Friday 19 April 2013 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Chris Biscoe - alto sax, alto clarinet
Tony Kofi - alto and tenor sax
Larry Bartley - bass
Stu Butterfield - drums
BBC
double-award winner Tony Kofi joins Chris Biscoe in an
exploration of the musical legacies of the
extraordinary bassist, composer and bandleader Charles
Mingus, and of reeds virtuoso Eric Dolphy. Featuring
arrangements specially developed for this quartet, the
repertoire includes music written by Eric Dolphy and
pieces by Oliver Nelson, Fats Waller and Monk.
The first record by the band, Gone in the Air, was
released in June 2008, coinciding with the 80th
anniversary of Eric Dolphy's birth, and the new live
recording, Live at Campus West was recorded in 2011.
Biscoe and Kofi complement each other wonderfully
..... Brian Glasser, Jazzwise
....an exhilarating, heady rush of music.... Chris
Parker, Vortex Website
....music which is utterly compelling....... Pete
Martin, Jazz UK
Nikki Iles, described as a "Formidable UK jazz presence " (The
Guardian) appears tonight with long-time collaborators
, Malcolm Creese , the wonderful bassist known for his
rich, melodic soloing and sought after by the likes of
Lee Konitz and George Shearing and on drums, the
amazingly inventive Tim Giles, known for his work with
Iain Ballamy, and Stan Sulzmann.
Iles herself remains one of the most in demand pianists on the UK jazz
scene working with amongst others, Julian Arguelles,
Stan Sulzmann, Kenny Wheeler , Tina May and Norma
Winstone, as well as writing for the likes of the
London Sinfonietta.
Tonight Nikki will be playing the music from her new CD, HUSH
The UK's finest
jazz singer, broadcaster and much loved performer
Clare Teal makes a welcome visit to Derby Assembly
Rooms. Fresh from a continued schedule of touring
including her stand out appearance with the John
Wilson Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall as part of
2011's televised Hooray For Hollywood Prom, Clare
continues to delight audiences with her warm wit and
effortless voice.
Ably assisted by her ridiculously talented trio led
by pianist and musical director Grant Windsor their
choice of material is sublime and will undoubtedly
leave you 'Feeling Good'.
Covering a span of over 120 years this show
combines sparkling original material with Clare's love
of the Great American Songbook and Great British
Songbook. Where else could Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars
and Annie Lennox' Why sit happily alongside standards
such as Secret Love and Get Happy.
James
Allsopp - reeds
Kit Downes - keyboards
Tim Giles - drums
Ruth Goller - bass guiitar
Alex Bonney - trumpet
The
Golden Age of Steam, the vehicle for reedsman, James
Allsopp's eclectic compositions and go-anywhere
improvisatory aptitudes, is spiced with energy and
imagination. This is part of the tour for his new CD
"Welcome to Bat Country". The acclaimed core
trio of Allsopp, Kit Downes (keyboards) and Tim Giles
(drums) is augmented by Ruth Goller (bass guitar) and
Alex Bonney (trumpet). If you like Polar Bear, you'll
almost certainly go for this remarkable band. The well
balanced, constantly shifting music is always
interesting and well worth a listen.
Darius Brubeck Quartet
Friday 15 February 2013 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Darius Brubeck - piano
Wesley Gibbens - drums
Matt Ridley - bass
Dave O'Higgins - sax
Darius
Brubeck, son of jazz legend Dave Brubeck is
touring his new CD,“Two
and Four/To and Fro”, which features recordings made
in South Africa and Transylvania in 2011 and 2010.
The ‘Four’ are the London-based Darius
Brubeck Quartet, here featuring local hero Dave O'Higgins -
born and raised in Duffield, Derby. This group has acquired an
enthusiastic UK following for its strong, three
dimensional programming of South African jazz, Dave
Brubeck hits and Darius’ original compositions.
Playing
to consistently sold-out houses at regional festivals
and clubs, including London’s Ronnie Scott’s,
Pizza Express and 606 Jazz Clubs, their acoustic sound
is melodic, spontaneous, rhythmic and
audience-friendly.
Trish
Clowes is a distinctive saxophonist with an instantly
recognisable, graceful tenor sound in part influenced
by Stan Getz. She is currently one of the BBC3 Young
Generation Artists.
Following the success of her debut album Trish Clowes tours the new
‘And In The Night-Time She Is There’, further
extending her depth and range as a composer and
improviser. The rhythm section features the deft touch
and musicality of drummer James Maddren, Troyka
guitarist Chris Montague (here demonstrating his
versatility) and in demand bassist Calum Gourlay. Most
impressive of all is Clowes’ own graceful presence
and lyrical sound. Clowes’ music explores a
fascinating hinterland between jazz and contemporary
classical music.
The
resonance of button accordion and tenor saxophone is a
rare, rich and beautiful sonority. In the hands of
these two musicians it is a combination capable of a
great range of moods and textures, at times showing
great dexterity and alternately a full and rich tone
seemingly far larger than the sum of its parts.
A key member of Loose Tubes and Bill Bruford’s
Earthworks, Saxophonist Iain Ballamy has become a central
figure of the burgeoning Norwegian jazz scene along
with Stian Carstersen whose band “Farmers Market”
has helped take Norwegian jazz to world prominence.
Their repertoire ranges widely from Chopin to Whitney Houston via Eric
Satie and Kurt Weil, incorporating classic songs, jazz
standards, original works, tangos and even
children’s songs to make a rich and diverse program
in a new and imaginative setting.
This unusual trio of
alto saxophone, guitar and drums brings together all
of Martin’s musical influences alongside his
favourite musical partners.
Jazz standard songs, heavy
metal guitar, meditative ballads, trance like grooves,
unaccompanied solos from each player and more are
featured in this unique and intimate trio. Martin
Speake is one of the most interesting, lucid and
rewarding alto saxophonists. American Drummer Jeff
Williams plays impeccable time, has immaculate taste
and worked for two years with jazz giant Stan Getz and
many times with Lee Konitz. Mike Outram is one of the
UK's foremost guitarists who is sought after as an
improvisor and for his ability to contribute a unique
voice to any musical ensemble.
Dave
Hamblett - drums
Josh Arcoleo - tenor sax
Joe Wright - saxes
Matt Robinson - keyboards
Alex Munk - guitar
Calum Gourlay - bass
Dave
Hamblett left Derby to study at The Royal Academy of
Music in 2006. He's since become one of the most
in-demand drummers on the scene, working with Abram
Wilson Quartet, Nick Smart's Jazz Matanzas, the F-IRE
Collective Large Ensemble and many more.
He won the Yamaha Jazz Scholarship Award in 2010
and was named "one to watch" by Helen Mayhew
in Jazzwise last year. His group of fellow Royal
Academy of Music graduates draw inspiration from Brian
Blade, Kenny Wheeler and Dave Holland and share
strong, longstanding musical relationships. They've
recently recorded their debut album featuring several
of Dave's own memorable compositions.
"..delivered a sophisticated,
impressionistic set, that boiled up with hard-hitting
solos.." JAZZWISE
Orrery
The premiere of a spectacular commission celebrating 30 years of Derby Jazz
Friday 30 November 2012 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Corey Mwamba's
music for a nine piece band including Joshua Blackmore,
Julian Siegel and Tony Kofi draws inspiration from
jazz history and Joseph Wright's famous painting
"ORRERY".
For the first
promenade set you, the audience, will be the 'cosmic
dust' part of a solar system in which a 'six planet -
front line' orbits a 'jazz sun - rhythm section'. For
the second set the same music will be played in a more
conventional format from a stage
Listeners
and players are equally welcome at our monthly Derby
Jazz Jams. Tom Bunting-bass, Matt Ratcliffe-piano and
Tymeck Jazwiak-drums will anchor the sessions and keep
things moving along. The mood is relaxed and about
enjoying good jazz, company, food and drink.
Wayne Shorter worked with and wrote for Art Blakey
and Miles Davis before co-founding the groundbreaking
Weather Report and he's still writing great tunes. For
this session Tom and the trio will lead the way on;
Footprints, JuJu, Speak No Evil, Masqualero Angola
other great tunes.
If you'd like to play or sing at this session
please visit us on Facebook (click below) where you
chat with Tom Bunting about the tunes you'd like to
play.
CHRISTINE TOBIN BAND
Sailing to Byzantium
(+ Jazz Foyer in CUBE)
Saturday 17 November 2012 8pm
Déda Theatre Chapel St., DE1 3GU
Christine
Tobin: vocals
Liam Noble: piano
Phil Robson: guitar
Gareth Lockrane: flutes
Kate Short: cello
Dave Whitford: bass
With
its strong central theme of W.B.Yeats poetry, the most empathetic band
imaginable, and Christine at the height of her
powers, it's amazing to think this project came about
by chance.
Christine
explained how in response to being asked to give a
talk on Yeats at the National Library of Ireland she
instead offered to write some music based on the
poetry. The offer was accepted and what may turn out
to be a career changing project was born.
"In this beautiful collection of songs
based on the poetry of W.B.Yeats, vocalist Christine
Tobin has created an unqualified masterpiece"
JAZZWISE
Brilliantly
gifted Latin jazz pianist and band leader Alex Wilson
is well known for his large ensembles. This fantastic
new trio brings the music back to the piano with a
fresh repertoire. The music is driven by Alex's
inimitable piano style steeped in the
Afro-Cuban/Caribbean tradition.
Drummer Frank Tontoh
has played with a wide array of jazz stars, plus world
music champions such as Osibisa and Soothsayers.
Davide Mantovani is a regular bass player for Monica
Vasconcelos, Ingrid Laubrock, Carol Grimes, Great
Spirit, Roberto Pla and Antonio Forcione amongst many
others.
Listeners and
players are equally welcome at our monthly Derby Jazz
Jams. Tom Bunting-bass, Matt Ratcliffe-piano and
Tymeck Jazwiak-drums will anchor the sessions and keep
things moving along.
The mood is relaxed and about
enjoying good jazz, company, food and drink.
Mark Lockheart - Ellington in Anticipation
Friday 19 October 2012 8pm
Darwin Suite, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Mark Lockheart - saxes
Seb Rochford - drums
Kit Downes - piano
Tom Herbert - bass
Finn Peters - alto sax
James Allsop - clarinets
Chris Garrick - violin
A
brand new project inspired by the music of Duke
Ellington. Taking many of Ellington's most revered
tunes: Satin Doll, Mood Indigo, Take the A-train and
more, Mark has deconstructed and re-arranged these
melodies into a fascinating set of new music.
This is a unique and radical project which
beautifully combines the old with the new.
"One of the most glorious bits of writing
and playing you'll hear this year"
Jazzwise Magazine
Jim
Hart - vibes
Mike Janisch - bass
Dave Smith - drums
Always
a joy to hear vibraphonist Jim Hart, who has
established himself as one of the premier creative
jazz musicians of his generation in the UK. His
creative output has been heralded in the international
jazz press as being unique and forward thinking,
whilst holding a firm foot in many of jazz's great
traditions.
Cloudmakers Trio plays original music and standards
that lie somewhere between New York's downtown sound
and the modern European tradition. It features his
regular sparring partner Dave Smith on drums, and US
born, London resident Michael Janisch on bass.
Listeners and
players are equally welcome at our monthly Derby Jazz
Jams. Tom Bunting-bass, Matt Ratcliffe-piano and
Tymeck Jazwiak-drums will anchor the sessions and keep
things moving along.
The mood is relaxed and about
enjoying good jazz, company, food and drink.
Jazz Jamaica
Friday 14th September 2012 8pm Great
Hall Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
The mighty Jazz
Jamaica perform their unique fusion of ska, reggae,
mento and jazz in celebration of the 50th anniversary
of Independence for Jamaica.
Led by Gary Crosby, this formidable band has had
audiences rocking to their beat for the last 20 years
and have been hailed as "Britain's rival to
the Buena Vista Social Club"
Gilad
Atzmon - reeds
Yaron Stavi - bass
Eddie Hick - drums
Frank Harrison - piano
Eschewing
the political rhetoric, the brilliant alto saxophonist
and clarinettist Gilad Atzmon now lets the music do
the talking, relaxing into a skilful and witty
dialogue with his versatile bandmates.
Together they breathe new harmonic and rhythmic
life into every composition they perform, transforming
even the most well-worn jazz standards into
scintillating originals - the true essence of real
live jazz.
"A formidable improvisational array...a
local jazz giant steadily drawing himself up to his
full height...a blast of fresh air in the UK" John Fordham, The Guardian
Chris Montague -
guitar
Kit Downes - organ
Joshua
Blackmore - drums
TROYKA played their first ever gig at
DERBY JAZZ WEEK 2007. In 2009 they released one of the
most highly acclaimed albums of the year. Now two
years down the line TROYKA have struck gold with a
sensational second album which they will be launching
with this gig and a national tour.
TROYKA's music is
fuelled by textural guitar loops, angular riffs and
displaced drum grooves combined with an evocative
lyricism that is utterly absorbing. If TROYKA can
produce the sort of buzz they did with their first
album, imagine the possibilities of the second.
Listeners
and players will all be welcome at our new Derby Jazz
Jams. Tom Bunting - bass, Matt Ratcliffe - piano and
Tymeck Jazwiak - drums will anchor the session and
keep things moving along. The mood will be relaxed and
about enjoying good food, drink and company as much as
the music.
In this Miles Davis session Tom and the
trio will be leading the way on, Solar, Milestones,
All Blues, Freddie the Freeloader, Stella by
Starlight, Nefertiti, Walkin' and Footprints.
If you'd
like to play or sing on any of these tunes then visit
us on facebook at Derby Jazz Jam where you can find
more about the session and how you'd fit in.
Lucien Ban + Mat Manieri - Deco Heart
featuring Corey Mwamba
Born and raised in Transylvania, Lucian
Ban now lives in New York. Described as "one of
the most gifted pianists to move to New York in the
past decade" and cited as "playing with a
sensibility and fluency that recalls Vladimir Horowitz
as much as McCoy Tyner".
Through
his Enescu
Re-Imagined' project Ban made his mark in the UK,
and first collaborated
with Mat Maneri uncovering a unique musical rapport.
Embracing fellow Romanian composer and
violinist George Enescu’s musical legacy in a daring
re-imagination of his works.
Classically
trained, Mat Maneri has been changing the way the jazz
world listens to violin and viola.
The freewheeling scope of his musical
imagination has led Maneri to become the go-to guy
from artists such as Paul Bley, Cecil Taylor and
Matthew Shipp.
Born in Derby,
Corey Mwamba is virtually self-taught in music having
made the decision to take up vibraphone in his late
teens. Corey is primarily known as
a highly creative improviser with a wide stylistic
range.
Long-time
guitarist with the James Taylor Quartet, Nigel Price
now fronts his own Hammond Trio and it's a beauty.
He's deeply into Wes Montgomery whose tunes feature
heavily on the band's recordings. There is something
about this music when it's this well played that just
makes the world a better place.
"....the skilful Price lovingly
celebrated Montgomery's languidly bluesy lyricism and
breezy swing, and the group heated up this style with
an irresistible conviction" JOHN FORDHAM,
GUARDIAN
Friday 27th April 2012 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Gwilym Simcock - piano
Tim Garland - reeds
Asaf Sirkis - percussion
The
imagination of Tim Garland, saxophonist, composer and
sometime Bill Bruford and Chick Corea sideman, ranges
across far more territory than most jazz players
assume is rightfully theirs.
Playing originals with Spanish, Middle Eastern and South American rhythms and
jazz classics by Bill Evans and Charlie Mingus Tim
Garland's inspired tenor and soprano saxophone solos
are perfectly balanced by the coolly graceful
improvisations of the young piano star Gwilym Simcock
and the painterly percussion of Asaf Sirkis.
Before
the concert at 7.30 Tim Garland will give a short talk
about this music.
Jazz Foyer, our young stars of the
future, will be playing in the foyer from 7pm and during
the interval.
Listeners
and players will all be welcome at our new Derby Jazz
Jams. Tom Bunting - bass, Matt Ratcliffe - piano and
Tymeck Jazwiak - drums will anchor the session and
keep things moving along. The mood will be relaxed and
about enjoying good food, drink and company as much as
the music.
Duke Ellington is the theme for this first
session and Tom and trio will be leading the way on;
Caravan, Satin Doll, In a Sentimental Mood, Perdido, C
Jam Blues, Cotton Tail and, of course, Take the A
Train.
If you'd like to play or sing on any of these
tunes then visit us on facebook at Derby Jazz Jam
where you can find more about the session and how
you'd fit in.
Courtney Pine Europa
Friday 23rd March 2012 8pm Great Hall Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Courtney Pine - bass clarinet
Robert Fordjour - drums
DarrenTaylor - bass
Zoe Rahman - piano
Cameron Pierre - mandolin
and guitar
Omar Puente - electric violin
Amanda
Drummond - viola
(This line-up may be subject to
change)
In
his new work Europa, Courtney Pine creates a powerful
statement that reflects the vibrancy, innovation and
spirit of the continent of his birth.
This new music
incorporates his travelling experiences, drawing back
in time to Gregorian Chant, Scandinavian, Celtic,
Spanish ,Hungarian and Mediterranean melodies.
Jazz Foyer, our young stars of the future, will
be playing in the foyer from 7pm and during the
interval.
Friday 2nd March 2012 CUBE
Déda, Chapel St., DE1 3GU
Steve
Waterman - trumpet
Alec Dankworth - bass
Anthony Kerr - vibraphone
A
celebration of jazz trumpet by an unusual line up
featuring tunes associated not only with the New
Orleans
pioneer Buddy Bolden but also Louis Armstrong, Bix
Beiderbecke, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Miles Davis,
Lee Morgan, Clark Terry and other great jazz
trumpeters.
Waterman more than meets the challenge of this
broad choice of material playing lightning fast runs
one minute, ballads with total purity of tone the next
and very dirty growling blues a moment later.
Friday 17th February 2012 8pm Darwin Suite
Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Julian Siegel - reeds
Liam Noble - piano
Gene Calderazzo - drums
Oli Hayhurst - bass
The
fluid touch of inspirational pianist Liam Noble
perfectly complements the muscular energy of Julian
Siegel's saxophones, Gene Calderazzo's dynamic
drumming and the deep groove of bassist Oli Hayhurst.
The band's music moves freely through varied
sound-worlds and colours, from undercurrents of bop
into electro-acoustic trance, from acoustic quartet
playing early electric Miles to dancing West African
drum grooves, searching ballads and joyful melodies.
"When the Julian Siegel Quartet perform live it's
a fantastic ride" JEZ NELSON BBC Jazz on 3.
A
Jazz Services touring event. Jazz Foyer, our young
stars of the future, will be playing in the foyer from
7pm and during the interval.
The words of the legendary Ronnie Scott say it best: "Frank Harrison is one of the most talented young
musicians I have heard".
After studying jazz in
the USA at Berklee School of Music, Boston, pianist
Frank Harrison returned to the UK and joined maverick
saxophonist Gilad Atzmon's globally acclaimed Orient
House Ensemble, whose regular tours took Frank to all
major European Jazz and World Music Festivals.
In 2006
he formed this trio. Their debut album had great
press and led to work all over Europe and the Far
East. This gig will feature music from their new album
"Sideways".
Scott Hamilton/Alan Barnes/Dave Newton Trio
Friday 13th January 2012 8pm Great Hall Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Scott Hamilton - tenor sax
Alan Barnes - reeds
Dave Newton - piano
Andy Cleyndert - bass
Sebastien de Krom - drums
Arriving
in New York from Rhode island as a 22 year old in the
late1970s, Scott Hamilton was taken up by the jazz giants of an earlier generation. He was with
Benny Goodman for a while but also played in many
small groups with Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet, Junior Mance and many other
legends.
Like those masters Scott really swings, plays
great blues and his ballads can send a shiver down
your spine.
Scott has played with Alan Barnes and Dave
Newton many times and their 2006 album "Zootcase"
is a modern mainstream classic.
Jazz Foyer, our young
stars of the future, will be playing in the foyer from
7pm and during the interval.
A
multiple award winning pianist, composer and
charismatic performer, Robert Mitchell has been leading
this trio since 2004 and that shared history
shows in the telepathic nature of their
improvisations. Their first album won BEST JAZZ ALBUM
at Gilles Peterson's 2009 Worldwide Awards.
"..a
great live performer, who's gone from strength to
strength"
GILLES PETERSON BBC Radio 1.
A Jazz
Services touring event promoting their second CD
"Embrace". Audio and video of the band at
Tommaso Starace - alto sax
Frank Harrison - piano
Will Collier - bass
Chris Nickolls - drums
When
alto saxophonist Tommaso Starace played a sell out
performance for us a few years ago with music inspired
by the black and white photographs of the great Magnum
photographer Elliott Erwitt; we were looking for an
opportunity to bring him back to Derby. His new
quartet gave us the perfect excuse.
This exciting band will play music from his new CD
"Blood and Champagne". They will play
material by Tommaso plus compositions by Michel Petrucciani.
Saturday 26th November 2011 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Lea DeLaria is
a refreshing voice in jazz singing. She sings like a
cross between Ella Fitzgerald and a Broadway diva. She
has played on Broadway and is also a stand-up
comedian, which certainly enlivens her act. She is one
of the most powerful and original standards singers to
have emerged in years.
She is backed by her trio led on piano by
Janette Mason. It promises to be perfect as our early
Christmas party concert.
Kit Downes Group
Friday 18th November 2011 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Kit Downes - piano, keyboard
Calum Gourlay - bass
James Maddren - drums
James Allsop - bass clarinet and saxes
Adrien Dennenfield - cello
Josh Arceleo - tenor sax
Kit
Downes has been a Derby Jazz regular since his student
days. Last year he shot to fame when his 2010 Album
"Golden" was nominated for the Mercury
Prize. He is one of the most in demand young pianists
on the UK scene. His new project "Quiet
Tiger" has seen his trio expand to a new sextet,
performing mostly orginal compositions. This is
a band which both challenges and electrifies.
George
Hogg, trumpet and flugel
Ben Somers, tenor saxophone
Alex Munk, guitar
Calum Gourlay, Bass
Dave Hamblett, drums
We
are delighted that trumpeter George Hogg is bringing
his quintet home to Derby. During the past few years
George has played with the BBC Big Band, and performed
club dates across the UK and abroad with Kenny
Wheeler, Alex Wilson, Alan Barnes and many more.
The band will play original compositions as well as
standards. Dave Hamblett, the drummer in this band, is
another of the many successful musicians who come from
Derby.
Mike Janisch Purpose Built Quintet
Friday 21st October 2011 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Mike Janisch - bass
Phil Robson - guitar
Steve Fishwick - trumpet, flugel
Andrew Bain - percussion
Alex Garnett - saxes
Bassist
Mike Janisch has played for us many times in many
bands. His playing is always exciting and
entertaining. This is his first visit leading his own
band.
The music shows his wide range of musical
influences. His compositions have a fresh take
on modern jazz with a strong sense of melody and his
arrangements of jazz classics are different and
exciting.
Sarah
Gillespie - vocals and guitar
Gilad Atzmon - reeds, accordion, harmonica
Ben Bastin - bass
Enzo Zirilli - drums
Singer
songwriter Sarah Gillespie has been playing to packed
enthusiastic audiences everywhere she goes. The music
on her new CD "In the Current Climate" is,
if possible, even more exciting than her first. The
band consisting of Sarah on vocals and guitar, Gilad
Atzmon on reeds, accordion and occasionally harmonica,
Ben Bastin on bass and Enzo Zirilli on drums make this
an evening not to be missed. 'Utterly wonderful, a
unique way with words, terrific guitar playing, and
not just great songs, but totally original music.
Brilliant, the bee's knees!' Robert Wyatt, 2010
Friday 23rd September 2011 8.30pm
Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Denys Baptiste - saxes
Andrew McCormack - piano
Gary Crosby - bass
Rod Youngs - drums
Saxophonist
Denys Baptiste has won a Mercury, a Mobo and a British
jazz award. He leads his rejuvenated quartet,
demonstrating his phenomenal command of tone and
timing.
The energetic and eclectic collection of new
compositions that draw from a broad palette, taking in
Caribbean, American and African influences.
This
improvising trio was formed to celebrate the music of
English classical composers of the twentieth century
and to present its own unique homage to the works of
Delius and Vaughan Williams amongst others.They
explore the harmonic connections between the music of
these great masters and contemporary jazz.
The short song forms and great melodies of these
instrumental works lend themselves particularly well
to improvisation, just as the 'standards' of the
American song book have been used by jazz musicians
since the1930?s.
Liam
has long been known for his highly original piano
playing and his in-depth knowledge of the great jazz
masters including Ellington and Bill Evans. But his
longstanding admiration for Dave Brubeck is clearly
demonstrated in this fascinating collection of some of
Brubeck’s best known pieces.
This
gig fell victim to the weather last December, but we
felt we could not miss it, and so have re-programmed
it as soon as was possible.
A
trio that Brubeck himself called “an
inspiration”.
Friday 15th April 2011 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Stan Sulzmann - sax Kit Downes - piano Jim Hart - vibes Tim
Giles - drums
Stan Sulzmann’s celebrated
career as one of the
UK
’s finest saxophonists spans forty years.Here he is in the company of three of the most
in demand and versatile young musicians on the British
scene: Mercury prize nominee Kit Downes on piano and
two members of
London
's highly acclaimed Loop Collective, Jim Hart,
terrific on vibes and drummer Tim Giles.
The
Neon Quartet is a true collaboration, their sound is
melodic and playful whilst having a very contemporary
edge making it new and exciting.
Asaf
Sirkis keeps confirming that he's one of the British
jazz scene's most creative drummers. This trio
features Tassos Spiliotopoulos on guitar and
Jonathan Harvey on Bass generating a compelling intensity, and
the leader's percussion responses to their ideas are
dazzling eruptions of drum mastery.
North
African and Middle Eastern music played a big part in
his early listening along with influences from rock
and fusion music.
Friday 18th March 2011 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Jay Phelps - trumpet Michael Mwenso - vocals Jonathan Gee
- piano Neil Charles - bass Matt Holmes - drums Brian
Edwards - sax
Charismatic trumpeter, Jay Phelps
made his name as a member of the band Empirical, who
made a massive impact on the jazz scene.Now, Jay leads his finely tuned new band,
including a stellar line-up of
London
’s top jazz musicians that cuts across the
generations.
Jay’s instantly recognizable, warm sound
evokes the spirit of the 1940s New York Birdland scene
and the playful vocals of showman-vocalist Michael
Mwenso help to capture the traditional spirit of jazz
music.
Tim
Richards - piano Dominic Howles - bass Jeff
Lardner -
drums
One
of the UK’s foremost jazz pianists, Tim Richards is
best known as the founder and leader of the groups Spirit
Level and Great Spirit.
His
latest trio plays music which is a mix of stylish
contemporary originals and bluesy grooves. The evening
will be interspersed with well known standards and
this trio will delight and enthral you.
Friday 11th February 2011 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Tony Kofi - saxes Dave Chamberlain - bass Rod Youngs -
drums
Nottingham-born
saxophonist, Toni Kofi is a formidable figure on
today’s jazz scene.He has an amazing ability to swing and express
great feeling, never losing his own original sound.
The
Standard Time Trio is Kofi’s newly formed band
featuring Stacey Kent’s former double bassist Dave
Chamberlain (Belper born and bred) and Washington D.C.
native Rod Youngs on drums.The evening will showcase the trio’s
captivating rearrangements of classic jazz standards
that use every instrument to its fullest range,
presenting a fresh and vibrant sound for today.
James
Allsopp -reeds Kit Downes - keys Tim Giles - drums
The
Golden Age of Steam is a new trio featuring James
Allsoppon
tenor saxophone and bass clarinet. The band builds on
his association with drummer Tim Giles and is
completed by young Mercury nominee and keyboard
sensation Kit Downes.
The
trio has recently completed a debut album of brand new
Allsopp compositions. The album blurs the line between
contemporary classical music, electronics and the full
spectrum of Jazz improvisation from the blues all the
way to the extremities of the avant garde.
Phil Robson and the IMS Quintet featuring Mark Turner
Sunday 23rd January 2011 8pm Darwin Suite Assembly Rooms, Market Place, DE1 3AH
Phil Robson - guitar Mark Turner - sax Gareth Lockrane -
flute Michael Janisch - bass Ernesto Simpson - drums
Internationally
acclaimed jazz guitarist and 2009 Parliamentary
Jazz Musician of the Year,
Phil Robson takes a break from his regular band,
Partisans, to join forces with equally renowned New
York & London based musicians to form the IMS
Quintet – a fantastic line-up with an exceptional
and dynamic sound.
The band members: New York saxophonist, Mark
Turner, Gareth Lockrane on flute, Michael Janisch on
bass and Cuban drummer, Ernesto Simpson, have
been variously described as “hip, melodic and
bouncy” (Times), “brilliantly
imaginative” (Jazzwise) and “powerful and
innovative” (New York Times).
Don’t
miss this opportunity to spend an evening with this
band of fabulous and exciting musicians
Corey Mwamba - vibes Joshua Blackmore - drums Dave Kane - bass
Ntshuks Bonga - saxes Alex Bonney - trumpets Arun
Ghosh - clarinet
Corey
Mwamba's Trio with Josh Blackmore and Dave Kane played
a great gig for us last January.
For Heralds, Corey has added sax, trumpet and
clarinet. The project recasts the role of
musicians as storytellers using local tales and folk
poetry to create maps for communicative,
multi-coloured creative music.
Kate
Williams plays melodic, gently lyrical original
material, interspersing it with intriguing visits to
modern jazz. She is joined by saxophone legend Bobby
Wellins performing as a duo for our first CUBE gig of
2011.
Over
the past few years, Bobby and Kate have worked
together in both duo and quartet form. Expect an
evening of choice classics including tunes by Cole
Porter, Jobim, and a few originals too.
