Dylan Howe's Unity 4 is a new improvising group. It's made up of some of the most talked about and talented musicians in the UK. Saluting & redesigning the music of legendary Hammond organist Larry Young's groundbreaking Blue Note album 'Unity'  as well as beautiful music from Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, Steve Lacy and The Great American Songbook.

"Howe, inspiring & invigorating in any genre" The Guardian

www.myspace.com/dylanhowe

A very welcome return to Derby for Curios, a band who have recently made a striking impact on the UK jazz scene. Formed in 2006 by pianist and composer Tom Cawley, Curios' distinctive sound owes all to the chemistry and interplay between the musicians:
Tom Cawley - piano
Sam Burgess - acoustic bass
and Derby's own Josh Blackmore on drums.

Prepare yourself for an evening of music that is melodic, fiery, serene and intense and draws as much on romantic classical music as modern jazz.

www.myspace.com/curiosband

This fresh young ensemble of British jazz musicians plays original music written by Dave and other members of the group. The starting point for the music is collective improvisation but compositionally it draws on as wide a range of styles as possible. Folk, electronic music and classical influences as well as contemporary modern jazz harmony can be heard in the mix.

The Quartet is part of the Loop Collective, which was set up in 2005 to promote original music and emerged from a vibrant scene of forward-thinking young musicians based in London. 

www.myspace.com/davemanington

Arnie Somogyi - Bass
Alan Barnes - Reeds
Tony Kofi - saxes  - BBC Jazz Awards 2008 Best Instrumentalist
Alistair White - trombone
Mark Edwards - piano
Clark Tracey - drums

Arnie Somogyi's reputation as a bass player is long established, but in recent years he's also developed his talents as writer and bandleader with his quintet Ambulance, and more recently with this band, formed to play his arrangements of the music of Charles Mingus.

Scenes in the City combines the talents of some of the UK's leading jazz musicians. Drawing their repertoire from the music of the great jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus, the band embody the freedom of interpretation and drive that characterise the music of one of the most important and colourful figures in jazz. Expect to hear lesser known Mingus compositions as well as familiar favourites.

This concert was sponsored by:

	Richard Petrie Optometrist 564 Burton Road, Littleover, Derby DE23 6DF Freephone: 0500 549199
www.richardpetrie.com

Three times Wire/Guardian award winner and regular associate of Courtney Pine, Cleveland Watkiss visits Derby for the first time with a dazzling evening of two halves. The 1st half will feature his Vocal Suite, an improvising performance fusing voice and technology. He uses real-time looping to record and layer his voice, as well as using the atmosphere and the venue to create an orchestral piece that is entirely improvised in the moment. No two performances can ever be the same.

The second half will feature his brand new trio, Mark Hodgson - acoustic bass and Shaney Forbes - drums. This very special Trio will be performing an unusual choice of standards and originals, with an emphasis on Cleveland's highly original jazz scatting.

A real coup for Derby Jazz, one not to be missed. 

www.clevelandwatkiss.com
www.myspace.com/clevelandwatkiss

JOHN BAILEY QUARTET -  Stay and listen to an emerging jazz pianist and composer. John Bailey will play in the foyer during the interval and at the end of the main concert. His style is both reflective and thoughtful. He is joined by an alto saxophone, bass and drums.

Joshua Blackmore - Drums
Chris Montague - Electric Guitars
Kit Downes - Keyboards

Formed originally for Derby Jazz Week 2007 by Joshua Blackmore, Troyka has gone from strength to strength. The members of the band are already names to be reckoned with on the jazz scene. Kit Downes, BBC Jazz Awards 2008 Rising Star winner, also plays with Empirical and Asaf Sirkis. Chris Montague tours with the James Taylor Quartet. Josh is a member of the BBC Jazz Awards 2008 Best Band, Curios.

 View a video of Troyka performing

 www.myspace.com/troykaband 

Arun Ghosh's Indo-Jazz quartet play original music of South Asian origin with a contemporary jazz attitude, mixing rocking urban beats and the passion of punk. Sweet and timeless melodies give birth to soaring improvisations and raag explorations, driven by a heady mix of dub-reggae bass, tabla trickery and ferocious drum explosions.

Ghosh is rapidly gaining a reputation as an outstanding composer and musician and his energetic live performances are absolutely thrilling.

www.myspace.com/arunghosh
www.arunghosh.com

"...  Gwyneth Herbert has more in common with the singer-songwriters of the Joni Mitchell era. … while her voice is a thing of beauty." The Times

 www.gwynethherbert.com
 www.myspace.com/gwynethherbert 

Seb Rochford - drums
Mark Lockheart & Shabaka Hutchings - saxes
Tom Herbert - bass
Leafcutter John - Electronics

"Polar Bear blast out of the past, full of straight, cool school skills, and detonate the past, bursting with edgy, forward-looking lust."  Paul Morley, Observer Music Monthly

"Janette Mason's breakout album is a triumph of elegant themes, catchy hooks, fierce swing, classy execution and uncompromising openness to improvisation." John Fordham THE GUARDIAN

Studying under Gerard Presencer at the Royal Academy has seen trumpeter George Hogg continue to fulfil the promise he showed as a soloist with EMYJO. He formed this quartet of fellow students three years ago and together they have developed enormously.  Pianist Kit Downes is part of the award winning bands Empirical and Troyka. Bass player Callum Gourlay works with Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith and drummer James Maddren gigs regularly with Martin Speake and Andea Vicari.
George was recently in Toronto as part of a Conservatoire UK big band, which performed under the direction of Kenny Wheeler.

Scottish saxophone original Bobby Wellins likes to let tunes burn down to a glow, in the tradition of Lester Young and Stan Getz. Fellow tenor player Don Weller's more robust style is drawn from Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins,  and both men (close associates of Stan Tracey) have been admired for decades as unconventional, straight ahead swingers. This set is an unusual collaboration with classical string players and a jazz rhythm section.

Eddie Prévost Drums
Alex von Schlippenbach Piano
Alan Wilkinson Alto and Baritone Sax
Joe Williamson Double Bass

Eddie Prévost and Alex von Schlippenbach are both founding fathers of free music, but this is their first collaboration. Eddie works regularly with Alan and Joe. Alex has been associated with the FMP label since the mid '60s and has formed long-standing partnerships with leading European improvisors.

Alex von Schlippenbach   Eddie Prevost

Empirical's debut CD was JAZZWISE magazine's album of the year. The band is dedicated to maintaining the roots of modern jazz but has a definite finger on the pulse of the contemporary world. Style-wise: think Ornette Coleman meets Wayne Shorter meets John Coltrane meets Ali Farka Toure meets Steve Coleman - performed with an abundance of youthful energy.

"Empirical is the most exciting jazz band to come out of the UK." Courtney Pine

MySpace link

Robert Mitchell - Piano  Omar Puente - Violin

An unusual but fascinating pairing of jazz instruments.

Robert Mitchell has been in Gary Crosby's J-Life and Tomorrow's Warriors and played with Courtney Pine, Norma Winstone and many others. He was last heard in Derby with Corey Mwamba.

Cuban violinist Omar Puente has lived in England for 10 years, playing with such musicians as Tito Puente, Kirsty MacColl, Jules Holland and Courtney Pine.

Robert Mitchell     Omar Puente     MySpace

Young hard bop tenor maestro fully evokes the style and spirit of his role model, the late Tubby Hayes. Playing here with one of Tubby's drummers and the rhythm section of Ronnie Scott's last quartet.
Winner of the 2007 BBC Rising Star Jazz Award.

Simon Spillett - Tenor Sax - Spike Wells - Drums
Andrew Cleyndert - Bass - John Critchinson - Piano

Simon Spillett website

Walt Shaw - made instruments and electronics
Bruce Coates - saxophones
Mike Hurley - piano
Chris Hobbs - percussion and found objects

Walt is well known in Derby audiences for his work with fellow experimentalists Corey Mwamba, the Dust Collective and his own projects. Chris Hobbs, from Leicester, studied with Cornelius Cardew, was the youngest member of The Scratch Orchestra and in the late '60s, early '70s a member of AMM. Bruce Coates and Mike Hurley are leading lights of Birmingham's developing improv scene and have worked with Walt in SYM-BIO.

Quentin Collins - MySpace
Jim Hart - MySpace

Another of Derby's jazz exports, singer and percussionist Helen makes a welcome return to her home territory.

Helen sings with her own polished backing band, the London Bridge Ensemble.

Bassist Alec Dankworth's new quintet plays jazz with a Spanish flavour.  Alec has arranged folk tunes from Spain, originals with a flamenco rhythm and compositions from Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie and Jack DeJohnette.

A favourite with Derby audiences, Jim Mullen returns with his organ trio for more funk jazz with a Scottish twist.