October at Wakefield Jazz

Wakefield Jazz returns tonight (Friday 4th October) with a storming gig by the inimitable Empirical (Nathaniel Facey sax, Lewis Wright vibes, Tom Farmer bass, Shaney Forbes drums) - one of the UK’s most successful jazz groups ofd the past decade. 

Next week (11th Oct) we have Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon - the French horn player’s twelve-piece orchestra with echoes of Gil Evans and Mike Gibbs, and an all-star line-up including Martin Speake, Percy Pursglove, Mark Nightingale, Hans Koller and Gene Calderazzo among others.

18th Oct in a particularly special event, we welcome a double bill of solo piano improvisers Alexander Hawkins and Laura Cole, exploring and celebrating the much-loved Wakefield Jazz grand piano. Alexander Hawkins is the preeminent British pianist of his generation, not just a fount of knowledge but a collaborator with musicians as influential as Anthony Braxton, Louis Moholo Moholo, Mary Halvorson and Evan Parker. Laura Cole is a Leeds-based pianist with a much-praised solo album Enough on the Discus label last year. 

And on 25th October Esther Bennett will present a tribute to the late Duncan Lamont, stalwart saxophonist and composer of the past 60 years, who unfortunately died in August. His son Duncan Lamont Jr will be playing sax and flute, with Esther Bennett and Beverley Beirne singing some of Duncan’s best-loved songs.

All gigs start at 8.30pm, with food available from 7.15 (pre-book please), at the Wakefield Sports Club, Eastmoor Road WF1 3RZ

For more details see www.wakefieldjazz.org - November features Alan Barnes, Alison Rayner and Calum Gourlay, just for starters.