Sheffield Jazz may have finished for the summer but the Lescar carries on in the Steel City
Dinosaur 18 July
From Jez Matthews
We’re especially pleased this time to feature two Mercury prize nominated bands, Dinosaur and Roller Trio. We’ve also got bands led by Sheffield based singers Sally Doherty and Nicola Farnon (in a band jointly led with US sax legend Greg Abate) and two pianist/composers with roots in the Sheffield area (although no longer living here), Stella Roberts, and Laura Cole. Acclaimed guitarist Rob Luft visits us twice, once with wonderful and creative drummer Corrie Dick, and also his own band in August, playing beautiful music from one of last year’s very best albums. We also feature two bands mixing composition and more explorative improvisation, Loz Speyer’s Inner Space, and drummer Johnny Hunter with his serene and highly original Pale Blue Dot project, which features a string quartet in the line-up. Finally the 10 piece Manchester Jazz Collective arrive with a bang in June, and look set to lift the roof off our intimate venue.
Best wishes,
Jez.
30th May 2018 Corrie Dick / £7
One of the country’s finest and most creative drummers, a member of Mercury prize nominees Dinosaur, Corrie Dick brings an all-star band assembled especially for this gig, featuring acclaimed guitarist Rob Luft, lyrical pianist Tom Gibbs (piano), and from the Elliot Galvin trio, Tom McCredie (bass). They’ve played on some of the best albums in recent years and in bands alongside the likes of Ari Hoenig, Laura Jurd, Gilad Hekselman, Ulf Wakenius, and Jasper Hoiby. Fluid, lyrical and engaging music.
6th June 2018 Loz Speyer’s Inner Space / £8
Five unique musicians at the forefront of the UK jazz and improvised music scenes. Loz Speyer (trumpet, flugelhorn) is joined by Chris Biscoe (alto sax, alto clarinet), Rachel Musson (tenor sax, soprano sax), Olie Brice (bass) and Gary Willcox (drums). Loz's music mixes is thoughtfully constructed yet playful and alive, mixing dancing melodies and explorative free jazz. With a career including work with Yann Tiersen, Clifford Jarvis, Mark Lockheart, the London Improvisers Orchestra, and Sarah Jane Morris.
"Wonderfully vigorous, sprightly music, infused with bustling, fiercely interactive energy. Recommended." - - Chris Parker
13th June 2018 Sally Doherty / £7
A welcome return for a Sheffield-based singer, Sally Doherty; beautiful, mellow interpretations of songs from Latin America in their original languages interspersed with lovely original pieces, all performed with love and knowledge, with classy sympathetic support from Paul Kilvington (piano), Graham Jones (double bass) and Caroline Boaden (drums). Sally has toured in Europe with Italian band Planet Funk, featured on Richard Hawley’s ‘Lady’s Bridge’ album and worked with electronic artist Scanner. Perfect music for a summer’s evening!
20th June 2018 Manchester Jazz Collective / £9
A vibrant collaboration of the finest musicians from the Manchester jazz scene. Original music mixing contemporary jazz with middle eastern harmonies and influences from afro jazz, heavy metal and rock grooves, to Manchester's club culture. Kyran Matthews / Saxophones, Jeff Guntren / Tenor Saxophone and Woodwinds, Emily Burkhardt / Saxophones and Woodwinds, Nick Walters / Trumpet, Graham South / Trumpet, Ellie Smith / Trombone, Rich McVeigh / Bass Trombone, Andrew Stamatakis-Brown / Piano, Paul Baxter / Bass, Johnny Hunter / Drums.
27th June 2018 Roller Trio / £8
Mercury and MOBO prize nominees Roller Trio's last gig at The Lescar brought in our biggest ever crowd. With a new album featuring energetic and innovative Chris Sharkey on guitar and electronics, alongside original members James Mainwaring (sax, electronics) and Luke Reddin Williams (drums). Catchy and energetic music, mixing the sounds of electronic music with improv, another leap forward for this acclaimed band.
'A band destined for greatness’ — Mike Chadwick, JazzFM
4th July 2018 Pale Blue Dot / £8
Simultaneously rich and fragile, beautiful original music based around a unique sax/string quartet/drums line-up, led by acclaimed Manchester based drummer Johnny Hunter. Inspired by a photograph taken by Voyager 1 in 1990 - the Earth as seen from a distance of 6 billion kms, less than 1 pixel in size, the music is in four movements, and seeks to provide the listener with the perspective and serenity that might be possible from the edge of the Solar System. The full line-up is Mark Hanslip (tenor sax), Gemma Bass (violin), Aby Vulliamy (viola), Alice Eldridge (cello), Seth Bennett (double bass), Johnny Hunter (drums).
11th July 2018 Greg Abate with the Nicola Farnon Trio / £9
After their sellout performance last year, Sheffield bass and vocal legend, Nicola Farnon and her brilliant swinging trio, featuring virtuoso Canadian pianist Piero Tucci, and drummer Phil Johnson are joined by US sax legend and Grammy nominee Greg Abate, formerly lead alto player with the Ray Charles Orchestra. Greg's recorded history covers the likes of Kenny Barron, Phil Woods, James Williams, Rufus Reid, Kenny Washington, Alan Barnes, as well a string of gigs at festivals and clubs around the world. Nicola Farnon is a first class bass player and vocalist; swinging, always entertaining. Don’t miss this!
18th July 2018 Dinosaur / £8
Mercury Prize nominees Dinosaur are touring a brilliant new album. Led by BBC New Generation Artist, Laura Jurd (trumpet), with Elliot Galvin (keyboards), Conor Chaplin (bass), and Corrie Dick (drums), their music mixes jazz and improvised music with folk melodies and synth-pop influences; imaginative, colourful and full of surprises. Dinosaur have played across the world including North Sea Jazz, Montreal, and Molde, as well as collaborating with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia and the Ligeti Quartet. A unique chance to catch them at our intimate venue in Sheffield.
25th July 2018 Stella Roberts Sextet / £8
Pianist/composer Stella Roberts brings some of the most in demand musicians from the vibrant, creative Birmingham music scene. Her music is inspired by the landscapes and animals from her Peak District childhood, thoughtful, passionate and laden with nostalgia, brought to life by Chris Young (Hansu Tori, Hans Koller) on alto sax, Richard Foote (Young Pilgrims) on trombone, Sean Gibbs (Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Calum Gourlay Big Band) on trumpet, Euan Palmer on drums, Stuart Barker (Clark Tracey, Laura Mvula, Chris Biscoe, Tony Kofi) on bass.
1st August 2018 Rob Luft / £8
Join us on the FINAL night of Rob Luft’s tour; this promises to be something special. An incredible guitarist and band playing compostions from one of last year’s very best albums, utterly distinctive, warmly lyrical, virtuosic yet so approachable, and with a rich emotional heart. You may have caught Rob recently in his wonderful duet at The Lescar with Alice Zawadzki. Rob Luft (guitar), Joe Wright (tenor saxophone), Joe Webb (hammond organ, piano and harmonium), Tom McCredie (bass), Corrie Dick (drums).
8th August 2018 Metamorphic / £8
When pianist and composer Laura Cole last brought her wonderfully expansive and beautifully arranged music to The Lescar it was one of our classic nights. With new music and a brilliant new album ‘The Two Fridas’, this is music with an intense collective heart, covering spoken word, improvisation and tightly arranged passages of music, played by some of the best improvising musicians in the UK. With Chris Williams (alto sax); John Martin (tenor/ soprano sax); Ollie Dover (bass clarinet); Kari Nergaard-Bleivik (vocals); Ruth Goller (electric/double bass); Seth Bennett (double bass); Johnny Hunter (drums); Laura Cole (piano). Entrancing and powerfully emotional.
Email:
lescarjazz@gmail.com
Telephone: 0774 020 1939
The Lescar Hotel
Sharrowvale Road
Sheffield
S11 8ZF
www.thelescarhuntersbar.co.uk
