings from Paul Smith for the May gigs at the Head of Steam in Huddersfield

May 3rd - Rod Mason (sax) with his special guest the talented Munch’ Manship (sax)

May 10th -  Michaela Smith (vocals), Stuart McDonald (sax)

May 17th - Jon Taylor (sax), Adrian Ingram (guitar)

May 24th - Kyran Matthews (sax), Derrick Harris (guitar)

May 31st -  ‘Something New and Unusual’ with John Settle (vibes) and Sam Dunn (guitar)

Rhythm section from Andy Cholerton  Andrzej Baranek (keys) Paul Chamberlain  Paul Baxter (bass) and Paul Smith drums

Wednesdays at the Head of Steam
An eclectic mix of Jazz/Blues & Latin
St George’s Square, HD1 1JB
Show Time 8.30pm

Admission fee from £2 per person
For those who regularly pay £5 your continued support is much appreciated

Snake Davis @JazzLeeds Day of Jazz 3 August

Who better to be the headline act at the first JazzLeeds jazz day than Snake Davis Band?

Snake Davis is regarded as one of the most talented saxophonists in the music business today. Expect to hear anything from jazz standards to a Michael Jackson or Prince hit and lots of tunes in-between. An alumnus from Leeds College of Music (he funded himself by busking and gig money!) he is now in demand as one of the biggest names on the British scene, as well as visiting artists from overseas.

Snake is joined on stage by his band - Paul Birchall, keys, composer and lifelong friend, Simon Goulding, bass player extraordinaire with an impressive biography as long as your arm and Ali Thynne on drums, a most talented drummer who has also come out of Leeds College of Music and the new kid on the block. All are consummate musicians and clearly enjoy performing together.

This music doesn’t fit into any bracket. In truth, it’s real soul music. Snake said “I believe that any music that moves you is soul music”. You can expect to hear an exciting combination of old favourites as well as new material. This is genuine, emotional, feel good music.

“Snake Davis has one of the most passionate Sax styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn heard in these Isles for a while” Time Out

“A virtuoso saxophonist” Daily Telegraph

Earlier in the day we have free concerts in Millennium Square for JazzLeeds Fest 17 featuring Hyde Park Brass, Slide Area, The Big Easy and Tom Sharp's Jazz orchestra (12-2pm and 5-7.30pm). There will also be a jazz workshop in the afternoon if you want to learn to play jazz led by Leeds guitarist Dom Moore

All the Millenium Square Jazz events are free. Tickets for Snake Davis Band (£18/16) http://www.leeds.gov.uk/carriageworks/Pages/Event.aspx?s=5951

Tickets for the the workshop "How To Learn Jazz: A Beginners Guide" with Dom Moore (£5) http://www.leeds.gov.uk/carriageworks/Pages/Event.aspx?s=5952

 JazzLeeds jazz day is part of the Leeds Summer Music Festival 2017

Ilkley Jazz Festival 2017 Line up

From Mark Beirne Smith

Ilkley Jazz Festival is a small festival that has been growing steadily over the last 4 years and this year it is going to be even bigger with 14 acts that have just been announced at this years festival and 3 educational events. Headlining is Ian Shaw one of the worlds best male jazz singers often compared with Kurt Ellling and Mark Murphy, he will be performing at the Winter Gardens on 18th August. Ian will be performing music from his latest album Theory of Joy.

On Saturday 19th there are 5 acts that give the full breadth of the contemporary jazz genre, the day starts at 1pm in the Winter Gardens with Jamil Sheriff’s piano trio, followed by British Jazz Award winning Jamie Brownfields trumpet led quartet, and then MOBO nominated James Mainwaring leads a new sax lead quartet. After a short break for tea, expect a masterclass in jazz singing as Beverley sings Carmichael at 6.30pm followed by John Crawford headlining Saturday with Latin influenced jazz music from his latest Album Times of Tides.

Opening the festival we have the outstanding jazz singer Zoe Gilby from Newcastle performing at Monkmans with bassist Andy Champion on Wednesday 16th. Blues guitarist Dave Smith will be playing way down in the depths of Martinez Cellar Bar. On Thursday jazz singer Julie Edwards will be captivating us at Quinta and the improvisational talents of the Matt Aplin Trio will be playing his project Treppenwitz at Friends of Ham.

The Wweekend starts with Backchat Brass who will be surprising us with pop up performances around town. Virtuoso saxophonist Stuart MacDonald plays at Monkmans on Friday 18th. On Sunday, Hot Club du Nord, an amazing violin led gypsy band from Newcastle will be playing in the Black Hat. The festival closes with the fantastic community jazz band Dales Jam on the Ilkley Bandstand.

There are 3 educational events where you can learn a bit more about Jazz, the Late night jazz jam is your chance to play, the long running workshop and the masterclass are all free!
There are also another 8 events around town in various venues including Monkmans, Quinta, The Band-stand, The Black Hat, Friends of Ham and Martinez.

Tickets  and seat bookings for the Winter Garden events are available at the Ilkley Visitor Information Centre, there are Friday night tickets (£15), Saturday individual priced tickets (£various) Saturday full day tickets (£30) and Weekend tickets (£40) call 01943 602319 or pop in!
For the other acts please book directly with the venues

Summer at the Howard Assembly Room Leeds

Carleen Anderson 26 May

Jazz summer highlights at the Howard Assembly Room Leeds

Brad Mehldau Trio (Tues 16 May) with Larry Grenadier bass and Jeff Ballard drums. US jazz pianist Brad Mehldau has transformed jazz piano playing taking predictable materials in unpredictable directions

Jazz Jamaica (Wed 26 April) "One of the UK's leading good time bands" (Independent). A ten piece band led by double bassist Gary Crosby - a fusion of mento, ska, reggae with modern jazz standards and Jamaican folk songs

Mercury nominated Carleen Anderson (Fri 26 May)  is an American soul and jazz singer, who has had success in the United Kingdom. In her career she has collaborated with musician including Paul Weller and Ramsey Lewis and was vocalist and composer for  the Young Disciples. Her seventh solo album  - Cage Street Memorial will be performed live by Anderson with Samy Bishai on violin, Orphy Robinson on vibes,  Renell Shaw on bass and Crispen Robinson on percussion,

Sounds of Palestine (Thus 27 July) Nai Barghouti returns with her band of musicians from Palestine Korea Tunisia and Nigeria. She's followed by favourites of the Paris Jazz scene Mohamed Najem and friends - traditional Arab instruments alongside standard jazz line ups. Both groups move effortlessly between the music of the Middle East and jazz to find a new musical language

For more information and tickets visit howardassemblyroom.co.uk or call box office 0844 848 2727

LEEDS Grand Theatre / Howard Assembly Room
46 New Briggate
Leeds
LS1 6NU

Ushaw Jazz Festival announced

Buck Clayton Legacy Band 26 August

The Ushaw Jazz Festival 2017 Durham is taking place on the August Band Holiday weekend and features the very best in Jazz talent from the region and beyond

Friday 25th Aug Early Bird Band +Paul Edis Sextet
Saturday 26th Aug Buck Clayton Legacy Band and "Lady J"
Sunday 27th Aug Tom Sharp jazz Orchestra

Food and drink available throughout the weekend.

More acts to follow
www.ushaw.org
0191 334 5119

Ushaw College near Durham, follow signs from the A167

North East gig listings from Russell Corbett

Ingrid Laubrock’s Sleepthief - Sage Gateshead 29 April

Russell Corbett has compiled this listing for April jazz gigs in the North East - all Newcastle unless stated

Apr 12 Emma Fisk & Paul Edis The Witham, Barnard Castle DL12 8LY
Apr 13 Paul Edis Sextet Gosforth Civic Theatre NE3 3HD  
Apr 13 Alan Glen Trio Jazz Co-op @ The Globe NE4 7AD
Apr 13 Ray Dales & James Harrison Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough TS5 5DT
Apr 14 Nicola Farnon Trio* Gala Theatre, Durham DH1 1WA
Apr 14 King Bee The Studio, Hartlepool TS24 7HQ
Apr 14 John Pope & Faye MacCalman Jazz Café NE1 5DW
Apr 15 Early Bird Band* Jazz Café NE1 5DW
Apr 16 Lickety Split Black Bull, Blaydon NE21 4JJ
Apr 16 Zoé Gilby Quartet The Masham, Hartburn Village TS18 5DR
Apr 20 Chris Sharkey Trio Jazz Café NE1 5DW
Apr 20 Lickety Split Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough TS5 5DT
Apr 21 Ray Johnson & Richard Herdman Jazz Café NE1 5DW
Apr 22 Big Chris Barber Band Customs House, South Shields NE33 1ES
Apr 22 Brian Molley Quartet Jazz Co-op @ The Globe NE4 7AD
Apr 22 Ian Millar & Dominic Spencer Heighington Village Hall, Newton Aycliffe DL5 6PE
Apr 22 Big Muddy Jazz & Blues Band The Cleveland Bay, Eaglescliffe TS16 0JE
Apr 23 Darlington Big Band St Augustine’s, Darlington DL3 7TG
Apr 25 Playtime Collective Jazz Café NE1 5DW
Apr 27 Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee SR8 2RN
Apr 27 BABMUS Jazz Café NE1 5DW
Apr 27 Dave Weisser & Alan Law Jazz Co-op @ The Globe NE4 7AD
Apr 27-30 Darlington Jazz Festival
Apr 28 Dean Stockdale Trio* Bishop Auckland Town Hall DL14 7NP
Apr 28 Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook DL15 9DN
Apr 29 Ruby Turner Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick NE66 1PQ
Apr 29 Ingrid Laubrock’s Sleepthief Sage Gateshead NE8 2JR
Apr 30 Nick Ross Orchestra Forum Theatre, Billingham TS23 2LJ

*lunchtime/afternoon

Hafdis Huld at the Cinammon Club

Neil Hughes writes

Hafdis Huld is one of Iceland’s best known singers, with a voice as pure as melt water and a wit to match any comedian. Singing in English and performing an acoustic show, this concert will be as memorable as the northern lights.  She’s a favourite on the major festival circuit and regularly tours Europe, beguiling audiences everywhere she performs.

‘I love her voice and I love her’ Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
‘Love her to bits!’ Phil Jupitus
‘Hafdis is brilliant!’ Lauren Laverne, BBC 6Music
‘Wonderful’ Evening Standard
‘Hafdis is the kind of heroine music really needs’ PlayMusic

Thurs April 27th £10.00

Hafdis Huld

The Cinammon Club
The Firs
Bowdon
Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2TQ
0161 926 8992
www.thecinnamonclub.net 

Video of The Bowdon Rooms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MHPTstTgbk

Gigs in Wilmslow and Cheadle Hulme

Rosie Harrison -Cheadle Hulme April 20th

April 11th:- ANDY HENDERSON (trumpet), ALEX CLARKE (reeds) and the PETER ROBINSON trio
April 18th:- JOHN HALLAM (reeds), PAUL SAWTELL (vibes) and the ANDRZEJ BARANEK trio
April 25th:- AMY ROBERTS (reeds) with the MIKE HALL quartet
May 2nd:- THE MIKE HOPE (reeds) QUARTET
"Tuesday Jazz and Swing" every Tuesday upstairs at Wilmslow Conservative Club, 15, Grove Avenue, Wilmslow SK9 5EG 8.30pm £7 on door

April 20th:- ROSIE HARRISON (vocals/alto sax), TERRY BRUNT (vocals/trombone), ANDRZEJ BARANEK (keyboard), FRANK GRIME (bass) and JOHNNY HUNTER

"Rosie's Jazz and Swing" every third Thursday at Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club, Mellor Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5AT 8.30pm £7 on door

Draw by Four at Davenham

Thursday 20th April at 8 pm - (Photo attached)
Jon Shenoy's "Draw by Four"

"Draw by Four" are on a UK tour and will give a jazz "master class" to selected music pupils at Hartford High School on the same day. Jon Shenoy – tenor saxophone Will Bartlett – organ Sam Dunn – guitar Chris Draper – drums

With a line-up steeped in tradition, Draw By Four take the classic 60s organ quartet into brand new territory where the compositions from leader Jon Shenoy (Ivo Neame Large Ensemble) mix contrapuntal bass lines and rhythmic hooks with thoughtful lyricism. Mixing stark ethereal voices with gritty Hammond boogaloo, organist Will Bartlett (Jim Mullen, Salena Jones) draws on a wide palette of sounds that build the foundation for an infectious mix of groove-based original compositions, enchanting ballads and unique arrangements of avant-pop songs.

Doors and Bar open 7.30pm - Concert starts at 8.00pm

Bookings on 01606 74502 or e mail to jazz@davenham.co

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

Sponsors - Tatton Brewery
www.tattonbrewery.co.uk

Sunday jazz in York

Nicki Allen May 7

From Paul Smith -
                                                           
April 16th - Adrian Ingram’s Cookbook - Adrian (guitar), Jez Platt (organ) Paul Smith (drums)

April 23rd – The Georgina Bar Set – Georgina (vocals), Jez Platt (organ) Paul Smith (drums)

April 30th - The Derrick Harris Trio - Derrick (guitar), Jez Platt (organ) Paul Smith (drums)

May 7th - Nikki Allen’s Combo – Nikki (vocals and keyboard), Ben Crosland (bass) Paul Smith
(drums)

Sunday Bunch at Kennedy’s Jazz Bar, Little Stonegate, York, YO1 8AX
1.00pm start
Free with raffle participation

Gigs at Huddersfield's Head of Steam

Senior saxes April 26th

April 12th –  DOUBLE TRIO EVENING with Adrian Ingram’s ‘Cookbook’- Adrian (guitar), Jez Platt (organ)  Paul Smith (drums) and Paul Chamberlain’s ‘Swing Low’ Bass Ensemble with Paul, Ben Crosland and Paul Crompton

April 19th – Mike Hall (sax), Derrick Harris (guitar)

April 26th – ‘Senior Saxes’ – Mike Cox, Bill Charleston, Rod Mason and Jim Corry
                 
Rhythm from Andy Cholerton, Andrzej Baranek (keys) Paul Chamberlain Paul Baxter (bass)

Wednesdays at the Head of Steam
An eclectic mix of Jazz/Blues & Latin
St George’s Square, HD1 1JB
Show Time 8.30pm

Admission fee from £2 per person
For those who regularly pay £5 your continued support is much appreciated

Cliff Ray Band at the Atkinson Southport

Southport’s own superb trumpet star forsakes the big band stand and brings his newly formed sextet to the party. Expect some classy arrangements of favourite jazz tunes especially penned for this excellent ensemble.

The band will also include two members of the Southport Jazz Club committee, Mike Smith (sax) and Tom Sykes (piano).

www.theatkinson.co.uk or call 01704 533 333.

@The Atkinson,
Lord Street,
Southport,
PR8 1DB

Swinging at the Spa!

John Hallam 29th April

Forthcoming gig at Boston Spa Village Hall, Leeds

15th – Maine Street Jazzmen –  one of the best traditional jazz bands in the North which has quickly established itself as a JITS favourite. Led by trombonist and harmonica player Herbie Hudson, here’s an evening of non-stop favourites with the added bonus of a sprinkling of vocals from Olive.
22nd – Eagle Jazz Band – from the Midlands, we welcome this lively traditional jazz band with an impressive pedigree. Led by reeds player, Matt Palmer the band includes multi instrumentalist Pete Brown on trumpet, cornet and trombone. Happy sounds all round.
29th – Jazz Allsorts – the band which was the stunning success of 2016. A new group formed by drummer Graham Smith – John Hallam on reeds, Gary Wood on trumpet, Martin Veasey on trombone, Rod Kelly on piano, Jim Douglas (Alex Welsh Band) on guitar/banjo and Bruce Rollo on bass. Traditional jazz which swings like fury! Don’t miss this one. £10

Thanks for your Support – it’s what keeps music live. Why not bring along a friend, neighbour or relative – we’d love to meet them!

Les and the team

Jazz in the Spa – Village Hall, High Street Boston Spa, Leeds, LS23 6AA. Weekly Live Saturday Traditional/Mainstream Jazz. 8.00.pm

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

April Jazz in the North East

Chris Barber band South Shields 22 April

From Russell Corbett

April is a busy month with two North Eastern festivals book ending a cornucopia of delights. The 2017 Gateshead International Jazz Festival started us off on March 31 and the Darlington Jazz Festival concludes matters on International Jazz Day, April 30 (see other posts on the Northern Jazz Live blog) . The ‘between times’ gigs range geographically and stylistically …if you can’t find something of interest perhaps you’d do better looking elsewhere for your culture fix. Anyone for country and western?

Pianist and educator Paul Edis is as busy as ever. In addition to a heavy commitment at the Sage jamboree, Edis has four mid-month engagements; a duo date with violinist Emma Fisk (Apr 12) at Barnard Castle’s recently rebranded community venue The Witham, the Paul Edis Sextet playing an inaugural gig at Gosforth Jazz Club, Newcastle (Apr 13), a guaranteed sell-out lunchtime gig at Durham’s Gala Theatre (Apr 14) working with drummer Russ Morgan and Nicola Farnon, billed as the Nicola Farnon Trio and a Saturday morning (Apr 15) overseeing the student Early Bird Band in the upstairs room of the Jazz Café, Newcastle. Earlier in the month (Apr 7) Edis and saxophonist Graeme Wilson reunite to play a duo gig at the ‘Caff’ on Pink Lane.

The ongoing Chris Sharkey Trio residency at the Jazz Café continues (Apr 5 & 20), the Playtime Collective – Tom Bancroft, Martin Kershaw, Mario Caribe and Graeme Stephen – will be having a whole lot of fun at the same venue (Apr 25) and arch improvisers John Pope & Faye MacCalman reprise their successful 2016 duo gig on Apr 14.

The Big Chris Barber Band will sell out South Shields’ Customs House (Apr 22), so, book early or miss out. The Jazz Co-op presents gigs and workshops on a weekly basis. Two outstanding gigs in April to look forward to are the Brian Molley Quartet (Apr 22) and Alan Law and Dave Weisser’s   piano-vocals/cornet duo (Apr 27). The Dean Stockdale Trio featuring pianist Stockdale with Grant Russell, bass, and drummer Adam Dawson, fulfill a lunchtime date at Bishop Auckland Town Hall (Apr 28) prior to Stockdale’s participation at the 2017 Darlington Jazz Festival (Apr 28-30).                        
Don’t forget…you could always go to a country and western gig.  

Vein - and Jazzheads - at Wakefield

Wakefield Jazz takes a rest over Easter so we only have one gig in April- Friday 28th April

V E I N is a Swiss piano trio on a major tour of Europe and Japan playing only 3 gigs in the UK.  They have a ten year history of recording and touring with US stars such as Dave Liebman and Greg Osby but are relatively unknown in the UK.  Led by bassist Florian Arbenz with his brother Michael on piano and Thomas Lähns on drums they are sponsored by the Swiss Arts Council.

Support at 7:30pm is singer Marlena Kelli and her trio.

We are proud to announce our regular podcasts “Jazzheads”.  These are to be found from our website under the tab Jazzheads Radio or directly at http://jazzheads.podbean.com/?source=pb
Each episode (of 17 posted so far) is similar to Desert Island Discs in which a visiting artist, or someone associated with Wakefield Jazz, recommends tracks they consider essential listening (3 for visitors or 10 for an associate).  Some have a biographical approach, others a theme.  Musos are asked for a track of their own, one by an artist they recommend us to explore and finally an all time favourite.   The chat and the tracks are intriguing

Venue: Wakefield Sports Club Eastmoor Road, WF1 3RR

 

"Vein" play Huddersfield Jazz Sat 29 April

As in most jazz piano trios today, the members of Vein are deeply attached to interplay between
the instruments although, inevitably, it is pianist Michael Arbenz who plays the part of leader of the
group.

Vein’s interplay aims to achieve the greatest possible balance of their three individual voices:
starting with the way they work out their own compositions and arrangements, right through to the
soloistic parts, assigned to each of them.

The result is a stupendous musical togetherness, packed with surprising melodic, rhythmic and
dynamic turns, played with the highest precision even in the most complex passages of their
compositions.

Accolades:
“Vein, a piano trio with a difference. These guys can play together at a new level of straight-eight
interaction. They don’t really sound like anybody, but do proceed (way) out of the Evans-Bley
tradition. Anybody who wants something truly new in the piano trio format would do well to hear
this one.”
Grego Edwards, Cadence, NYC, February 2010

Michael Arbenz: piano
Thomas Lahns: double Bass
Florian Arbenz drums

Saturday 29 April 2017 at 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm)
The Jazz Room, Heritage Quay
University of Huddersfield
www.huddersfield-jazz.co.uk
Tickets: £14 (£5 students) available from:- Huddersfield Jazz Website (www.huddersfield-jazz.co.uk/buytickets/)

Chris Potter tour hits the north

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet” while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown.” Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply “one of the best musicians around,” a sentiment shared by the readers of Down Beat in voting him second only to tenor sax great Sonny Rollins in the magazine’s 2008 Readers Poll.

A potent improvisor and the youngest musician ever to win Denmark’s Jazzpar Prize, Potter’s impressive discography includes 15 albums as a leader and sideman appearances on over 100 albums. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his solo work on “In Vogue,” a track from Joanne Brackeen’s 1999 album Pink Elephant Magic, and was prominently featured on Steely Dan’s Grammy-winning album from 2000, Two Against Nature. He has performed or recorded with many of the leading names in jazz, including Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, John Scofield, the Mingus Big Band, Jim Hall, Paul Motian, Dave Douglas, Ray Brown and many others.

For this second edition in the Jazz Directors Series, Potter is performing with the Inner City Ensemble, an evolving group of the UK’s most promising emerging professional musicians, selected through an open call application process. Chris Potter has announced seven new compositions to be premièred at shows in Manchester, Warrington, Morecambe and Bradford as part of the second edition of the Jazz Directors Series this April.

The compositions, with pieces entitled ‘Come When The Nights’, ‘It Never Can Be Mine’ and ‘We Wear The Mask’, have been written and arranged specifically for the Inner City Ensemble – ten of the UK’s most exciting young jazz and crossover musicians, handpicked by Potter following an open call for participation. In addition to performing new compositions, the ensemble will perform pieces composed for Potter’s acclaimed Underground Orchestra album Imaginary Cities, released on ECM in 2015.

Using unorthodox instrumentation, this incarnation of the Inner City Ensemble will feature two bass players, string quartet, vibraphone and marimba and consists of musicians who have played in a diverse mixture of classical and jazz settings including Manchester Camerata, BBC Symphony Orchestra & National Youth Symphony and Jazz Orchestras, plus collaborations with Jasper Høiby, Elliot Galvin, Bill Laurance and BBC Young Musician Jazz Award finalist Tom Ridout. In preparation for the four dates, the ensemble will learn and rehearse new compositions for five days with Potter at Band on the Wall, starting on Sunday 9th April.

For this second edition in the Jazz Directors Series, Potter is performing with the Inner City Ensemble, an evolving group of the UK’s most promising emerging professional musicians, selected through an open call application process.

Musicians announced for the lineup are alumni of some of the UK’s finest music conservatoires including the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Northern College of Music amongst others. Using unorthodox instrumentation, this incarnation of the Inner City Ensemble will feature two bass players, string quartet, vibraphone and marimba:

Piano: Will Barry
Double bass: Will Harris
Bass guitar: Joshua Cavanagh-Brierly
Guitar: Jamie Leeming
Drums: Simon Roth
Vibes & Marimba: Jonny Mansfield
Violin: John Garner
Violin: Simmy Singh
Viola: Lucy Nolan
Cello: Cecilia Bignall

“I’m very much looking forward to this project, both for the chance of working with a group of exceptional young English musicians and also as an opportunity to try out a batch of new music for my Underground Orchestra ensemble. Since completing my Imaginary Cities album a couple of years ago, I’ve been looking for a reason to write some more material for this group, which has a fairly unusual instrumentation. This situation gives me the opportunity to do just that, and I hope the musicians I work with will enjoy the process as much as I have conceiving and writing it.” – Chris Potter

Chris Potter and the Inner City Ensemble perform live in Manchester, Warrington, Morecambe and Bradford from 13th to 16th April and tickets for the performances are available here.

SUN 16 APR
Chris Potter & The Inner City Ensemble at The Alhambra Studio, Bradford
DOORS 7.30PM

FRI 14 APR
Chris Potter & The Inner City Ensemble at Pyramid Studio, Warrington
DOORS 7.30PM

SAT 15 APR
Chris Potter & The Inner City Ensemble at More Music, Morecambe
DOORS 7.30PM

THU 13 APR
Chris Potter & The Inner City Ensemble Band on the Wall Manchester

 Details https://bandonthewall.org

Darlington Jazz Festival returns! 27-30 April

Dave O' Higgins 29 April

Darlington Jazz Festival makes its return for the sixth year this April and organisers are hoping it’s going to be bigger than ever. The festival will open on Thursday with a workshop for musicians of all abilities, led by Jazz Educator in Residence, Matt Roberts. The charismatic Darlington-born trumpeter and composer who has recently wowed crowds at sold out gigs with his BigISH Band at the EFG London Jazz Festival will lend his skills and experience to the next generation of talent, before going on to officially kick off the festival when he takes his sextet to Voodoo café on Friday for a night of hard bop.

On Saturday afternoon, there will be a number of free sessions at venues around the town, including The Quakerhouse and Mr Huttons, with music from Dean Stockdale, the Rick Laughlin Trio and the Abbie Finn Quartet to name but a few.

An evening of swinging big band music from the 1950s to the present day will follow at the recently restored Majestic Theatre, with internationally renowned saxophonist Dave O’Higgins supported by The Durham Alumni Big Band. For people left wanting more, a return to The Quakerhouse for a late-night jam session is on offer.

On Sunday morning festival goers can enjoy a relaxed brunch at Hash Bar to the sounds of Gyspy Jazz from James Birkett and Emma Fisk. The Friends Meeting House provides the venue for Sunday afternoon’s activities with music from the Vocal Collective and newly formed Locomotive Rhythm, who celebrate the railway heritage of north east England, featuring unique resonant loco wheels, played as percussion instruments.

Darlington Jazz Club will round out the Festival on Sunday Evening at Hash Music Box with Laughlin, Peberdy and Ellerton supported by the Alumni All Stars.

Shaune Eland, Darlington Jazz Festival organiser, said:
‘The enjoyment of the festival has grown year on year for performers and audiences, and we hope that this year will be no different.’
Darlington Jazz Festival runs from Thursday 27 April – Sunday 30 April
http://www.darlingtonjazzfestival.co.uk/

Seven Jazz has Electro, Caribbean, Swing and Funk to tempt you .

Dan Goldman Elec-trio Sun 23 April

Something for everyone at Seven jazz this April! Leeds own steel pan maestro Dudley Nesbitt has always dreamed of showcasing his wizardry with a jazz big band. Now he's got the chance - he's been rehearsing with the brilliant Leeds College of Music Jazz Orchestra to perform a special programme at Seven Arts showcasing the jazz steel pan. Plus a special double header of electro jazz as we feature another of our "All Done By Seven" Sundays, swing jazz with the Flycats on International jazz day, improv and contemporary rock with Big Band Wolf and the lovely jazz vocals of Georgina Barr on Easter Sunday.

Big Bad Wolf 
Sunday afternoon @Seven Arts Sun 9 April 1.30pm
Jay Davis -drums, Owen Dawson -trombone, Rob Luft guitar, Michael de Souza bass VI
Featuring Jay Davis and Michael de Souza, two Leeds College of Music alumni, Big Bad Wolf is a London based band featuring washy guitars, ambient vocals, brassy hooks and deep grooves. Big Bad Wolf have developed a unique way to bridge the gap between improvised music and contemporary pop/rock styles.
"I really like the kind of combination of lazy trombone and darting guitar riffs" - Jez Nelson, BBC Radio 3 (Jazz On 3)
@Seven Arts 31 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD Sunday afternoon April 9 1.30pm start £10/8 (NUS £5)

Georgina Barr Quintet
Easter Sunday afternoon @Inkwell Sun 16 April 1.30pm
Georgina Barr vocals, Brendan Duffy Sax, Martin Longhawn piano, Steve Crocker bass, Dave Lee drums.
Leeds singer Georgina Barr used to be part of LYJRO many moons ago, now having graduated from Leeds College of Music she makes a welcome return to Inkwell with her own brand of jazz singing and with Brendan Duffy on saxophone
@Inkwell Arts 31 Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3LW  Sunday afternoon April 16 1.30pm start £9/7 (NUS and performers £5)

Rush Hour Jazz with Brendan Duffy 
Wednesday @Seven Arts Bar Wed 19 April 6pm
Brendan Duffy is Leeds’s favourite tenor sax players, music educator and all round good guy. This session will feature him accompanied by the Seven Jazz trio and there will be a bit of Latin, some Funk, some dancing (up to you!) and great jazz
@Seven Arts 31 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD. Wed 19 April 6-7pm. Payf collection.

The Electric “All done by 7” featuring Dan Goldman's "Elec-Trio" and Svarc-Hanley-Longhawn 
Late Sunday afternoon @Seven Arts Sun 23 April 4.00-7.00pm
Our second early evening double header this time featuring something electric...
4.00 ElecTrio - Dan Goldman Rhodes + JDXA, Hamlet Luton, Bass and Gordon Kilroy, drums 
5.30 Svarc-Hanley-Longhawn - Nik Svarc guitar, Steve Hanley drums and Martin Longhawn keyboards. 
Dan Goldman - alias JD73, is a legendary Leeds keyboardist/producer. He's played with the big names of jazz funk and pop - Morcheeba, TY, Dennis Rollins' Badbone & Co, The Haggis Horns, The Jamiroquai Band The New Mastersounds Nightmares on Wax, Shlomo, Eska, Corinne Bailey-Rae, and many more. He's recently been given the accolade of bring part of the Jazz North "Northern Line" rosta of artists. Electro trio feature Hamlet Luton bass and Gordon Kilroy drums play hot, steamy, edgy, nasty, funk-fusion.
Svarc Hanley Longhawn features Leeds jazz- funk heroes Nik Svarc, Steve Hanley and Martin Longhawn. 'These three push all the buttons, tick all the boxes. You want funk? you got it? You want Jazz? It's right there. Maybe you want to go a little towards the outside? They'll take you there and bring you back in one piece'. Lance Liddle - Bebop Spoken Here
Seven Arts 31 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD. Sunday early evening 23 April 4-7pm @Seven Arts £10/8 (NUS £5)

Dudley Nesbitt + Leeds College of Music Jazz orchestra
Thursday evening @Seven Arts on Thursday 27 April 8pm start
Leeds own steel pan maestro Dudley Nesbitt performs a special programme at Seven Arts showcasing the jazz steel pan. Dudley was the arranger for Steel Orchestras in Panorama in his native Trinidad – their equivalent of the Proms! This evening will be a chance for Dudley to play with the brilliant student musicians of the Leeds College of Music award winning Big Band. The Big band will be led by tenor saxman, staff member and alumnus Rob Mitchell.
Support from the Pan Workshop band 8pm
Seven Arts 31 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD. Thursday evening April 27 @Seven Arts Music 8.00pm £16/14 (NUS £5)

Swing Jazz with The Flycats
@Seven Arts Sun 30 April 1.30pm
Jonny Enser: Trumpet, Alex McDowall: Guitar, Arran Kent: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Rosie Turton: Trombone, Oliver Cadman: Piano Alec Hewes: Bass Finn Booth: Drums Rita O'Idenberg: Vocals 
A special swing Jazz event for you to celebrate International Jazz day. Our Sunday afternoon gig features a band that take their name from one of the hippest jump bands of the 1940's, The Flycats.  showcasing the swing music frfom jazz's history featuring Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams, Pete Johnson, Frankie Newton, Charlie Christian and others. If you want a tour around jazz history this is a good place to start!
Seven Arts 31 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD. Sunday afternoon 30 April 1.30pm start £10/8 (NUS £5)

Seven Jazz Workshops and Choir@Inkwell 
Next Jazz Workshop is on Sunday morning 7 May  @Inkwell 10-12 am cost £10 (or £8 conc) per session. Tutors are Tom Sharp, Dom Moore or Pete Rosser e: jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.com tel 0113 2370700.

The “Jazz Voices” choir next meets again Monday evening 8 May 7-9pm to sing popular jazz tunes. As leader we welcome back Nicki Allen, popular Leeds jazz singer and tutor at Royal Northern College of Music. @Inkwell Potternewton Lane, Chapel Allerton. 7-9pm, £5 per session e: crockersteve@ntlworld.com tel 07544 352594. Starts 8 May

Weblinks: check out our Seven Jazz Website www.sevenjazz.co.uk  is where there are links so you can follow us on our Facebook and Twitter sites.

See you soon at Seven Jazz!

Steve Crocker
Seven Jazz Leeds

Latest Northern Line bands announced

Jazz North's successful "Northern Line" latest list of bands have just been announced. They give jazz promoters affordable opportunities of booking some of the best bands in the region, while those bands get opportunities to get heard by a wider range of audiences. Most Norvoljazz network promoters - both clubs and festivals - have booked Northern Line bands in previous rounds - they offer a very welcome support to our northern jazz scene.

USHAW ENSEMBLE (Newcastle)
Paul Edis’ was commissioned by Ushaw College and Durham Cathedral to compose for septet – pitching improvisers alongside Northumbrian pipes and violin – melding his forte in modern jazz with traditional music from the north east.
Paul Edis piano / Graeme Wilson flute, clarinet, saxophones / Graham Hardy trumpet / Emma Fisk violin / Andy May Northumbrian pipes / Paul Susans double bass / Rob Walker percussion
www.pauledis.co.uk/performer

PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE (Leeds/Sheffield) 
Double guitars of Sam Dunn and Jamie Taylor, along with doubled-up saxes, add verve to this high-energy sextet blending jazz and rock - but eschewing fusion - with carefully chosen repertoire including Bowie and Peter Gabriel.
Sam Dunn, Jamie Taylor guitars / Ben Lowman tenor saxophone, bass clarinet / Riley Stone-Lonergan tenor saxophone / Garry Jackson electric & double bass / Steve Hanley drums
www.samdunnguitarist.co.uk/perpetual-motion-machine

TIPTOE (Leeds)
Vocalist Alice Higgins with an intimate trumpet-guitar-string bass group playing fresh swinging perspectives of the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Michael Jackson, as well as their own songs in a warm, relaxed vein.
Alice Higgins vocals / Will Blackstone trumpet / Conall Mulvenna guitar / Roz MacDonald double bass
soundcloud.com/tiptoe-official

UBUNYE (Leeds/Huddersfield)
Ubunye (‘one-ness’) unites singers hailing from Kwa Zulu Natal in South Africa (now Huddersfield-based) with gospel and R’n’B players from Yorkshire, in an inspirational blend of jazz, Isigqi - traditional Zulu music - and Afro-pop.
Thandanani Gumede, Nokuthula Zondi-Kamudyariwa, Xolani Mbathe vocals / Dave Evans keyboards / Nik Rutherford guitar / Barry Ricarby electric bass / Alex Wibrew drums
www.fruittreearts.co.uk

DEEP CABARET (Lancaster)
Taking fragments from leftfield pop, African, folk and jazz, channelled through a sextet of instruments rarely heard in jazz (hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, overtone vocals) and setting found texts from across science, literature and history.
Steve Lewis voice, guitar / Jayson Stilwell overtone vocals / Matt Robinson clarinets / Maja Bugge ’cello / Paul Sherwood hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes / Ben McCabe drums, vocals
www.deepcabaret.co.uk

EARLY NITE (Manchester)
Otto Willberg’s fiery take on the sax-bass-drums trio format, favouring short and snappy tunes in the spirit of punk: free improvisation delivered with humour, melody and fun.
Otto Willberg double bass / Harry Smith tenor saxophone / Alexander Tod drums
www.ottowillberg.com/earlynite.htm

DAN WHIELDON QUARTET (Manchester)
Pianist Dan leads a new band performing his pieces: contemporary European in style, rich in harmony, refined and elegant, their melodies eloquently voiced by the lyrical flugelhorn of Richard Iles.
Dan Whieldon piano/Richard Iles flugelhorn/Gavin Barras double bass/Caroline Boaden drums
www.danwhieldon.com

THE ELECTRIO (Leeds)
Dan Goldman has made a speciality of the Fender Rhodes, centring it at the heart of the blistering, funky driving sound of this tight, magnetic band: progressive, yet with a nod to its historical roots in 70s/80s fusion.
Dan Goldman Fender Rhodes, synthesizers / Hamlet Luton electric bass / Gordon Kilroy drums
www.facebook.com/jd73fanpage/

BIRKETT & FISK PLAY VENUTI & LANG (Newcastle)
A violin and guitar duo celebrating the under-explored work and associated repertoire of two prime exponents of early ’20s/30s jazz: authentic, rhythmic and uplifting, with a warm rapport and infectious energy.
Emma Fisk violin/James Birkett guitar
www.birkettandfisk.com

ARCHIPELAGO (Newcastle)
Faye MacCalman fronts a Newcastle sax-bass-drums trio drawing on garage rock, minimalism and free improvisation: riffs, silence, noise and grooves create a collage of hard-edged blocks of sound that evolve over the performance.
Faye MacCalman clarinet, tenor saxophone/John Pope electric bass/Christian Alderson drums
www.facebook.com/archipelago.fjc

SKELTR (Manchester)
An electrifying new duo in which Sam Healey’s roaring sax lines soar above Craig Hanson’s drum patterns, electronic soundscapes and samples, manipulated live in the moment: a striking, expansive sound with a buzzing energy at its core.
Sam Healey alto saxophone, keyboards / Craig Hanson drums, triggered samples
www.samhealey.com

These Northern Line round 5 bookings open for promoters on Tuesday 2 May 2017 but artists can be contacted immediately. Artists will be available with subsidy support for the touring period 1st September 2017 to 31st December 2018. For more information on the artists or to watch the full video visit the Jazz North website - www.jazznorth.org/northern-line/northern-line-round-5/. Off you go!