July 18 and 21: Sara Serpa featured in livestream concerts.Scott Robinson Quartet - Livestream from Small’s Jazz Club, New York City, Friday July 17th 2020.“Save The Vortex” Crowdfunder campaign launched.The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra - a Tribute to Nelson Mandela.Webinar: “Multi-camera streaming of live events”, hosted by Wendy Kirkland - July 17th 2020, 11.30 am.The Doek Festival 2020 will be Live, July 28th - August 2nd.Livestream concert with Rosalie Genay and Barry Green, July 17th 2020, 8.00 pm.E17 Jazz Presents: Mike De Souza + Huw V Williams, livestream event 19th July 2020, 7.30 pm.Upcoming UK Virtual Jazz Sessions (From 9 July 2020)Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 05/07/2020.The EFG London Jazz Festival Friday 13 - Sunday 22 November 2020 “Living in Two Worlds”.Fri, July 10 & Sat, July 11 – Eric Reed Quartet Streaming Live @ The Village Vanguard, New York City.Vermont Jazz Center Virtual Summer Workshop 2020 August 9-14.Sheffield Jazz: Online gigs in July 2020.Jonny Mansfield - new single and “Album in a Day”.Cath Roberts Newsletter, Summer 2020.Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, Abergavenny to go digital for 2020.Latest video from West Midlands Jazz Network - featuring guitarist Ant Law.The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston, London - latest newsletter.Upcoming UK Virtual Jazz Sessions (From 2 July 2020).Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 28/06/2020.Recipients Announced For 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.Fri, July 3 & Sun, July 5 – Joe Lovano’s Trio Fascination Streaming Live @ The Village Vanguard, New York City.Jazz South launches £30,000 Artist Commissions programme.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 21/06/2020.Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Jazz Awards - Winners, 2020.Nicolas Meier - Garden/Home Live Streaming Concerts, June / July 2020.Wayne Wilkinson - A Message to Brecon Jazz Club and solo guitar performance of “Tin Roof Blues”.Music Venue Trust Leads Calls For £50m From Government To Save Grassroots Sector.Lionel Loueke signs to Edition Records.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist - a programme of duos.Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire Announce Rescheduled Tour Dates.Ladysmith Black Mambazo plus support Muntu Valdo - UK tour rescheduled to May/June 2021Rocking In The Free World, a special one day free festival, is planned for Saturday 22 May 2021 at Herrington Park, Sunderland.Jazz West Midlands Promoter Network announces further digital concert content.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 7th June 2020.Barbican announces rescheduled concerts for 2021.Scarborough Jazz Festival Postponed Until February 2021.An appeal from Tim Kliphuis.BBC Young Jazz Musician returns in 2020 to celebrate young talent in UK jazz.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 31/05/2020.Jazz Lockdown shows from Leeds.New York City musicians Alexa Tarantino & Steven Feifke present Sunday Livestreams via Crowdcast.Today - The Romanian Cultural Institute in London’s final broadcast in a series featuring musician Lucian Ban. Previous episodes still available to view. Details attached.This Week’s UK Lockdown Jazz Sessions - 27 May 2020Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 24/05/2020.The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group urge Arts Council England to reinstate National Lottery Projects Grants.Jazz West Midlands Promoter Network announces Digital Concert Programme.Artists announced for Jerwood Jazz Encounters Fellowships to present jazz at festivals across England during 2021.Mabon reschedule their “Last Huzzah!” tour to 2021.Lockdown News from Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer.Serious Announces Participants of Fifteenth Edition of Take Five Programme.Jazz Coalition Commission Fund Awardees Announced.140 UK Music Venues Removed from ‘Critical’ List ………For Now.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 17/05/2020.Satoko Fujii receives 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music.Announcing JAZZ COALITION; Formed By Jazz Industry Professionals to Commission Artists During Lockdown.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz On The Radio’ playlist, 10/05/2020. Emily Dankworth, Alec Dankworth and Demi Garcia - new video, “Calico Skies”.Justin Adams & Mauro Durante, new online content and rescheduled UK tour.Barbican announces new digital content, pays tribute to NHS, and appoints interim Artistic Director.Melody Gardot calls out to musicians to join her remotely on her new charity single ‘From Paris With Love’.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast May 3rd 2020.Tango Jazz Quartet - new videos produced for the benefit of audiences during Covid-19 lockdown.Vitor Pereira introduces his new ‘Electric Chamber’ quartet with a series of new videos.Fergus McCreadie signs to Edition Records.Barbican announces new digital content during temporary closure.Eddie Martin launches “The Birdcage Sessions”, every Sunday evening during lockdown.Cath Roberts Newsletter: Spring 2020.Jazz FM Awards postponed to Autumn 2020.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast April 26th 2020.Crowdfunding campaign launched to save Towersey Festival.CALL TO ACTION - Cockpit Theatre launches COCKPITCH - The online broadcast Busking Platform for Artists on Lockdown.‘Between The Lines’ concert series moves to October 2020 and announces full line up.MultiTraction Orchestra - new remote collaboration to release first single, “Emerge Entangled” on May 1st 2020.Musical Artists Call For Economic Justice in the Digital Domain.Peter Slavid -’ European Jazz Hour’ playlist - first broadcast April 19th 2020.Nick Tomalin and Simon Whiteside launch new Jazz Podcast.Samantha Wright launches Kickstarter campaign in support of debut album “How About Now?”.Branco Stoysin - new video putting a different perspective on the Covid-19 pandemic.Fergus McCreadie, livestream series to continue every Tuesday night during Covid-19 lockdown.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist.Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival / Edinburgh Festival Carnival cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic.Down For The Count Swing Orchestra release video release new video as a tribute to all key workers during the Corona Virus crisis.Wendy Kirkland’s ‘Latin Lockdown’.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist.JazzLeeds - latest newsletter.Composing in a crisis ... an update from Tim Kliphuis.Lynne Arriale Trio - new album and 2020 US and European tour dates.La Linea – The London Latin Music Festival - Reschedules To The Autumn.R.I.P. Wallace Roney (1960 - 1920).Music through the Lockdown! - with Phil Meadows.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 29/03/2020.Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Satchmo Award to Rachel and Mat Domber of Arbors Records.Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 22/03/2020.Pianist Fergus McCreadie releases home-made CD to help take fans’ minds off Covid-19 crisis.Alan Broadbent - new album and special videos.Bruno Heinen Trio - new album and live performances.Brecon Jazz Club and Festival and Hot Club, Cardiff - audio files to enjoy listening to while self isolating from Covid-19.A message of hope from Birmingham, Sandwell & Westside Jazz Festival. | News

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

The EFG London Jazz Festival Friday 13 - Sunday 22 November 2020 “Living in Two Worlds”.

Wednesday, July 08, 2020

This year's EFG London Jazz Festival will be an event that is both live and digital - "Living in Two Worlds" - and will run from Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

EFG London Jazz Festival 2020 coming this November.

The EFG London Jazz Festival
Friday 13 - Sunday 22 November 2020

Living in Two Worlds
This year EFG London Jazz Festival will be an event that is both live and digital - Living in Two Worlds - and will run from Friday 13 to Sunday 22 November.

he unprecedented circumstances of 2020 have meant we have had to rethink how music is experienced to create a Festival that is accessible to a wide audience and transcends borders.

We aim to bring together exclusive live concerts, a digital platform that streams live and bespoke content, new commissions, interactive creative engagement projects, rare archive recordings, films, talks, interviews, webinars and a series of broadcasts.
The plan is for this to be a major live and digital event that lives in two worlds at the same time.

We are also thrilled to present our new Festival design, inspired by the multiple sounds and unifying nature of jazz, reaching out to audiences everywhere.

We continue our commitment to the UK jazz scene and its connections to the global arena, showcasing the best of international talent, new work, new collaborations, unique performances, audience interaction, and our collaboration with clubs, communities and other producers.

The programme, details on venues, tickets, and online viewing options will be announced in September.

‘Great international festivals such as the EFG London Jazz Festival show that London is open to creativity and to people from across the world’ (Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London)

‘The best jazz festival on the planet’ (Jez Nelson, BBC Radio 3)

‘A dazzling display across the musical spectrum’ (★★★★★ The Guardian)

‘I played the EFG London Jazz Festival a number of times, and every time it’s been a pleasure, a privilege’ (Herbie Hancock)

Fri, July 10 & Sat, July 11 – Eric Reed Quartet Streaming Live @ The Village Vanguard, New York City.

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

Pianist Eric Reed will lead his quartet for the next even in the 'Streaming Live at the Village Vanguard' series.

We have received the following information;

Streaming Live at the Village Vanguard is now on Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. EDT.

The series continues this Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 with the Eric Reed Quartet featuring saxophonist Stacy Dillard, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer McClenty Hunter.

Tickets are $10, available at http://www.villagevanguard.com.

Each week there are two shows approximately 75 minutes in length. Shows are now at @ 9 p.m. EDT on Fridays and Saturdays.

Streaming Live at The Village Vanguard Schedule:

• July 10 & 11 – Eric Reed Quartet featuring saxophonist Stacy Dillard, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer McClenty Hunter.

• July 17 & 18 – The Terell Stafford Quartet with Bruce Barth on piano, David Wong on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums.

• July 24 & 25 – Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio with Russell Malone on guitar and Donald Vega on piano.

• July 31 & August 1 – Fred Hersch Trio with Drew Gress on bass and Jochen Rueckert on drums.

On February 22, 2020 the Village Vanguard, the world’s oldest continuously operated jazz club, marked its 85th year in the basement at 178 7th Avenue South in New York City. On March 16th the club closed its doors indefinitely. On Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2020, the club began Streaming Live at the Village Vanguard with the Billy Hart Quartet.

https://www.facebook.com/villagevanguard/

https://www.instagram.com/vanguardjazz/?hl=en

Vermont Jazz Center Virtual Summer Workshop 2020 August 9-14.

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

The Vermont Jazz Center will celebrate its 45th season by offering an online version of its annual Summer Jazz Workshop from August 9-14, 2020. Press release including full schedules attached.

We have received the following press release;

The Vermont Jazz Center will celebrate its 45th season by offering an online version of its annual Summer Jazz Workshop from August 9-14, 2020. In the spirit of moving forward, the VJC has developed a structure to share the love of jazz and the wisdom of the faculty as a temporary replacement for its traditional summer jazz workshop in Putney, Vermont. This year’s program features an expanded faculty, a new take on masterclasses, plus two new features: “Hot Topics” and “Zoom Tunes,” as well as a composition course led by Helen Sung as part of our theory curriculum.

Called “Zoom Into Jazz,” 2020s workshop welcomes a handful of new masterclass instructors on bass (Linda Oh, Genevieve Rose, David Picchi), drums (Clarence Penn, Corey Fonville), piano (Shamie Royston, Maya Keren, Miro Sprague), trumpet (Rachel Therrien, Ray Vega) and saxophone (Felipe Salas) to complement VJC’s stellar faculty (see below for a full list). The masterclasses will focus on a different, daily topics - transcribing, comping, improvising, electric or acoustic instruments, note sets, etc. Each teacher will define the parameters of their own offerings.

Hot Topics” in the evening will be conversations between two faculty members on topics that resonate with our times such as “Gender and Race in Jazz,” “Bird (Charlie Parker) at 100,” and “The Influence of Jazz on Other Cultures (and Visa Versa).” Each evening there also will be an opportunity to play a specified tune for other participants via Zoom and receive commentary.

The structure of the overall program is divided into a two-hour morning and a three-hour evening session with afternoons available for private lessons (for an additional fee) and vocal repertoire sessions.

The Jazz Center is excited to join together once again. Even if we can’t see each other in person, we are delighted to connect with you, our summer jazz family!

In 2020’s Zoom into Jazz, the VJC aims to live up to a quote from community member Owen Neid: “The Summer Jazz Workshop is an experience that will inspire, excite, and occasionally frustrate, all in the hopes of making you the best musician you can be. It was wonderful to be able to learn in such a welcoming environment, surrounded by caring teachers, inspired students, and helpful staff.”

For more information on VJC programs please visit the VJC website at http://www.vtjazz.org. For specific questions regarding curriculum and content, email Eugene Uman directly at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Schedule

Sunday Evening
7:00 – 7:50 Welcome to the Workshop (community meeting)

Morning Session
9:00 – 9:50 AM Theory (3 levels) plus Ear Training and Composition
10:00 – 10:50 AM Master Classes for Instruments and Vocalists

Afternoon
12:00 to 6:00 PM Private Lessons
1:00 – 2:30 Singing the Standards

Evening Session Monday to Thursday
7:00 – 7:50 PM Hot Topics
8:00 – 10:00 PM Zoom Tunes

Evening Session Friday
7:00 Helen Sung and Marcus McLaurine Concert

Details:

Morning Sessions
Theory-related classes (9:00 – 9:50 AM):
(changed order of this line and the next one and added parentheses) (Theory classes include) composition, ear training and rhythm theory.
Participants self-select from the following options:
Rhythm Theory – Brian Shankar Adler, Julian Gerstin
Composition: – Helen Sung
Ear Training – Michael Zsoldos
Intermediate Theory – Eugene Uman
Advanced Theory – Ray Gallon

Masterclasses (10:00 – 10:50 AM):
Most instruments will have a variety of teachers over the course of the 5-day program
Voice: Sheila Jordan (Monday – Tuesday), Jay Clayton (Wednesday – Friday)
Trumpet: Jason Palmer, Rachel Therrien, Ray Vega
Saxophone: Stacy Dillard, Felipe Salas, Michael Zsoldos
Trombone: John Fedchock, Jen Wharton
Flute: Camille Thurman
Piano: Ray Gallon, Maya Keren, Miro Sprague, Helen Sung, Shamie Royston
Bass: Cameron Brown, Linda Mayhan Oh, Marcus McLaurine, David Picchi, Genevieve Rose
Drums: Brian Shankar Adler, Claire Arenius, Corey Fonville, Francisco Mela, Clarence Penn

Afternoon Sessions
Private Lessons by Appointment (12:00 – 6:00 PM)
Costs of private lessons are not included in program fee, prices vary according to instructor.
VJC will coordinate private study with instructors on a case-by-case basis. We encourage participants to take a variety of lessons with instructors, even if they are not of your instrument.

Singers Afternoon Offering:
Singing the Standards – sing with backing tracks using iReal Pro
Two simultaneous sessions:
Monday and Tuesday – Sheila and Jay
Wednesday through Friday – Jay and Camille
From 1:00 – 2:30 Monday through Friday, six singers per session.
Sing along with backing tracks to your favorite standards.

Evening Sessions
Hot Topics (7:00 – 7:50 PM)
Monday, Aug. 10th: Gender, Race and Jazz: a conversation with Marcus McLaurine and Camille Thurman
Tuesday, Aug. 11th: Celebrating Bird’s 100th Birthday: Ray Gallon interviews Sheila Jordan
Wednesday, Aug. 12th: The Music of Other Cultures and its Influence on Jazz: a conversation with Rachel Therrien and Julian Gerstin
Thursday, Aug. 13th: A New Roadmap for Improv: Brian Shankar Adler leads a conduction improv session
Friday, Aug. 14th: Goodbye concert with Helen Sung and Marcus McLaurine

Zoom Tunes (8:00 – 10:00, Monday to Thursday)
Join Franz Robert, Ben Barnett and Malik McLaurine in a Zoom room for our new “tune a day jam.” Each day musicians will play or sing a prescribed tune on Zoom (either solo or with a backing track) and enjoy banter with other members of the community about their performance.

https://vtjazz.org

Sheffield Jazz: Online gigs in July 2020.

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

Sheffield Jazz is continuing to provide an income for musicians and to fill the gap for its audience by putting on online gigs. July's programme features the Tony Kofi Trio and Fergus McCreadie, solo.

We have received the following information;

Sheffield Jazz: Online gigs in July 2020

Having had the latter part of its Spring 2020 season eliminated by Covid-19 Sheffield Jazz is continuing to provide an income for hard-pressed musicians and to fill the gap for its audience by putting on online gigs. Following the sell-out Jason Rebello gig in June we are following up with two gigs in July. The first , on 17 July, is by the Tony Kofi Trio featuring Tony and harpist Alina Bzhezhinska, and the second on 31 July features rising star Fergus McCreadie on piano, whose Spring 2020 gig at Crookes Social Club with his trio was a huge success.

Details are below. Both gigs start at 19.00 and each performance (of c45 mins) will be followed by a Q&A session with the musicians. Admission is by advance ticket only and tickets cost a bargain £5 each from TicketSource: http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sheffield-jazz

Tony Kofi Trio on Friday 17 July at 19.00
A very special online gig featuring Sheffield Jazz favourite Tony Kofi together with highly-acclaimed harpist Alina Bzhezhinska and Australian drummer Joel Prime, three quarters of a quartet who have attracted rave reviews for their live gigs. They will be showcasing their musical skills through the art of beautiful melodies and jazz harmonies, within a truly intimate performance setting.
The show will feature the timeless tunes of John and Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Duke Ellington and Randy Weston as well as original compositions from their critically acclaimed album ‘Inspiration’.
“…Bzhezhinska – an artist to watch” *****- Evening Standard;
“There is so much respect in jazz circles for Tony Kofi”– Jazzwise
http://www.tonykofimusic.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHYwFkbMUgo

Fergus McCreadie (solo piano) on Friday 31 July at 19.00
The Fergus MaCreadie Trio’s Sheffield Jazz gig at Crookes in January was one of the highlights of our recent season and a real eye-opener for those who were unfamiliar with this phenomenal young pianist whose music reflects the Scottish landscape and traditions while honouring the American and Nordic jazz legacies. Their debut album ‘Turas’ earned five-star reviews and awards, winning Album of the Year in the 2019 UK Parliamentary Jazz Awards. For this online gig Fergus will be giving a solo performance of the album, something he has not done before in its entirety. Expect highly original and emotionally charged music performed with thrilling virtuosity. “Simply outstanding” – Jazzwise
http://www.fergusmccreadie.co.uk/

Sheffield Jazz aims to bring the best of national and international jazz to the city, providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds in the Sheffield City Region and throughout Yorkshire, to hear and learn from some of the greatest of current artists.
It is a company limited by guarantee and a charity and it is managed by a small committee of Directors/Trustees (all unpaid) supported by a team of volunteers.
http://www.sheffieldjazz.org.uk

FULL PRESS RELEASES:

TONY KOFI TRIO:

Tony Kofi Trio
Tony Kofi: tenor/soprano saxophones
Alina Bzhezhinska: harp
Joel Prime: drums/percussion

A very special online gig featuring Sheffield Jazz favourite Tony Kofi together with highly-acclaimed harpist Alina Bzhezhinska and Australian drummer Joel Prime, three quarters of a quartet who have attracted rave reviews for their live gigs. They will be showcasing their musical skills through the art of beautiful melodies and jazz harmonies, within a truly intimate performance setting. The show will feature the timeless tunes of John and Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Duke Ellington and Randy Weston as well as original compositions from their critically acclaimed album ‘Inspiration’.
http://www.tonykofimusic.com

Tony Kofi
Tony Kofi is a British Jazz multi-award winning, multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents, who is equally at home playing Alto, Baritone, Soprano and Tenor saxophones and the flute. Having 'cut his teeth' in the “Jazz Warriors” of the early 90’s Tony has gone on to establish himself as a musician, teacher and composer of some authority. As well as performing and recording with Gary Crosby’s ‘NuTroop’ and Jazz Jamaica, Tony’s playing has also been a feature of many of the bands and artists he has worked and recorded with, including US-3 TheWorld Saxophone Quartet, Courtney Pine, Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, The David Murray Big Band, Sam Rivers Rivbe Big band, Andrew Hill Big Band, Abdullah Ibrahim, Macy Gray, Julian Joseph Big band, Harry Connick JR, Byron Wallen’s Indigo, Jamaaladeen Tacuma’s Coltrane Configurations and Ornette Coleman.
His fluent and fiery hard-bop style makes him constantly in demand. Tony currently leads his own Tony Kofi Quartet, Tony Kofi Sphinx Trio, Future Passed Trio and is also the co-founder with Jonathan Gee of the Monk Liberation Front, a group that is dedicated to the music of Thelonious Monk. Tony’s latest projects see him performing with Alex Webb’s Café Society Swing, Arnie Somogyi’s Jump Monk, Larry Bartley’s JustUS Quartet, Adrian Reid Quartet, a double leaders project with Alan Barnes called Aggregation, Orphy Robinson’s Bobby Hutcherson songbook project, Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet, Jo Harrop’s Fever, Portrait of Cannonball (Music dedicated to Cannonball Adderley) Tony Kofi and the Organisation, a recent project which he co leads on the Baritone Saxophone.
“There is so much respect in jazz circles for Tony Kofi.” – Jazzwise
“Passionate… superb… heartfelt” – The Guardian

Alina Bzhezhinska
Alina Bzhezhinska is an internationally renowned harpist who studied at the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland (Masters in Arts), and The University of Arizona, (Masters in Music Performance). A versatile instrument, the harp’s place in jazz has been associated most notably with Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, but has recently been discovered anew by contemporary jazz musicians, of whom Bzhezhinska is one of the most exciting and dynamic. A winner of the PRS Women Make Music Award Alina has performed with leading classical and jazz musicians such as Shabaka Hutchings, Django Bates, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and the Glasgow String Quartet. Her duo with award- winning jazz vocalist Niki King has supported Gregory Porter.
Alina has recorded a solo album ‘Harp Recital’ and is featured on recordings by the American harp ensemble Harp Fusion and the Scottish jazz group New Focus. Following the release to critical acclaim of her jazz quartet album ‘Inspiration’ on Ubuntu Music in 2018, her quartet has performed at Glasgow Jazz Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and WOMADelaide Festival in Australia.
“…hugely impressed. The sounds that she produces from the harp are little short of astonishing…“Inspiration” goes far beyond the bounds of the usual jazz “tribute” album. The playing from all four protagonists…is sensational throughout” - The Jazz Mann
“…harpist Alina Bzhezhinska is perhaps the foremost contemporary interpreter of Alice Coltrane’s work.” - London Jazz News
http://www.alina-harpist.com

Joel Prime
Australian drummer Joel Prime has become an important addition to the British Jazz scene. Winner of Australia’s ‘Best Up & Coming Drummer’ competition in 2011, his versatility across congas, drum kit and all manner of Afro Cuban and Brazilian percussion has seen him performing with Alina Bzhezhinska’s Quartet, Mr Little’s Noisy Band, Felix Riebl and The Copasetic Foundation amongst others. Joel has also become a prominent figure at leading festivals, having led percussion workshops and performed at many festivals including Glastonbury, Wilderness Festival, Senigallia Jamboree, WOMADelaide, Adelaide Festival of Arts and the Adelaide International Guitar Festival.

Website: http://www.tonykofimusic.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHYwFkbMUgo

FERGUS McCREADIE

Fergus McCreadie Solo
Fergus McCreadie: piano

The Fergus MaCreadie Trio’s Sheffield Jazz gig at Crookes in January was one of the highlights of our recent season and a real eye-opener for those who were unfamiliar with this phenomenal young pianist whose music reflects the Scottish landscape and traditions while honouring the American and Nordic jazz legacies.
Their debut album ‘Turas’ earned five-star reviews and awards, winning Album of the Year in the 2019 UK Parliamentary Jazz Awards. For this online gig Fergus will be giving a solo performance of the album, something he has not done before in its entirety. Expect highly original and emotionally charged music
performed with thrilling virtuosity. “Simply outstanding” – Jazzwise
http://www.fergusmccreadie.co.uk

Recently signed to leading European label Edition Records, pianist Fergus McCreadie is one of Scotland’s most exciting young talents. Born in Jamestown, near Strathpeffer, he grew up in Dollar and graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2018. As well as winning the prestigious Peter Wittingham Jazz Award with his trio in 2016, he has twice won the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the year under-17s Prize and is the winner of the Guy Jones Prize, the Joe Temperley Prize from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Linda Trahan Memorial Prize from St Andrews University.

His trio has featured at the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, Aberdeen and Islay jazz festivals regularly and has toured in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and Estonia. The group has also appeared at Oslo and Stockholm jazz festivals and th Ronnie Scott’s International Piano Trio Festival.

Released in Spring 2018, the Fergus McCreadie Trio’s debut album ‘Turas’ has been praised for “reflecting his engagement with the Scottish landscape and musical traditions while also showing a firm grasp of the jazz piano tradition” (Jazz in Europe).
It won Album of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2019 and Best Album at the Scottish Jazz Awards 2019, following on from McCreadie’s Best Instrumentalist title at the 2018 awards.
The album was also shortlisted for the cross-genre Scottish Album of the Year Award 2019, reaching the final ten from 290-plus candidates, a rare feat for a jazz album.
McCreadie’s music is an innovative blend of jazz and Scottish traditional music. ‘Turas’ (Scottish Gaelic for ‘Journey’) features eight original compositions which are designed to take the listener on an auditory journey of Scotland. Depicting scenes from the Western Isles to the East Neuk of Fife, the music is evocative of the landscapes from which it has taken its inspiration.

“A virtuosic technique…high in emotional depth” – Tommy Smith

“Think Erik Satie running on Islay Malt rather than Absinthe” – The Scotsman, 5* review of Turas

“Citing preeminent pianists McCoy Tyner and Esbjorn Svensson might seem to be placing too much of a burden on a 20-year-old’s shoulders but these are the names that immediately spring to mind on listening to Fergus McCreadie’s debut” ……..Prodigious, cascading technique while communicating warmth of personality” – The Herald review of Turas

“real personality … lucidly atmospheric … fire and virtuosity” – The Times

http://www.fergusmccreadie.co.uk/

http://www.youtu.be/k2uxxl6K1RY

Jonny Mansfield - new single and “Album in a Day”.

Saturday, July 04, 2020

Multi-instrumentalist Jonny Mansfield has released a new single "Syringa", featuring the voice of Ella Hohnen-Ford. He is also planning to write, perform, mix and release an album in a single day.

Jonny Mansfield writes;

“I wanted to let you know of a project I’m working on called ‘album in a day’ (working title). On August 6th, I’m going to be undertaking the challenge of creating an album in a day - getting up really really early, composing all the music (each track with a different compositional process), recording all the instruments, mixing and mastering the audio then releasing the album at midnight on Bandcamp.

The idea for this album came from a workshop. I was saying to the students - ‘the success of being a musician is not about winning the awards or getting the great reviews, it’s the process of creating and connecting with people, which results in developing your process.’ After the class, I was thinking how I could put my words into actions and ‘album in a day’ came to mind”.

Jonny Mansfield has also released the single “Syringa” which is now available on Bandcamp here;
https://jonnymansfield.bandcamp.com/track/syringa-ft-ella-hohnen-ford

http://www.jonnymansfield.com

Newsletter - http://jonnymansfield.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bd0780968726c72485a4d2725&id=feb01f2655

Cath Roberts Newsletter, Summer 2020.

Friday, July 03, 2020

Saxophonist, composer, improviser and bandleader Cath Roberts has forwarded her latest newsletter, including details of recordings newly available on Bandcamp.

Cath Roberts writes;

The newsletter of saxophone player Cath Roberts

Hello
Well, with live performances still on hold there isn’t a massive amount to report in this season’s newsletter, but here’s a roundup of a few things I’m involved in online. And the courgette flowers are out! As usual you can keep up with what goes on between these emails by checking in on my website and/or following me on Twitter.

Live recordings update and another Bandcamp Friday…

Since the last newsletter I’ve been working on my live recordings Bandcamp site, and there are now eight sets up there. For this week’s Bandcamp Friday (today!) I’ve published two new ones; a trio with Andrew Lisle and Seth Bennett from LUME in 2015, and a duo with Benedict Taylor (full length set this time) from Flim Flam in 2018. The trio only played together once, and listening back to this recording has made us want to do more when it’s possible to meet and play together again. The set with Benedict was the only time we’ve shared the bill with another baritone saxophone and viola duo….of course, Alan Wilkinson and Ivor Kallin…a great night.

https://cathrobots.bandcamp.com/album/trio-set-at-lume-november-2015

https://cathrobots.bandcamp.com/album/duo-set-at-flim-flam-july-2018

If you’re able to buy music, today is a good day to do it while Bandcamp waive their revenue share once again to support artists during the pandemic. The income from my live sets is split between the players, so if you enjoy the music do feel free to ‘pay on the door’ by naming your price for a download. And anything from the Sloth Racket Bandcamp site will go towards helping us to record and tour again once these things become possible. In these uncertain times, we appreciate the support!

https://slothracket.bandcamp.com/

Duo release with Alex Bonney on oem
A new release! Coming out next week on Martin Clarke’s label oem is a duo set from me and Alex Bonney. Martin recorded this in February at Hundred Years Gallery - in what seems like another world. Great to have it out there! Release day is 8th July, and there’s a nice review from A Jazz Noise to give you an idea of the vibe…

https://oemrecords.bandcamp.com/

http://www.alexbonney.co.uk/

https://ajazznoise.com/cath-roberts-alex-bonney-live-at-hyg/

Gillian Whiteley Isolation Improv drawing/video
And finally, I’m part of a nice project by the Sheffield artist Gillian Whiteley (aka Bricolage Kitchen), who has been doing a series of videos in lockdown called ‘Isolation Improv Drawings’. Gillian asks improvisers to send her a recording of them playing at home, then films herself responding to the improvisation in the form of a charcoal drawing. Check out her drawing to my solo bari improv, and loads of other improvisers too, over on her website.
https://bricolagekitchen.com/isolation-improv-drawings/

That’s it for now I think. I’ll be back with another newsletter in the Autumn. Hope everyone is doing okay, and take care!

Cath

http://cathrobertsmusic.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/cathrobots

Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, Abergavenny to go digital for 2020.

Friday, July 03, 2020

The Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, organised by Black Mountain Jazz, which will take place during October will be going digital in 2020 due to the Corona Virus pandemic. Statement attached.

Organiser Mike Skilton has issued the following press release;

STOP PRESS

wall2wall Jazz Festival 2020

Hopefully, this finds you all well - we have news about October’s w2w festival.

First The Bad News

It is highly likely that a ‘live’ festival, similar in format to previous years, will not be possible in 2020. The continuing ban on large gatherings indoors and the social distancing rules are obstacles that might be with us for some time.

Outdoor events may be allowed, subject to any social distancing rules in place, but these are not suitable for an October festival.

To further complicate matters, any events proposed for the October wall2wall Jazz Festival need to be planned now - there is not the flexibility of making decisions nearer the date.

Now The Good News

Having given the matter some considerable thought, we are proposing we go forward this year with a ‘virtual’ festival - scheduled for October.

Virtual events can take several formats but, generally speaking, they are either ‘live streamed’ or ‘pre-recorded’. Having had experience of the former with our festival three years ago, we recognise the cost and difficulties associated with ‘live streaming’ and pre-filming appears to be a much better option.

We have taken advice on technical issues involved in the different approaches and we see the best option as being pre-recorded events over the summer months and the ‘canned’ material programmed and broadcast as an October festival.

This ‘base’ formula will allow for an element of live streaming by having a presenter who can introduce the pre-recorded events. With that ‘live’ base established, other live streamed virtual elements become possible.

We already had some artists booked for the festival and we have discussed our ideas with them, including the need to ‘think outside of the box’ and get new approaches that will make the virtual programme exciting and of wide interest. They have expressed enthusiasm in being involved, both in the festival and ideas for developing it.

We have looked at some possible inclusions for the programme but there is much more to do. We have also done some early costings and, subject to fine tuning, the virtual project appears financially viable.

As we progress with planning, we will update you on developments and hopefully there will be the support we need to make this a huge success.

Regards
Mike and the BMJ team

Black Mountain Jazz
promoters of the
wall2wall Jazz Festival

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

http://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk

Latest video from West Midlands Jazz Network - featuring guitarist Ant Law.

Friday, July 03, 2020

The latest video in the series from West Midlands Jazz Network features guitarist Ant Law introducing a number of performances featuring his playing with a variety of different line ups. Details att.

Latest video from West Midlands Jazz Network.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ybrG0G9CM4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR07DA56Yq0bLI2yifl7n7ENE5gKhzHMps9WHSdBE6stsHImiTwYCE_5N4w

The programme features performances by Ant Law solo, with his regular quintet featuring Mike Chillingworth (alto sax), Ivo Neame (piano), Tom Farmer (double bass) and James Maddren (drums) and with a quartet featuring Chillingworth, Ferg Ireland (double bass) and Marc Michel (drums).

From the Jazz West Midlands website;
http://www.jazzwestmidlands.org

One of the UK’s finest guitarist and innovators has put together a short selection of his tunes, alone and with others.

A British guitarist Ant lives in London and leads his own group, dubbed “An exciting band to hear live” by John Fordham. Ant was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he lived until the age of 16. From a young age he was exposed to early blues and rock ‘n’ roll, as well as Arabic music. He began playing piano and guitar around the age of 8. Throughout his teens he gravitated towards the guitar. A history teacher gave him a video of Stevie Ray Vaughan playing live at the El Mocambo, which was a huge influence, along with videos of Guns ‘n’ Roses, Queen, and later on Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

You can contribute to supporting jazz musicians by making a donation.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/jazz-musicians-support

The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston, London - latest newsletter.

Thursday, July 02, 2020

The Vortex has forwarded its latest newsletter including an appeal for financial support and details of forthcoming online livestream and archive events.

Coming up this month: Caroline Davis, Led Bib, Josephine Davies, Ben Wendel, Ingrid Jensen & more…

VORTEX ONLINE - JULY 2020

SAVE THE VORTEX
After more than 30 years as one of the most important live Jazz venues in the world, Vortex needs your help to survive. With no income since we were forced to shut our doors in March; no government support, and no rent relief from our landlord, we are literally fighting for survival. We have launched the ‘Save the Vortex’ crowd funder - please give what you can to help us survive. http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-the-vortex

#LETTHEMUSICPLAY
While pubs, restaurants and bars will start to reopen this Saturday, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the coming months for the live music industry. We support the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign, calling on the Government for immediate action to support the UK music industry #saveourvenues.
Read more https://concertpromotersassociation.co.uk/let-the-music-play/

JULY PROGRAMME
We are entering the summer months with a fantastic online programme ahead of us, including six exclusive live streams from home and two replays from the Vortex archive. Hope you will be able to tune in for these fantastic performances!

THURSDAY 02 JULY, 8PM
CAROLINE DAVIS - SOLO SET
A pre-recorded solo performance which features a rich tapestry of improvisation, electronic soundscapes & striking imagery from recent Black Lives Matter Protests in the US.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVIa67x2C68&feature=youtu.be

TUESDAY 07 JULY, 8PM
LED BIB - REPLAY
Relive this amazing performance from a band we all know very well at the Vortex - Led Bib! This performance is a throwback to 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=accst2ax5eE&feature=youtu.be

THURSDAY 09 JULY, 8PM
JOSEPHINE DAVIES + BEN SOMERS
This new musical partnership is a fortuitous outcome of Josephine and Ben Somers moving in together for lockdown and motivating each other to write new music for saxophone and bass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyOnQG_tC3s&feature=youtu.be

THURSDAY 16 JULY, 8PM
FINI BEARMAN
Described by Jazzwise as singing with ‘an emotional intensity, heightened by the beauty of her multifaceted voice’, Fini’s music melds influences as diverse as jazz, folk and contemporary music into an ‘arresting and uniquely personal’ sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W38ktT5ISA0&feature=youtu.be

SATURDAY 18 JULY, 8PM
BEN WENDEL ‘SEASONS’ - REPLAY
Replay one of the most exciting gigs from 2019 with the Ben Wendel Seasons band. Featuring the talents of Aaron Parks (piano), Gilad Hekselman (guitar), Matt Brewer (bass) and Kendrick Scott (drums), the Seasons band played to two sold out audiences back in July last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnLB8TJAczs&feature=youtu.be

MONDAY 20 JULY, 8PM
TOM CAWLEY - SOLO SET
Straight from the home of one of UK’s leading pianists, join us for this live streamed gig!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be53phzMvUs&feature=youtu.be

THURSDAY 23 JULY, 8PM
CALUM GOURLAY - SOLO SET
One of the best younger bass players around, his solo album a couple of years ago got praise from all sides. Intensity, melody and creative imagination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYuYv9HGEXo&feature=youtu.be

SATURDAY 25 JULY, 8.30PM
INGRID JENSEN - SOLO SET
Ingrid Jensen has been hailed as one of the most gifted trumpeter of her generation. As a sought-out teacher, collaborator, and soloist, it is easy to see why the New York Times calls her “as versatile as she is vigorous”. Performing a solo set from home, don’t miss out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wByf2MDiZSg&feature=youtu.be

Vortex Jazz Club,
11 Gillett Square,
Dalston,
London, N16 8AZ.

http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk

Upcoming UK Virtual Jazz Sessions (From 2 July 2020).

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Publicist Danielle White of Raestar Promotions has forwarded links to various on-line performances around the country. Details attached.

Upcoming UK Virtual Jazz Sessions (From 2 July)

VORTEX JAZZ CLUB, DALSTON, LONDON
CAROLINE DAVIS – LIVE STREAMED PERFORMANCE
THU 02 JULY 2020, 8PM
t was such a shame to have to cancel US-based saxophonist Caroline Davis’ performance at the Vortex, but we are very pleased to share this pre-recorded performance with the world! This solo concert will be live streamed and features a rich tapestry of improvisation, electronic soundscapes and features a striking imagery from recent Black Lives Matter Protests in the US.
We realise that there is a lot of uncertainty about the coming months, but if you’re in a position to support us, then please consider making a donation of £3-5 per gig.
http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/event/caroline-davis-live-streamed-performance/

2 July: Sound Cellar,Poole, Dorset hosts a special performance by pianist John Law.
https://soundcellar.org/event/john-law/

2 July: Harwich Festival is virtual this year and features Phillp Clouts who will be perfoming tracks from his latest album Umoya.
https://www.harwichfestival.co.uk/whats-on/digital-hf-philip-clouts/

2 July: Liam Noble w/ Fred Thomas @ Sands Films which offers musicians a space to perform and a means to reach an audience during lockdown..
https://www.sandsfilms.co.uk/sands-films-music-room.html?mc_cid=26ac0f79e7&mc_eid=a4a59f51e6

3 July 12:30 PM: De Montford University Jazz Band virtually release debut album Ladybird with a performance.
https://www.youtube.com/user/DeMontfortUniversity

3 July : 606’s livestream jazz sessions continues with Wild Card feat. Luna Cohen / 4 July: Paul Booth Quartet.
https://www.606club.co.uk/

3 July: The Ben Holder Trio Tribute To Le Hot Club de France!
https://www.facebook.com/events/2634700836859090/

3 July: Chanteuse Gabrielle Ducomble’s repertoire “will include songs from the 3 albums and tunes I have enjoyed playing recently.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-4G6mrclko&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0JkZRNzeeqrSfTkWu-jQystBazkNdkVGknZSdbF7BzcpqZ

4 July: Global Music Foundation proudly hosts Christine Tobin & Phi Robson.
https://www.gmfjazzsummit.com/concerts-online

7 July: Phemomenal Scottish pianist Fergus McCreadie performs live from his home studio 8 pm every Tuesday.
https://www.facebook.com/fergusmccreadiepianist/photos/p.2901573933213488/2901573933213488/?type=1&theater

7 July: 7pm Neal Richardson’s “At Your Request” Show live-streamed on Facebook Splashpointjazz page.
https://www.facebook.com/Splashpointjazz/

7 July: Watermill Jazz presents American vibes maestro Joe Locke via zoom.
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/watermilljazz/joe-locke-music-and-stories-8-30pm-uk-time/e-zgoxvm

Catch the Jive Aces 7 nights a week!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9_C5nzlsdw&list=RDL9_C5nzlsdw&start_radio=1&t=10

Almost daily: ‘Live at Five’ - the Kansas Smitty’s Crew virtually deliver their trademark quality performances of classic jazz..
https://linktr.ee/kansassmittys

Daily! The inimitable married duo Wendy Kirkland and Pat Sprakes popular Latin Jazz nights have already garnered thousands of hits!
https://www.youtube.com/user/wendykirkland

Fridays;
Check Buster Birch’s hour long Virtual Jazz Club every Friday 8 pm!
https://www.busterbirch.co.uk/virtualjazzclub

Saturdays;

Jay Phelps’ BIG NIGHT IN Saturday Night Sessions are a real party vibe!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8UXmzaWxkqD4cM5X9UUOdA

Effervescent pianist Marco Marconi is live every Saturday!
https://www.facebook.com/marco.marconi2/videos/10217105567335830/

Sundays;
Snake Davis’ regular club nights & sax workshops on Sundays at 11.00am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wnvPwhUzW8

Kim Cypher’s ‘Twilight Jazz Sessions’ - a series of videos featuring some laid back jazzy favourites created remotely with Acapella.
https://www.youtube.com/user/CyphersFilms/playlists

Jazz Stream Sessions FB Group
Curated by Alison Affleck - visit this page to keep updated with streamed jazz sessions.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/260015701678348/events

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 28/06/2020.

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 28/06/20, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

This week’s radio playlist;

Available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Juhani Aaltonen - The Father, the Sons & the Junnu (Moserobie)

Max Plattner - II (Cracked Anegg Records)

Mortality - Mortality (Eclipse)

Kalevi Hämäläinen Group - First Days of Summer (Eclipse)

Pauli Lyytinen Magnetia Orkesteri - Hypnosis (Eclipse)

Stahlwerk - Stahlwerk (Hout Records)

Henri Texier - Chance (Label Bleu)

Nathalie Darche - 15 Berceuses (Yolk)

Keys & Screws - Some More Jazz (NoBusiness Records)

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time;

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

https://www.facebook.com/villagevanguard/

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Because there are so many new releases at the moment it is sometimes taking up to four weeks before I can get round to playing an album, so an early copy well before release will help.

Thanks

Recipients Announced For 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

The recipients of the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards were announced on Tuesday 30th June at 20:00.Press release including profiles of the winners are attached.

We have received the following press release;

Recipients Announced For 2020 Parliamentary
Jazz Awards

The recipients of the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards were announced on Tuesday 30th June at 20:00

The Parliamentary Jazz Awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) with the support of PizzaExpress Live. The Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.

The award categories reflect the ever-increasing scope of talent from within the UK’s jazz scene: Jazz Vocalist of the Year; Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year; Jazz Album of the Year; Jazz Ensemble of the Year; Jazz Newcomer of the Year; Jazz Venue of the Year; Jazz Media Award; Jazz Education Award; and the Services to Jazz Award.

John Spellar MP, Co-Chair of APPJAG, said: “These Awards demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene. Now in its 15th year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards honour the best of British jazz. MPs and Peers in the All Party Group are delighted to work with, and we are extremely grateful to PizzaExpress Live for supporting the event.”

Chi Onwurah MP, Deputy Chair of APPJAG: “This has been another really strong year for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in terms of talent and nominations. The well deserved recipients are a veritable who’s who of names that have made a real impact on the music and helped make the UK one of the world’s leading jazz territories”.

The full list of recipients is as follows:

Jazz Vocalist of the Year
Cherise Adams-Burnett
On the cusp of releasing her own music, Cherise Adams-Burnett is quickly becoming recognised as a fiercely talented vocalist and musician.
Since graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music in late 2017, Cherise has performed at many of the UK’s most prestigious venues and festivals, ranging from the BBC Proms at The Royal Albert Hall to the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C, along with Festival performances including the UK’s Love Supreme.Owing much of her earlier development to the highly-regarded educational group Tomorrow’s Warriors, nowadays she is glad to be involved in developing younger musicians through the same program as a both tutor and workshop leader.
https://www.cherisemusic.com

Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year
Sarah Tandy
Sarah Tandy is a unique voice within the new UK jazz generation. Coming from a background which encompassed vintage jazz LPs, classical music and Coleridge poetry, her music has been shaped by London’s thriving and diverse live music scene, where jazz is the shared language in an ever-shifting musical landscape. She has swiftly risen to become one of the most in-demand players of her generation, with stints on keys for Jazz Jamaica, Nu Civilisation Orchestra, Maisha, Where Pathways Meet, Camilla George, Nubya Garcia, Nerija, Daniel Casimir, Binker Golding, Clark Tracey and many more. She is also a member of Ronnie Scott’s house band, the W3 Collective. Festival Appearances include Love Supreme Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival and two performances with her trio at the Ronnie Scott’s International Piano Trio Festival supporting Robert Glasper. In an earlier incarnation, she has also appeared as a classical soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
https://www.sarahtandy.com

Jazz Album of the Year
‘Finding Home’ - Kate Williams Four Plus Three meets Georgia Mancio
Jazz pianist/composer Kate Williams was born in London into a musical family (her father is the guitarist John Williams, her mother a classical pianist). A recipient of the John Dankworth Award For Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, she has gained a distinctive reputation as both a writer and performer.
Kate has released several previous CDs, each one to critical acclaim, including ‘Made Up’ (with her septet) and ‘Smoke And Mirrors’ (with tenor legend Bobby Wellins). Both were in Mojo magazine’s top ten jazz albums in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Kate is a founder member of Way Out West, a collective of jazz musicians based in West London which has been programming regular gigs for over ten years. Kate is also an experienced educator and is currently teaching on the jazz degree courses at the Guildhall School of Music And Drama, and Middlesex University.
Kate Williams’ Four Plus Three is collaboration between acclaimed jazz pianist/composer Kate Williams, vocalist Georgia Mancio, and the Guastalla string quartet. It was launched in spring 2016 with a short UK tour and support from Arts Council England. Kate continues her longstanding musical partnership with award-winning vocalist/lyricist Georgia Mancio: Finding Home: Kate Williams’ Four Plus Three meets Georgia Mancio was premiered on 6th October 2017 at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London. The CD Finding Home was released in summer 2019, coinciding with a 14-date UK tour which received support from Arts Council England.
Award-winning jazz vocalist, lyricist and producer, Georgia Mancio, is one of Europe’s most respected, adventurous and multi-faceted new artists. Her music references classic jazz alongside her own astonishing writing and stamped with an unfailing emotional integrity.
In 2017 she released ‘Songbook’ – co-written with Grammy-winning pianist/composer Alan Broadbent - to universal acclaim and a sold out debut at Ronnie Scott’s. Other credits include Bobby McFerrin, Ian Shaw, Liane Carroll, Gwilym Simcock, Pat Metheny (lyric approval), and the renowned ReVoice! Festival and new series Hang, Kate Williams and multiple nominations in the Parliamentary, British Jazz and Urban Music Awards.
http://www.kate-williams-quartet.com
http://www.georgiamancio.com

Jazz Ensemble of the Year
Nikki Iles Big Band
Award winning Nikki Iles has been at the forefront of British jazz for over three decades, playing and recording with Anthony Braxton, Vince Mendoza, Mike Gibbs, Kenny Wheeler, Art Farmer, Julian Arguelles, Stan Sulzmann, Norma Winstone, Dave Holland, Tony Coe and Rufus Reid. Her legendary warmth and generosity as a teacher – backed up by her considerable profile as a player and composer – have inspired generations of jazz musicians. She is currently Professor of Jazz Piano at the Guildhall and the Royal Academy of Music, but she is much in demand further afield. Nikki is also a tireless promoter of younger talent, teaching regularly in Bedford schools as well as being part of the core team on regional summer courses – specifically NYJO and the NYJC. Her publishing profile – through Oxford University Press – now brings all sorts of musicians into jazz from other genres.
Nikki’s 20 piece Jazz Orchestra marks a new chapter in a long and distinguished career in British Jazz, gathering together commissions from over the years, new orchestrations of her own small band tunes and new compositions, all played by the remarkable band she has assembled. The depth and range of the exhilarating writing and arranging suggest it will be less like a debut, but more like seasoned hand and a distinctive voice, with the music bought to vivid life by a top drawer band, featuring some of the UK’s finest musicians – often bandleaders in their own right – including Gareth Lockrane, Tori Freestone, Mike Walker, Julian Siegel, Henry Lowther, Nick Smart and Karen Sharp.
http://www.nikkiiles.co.uk

Jazz Newcomer of the Year
Luca Manning
Luca Manning is young jazz vocalist and composer from Glasgow. Luca has had the opportunity to perform at various festivals across the UK – opening for the likes of Georgie Fame and Becca Stevens. His ability as not just a consummate vocalist, but also as a gifted improviser, continues to enthral audiences and shows maturity well beyond his years. In 2018, Luca was voted ‘Rising Star’ at the Scottish Jazz Awards and was also nominated in the ‘Best Vocalist’ category.
Now resident in London, Luca is fast making a name for himself. He is in his third year at the Guildhall School of Music on the Bmus Jazz degree and already has played major London venues such as Pizza Express Jazz Club and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho leading his own ensembles. He has also become a vocal chair holder with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra since January 2018, a member of the London Vocal Project (2018), and in December 2017, was invited by Liane Carroll to guest on her sold-out Christmas show at Ronnie Scott’s. Luca has just released ‘A Sleepin’ Bee’ with Threebop, a vocal group where Luca appears alongside Ella Hohnen-Ford and Rosina Bullen.
https://www.lucamanningmusic.com

Jazz Venue of the Year
PizzaExpress Jazz Club
PizzaExpress Founder Peter Boizot was a jazz lover and constantly sought ways to include music in his restaurants, whether at PizzaExpress branches from the late 1960s, and at his other ventures Pizza on the Park and Kettner’s from the 1970s. The flagship venue at 10 Dean Street, London has hosted internationally acclaimed jazz artists since its first ticketed show, Bud Freeman, on 26th May 1976, including Clark Terry, Benny Carter, Van Morrison, Carla Bley, Monty Alexander, Amy Winehouse, and thousands more. The jazz club presented the UK debuts of Gregory Porter, Diana Krall, Brad Mehldau, e.s.t., Norah Jones, among many others. The 2019 programme included appearances by John Scofield, Benny Golson, Houston Person, Joel Ross, Jakob Bro, David Benoit, Joachim Kuhn, Eddie Henderson, as well as young and up-and-coming artists, album launches, festivals like Sounds of Denmark, the Steinway 2-piano Festival, London Latin Jazz Fest, and more than 30 shows in the EFG London Jazz Festival. PizzaExpress Live also run The Pheasantry in Chelsea, and venues in Holborn, Birmingham and Maidstone, programming almost 2000 shows across the five venues.
http://www.pizzaexpresslive.com

Jazz Media Award
Corey Mwamba “Freeness” BBC Radio 3
Corey Mwamba is the presenter of Freeness on BBC Radio 3. Born and based in Derby, Dr Corey Mwamba’s commitment to jazz and improvised music in Britain and Ireland drives all aspects of his work, whether through making, presenting, promoting, or researching music.
Corey predominantly plays vibraphone and dulcimer. He is recognised as a highly creative improviser and composer working across a wide range of jazz and contemporary music. Mwamba’s distinctive approach and tone is instantly recognisable in any context: a potent blend of pure sound, highly melodic phrases and ethereal textures; barely whispered chords and ear-piercing robotic screams.
Corey won a PRSF/Jerwood Foundation Take Five artist development award in 2007; was short-listed for the Innovation category in the BBC Jazz Awards in 2008; and received nominations for “Rising Star on Vibraphone” in the DownBeat Annual Critics’ Polls.
https://www.coreymwamba.co.uk/
Reduced Listening are the producers of BBC Radio 3’s “Freeness”. They are an audio company making radio, podcasts, drama and documentaries. They work with the BBC and arts institutions, alongside cutting edge musicians, artists, and with people who have a story to tell.
https://www.reducedlistening.co.uk/

Jazz Education Award
Jon Eno BEM
Jon Eno was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to jazz music education. Jon is recognised in the world of jazz education as an ambassador for youth music. He set up the East Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra in September 2002, together with Hot House Music Schools Ltd.
Students from beginner level to some of the best in the country travel great distances to work with the Hot House team and be part of their ensembles.
Performance is encouraged wherever and whenever, from formal black tie concerts, to outdoor bandstands, to small group jazz and solo work. He is a trusted mentor figure to whom many students have turned to for support and many of his students have gained entry to the top music colleges and gone on to work as professionals in the music industry.
Jonathan also established a gospel choir and a saxophone group for adults with some musical background or none at all, that provides the same inspirational opportunities as the youth sections.
He regularly arranges fund-raising events for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Marie Curie.
https://hhmusic.co.uk/

Services to Jazz Award
Blow The Fuse
Blow the Fuse was formed in 1989 by musicians and composers Deirdre Cartwright and Alison Rayner who were members of the internationally acclaimed jazz group The Guest Stars. They’ve played a crucial role in raising awareness about women jazz musicians and importantly giving them support, a space and opportunity to perform in times which have been very challenging.
They have been very much part of the new resurgence of jazz musicians, which contain many talented young women. Beginning in 2012, Blow the Fuses’ Tomorrow the Moon seasons ‘one small step for women’ have featured groups led by composers Laura Jurd, Yazz Ahmed, Laura Cole, Dee Byrne, Sophie Tetteh, Lauren Kinsella, Roz Harding, Nikki Iles, Shama Rahman, Daphna Sadeh, Alexandra Ridout, Chelsea Carmichael, Camilla George and Nubya Garcia.
They’ve have managed many UK jazz tours with new musical works, innovative collaborations and educational projects and they run the Blow the Fuse record label.
http://www.blowthefuse.com

Special APPJAG Award
Jazzwise
Jazzwise magazine was launched in April 1997. It was initially funded by jazz educator Charles Alexander and featured a core group of writers including Jon Newey, who as editorial director relaunched Jazzwise in 2000 aiming to challenge the top American jazz titles for the best jazz writing and design.
In 2019 year Jazzwise celebrated its 20th anniversary, and it is the UK’s biggest selling jazz magazine in both print and digital editions and Europe’s leading English language jazz magazine. It has assembled a team of the UK’s most authoritative jazz writers, including Stuart Nicholson, John Fordham, Peter Vacher, Kevin Le Gendre, Brian Priestley and Val Wilmer, and co-founded the young jazz writer’s initiative, The Write Stuff, with Serious, designed to help new creative music writing.
Jazzwise is as deeply committed in encouraging the next generation of jazz musicians as it is about keeping the music’s colossal legacy alive and highly significant in a constantly changing musical landscape.
Jazzwise was purchased by independent publishers, the Mark Allen Group, in 2013 and formed the cornerstone of a now growing music division. Jon Newey became editor in chief and director in 2015 and promoted Mike Flynn to editor. Mike joined Jazzwise in 2006.
https://www.jazzwise.com/

The Parliamentary Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom. The awards have been running since 2005.

The Secretariat is Chris Hodgkins with the assistance of Will Riley-Smith and Louis Flood. The contact address is: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) the web address is: https://appjag.wordpress.com/

Fri, July 3 & Sun, July 5 – Joe Lovano’s Trio Fascination Streaming Live @ The Village Vanguard, New York City.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Streaming Live @ the Village Vanguard continues its series on Fri, July 3 at 7 p.m. EDT & Sun, July 5 at 2 p.m. EDT with Joe Lovano Trio Fascination feat. Ben Street on bass & Andrew Cyrille on drums

We have received the following press release;

Streaming Live at The Village Vanguard

Friday, July 3 and Sunday, July 5 with Joe Lovano’s Trio Fascination
with Ben Street and Andrew Cyrille

Streaming Live at the Village Vanguard continues its series on Friday, July 3 at 7 p.m. EDT and Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m. EDT with the Joe Lovano Trio Fascination featuring Ben Street on bass and Andrew Cyrille on drums. Tickets are $10 and available at http://www.villagevanguard.com.

Each week there will be two shows approximately 75 minutes in length. Most shows are on Saturday @ 7pm EDT and Sunday @ 2pm EDT but because of the July 4th holiday, this weekend the shows are Friday and Sunday.

Streaming Live at The Village Vanguard Schedule:

• Friday, July 3th & Sunday, July 5th – Joe Lovano Trio Fascination featuring Ben Street on bass and Andrew Cyrille on drums.

• July 11 & 12 – Eric Reed Quartet featuring saxophonist Stacy Dillard, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer McClenty Hunter

• July 18 & 19 – The Terell Stafford Quartet with Bruce Barth on piano, David Wong on bass and Jonathan Blake on drums.

• July 25 & 26 – TBA

• August 1 & 2 – Fred Hersch Trio with Drew Gress on bass and Jochen Rueckert on drums.

Please continue to check the website and follow the club on Instagram @vanguardjazz and Facebook for updates.

https://www.instagram.com/vanguardjazz/?hl=en

Jazz South launches £30,000 Artist Commissions programme.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Jazz South has announced the launch of Jazz South Commissions, a new three-part programme offering over £30,000 towards commission projects for artists in the region working in jazz and improvisation.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz South launches £30,000 Artist Commissions programme.

Jazz South announces £30,000 Jazz South Commissions programme
Launch 24 June 2020

Jazz South is delighted to announce the launch of Jazz South Commissions, a new three-part programme offering over £30,000 towards commission projects for artists working in jazz and improvisation in the Jazz South Region.

With a focus on innovation, ambition and artistic aspiration, the three elements of this Arts Council England-funded initiative aim to support and celebrate jazz in the region: Platform South Commissions will involve the six bands selected for the first round of Jazz South’s inaugural Platform South scheme. Two open call initiatives - Jazz South Radar Commissions and Jazz South Breakthrough Commissions - will support 14 jazz composers at different career stages to create new work.

Launching the programme will be the six bands already selected and part-way through the debut round of Platform South including luminary band leaders, Iain Ballamy, Kate and Mike Westbrook. In lieu of continuing performances to audiences in regional venues and programmes, each band will create a Platform South Commission, comprising new audio works for digital broadcast in the autumn.

Jazz South Radar Commissions will support ten jazz composers at all career stages with awards of up to £1,250 to create new pieces of original music for up to three performers. These will be digitally broadcast in late 2020, generating inspiration and new material for live performances and touring in the future. The scheme invites applications directly from composers.

Jazz South Breakthrough Commissions is a creative development opportunity for early career composers. Four awards of up to £3,000 will be made to realise original, creative ideas. Supported by a package of mentoring, each selected composer will create a new piece for digital broadcast from a venue in the Jazz South region in early 2021. Applications are invited from composers, organisations, or individuals (including promoters, clubs, festivals, venues, curators, and producers).

Jazz South Radar Commissions and Jazz South Breakthrough Commissions are now open for online applications with a deadline for submissions of Friday 31 July 2020 at 5pm.

For details and how to apply see:
https://jazzsouth.org.uk/current-projects/jazz-south-commissions/

Louise Victoria and Mark Whitlam, We Are Leif, said: ‘We’re very grateful for Jazz South’s innovative approach in adapting to the new situation we’re all facing. With their support in a time when artists are unable to perform live, We Are Leif are really excited to work on some new material which will be shared online with listeners everywhere through our Platform South Commission.’

Kevin Appleby, Strategic Lead for Jazz South and Concert Hall Manager at Turner Sims Southampton said: ‘In creating this major new commissioning programme we want to shine a light on the vibrant range of jazz composer talent that we have across the Jazz South region, ranging from established and internationally respected artists to those who are in the early stages of their professional journeys.’

Jazz South (https://jazzsouth.org.uk/)
Jazz South supports the development of jazz across the South of England covering a wide area outside London (https://jazzsouth.org.uk/about-us/), working with artists, promoters and educators. Launched in 2018, and funded by Arts Council England through its Ambition for Excellence programme, Jazz South is led and hosted by nationally renowned concert hall and live music producing organisation, Turner Sims Southampton ( http://www.turnersims.co.uk/) and supported by the University of Southampton (https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/arts.page) in collaboration with other partners across the region. Turner Sims is a founder member of the Jazz Promotion Network, and a member of the Europe Jazz Network. Turner Sims’ media partners include Jazzwise.

Platform South (https://jazzsouth.org.uk/current-projects/platform-south/)
Platform South celebrates the best artist talent from the South and subsidises promoters to bring their music to audiences across the region. Six bands were selected from an open call in January 2019 for the debut round of the scheme: Fourth Page, Hexagonal, Iain Ballamy Quartet, Kate Westbrook and the Granite Band, Sara Colman Band and We Are Leif.

Follow Jazz South on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JazzSouthUK)

Arts Council England (https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/)
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. By 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences.
Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help deliver this vision.
Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council has developed a £160 million emergency response package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. Find out more at http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 21/06/2020.

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 14/06/20, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist

Now available at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Misha Mullov-Abbado - Dream Circus (Edition)

Omri Ziegle Tomorrow Trio - All Those Yesterdays (Intakt)

Shabaka and the Ancestors - We are sent here by history (Impulse)

Go-Go Penguin - Atomised (Blue Note)

Alexandre Herer - Nunataq (Onze Heures Onze)

Klaus Kugel - NEMU (Various digital)

Silke Eberhard Potsa Lotsa XL - Silk Songs for Space Dogs (Leo)

Benjamin Moussay - Promontoire (ECM)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.musicvenuetrust.com

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Jazz Awards - Winners, 2020.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has announced the winners of its 2020 Jazz Awards Details attached.

Tommy Smith writes;

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is pleased to announce the winners of its 2020 Jazz Awards.

Third-year BMus saxophonist Matt Carmichael won the Fog Arts Prize in Jazz Improvisation, presented to a jazz student who made the most significant advancement in the pursuit of excellence in improvisation.

The winner of the George Duncan Prize for Jazz Composition was Richard Glassby, first-year Master’s drummer, for composing an outstanding original suite of music.

The third-year BMus guitarist James Mackay won the Joe Temperley Prize for Jazz Arranging sponsored by Mark McKergow, awarded at the discretion of the Head of the Jazz to any jazz student who expertly and imaginatively arranged a jazz standard or an original composition.

Tommy Smith, Head of Jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “Congratulations to each of our wonderful award winners. Every year it is a great challenge to choose the winners of our three distinguished RCS Jazz Awards.”
“The awards really underline the high level of accomplishment reached by our students. I’d also like to thank our sponsors of the jazz awards, without whom there would be no prizes.”

More information on studying Jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is available at: rcs.ac.uk/jazz

RCS JAZZ AWARDS 2020
PRIZE
VALUE
RECIPIENT

Fog Arts Prize in Jazz Improvisation
An annual award to be presented at the discretion of the Head of the Jazz, to any BMus or MMus jazz student who has made the most significant advancement in the pursuit of excellence within the realm of improvisation.
£300
Matt Carmichael BMus 3

George Duncan Prize for Jazz Composition
An annual award to be awarded at the discretion of the Head of the Jazz, to any BMus or MMus jazz student who has composed an outstanding work for a small or large-scale ensemble.
£300
Richard Glassby MMus
A Suite of Original Music
What the Bop, Vehement, Eclipse, Corruption, In and Out

Joe Temperley Prize for Jazz Arranging (sponsored by Mark McKergow)
An annual prize to be awarded at the discretion of the Head of the Jazz, to any BMus or MMus jazz student who has expertly and imaginatively arranged a traditional jazz standard for small or large-scale instrumentation.
£300
James Mackay BMus 3
Along Came Betty

Nicolas Meier - Garden/Home Live Streaming Concerts, June / July 2020.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

During lockdown guitarist Nicolas Meier is hosting weekly themed jazz club sessions in his studio garden. These are now able to feature other musicians. Forthcoming programme attached.

Nicolas Meier writes;

“It’s great fun, with a lovely audience, and with their donations I can pay the musicians properly”.

From http://www.meiergroup.com

Garden/Home
Live Steaming Concerts

Thursday June 25th - Grappelli and more
Session 1) at 2pm. Session 2) at 5pm
Richard Jones on violin
Demi Garcia on percussion
Nicolas Meier on guitar
THURSDAY JUNE 25th LINKS
Session 1) at 2pm: https://youtu.be/mSLKU3d0UCQ
Session 2) at 5pm: https://youtu.be/Oyd2D7QjJeg
(click on the link or copy and past it)

Wednesday July 1st - Beatles and Jazz
Session 1) at 2pm. Session 2) at 5pm
Mario Castronari on acoustic bass
Nicolas Meier on guitar

Wednesday July 8th - with Lizzie Ball
Session 1) at 2pm. Session 2) at 5pm
Lizzie Ball on violin
Marianne Windham on acoustic bass
Nicolas Meier on guitar

Thursday July 17th - Music at the Chateau
Session 1) 8.30pm (TBC)
Solo guitar Nicolas Meier

Thursday July 23rd - Jazz, Funk and World
Session 1) at 2pm. Session 2) at 5pm
Raph Mizraki on bass (TBC)
Paul Cavaciuti on drums
Nicolas Meier on guitar

Thursday July 30th - Oxley Meier Guitar Project
Session 1) at 2pm. Session 2) at 5pm
The Oxley Meier Guitar Project
Pete Oxley on guitar
Nicolas Meier on guitar

More to come…

To enjoy these concerts please go to;
https://www.meiergroup.com/csgi

Wayne Wilkinson - A Message to Brecon Jazz Club and solo guitar performance of “Tin Roof Blues”.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

American guitarist Wayne Wilkinson was due to visit Wales in May to play shows in Brecon & Cardiff. He has now sent a Youtube message to Brecon Jazz Club, plus a dazzling solo guitar performance.

Lynne Gornall of Brecon Jazz Club writes;

American guitarist Wayne Wilkinson with his wife Sherri and drummer Todd Williams, had been planning to fly from Colorado to visit us for what would have been another standout jazz evening at the Muse, and joined by Erika Lyons on bass - what a treat! We’d also arranged an informal gig for them at the Castle Hotel, with bassist Ian Cooper, and then a performance at Cafe Jazz Cardiff too. So disappointed, we and they. But we asked Wayne if he’d record a message and some music just for us. He was delighted to do so, and you’ll find it here -

Wayne Wilkinson, Greeting to Brecon Jazz Club:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubNBV7Nkqz0

Music Venue Trust Leads Calls For £50m From Government To Save Grassroots Sector.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents 100s of grassroots music venues, has issued an urgent warning to the UK government that an immediate cash injection of £50m is needed to prevent mass closures

The Music Venue Trust has issued the following statement;

MUSIC VENUE TRUST LEADS CALLS FOR £50M TO SAVE GRASSROOTS SECTOR

90% of Music Venues and Festivals Facing Permanent Closure.

London, June 19th 2020 – Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents hundreds of grassroots music venues, has issued an urgent warning to the UK government that an immediate cash injection of £50m is needed to prevent mass closures in July, August and September.

The catastrophic effects of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to MVT identifying a sector-specific rescue package as being fundamental to the survival of a large number of its member venues.

In addition, they are proposing a one-off cut in VAT on ticket sales for the next three years for venues and promoters.

The live music industry in the UK, which generates £5.2bn for the UK economy and a further £2.7bn in export revenues, is facing a substantial loss of infrastructure, with 90% of venues and festivals currently facing permanent closure. This would result in the total collapse of the sector and thousands of job cuts including promoters, production companies, managers, agents, artists and others, which form part of an inter-dependent eco-system that is the UK music industry, alongside the loss of very substantial VAT and income tax receipts by HM Government.

Mark Dayvd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, said, “When we eventually emerge from lockdown, grassroots music venues, the absolute bedrock, the foundations, the cornerstone on which our world beating £5.2 billion per year industry has been built, are going to be essential to live music bouncing back. It is therefore economically short sighted and frankly ridiculous to put a £5 billion a year industry at long term risk for lack of a short term £50 million investment.”

The UK also has the highest rate of VAT on tickets for cultural events for any similar country in Europe and this proposed cut would ease the intense financial pressure on the sector as it returns to normality.

Music Venue Trust launched its #saveourvenues campaign in April, which has so far successfully raised over £2m to help support grassroots music venues through this crisis.

Mark Dayvd said, “The generosity shown towards our #saveourvenues campaign since we launched it in April has been staggering. The £2m we have raised to date has saved literally hundreds of venues in the short term, but the situation is still dire and relying on donations simply isn’t sustainable as we move into a recovery phase. With that in mind let’s act now and protect what we have, because what we have is incredible and it is ridiculous to put ourselves in the position where we might permanently lose it for less than 1% of the income it generates for us every single year. £50 million in financial support and a temporary tax cut, that’s all we are asking. Who loses if this doesn’t happen? Not just the venues, not just the artists, not just the audiences, not just our communities. The government is the biggest loser of all here; billions of pounds of future tax revenues is on the line. Every other serious cultural country in the world is acting to protect its future talent pipeline…. and they don’t even have the incredible talent and the vibrant pipeline we have in the UK. We need our government to step up we need them to do it now.”

Music Venue Trust is a registered charity, created in January 2014 to protect, secure and improve the UK live music network by securing the long-term future of iconic grassroots music venues such as Hull Adelphi, Exeter Cavern, Southampton Joiners, The 100 Club, Band on the Wall, Tunbridge Wells Forum etc. These venues have played a crucial role in the development of British music over the last 40 years, nurturing local talent, providing a platform for artists to build their careers and develop their music and their performance skills.
We work to gain recognition of the essential role these venues fulfil, not only for artist development but also for the cultural and music industries, the economy and local communities. We aim to preserve and improve venues, making them more efficient and improving the experience for performers and audiences. Long-term we plan to acquire the freeholds of as many of these vital venues as possible.

Music Venue Trust is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, registration no: 1159846.

Lionel Loueke signs to Edition Records.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Guitarist, vocalist and composer Lionel Loueke has signed to the British label Edition Records. "HH", his debut release for the label will see him re-imagining the music of Herbie Hancock.

We have received the following press release fro Edition Records;

Lionel Loueke Signs to Edition

We’re thrilled to announce the signing of legendary guitarist Lionel Loueke to Edition Records. In October, Lionel will release his brand new album ‘HH’ - re-imagining the music of his friend and mentor, Herbie Hancock. A collection of Herbie’s music as you’ve never heard it before from one the most in-demand guitarists on the planet!

The remarkable, distinctive and singularly unique guitarist and composer Lionel Loueke releases his new album for Edition Records, titled HH, performing music of his long-term mentor, the legendary Herbie Hancock, in October 2020. Known for his ability to “transform the guitar into a virtual Afro-Western orchestra” (Jazz Times), he is a musician who transcends genre to create unparalleled sounds. In a deeply personal tribute, Lionel takes Herbie’s best-known compositions (including Cantaloupe Island, Watermelon Man and Rock It), and creates something entirely fresh and new.
Never has Herbie’s music been played like this!

Lionel Loueke on signing to Edition Records:

“I am excited to work with Edition Records on this personal album. It’s like joining a musical family since some of my friends like Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Jeff Ballard, Zakir, and many more, are already on the label. I really like the way Edition records listen to the artist first, with a professional and artistic guidance.

I have been playing with The Master Herbie Hancock for more than 15 years, and still it wasn’t easy to work on his music because the originals are already so beautiful and he keeps developing them every time we play on stage. The challenge was to put my own imprints on these masterpieces. To rethink them with my touch on it. He is my mentor and I feel very lucky to be part of his musical journey. It’s a gift to learn that much from him - humanly, spiritually and musically speaking.

Being from Benin in West Africa, I carry in my playing the curve of my life. As we are going through a rough time, with the Coronavirus pandemic, I can say that Love, Humanity, Spirituality and Music give me Freedom and Hope on a daily basis - and those are lessons I learnt from Herbie. This project is beyond music in other words. It was a need for me to play his music.”

http://www.editionrecords.com

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist - a programme of duos.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 14/06/20, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

This week’s radio playlist

Now available at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

A programme of Duos

Jean-Louis Matinier/Kevin Seddiki - Rivages (ECM)

Guillaume Orti & Stéphane Payen - Volume 1 (Diatribe Records)

Euphorials - Konstance Volume 1 (F-IRE)

Ingrid Laubrock/Kris Davis - Blood Moon (Intakt)

Gary Husband & Markus Reuter - Music of our time (Moonjune)

Obradovic-Tixier duo - The boiling stories of a smoking kettle (Naim)

Samuel Blaser/Marc Ducret - Audio Rebel (Blaser Music)

Énergie Noire - Disclosed Motions (Onze Heures Onze)

Tom Taylor/Matthew Herd - First Light (Bandcamp)

Jim Hart & Ivo Neame - Multiverse (Edition)

Alexander Hawkins/Tomeka Reid - Shards & Constellations (Intakt)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.jazzwestmidlands.org

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire Announce Rescheduled Tour Dates.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire have announced the rescheduled dates for their Miraculous Supernatural Tour. The tour will now begin on June 18, 2021 in Chula Vista, CA & end on August 28 in Tampa, FL

We have received the following press release;

Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire Announce Rescheduled Dates for Miraculous Supernatural Tour

Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire are pleased to announce the rescheduled dates for their Miraculous Supernatural Tour. The tour will now begin on June 18, 2021 in Chula Vista, CA and end on August 28, 2021 in Tampa, FL; the full list of rescheduled dates are below. Previously purchased tickets will be valid for the new dates, unless ticket holders opt for a refund within 30 days. Emails will be sent to ticket holders notifying them of their options. A new date for the postponed George, WA show will be announced soon. Unfortunately, previously scheduled shows in Montreal and Nashville have been cancelled due to scheduling issues, and refunds will be available at point of purchase. To purchase tickets for the 2021 tour, please visit http://www.santana.com.

Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire: Miraculous Supernatural 2021 Tour

6/18/21 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheater
6/19/21 Los Angeles, CA Banc of California Stadium *with special guest WAR
6/22/21 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
6/23/21 Concord, CA Concord Pavilion
6/25/21 Ridgefield, WA Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
6/29/21 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
6/30/21 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
7/2/21 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/3/21 Tinley Park, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/5/21 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/7/21 Burgettstown, PA S&T Bank Music Park
7/9/21 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
7/10/21 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
7/11/21 Milwaukee, WI American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Summerfest Grounds
7/16/21 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
7/17/21 Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
8/7/21 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
8/8/21 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
8/11/21 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
8/13/21 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena *Santana only; EWF will not be performing
8/14/21 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
8/15/21 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
8/18/21 Syracuse, NY St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
8/19/21 Camden, NJ BB&T Pavilion
8/21/21 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
8/22/21 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
8/25/21 Atlanta, GA Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
8/27/21 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre at the South Florida Fairgrounds
8/28/21 Tampa, FL MIDFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds

Ladysmith Black Mambazo plus support Muntu Valdo - UK tour rescheduled to May/June 2021

Friday, June 12, 2020

This tour has been re-scheduled from June 2020 to May/June 2021. All tickets remain valid. Press release including new itinerary attached.

We have received the following press release from tour promoters Serious;

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO

+ Muntu Valdo

MAY/JUNE 2021

Saturday 15 May | YORK Grand Opera House

Sunday 16 May | BIRMINGHAM Town Hall

Monday 17 May | MILTON KEYNES Theatre

Tuesday 18 May | GUILDFORD G-Live

Thursday 20 May | BRISTOL St George’s

Friday 21 May | LONDON Alexandra Palace Theatre

Saturday 22 May | BEXHILL De La Warr Pavilion

Monday 14 June | MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall

Tuesday 15 June | EDINBURGH Usher Hall

Wednesday 16 June | LONDON Richmond Theatre

Thursday 17 June | DUBLIN National Concert Hall

Saturday 19 June | SAFFRON WALDEN Saffron Hall

Sunday 20 June | LONDON Queen Elizabeth Hall (two shows - 2.30pm & 7.30pm as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown)

Monday 21 June | BRIGHTON Theatre Royal

with more shows to be added

Bookings and more information: http://www.serious.org.uk/Mambazo

This tour was rescheduled from June 2020 to May/June 2021. All tickets remain valid.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is one of the world’s greatest and most distinctive vocal groups. For sixty years the legendary a cappella male choir have invoked the soul of South Africa with their intricate rhythms and harmonies and powerful, uplifting songs.

‘Truly great singing, balancing soulful ballads and traditional dance songs with exquisite and perfectly timed harmony work’ (Guardian)

They shot to global stardom after featuring on Paul Simon’s Graceland album and have been touring the world ever since and have won five GRAMMY Awards.

‘With their cheeky scissor-kicks, Ladysmith Black Mambazo were pretty spry for a 60-year-old choral group. Their line-up has evolved but the South Africans’ close-knit harmonies are just as faultless as they were on Paul Simon’s Graceland, which brought them international fame.’ (★★★★☆ Telegraph)

For sixty years Ladysmith Black Mambazo has sung powerful, uplifting songs that emote the struggles and passion of South Africa. Nelson Mandela called Ladysmith “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors”. The group’s joyously energetic performance combines loud powerful choruses with softer, almost whispering, chants where voices blend harmoniously, and tightly choreographed dance moves.

‘Though they sing entirely a cappella, their songs have a rhythmic spring, and their dance moves are light-footed and elegant’ (Daily Telegraph)

‘It’s not just their sound but their look and their athleticism. They bounded on, promising an evening of “peace, love and harmony” from South Africa to the world and surely no one failed to pick up the joyous vibes as they sang and joshed with one another, and the audience.’ (★★★★☆ theartsdesk)

These performances will celebrate the life and music of Joseph Shabalala, the founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and are dedicated to his memory.

When Joseph formed the group that became Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 60 years ago, he had a dream of a South Africa living in harmony. For all his life he created beautiful vocal music that came to speak to the whole world with a call for peace and love. Joseph retired in 2014 and handed leadership of Ladysmith Black Mambazo to his four sons Thulani, Msizi, Sibongiseni and Thamsanqa, who carry Joseph’s message into the future.

We are delighted to announce that Muntu Valdo will be opening for Ladysmith Black Mambazo on this tour. Cameroon-born Muntu Valdo’s music is rooted in the blues, mixing African traditions with striking modernity and technical mastery.

‘Pure spiritual uplift’ (Metro)

‘Using a box of tricks to double-track his guitar and voice live, he added layers of sound to create full-textured, soft songs about peace, love and Cameroonian witchcraft and charmed the audience’ (Financial Times)

He’s travelled all over the world, supported and played alongside some of the great names of African and international music including, Manu Dibango, Ali Farka Touré, Damon Albarn, Richard Bona, Boubacar Traoré and Lucinda Williams just to name a few

‘Sensitive guitar playing and a dreamy, voice with distinctively textured, self-created loops and rhythms. A compelling live sound with an airy, poetic feel that’s a bit Brazilian, a bit Cape Verdean, while keeping a toe in the world of international busking folk’ (Telegraph)

His new album, titled SAWA BLUES will be released later this year. Hear the first few track releases here https://soundcloud.com/muntu-valdo

Watch Muntu’s recent livestreams here; https://www.facebook.com/pg/muntu.valdo/videos/

For information on all Serious shows please go to http://www.serious.org.uk

Serious are one of the UK’s leading producers and curators of live jazz, international and new music. Serious produces events that range from major concerts, festivals and national and international tours through to learning and participation programmes, conferences and specially commissioned bespoke events. Alongside its core role as a live music events producer, and programme consultant, Serious are committed to ensuring that music is accessible to all, and that artists have opportunities needed to reach their full potential. Our charity Serious Trust is crucial in enabling this ambition through supporting our talent development, learning & participation and commissioning programmes.
http://www.serious.org.uk

Rocking In The Free World, a special one day free festival, is planned for Saturday 22 May 2021 at Herrington Park, Sunderland.

Friday, June 12, 2020

Two enterprising Sunderland men have come up with an ambitious way of saying thank you to key workers – by organising a free concert at Herrington Park, headlined by Emeli Sandé,

We have received the following press release;

EMELI SANDÉ TO HEADLINE FREE NORTH EAST CONCERT TO THANK FRONTLINE STAFF…

Two enterprising Sunderland men have come up with an ambitious way of saying thank you to frontline staff – by organising a free concert at Herrington Park.

Friends Andrew Kennedy and Ben Potts were so touched by the job being done by NHS and other essential staff during the Covid-19 crisis that they wanted to express their thanks in a really special way.

And now Rocking In The Free World – a special one day festival – is now planned for Saturday 22 May 2021 – headlined by multi award winning singer Emeli Sandé, along with a whole host of other artistes.

Freelance recruitment consultant Andrew came up with the idea because he saw at first hand the challenges facing the NHS through his wife Jan, a sister who heads up the emergency admissions unit at South Tyneside Hospital.

He enlisted the support of Ben, whose band, North East rock tribute group, The Sons of Eden, played at his wedding and will also now be performing at the festival.

Songwriter and vocalist Karen Harding has also added her name to the line-up, as has South Shields-based Christian Yu, a nurse from the Philippines who is also a singer songwriter.

“We’re just two ordinary blokes who wanted to put on something extra ordinary,” said Andrew,

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response so far and we’ve had so many people say it’s a great idea and also offering to help.

“We’ll be adding more acts as time goes on and we’re hoping this will be a really amazing and memorable event for everyone.”

The organisers have also set up a Just Giving page to help raise £20,000 towards financing the event, which can be reached at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andrew-kennedy-5?utm_term=DRXZZaJvB

Anyone wanting tickets can register at the website at http://www.rockinginthefreeworld.co.uk

Jazz West Midlands Promoter Network announces further digital concert content.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

The Jazz West Midlands promoter's network has announced a further digital concert featuring guitarist Ralf DeCambre and his trio with Andy Gayle (sax) and Eddie Powell (drums).

We have received the following press release;

Welcome to Jazz West Midlands Digital Content - Double Dig Gig

Ralf DeCambre Trio - Live
Another live performance commissioned by Jazz West Midlands exclusively for you to enjoy. This is a trio of old friends playing on an Allotment Garden garden live to camera - warts and all (a little windy at times). This may also be a world first, they have never appeared in the open air together before - so a world premiere just for you.
Enjoy…
Line Up: Ralf DeCambre - Guitar, Andy Gale - Saxes & Eddie Powell - Drums
TO VIEW THE LIVE VIDEO JUST CLICK ON THE LINK BUTTON BELOW
https://www.jazzwestmidlands.org/gigs/2020-06-21/ralf-decambre-trio

WE HAVE COMMISSIONED FURTHER NEW WORK FROM A RANGE OF JAZZ MUSICIANS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.

IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, WHY NOT MAKE A DONATION TO THE MUSICIANS USING THE LINK BELOW. ALL MONIES RAISED WILL GO TO YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICIANS.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/jazz-musicians-support

We at Jazz West Midlands are trying to keep jazz alive for you, in the absence of our regular weekly/monthly programmes and Festivals; by creating a series of sound and vision experiences broadcast via our website. Over the coming weeks and months we will be listing a series of favourite jazz artists for you to listen to, in a series recorded just for you jazz gigs, by musicians Jazz West Midlands Promoters have supported in the past.
The musicians will be paid for their content, so anyone wishing to contribute can do so by sending a donation over to Jazz West Midlands - details available by clicking on the donations button below..
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/jazz-musicians-support

PLANNED PROGRAMME
Over the next few weeks, and maybe months, we will be commissioning jazz musicians to record just for Jazz West Midlands Promoters a short set of tunes, mixing original and standard tunes. The gigs will be featured on our website just as a normal gig, except the video content will be on the gig page itself.
Please support the musicians and West Midlands Jazz Promoters in these trying times.

The West Midlands Promoter Network Members are:

Birmingham Jazz
Clun Valley Jazz - Bishop’s Castle
Jazz Coventry
Jazz @ Wolverhampton
Kenilworth Jazz
Kidderminster Jazz
Left Bank Village - Hereford
Leamington Jazz
Lichfield Jazz
Stratford Jazz
Sugarmill - Stoke
The Tin - Coventry

See website for full details of the local promoters

This programme of Digital Gigs has been part funded by the Arts Council England Emergency Fund.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 7th June 2020.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 06/07/20, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

This week’s radio show now available at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Chris Montague - Warmer than Blood (Whirlwind)

Dave Storey Trio - Jouska (Impossible Ark records)

Anders Fillipsen & The Black Nothing - Stilleben (ILK)

Florian Arbenz - Convergence (Florian Arbenz Hammer Recordings )

Julie Campiche Quartet - Onkalo (Meta records)

Lukas Aichinger - Thinker try to Dance (Waschsalon Records.)

BROM - Dance with an idiot (Trost)

Christy Doran’s Sound Fountain - Lift The Bar (Between the Lines)

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time;

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Barbican announces rescheduled concerts for 2021.

Sunday, June 07, 2020

The Barbican has announced that a selection of concerts that were due to take place at the Centre between March and July 2020 have now been rescheduled for 2021, subject to Government guidance.

We have received the following press release;

Barbican announces rescheduled concerts for 2021

The Barbican has announced that a selection of concerts that were due to take place at the Centre between March and July 2020 have now been rescheduled for 2021, subject to Government guidance.

Huw Humphreys, Barbican’s Head of Music said
“This is an extraordinarily challenging time for the arts and artists. At the Barbican, we exist to bring artists together, to create together and to connect people across the world, and so this current situation goes against everything we’re here to do. By putting these rescheduled concerts on sale, we want to support artists and our partners in the music industry, and make sure we’re able to get up and running as soon as the guidance allows us to. Until then we are looking how we can stay connected to artists and audiences in different ways.”

The rescheduled concerts and artists include:

Shabaka & the Ancestors, featuring Shabaka Hutchings, one of the foremost proponents of the current British jazz scene (now on 24 January 2021)
Irish-American vocalist and songwriter Aoife O’Donovan (now on 28 January 2021)

Celebrated violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter in recital performing Beethoven sonatas (now on 23 February 2021)

Singer, songwriter and composer Damon Albarn’s new project The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows (now on 30 March 2021)

A MoodSwing Reunion, featuring generation-defining jazz musicians and long-time collaborators Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride and Brian Blade (now on 11 July 2021, produced by the Barbican in association with Serious)

Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux are joined on stage by Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris in Spell Songs, a musical celebration of wild nature inspired by Macfarlane and Morris’s book The Lost Words (now on 3 February 2021, produced by Serious)

Britten Sinfonia & Opera Rara collaboration, Donizetti’s rarely performed Italian opera set in the West Indies, Il furioso all’isola di San Domingo (now on 8 July 2021, promoted by Britten Sinfonia)

Please see below for further information on the individual concerts. All concerts are subject to Government guidance at the time and in the case of a concert cancellation, ticketholders will be eligible for a full refund.

Tickets will go on sale from 1 June to previous ticket holders, to Barbican Members from 3 June, and on general sale from 5 June. Tickets booked previously for Anne-Sophie Mutter and MoodSwing will remain valid for the new dates.

Due to the most recent Government guidance on social distancing measures, the remaining concerts due to take place at the Barbican in July have now been cancelled. Ticketholders are eligible for a full refund.

Inspired by its international arts programme, the Barbican’s website features a curated mix of podcasts, playlists, films, videos, talks and articles that enables audiences to continue to enjoy the Centre’s rich and varied programme during the temporary closure. The Barbican digital content is available at http://www.barbican.org.uk/readwatchlisten and via the Barbican’s social channels.

FURTHER DETAILS ON RESCHEDULED CONCERTS
Please find below further information on the rescheduled concerts, promoted by the Barbican. For further information and photos, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Barbican Communications Team.

Shabaka & the Ancestors
Sun 24 Jan 2021, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm
Tickets £17.50 – 20 plus booking fee
Shabaka & the Ancestors will present material from their second studio album We Are Sent Here By History (Impulse! Records, 13 March 2020), which explores African and Afro-Caribbean traditions and can be described as a modern-day griot.
Shabaka & the Ancestors formed in 2016. Shabaka Hutchings – one of the foremost proponents of the current British jazz scene, Guildhall School of Music & Drama alumnus, saxophonist, clarinettist and band leader – had been flying to Johannesburg to play with trumpeter and bandleader Mandla Mlangeni, who connected him to a group of South African jazz musicians that Hutchings admired. After several sessions, their first album Wisdom of Elders was made and established them as a sudden force in spiritual jazz.
The original concert was scheduled as part of the cancelled Propaganda weekend of music, art and spoken word curated by Shabaka Hutchings, 8-10 May 2020.
Produced by the Barbican
Find out more here https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/shabaka-and-the-ancestors

Aoife O’Donovan
Thu 28 Jan 2021, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm
Tickets £20 – 25 plus booking fee
Sought-after Irish-American vocalist and songwriter Aoife O’Donovan makes her Barbican music programme debut in Jan 2021, in an intimate concert at Milton Court Concert Hall, performing solo and with a string quartet featuring fiddle player Jeremy Kittel. Recognised for her ethereal voice and substantive songwriting, Aoife O’Donovan is also known for her collaborations. Her most recent one being the band project I’m With Her, comprised of O’Donovan and fellow singer-songwriters Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz. Their debut album, See You Around, was released in February 2018 to critical acclaim.
As a solo artist, O’Donovan has released two studio albums: In the Magic Hour (2016) and her debut solo album, 2013’s Fossils.
O’Donovan spent the preceding decade as co-founder and front woman of the bluegrass string band Crooked Still. She is the featured vocalist on The Goat Rodeo Sessions, the Grammy-winning album by Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile and is one-third of the female folk-noir trio Sometimes Why. Throughout her career, Aoife O’Donovan has also collaborated with artists such as Alison Krauss and jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas and is currently a member of the house band on Chris Thile’s Live From Here public US radio variety show.
The original concert was scheduled for 22 May 2020.
Produced by the Barbican
Find out more here https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/aoife-odonovan

Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lauma Skride
23 February 2021, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm
Tickets £15 – 46 plus booking fee
Celebrated violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter returns to the Barbican to perform three Beethoven violin sonatas together with pianist Lauma Skride: Numbers 4, 5 (Spring) and 9 (Kreutzer).
The original concert was scheduled for 8 April 2020.
Part of Barbican Presents.
Find out more here https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/anne-sophie-mutter-plays-beethoven

Damon Albarn: The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows
Tue 30 Mar 2021, Barbican Hall, 8pm
Tickets £20 – 40 plus booking fee
Singer, songwriter and composer Damon Albarn’s new project The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows, which is inspired by the landscapes of Iceland, will receive its UK premiere at the Barbican in March 2021. The title is taken from a John Clare poem entitled Love and Memory.
Albarn has been a frequent visitor to Iceland for almost three decades and has in this time found musical inspiration in its nature and landscapes. This new piece – inspired by Albarn’s long-time love for Iceland – will see the musician perform this very personal piece in its entirety with an ensemble and specially commissioned visuals.
Damon Albarn is a singer, songwriter, composer and producer, and founder member of Blur, Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad & The Queen.
On Sunday 17 May 2020, Damon Albarn performed music from The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows as part of Boiler Room’s ‘Streaming From Isolation’ series in support of The Global FoodBanking Network. Available to watch here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlS6GCZR1Q0&feature=youtu.be
The original concert was scheduled for 26 May 2020 as part of Inside Out.
Produced by the Barbican in association with Rain Dog Productions
Find out more here https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/damon-albarn-the-nearer-the-fountain

Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade: A MoodSwing Reunion
Sun 11 Jul 2021, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm
Tickets £30 – 49.50 plus booking fee
Generation-defining jazz musicians and long-time collaborators saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Brad Mehldau, drummer Brian Blade and bassist, composer and arranger Christian McBride return to the Barbican in summer 2021 to revisit their classic 1994 album, MoodSwing.
Performing tracks from the record, along with new material, the jazz supergroup reunites for this very special show. MoodSwing broke the mould for jazz recordings in the 1990s, creating a sound that reached beyond cerebral arrangements and delivered contemporary jazz with emotion and expression.
The original concert was scheduled for 9 July 2020.
Produced by the Barbican in association with Serious
Find out more here https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/moodswing

BARBICAN TEMPORARY CLOSURE INFORMATION
The Barbican is temporarily closed until further notice due to UK Government advice on Coronavirus/Covid-19. All events taking place until Tuesday 30 June 2020 have now been cancelled or postponed, with concerts also cancelled for July. Everyone who has booked a ticket for a Barbican event during this period is eligible for a full refund. Information on how to claim this is published here. Anyone who has tickets up until the end of June has been contacted by the Box Office.
The Barbican is encouraging audiences to make a donation so it can keep investing in the artists and organisations with whom it works. Audiences are also being asked to consider donating to the Centre’s Resident and Associate companies to support them through these difficult times.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/join-support/support-us/for-individuals/make-a-donation
https://www.barbican.org.uk/join-support/support-us/make-a-donation/support-our-partners

About the Barbican
A world-class arts and learning organisation, the Barbican pushes the boundaries of all major art forms including dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts. Its creative learning programme further underpins everything it does. Over a million people attend events annually, hundreds of artists and performers are featured, and more than 300 staff work onsite. The architecturally renowned centre opened in 1982 and comprises the Barbican Hall, the Barbican Theatre, The Pit, Cinemas 1, 2 and 3, Barbican Art Gallery, a second gallery The Curve, public spaces, a library, the Lakeside Terrace, a glasshouse conservatory, conference facilities and three restaurants. The City of London Corporation is the founder and principal funder of the Barbican Centre.
The Barbican is home to Resident Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra; Associate Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra; Associate Ensembles the Academy of Ancient Music and Britten Sinfonia, Associate Producer Serious, and Artistic Partner Create. Our Artistic Associates include Boy Blue, Cheek by Jowl, Deborah Warner, Drum Works and Michael Clark Company. The Los Angeles Philharmonic are the Barbican’s International Orchestral Partner, the Australian Chamber Orchestra are International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra are International Associate Ensemble.

Public information
http://www.barbican.org.uk

The Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, Greater London, EC2Y 8DS.

Scarborough Jazz Festival Postponed Until February 2021.

Sunday, June 07, 2020

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to evolve, the decision has been made to move the 3-day festival held at Scarborough Spa to the weekend of 12-14 February 2021. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Scarborough Jazz Festival Postponed Until February 2021

This year’s Scarborough Jazz Festival has been postponed from September until February 2021.

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to evolve, the decision has been made to move the 3-day festival held at Scarborough Spa to the weekend of 12-14 February 2021.

The festival line-up remains unchanged barring one act, Swiss band VEIN who have touring commitments in Canada but it is hoped they will be part of the September 2021 Festival.

Due to the date change, the festival’s Earlybird weekend ticket offer has been extended until the end of October and customers only need to get in touch if they can’t make the rescheduled festival when a full refund will be given.

Mike Gordon, The Scarborough Jazz Festival Director said:
“Sadly, but as you probably anticipated, the Scarborough Jazz Festival will not take place in September. However, the good news is that we have decided to postpone the event until 12th to 14th February 2021. I have been in touch with all the performers we had booked for September and I’m delighted to say that of the seventeen acts only one cannot manage the February dates. I have had numerous very positive comments about the programme and we are all looking forward to a wonderful weekend-the sun has been known to shine on Scarborough in February! Hope to see you then”.

The Scarborough Jazz Festival line-up features a host of established jazz musicians alongside many new faces: the ground breaking pianist Fergus McCreadie; violinist John Pearce (with Dave Newton); the eleven piece Elftet led by vibes player Johnny Mansfield and gypsy jazz from Djanco.

The highly respected pianist Nikki Iles has put together a Who’s Who of British jazz with her 19-piece Jazz Orchestra.

Another big outfit, Hans Koller – Bird Migration, will be celebrating the anniversary of Charlie Parker one of the great jazz legends and the smaller combos on the bill represent some of the UK’s most creative musicians: Julian Joseph Trio, Jean Toussaint All Star 6tet, Karen Sharp Quartet, Dave O’Higgins & Rob Luft Quartet, Phil Robson’s Organ Trio and Zoe Gilby’s Quartet who will perform her Aurora project.

Offering something very different will be the Oxley-Meier Guitar Project with 12 guitars on stage; words and music spinning a tale from Rafe’s Dilemma; and undoubted surprises from world class singer Ian Shaw, with Iain Ballamy and James Safir.

Weekend, Day & Session Tickets for the rearranged festival are now back on sale and can be purchased via http://www.scarboroughjazzfestival.co.uk

Scarborough Jazz Festival
New Dates: 12-14 February 2021
Scarborough Spa
http://www.scarboroughjazzfestival.co.uk

Full Line Up;

Friday 12th February
12.30pm: Rafe’s Dilemma
2.15pm: John Pearce & Dave Newton
4pm: Oxley/Meier Guitar Project
7pm: TBC
8.45pm: Julian Joseph Trio
10.30pm: Hans Koller - Bird Migration Big Band-A Celebration of the Centenary of Charlie Parker

Saturday 13th February
12.30pm: Djanco featuring Andy Aitchison
2.15pm: Karen Sharp Quartet
4pm: Ian Shaw, Iain Ballamy, Jamie Safir -What’s New
7pm: Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra
8.45pm: Zoe Gilby – ‘Aurora’
10.30pm: Jean Toussaint Allstar 6tet

Sunday 14th February
12.30pm: The Fergus McCreadie Trio
2.15pm: Jonny Mansfield’s Elftet
4pm: Dave O’Higgins & Rob Luft Quartet
7pm: Phil Robson’s Organ Trio
8.45pm: The Alan Barnes Octet - ‘Jazz Portraits’

An appeal from Tim Kliphuis.

Thursday, June 04, 2020

Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis is seeking support to help finance the recording of "The Five Elements" - the brand new, filmic piece about the Corona Virus crisis

Tim Kliphuis writes;

Support Tim’s recording of “The Five Elements” - the brand new, filmic piece about the crisis.

The Five Elements - a composition for the crisis

Dear all!

Many of you donated to support my composition process last April. We have a result: an epic, 30-minute filmic piece about the crisis, written in the crisis!

Here is a fragment of the piece and a live message from me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRUusRxL8n4&feature=youtu.be

This piece, The Five Elements, will be recorded in my home town on 6 July, together with the Trio and 9 top players who’ve lost all their income. A composition that raises questions about our relationship with this planet, and with each other, and ends in a message of hope.

Could I ask you to support the realisation of this big recording by adopting a few musical bars? The town is supporting and the studio has been given to us for free. But we’re not there yet!

The bars are € 10 each.
To sponsor, go to http://www.timkliphuis.com/music-shop and choose your preferred amount (scroll down from the banner).

Of course you receive a download of the recording, but there are also signed CDs, your name in the booklet (if desired) and tickets to a Tim Kliphuis show near you.

All the funds we raise go directly to the musicians.

I really appreciate your support!
Best wishes,
Tim

Tim Kliphuis
The Netherlands
http://www.timkliphuis.com

BBC Young Jazz Musician returns in 2020 to celebrate young talent in UK jazz.

Wednesday, June 03, 2020

Following the success of the first three editions, the biennial BBC Young Jazz Musician competition returns in 2020 to support & celebrate the wealth of young talent on the UK jazz scene. Details att.

We have received the following press release;

BBC Young Jazz Musician returns in 2020 to celebrate the wealth of young talent in UK jazz

Following the 2018 edition, won by rising star saxophonist Xhosa Cole, this year’s competition again provides a platform for young jazz performers.

Following the success of the first three editions, the biennial BBC Young Jazz Musician competition returns in 2020 to support and celebrate the wealth of young talent on the UK jazz scene.

In a continued joint effort to showcase the most talented up-and-coming instrumentalists and singers to audiences across the UK, the BBC Young Jazz Musician Final will be hosted as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival in November, and broadcast on BBC Four.

Entries for the competition are now open, with a deadline in mid-July, and full details on how to apply can be found on the BBC Young Musician website.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/17dfbRRtRt825dkDfHyPHwN/bbc-young-jazz-musician-2020

From the initial entries, up to 25 semi-finalists will be selected, out of which 5 young performers will go on to appear at the Final. The finalists will have the opportunity to play with the internationally acclaimed Nikki Yeoh’s Infinitum, led by British jazz composer and pianist Nikki Yeoh and featuring her rhythm section of siblings Michael Mondesir (bass) and Mark Mondesir (drums).

The winner of the 2018 edition was Birmingham saxophonist Xhosa Cole, who went on to be awarded as Jazz Newcomer of the Year in the 2019 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, as well as performing in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues.

Head of BBC Music TV Commissioning Jan Younghusband says: “We are so delighted that we can continue with BBC Young Jazz Musician this year, and give these incredibly talented musicians a platform to perform. Encouraging young talent at this time has never been more important and we are thrilled to partner again with the EFG London Jazz Festival to make this possible.”

BBC Young Musician Executive Editor Paul Bullock says: “It’s a thrill to be launching the next edition of BBC Young Jazz Musician and again be providing an opportunity for young British jazz performers to showcase their wonderful talents. The circumstances we are currently experiencing came at a time when “Jazz” in the UK was enjoying a real renaissance. As we begin our 2020 search, we look forward to hearing the latest crop of talented newcomers as part of this new wave, and to celebrating their dedication and fearless art.”

Saxophonist Xhosa Cole, BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018 says: “Winning the 2018 Competition proved to me the power of consistency, sincerity and patience. The award has put my career in fast forward and I have had so many opportunities since then, it’s hard to list them all. I once heard the quote: ‘When the elevator to success fails, you take the stairs’ and this quote summarises the story for me in a weird way. At the competition I was waiting at the elevator door to see if it would take me onwards and upward, and as luck would have it, it did. Now it’s up to me to get myself together musically and personally – and get to be the player I want to be. But the competition has proved to be an incredible springboard for me – beyond any of my initial dreams.”

Pianist and Composer Nikki Yeoh says: “I am delighted to be performing with the next wave of the UK’s finest jazz musicians at the BBC Young Jazz Musician Finals 2020. Having been a semi finalist judge in 2018, I’ve witnessed at first hand the high calibre of musician that this competition attracts. The BBC Young Jazz Musician contest provides a valuable platform for the art form of Jazz, not only for the contestants and the winner but also for all of the young musicians who will switch on and feel inspired, having a ‘THAT ’s where I fit’ moment!

The 2020 BBC Young Jazz Musician launch comes in the week following the completion of the Category Finals for the BBC Young Musician classical competition – with highlights of the Category Finals and concerts in full now all available on iPlayer. The five Young Musicians who are progressing to the Semi-Final for the classical competition – which is scheduled for broadcast in the Autumn – are: 16-year-old pianist Thomas Luke; 18-year-old oboist Ewan Millar; 17-year-old French horn player Annemarie Federle; 16-year-old percussionist Fang Zhang; and 18-year-old violinist Coco Tomita.

BBC Young Musician and BBC Young Jazz Musician 2020 are managed and produced by BBC Studios Entertainment and Music Wales, and commissioned by Jan Younghusband, Head of BBC Music TV Commissioning, for BBC Four.

The final of the BBC Young Jazz Musician 2020 is presented as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, event supported by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

BBC Young Jazz Musician online;

BBC Young Jazz Musician website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/youngjazzmusician

Twitter: @BBCYoungMus

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BBCYoungMusician

About BBC Radio 3;

We believe arts and music make the world a better place by bringing people together through shared experience and understanding, providing a place of inspiration, and a means to navigate a complex world.

At BBC Radio 3 we want to enable as many people as possible to have life changing musical and arts experiences. We aim to provide listeners with time out from a busy world through full-length artistic performances and slow radio that takes the time it takes.

We pride ourselves on being a commissioner and interpreter of complex culture; shining a new light on well-loved artistic works and investing in new artistic talent to bring cutting edge work to audiences everywhere.

We are one of the most significant commissioners of contemporary classical music anywhere in the world and the biggest broadcaster of live classical concerts including the BBC Proms.

From classical music to arts discussion, documentaries to essays, drama to sound art, video games and film music, to jazz, world, ambient, electronic and the avant-garde, there is a Radio 3 for everybody – we welcome you to join us on BBC Sounds, DAB, online, and on FM.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 31/05/2020.

Wednesday, June 03, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 31/05/20, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist for my latest show

Now available any time at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Jon Balke - Discourses (ECM)

Bruno Heinen - Out of Doors (Heinen Records)

Aldo Bagnoni - The Connection (Alfa Music)

Urs Blochlinger Revisited - Harry Doesn’t Mind (Leo)

Sanja Marković - Ascension (AMA Records)

Daniel Bingert - Berit in Space (Moserobe)

Kalle – Introducing (jazzland)

Nice Chair - The Game (self)

David Helbock - single (ACT)

Zoon van snooK - Se•pa•ra•ción (Lo Recordings)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Jazz Lockdown shows from Leeds.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Steve Crocker of JazzLeeds is broadcasting a weekly jazz lockdown video show in Leeds on Sunday afternoons, plus the monthly "Jazz Unlocked" radio magazine show on ELFM radio. Details attached.

Steve Crocker writes;

I’ve been doing a weekly jazz lockdown video show in Leeds on Sunday afternoons - the links are all here
https://www.jazzleeds.org.uk/jazz-leeds-lockdown-sessions/
It includes lots of local national and international videos from our jazzleeds archives as well as some living room sessions from Leeds jazz artists and (of course) the famous JazzLeeds raffle for the Wensleydale cheese (!)

I’ve also started a monthly “Jazz Unlocked” radio magazine show on ELFM radio about jazz in Leeds with news, interviews and some latest recordings from bands from the city
Links to that are here…
https://www.jazzleeds.org.uk/chapelfm-and-jazz-leeds-new-radio-show-jazz-unlocked/

Love doing this - back to my jazz radio roots! Might give up the live music and keep doing this!

Regards

Steve

JazzLeeds website;
http://www.jazzleeds.org.uk

New York City musicians Alexa Tarantino & Steven Feifke present Sunday Livestreams via Crowdcast.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Alto saxophonist & educator Alexa Tarantino & pianist & composer Steven Feifke have pooled their talent resources and set out to perform every Sunday as a cohabitating duo in a “quarantine concert.”

We have received the following press release;

NYC Musicians Alexa Tarantino & Steven Feifke Present Sunday Livestreams via Crowdcast - Now Entering Week 12  

SAXOPHONIST ALEXA TARANTINO & PIANIST STEVEN FEIFKE HUNKER DOWN WITH SUNDAY EVENING QUARANTINE CONCERTS
With pre-concert chats and intimate performances from their NYC home, honouring Ellington, Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Jobim, Jackie McLean — the list grows…

ne of the first weekly jazz livestream concerts instituted after the lockdown (Sunday 8pm - chat at 7pm), with $5 access available live or on-demand at http://www.crowdcast.io/stevenandalexa (higher contributions welcome)

25 percent of each week’s proceeds benefit the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA), New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, other selected organizations helping communities impacted by the COVID-19 crisis

Alto saxophonist and educator Alexa Tarantino and pianist and composer Steven Feifke, both busy and sought-after musicians, were coming off their respective stints on the road in March 2020 when a new reality hit: they, and everyone, were going to be stuck at home for the foreseeable future, living in the frightening, radically uncertain time of the coronavirus pandemic.

With limited options but a lot of drive, they pooled their talent resources and set out to perform every Sunday as a cohabitating duo in a “quarantine concert.” Each week would focus on a specific jazz theme. Jokingly dubbing themselves Alexa Quarantino and Steven Lock-and-Feifke, they began with an evening of vibrant originals on March 15. They continued with weeks devoted to Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Jackie McLean, Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Songs of Broadway and the Great American Songbook. To generate discussion and welcome audiences even more warmly into their home, they initiated a pre-concert chat and Q&A an hour before each show, fielding questions about everything from that week’s theme to the art of practicing and other musical fine points. Both highly qualified educators, Feifke and Tarantino have an engaging way of framing each week as a historical topic, offering insights of great benefit to students tuning in.

Tarantino and Feifke are lighthearted and funny co-hosts, honing their repartee week by week, finding their way forward in a medium that’s new to them, as it is to a lot of fellow musicians. Since the first installment, the clarity of the audio and video has grown considerably. They started with a MacBook Pro camera and USB microphone but have since stepped up with Neumann and Oktava mics, Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 audio interface and Sennheiser puck mic for talkback, using Loopback to send and mix audio into one virtual output. A high-definition VDO 360 USB video camera allows for multiple preset angles that can be changed during the set. Finally, OBS Streaming Software allows Feifke and Tarantino to send all audio and video to Crowdcast.

No matter the tech setup, Tarantino and Feifke always come ready to play: the second the music starts we hear the sound of two accomplished jazz virtuosos, entirely focused and giving their all. Upcoming concerts will celebrate Songs of Springtime (May 31). New themes are brainstormed continually, with the input of friends and fans, and set lists winnowed down through weekly Instagram polls (@stevenfeifke, @alexatarantino). Tarantino’s new Posi-Tone quartet recording Clarity will see release on June 5, so the duo will devote June 7 to music from the album (which features Feifke, bassist Joe Martin and drummer Rudy Royston). Future themes include Thelonious Monk (June 14), Steven Feifke’s original music (June 21 – Feifke’s birthday with onscreen celebration!), and Simply Sinatra (June 28).

“We’re very lucky,” says Tarantino, “in that we do a lot in terms of writing and arranging and teaching as well as performing, so we’re staying afloat, and we didn’t necessarily want to look at these quarantine concerts as a way to pay rent.” Feifke adds: “But there are so many musicians in really tough situations, and we wanted to do something to give back and support our local scene. So we decided to donate 25 percent of our proceeds to different organizations making a difference in this crisis.” Each organization receives funding for four weeks of concerts before the next is chosen. For those wishing to donate at a higher level, Feifke and Tarantino have established a tiered sponsorship, from Platinum ($250+) to Gold ($100+), Silver ($50-$99) and Bronze ($25-$49). The Platinum sponsorship is a special opportunity that allows Feifke and Tarantino to offer their pre-concert conversations at no charge to the public.

Feifke and Tarantino are not stopping at quarantine concerts: they’ve just launched A Step Ahead Jazz, which will offer “Summer Jazz Online,” an immersive experience for all ages and ability levels (June 29-July 3). Tarantino is founding director of the Rockport Jazz Workshop, and with its unavoidable cancelation this year, another major chunk of her professional calendar was upended. A Step Ahead Jazz is poised to fill the gap and break new ground in online jazz education.
https://www.astepaheadjazz.com/summerjazzonline

Alexa Tarantino is an award-winning saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, clinician and adjudicator across the globe, named one of five top alto saxophonists in the 2019 JazzTimes Critics Poll. The New York Times praised her for her “lovely, ardent way of improvising” and her “sharply plotted but gracefully unencumbered [compositions].” She holds a master’s degree from The Juilliard School and bachelor’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music. She’s performed in a wide variety of ensembles including Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Cécile McLorin Salvant’s OGRESSE, Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and LSAT (a co-led quintet with baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian). Her 2019 Posi-Tone album Winds of Change prompted PopMatters to rave, “The band sounds distinct, not cookie-cut…. Wow, your ear says. More, please.”

Steven Feifke is an award-winning pianist, composer and orchestrator with degrees from New York University and the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with true luminaries of composition and orchestration, Gil Goldstein and Jim McNeely. His big band music has been featured by the Malmo Band in Switzerland, and his orchestral music was debuted in August 2019 at the New Generation Festival in Florence, Italy. Feifke has also written original works for television and film media; his music can be heard on Jerry Seinfeld’s hit Netflix show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” He’s a two-time semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano competition and has been featured as a piano sideman on notable recordings by Ulysses Owens, Jr., Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Danny Janklow and Alexa Tarantino. In 2018 he received an Arts Mid-Hudson “Pros Meet Pupils” grant for his curriculum designed to teach students jazz history through performance. He currently sits on faculty at The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he teaches composition and arranging. His 2015 septet debut, Peace in Time, will soon be followed by his debut big-band recording featuring Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Veronica Swift.

Today - The Romanian Cultural Institute in London’s final broadcast in a series featuring musician Lucian Ban. Previous episodes still available to view. Details attached.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

The Romanian Cultural Institute in London has been joining forces with the acclaimed musician Lucian Ban for an immersive exploration of the jazz world in the time of pandemic.

We have received the following information;

Jazz Festivals & Presenters: What’s Next?

The Romanian Cultural Institute in London has been joining forces with the acclaimed musician Lucian Ban for an immersive exploration of the jazz world in the time of pandemic. The final episode, which will be streamed live on Thursday 28 May from 16.00, concentrates on the future of some of the most significant European jazz events in an unmissable dialogue with Pelin Opcin, EFG London Jazz Festival Director, Nadin Deventer, Artistic Director of JazzFest Berlin, Patricia Jochheim, Jazz Programmer at Opderschmelz Art Centre - Dudelange Luxemburg and Olivier Conan, Director Opera Underground - Opéra de Lyon.

“The artists will try to highlight the challenges and the community’s reaction, on both sides of the Atlantic, during the global crisis. Cancelled tours and concerts, closed halls and clubs, postponed festivals- which are the questions and, moreover the answers of this challenge? How can practitioners and institutions, artists and critics contribute to the new reality and to the idea of hope?” (Lucian Ban)

The conversation can be followed on the Romanian Cultural Institute’s Facebook page.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/257782905539264/

Previous online conversations:

Thursday 7 May 2020. Guests: Lucian Ban (pianist & composer), Mihai Iordache (saxophonist, percussionist & composer), George Dumitriu (violist, guitarist & composer), Corey Mwamba (musician & presenter of Freeness show on BBC Radio 3)
Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=237051084236546

Thursday 14 May 2020. Guests: Lucian Ban (pianist & composer), Alex Simu (clarinettist, saxophonist & composer), Wesley Stephenson (programming director for ‘Jazz North East’ & festival producer for ‘Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music’), Henning Bolte (journalist)
Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=242874510299890

Monday 25 May 2020. Transylvanian Folk Songs: Karl Lippegaus interviews
Lucian Ban & Mat Maneri,
Link: https://youtu.be/qI9gvuAuqnI

For details about the events, please visit http://www.icr-london.co.uk

This Week’s UK Lockdown Jazz Sessions - 27 May 2020

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Publicist Danielle White of Raestar Promotions has forwarded links to various on-line performances around the country. Details attached.

UK Lockdown Virtual Jazz Sessions;

Thursday: Guitarist Remi Harris presents a weekly 2 hr Jazz & Blues Show on Bromyard FM where he’ll be playing some of his fav Jazz & Blues recordings.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158068976016049&set=a.10153200314251049&type=3&theater

21-24 May: VIRTUAL Manchester Jazz Festival smashed it. WATCH AGAIN HERE!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=609247623278293&ref=watch_permalink

Jay Phelps’ BIG NIGHT IN Saturday Night Sessions are a real party vibe!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8UXmzaWxkqD4cM5X9UUOdA

Soulful Lauren Lucille featured in the FB So Live Sessions Bank Holiday Monday - Listen Again!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=693033457937756&ref=watch_permalink

Catch the Jive Aces 7 nights a week!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9_C5nzlsdw&list=RDL9_C5nzlsdw&start_radio=1&t=10

Effervescent pianist Marco Marconi is live every Saturday!
https://www.facebook.com/marco.marconi2/videos/10217105567335830/

Around The Houses Festival produced by saxophonist Alex Woods, guitarist Sam Slater (Stoney Lane Records) and bassist Chris Mapp; supported by TDE Promotions & Spofforth.
https://www.facebook.com/aroundthehousesfestival/

Snake Davis’ regular club nights & sax workshops on Sundays at 11.00am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wnvPwhUzW8

Join Kim Cypher Band for Coffee & Chat 11 am!
https://www.facebook.com/kim.cypher

Check Buster Birch’s hour long Virtual Jazz Club every Friday 8 pm!
https://www.busterbirch.co.uk/virtualjazzclub

Ben Holden & Paul Jeffries Duo perform live & virtual Friday, June 5, 2020 at 6 PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/2481381228630466/?notif_t=plan_user_invited&notif_id=1589548967968960

Terence Collie & Richard Sadler Duo
9 June: Presented by Janet McCunn for Mood Indigo livestream concerts.
https://www.meetup.com/london-jazz/events/270763888/?rv=ea1_v2&_xtd=gatlbWFpbF9jbGlja9oAJDhlYTY5ZTRkLTU4OTctNDRiYy05NDFjLTdmNGFhMTg2OTY0OA

1 July: Online Stream - London Music Video Festival 2020
https://www.facebook.com/lmvfest/photos/gm.1467023193453148/122737219209915/?type=3&theater

‘Brilliant’ Jen Kearney’s powerful music presented for Jazz Matters podcast series by Darren Harper.
https://www.jazzmatters.net/podcast

Clark Tracey’s brainchild Jazz Lockdown on Youtube’s Jazz Lockdown channel.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jazz+lockdown+clark+tracey

Ivors Academy hosts pre-recorded virtual events to “help creators feel inspired, motivated, educated and connected during these challenging times.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf6Hwq4oeTU&list=PLLeuZeVmlQJjmRudwQdZveP8mFMc8dKkr

Sign Ivor Academy’s petition aimed at improving musicians’ streaming income.
https://ivorsacademy.com/campaign/keep-music-alive/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 24/05/2020.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 24/05/20, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist

European Jazz Show 20 – First broadcast May 24th

Now available at any time at https://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz/first-broadcast-may-24th/

John Law’s Congregation – Configuration (Ubuntu)

Clover - Vert Emeraude (Yolk)

Lucien Ban/John Surman/Mike Manieri - Transylvanian Folk Songs (Sunnyside)

Fernandino Romano - Totem ft Ralph Alessi (Losen)

Greg Foat - single from Symphonie Pacifique (Strut)

Luka Sguera’s AKA - Berlin Sessions (Auand)

Multitraction Orchestra - Emerge Entangled (Bandcamp)

Stefan Orins - Summer’s Hopes (Circum Disc)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.swan-dyer.co.uk/covid

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group urge Arts Council England to reinstate National Lottery Projects Grants.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The All-Party Parliamentary Appreciation Group (APPJAG), the influential jazz enthusiasts' lobby group of MPs & Peers, is urging Arts Council England to restore the National Lottery Projects Grant.

We have received the following press release;

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group urge Arts Council England to reinstate National Lottery Projects Grants

When Arts Council England announced its £160 million emergency rescue package to deal with the coronavirus crisis in March 2020, arts organisations and individuals alike were rightly delighted by such a swift and positive response.

However, an important creative cause is in danger of falling through the cracks. Jazz music, an increasingly dynamic cultural force, and a renowned and invaluable stimulus to many kinds of musicmaking beyond its own borders, has in recent years been significantly dependent on the National Lottery Projects Grants Scheme for the planning of tours and creative projects. The scheme has now been suspended to release funding for the emergency measures - but no provision for its jazz commitments has been suggested in Arts Council England’s responses to queries.

The All-Party Parliamentary Appreciation Group (APPJAG), the influential jazz enthusiasts’ lobby group of MPs and Peers, is now urging Arts Council England to restore the National Lottery Projects Grants Scheme at the earliest opportunity. Individuals and bands seeking to organise tours 12 months or longer ahead cannot wait for the present crisis to be resolved and need to begin approaching promoters and venues now.

On March 28, APPJAG co-chairs John Spellar MP and Lord Mann, and deputy chair Chi Onwurah MP wrote to Darren Henley, Chief Executive Officer of Arts Council England, to raise these concerns. Following an exchange of correspondence on the subject, Darren Henley’s closing response on April 20 observed that protecting the infrastructure of venues used by performing artists required the Arts Council’s full capacity at present, and that although future planning would be difficult for some time, ‘our view is that wider and much greater uncertainties remain, such as what government restrictions may be in operation in the future, and the economic consequences of the intervening period on culture’s infrastructure.’

APPJAG is of the opinion that this response is particularly unhelpful in the jazz context, and will continue to urge Arts Council England to expedite the restoration of the National Lottery Project Grants Scheme with urgency, if ACE is not to make worse an already bad situation for jazz music in the culture-funding pecking-order. It would be ironic if bands and musicians whose current live work has been cancelled, should also find themselves with no work next year - hopefully in post-Covid-19 conditions - due to the withholding of a relatively modest investment that would enable them to set up their 2021 bookings now.

For further information please contact:
Chris Hodgkins
Tel: 0208 840 4643
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) currently has over 116 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Their aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament. The Group’s officers as at the inaugural meeting on 26th February are Co-Chairs, John Spellar MP and Lord Mann, Vice Chairs, Alison Thewless MP and Chi Onwurah MP, the Secretary, Sir Greg Knight MP, the Treasurer is Ian Paisley MP. Officers are: Lord Colwyn, Baroness Howe and Baroness Healy. APPJAG run the Parliamentary Jazz Awards that celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom. The awards have been running since 2005.
The Secretariat is Chris Hodgkins with the assistance of Will Riley-Smith and Louis Flood. The contact address is: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) the web address is: https://appjag.wordpress.com/

Jazz West Midlands Promoter Network announces Digital Concert Programme.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The Jazz West Midlands promoter's network has announced a series of digital concerts including performances featuring Tina May/Alan Barnes/ Arnie Somogyi, the Joy Ellis Duo and Orjan Hulten's Orion.

We have received the following information from Jazz West Midlands;

Jazz Network WM

We at Jazz West Midlands are trying to keep jazz alive for you, in the absence of our regular Friday and Festival programmes; by creating a series of sound and vision experiences broadcast via our website. Over the coming weeks we will be listing a series of members favourite jazz artists for you to listen to, in a series recorded just for you jazz gigs by musicians Jazz West Midlands Promoters have supported in the past.
The musicians will be paid for their content, so anyone wishing to contribute can do so by sending a donation over to Jazz West Midlands - details available by clicking on the donations button below..

PLANNED PROGRAMME
Over the next few weeks, and maybe months, we will be commissioning jazz musicians to record just for Jazz West Midlands Promoters a short set of tunes, mixing original and standard tunes. The gigs will be featured on our website just as a normal gig. Except the video content will be on the gig page itself.
Please support the musicians and West Midlands Jazz Promoters in these trying times.

Welcome to Jazz West Midlands Digital Content - May - Barnes - Somogyi
Tina May, Alan Barnes & Arnie Somogyi - Live
The first live performance commissioned by Jazz West Midlands exclusively for you to enjoy. This is a trio of old friends playing a a garden - somewhere in the Home Counties. recorded live at Home. This is a world first, they have never appeared in the open air together before - so a world premiere just for you.
Enjoy…
Line Up: Tina May - Vocals, Alan Barnes - Saxes & Arnie Somogyi - Bass
TO VIEW THE LIVE VIDEO JUST CLICK ON THE WEBSITE LINK BUTTON BELOW
https://www.jazzwestmidlands.org/gigs/2020-05-30/tin-may-alan-barnes-arnie-somogyi

WE HAVE COMMISSIONED FURTHER NEW WORK FROM A RANGE OF JAZZ MUSICIANS;

31st May 2020
Joy Ellis - Duo at Home
This is a gig at home gig from the singer songwriter Joy Ellis and her partner, specially recorded for the West Midlands Jazz Network - through Birmingham Jazz. Enjoy:
Line Up: Joy Ellis - Voice/keyboard & Adam Osmianski - Drums
https://www.jazzwestmidlands.org/gigs/2020-05-31/joy-ellis-live

6th June 2020
Orjan Hulten & Orion
Some of you may remember the fantastic Tour of the West Midlands by Orion led by Orjan Hulten. This most original band from Sweden are well know across Europe and were very well received on their UK Tour. Here are four tracks that Orjan has sent over to share with you:
https://www.jazzwestmidlands.org/gigs/2020-06-06/orjan-hulten-orion

IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, WHY NOT MAKE A DONATION TO THE MUSICIANS USING THE LINK BELOW. ALL MONIES RAISED WILL GO TO YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICIANS.
DONATE HERE;
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/wwwjazzwestmidlandsorg

The West Midlands Promoter Network Members are:

Birmingham Jazz
Clun Valley Jazz - Bishop’s Castle
Jazz Coventry
Jazz @ Wolverhampton
Kenilworth Jazz
Left Bank Village - Hereford
Leamington Jazz
Lichfield Jazz
Stratford Jazz
Sugarmill - Stoke
The Forge - Telford
The Tin - Coventry

See website for full details of the local promoters

This programme of Digital Gigs has been part funded by the Arts Council England Emergency Fund

Artists announced for Jerwood Jazz Encounters Fellowships to present jazz at festivals across England during 2021.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Four jazz artists have been commissioned to create ground-breaking new ways to present jazz at Festivals across England in 2021. They are Elliot Galvin, Faye MacCalman, Lara Jones and Witch ‘n’ Monk.

We have received the following press release;

Artists announced for Jerwood Jazz Encounters Fellowships to present jazz at festivals across England

Four jazz artists have been commissioned to create ground-breaking new ways to present jazz at Festivals across England. They are Elliot Galvin, Faye MacCalman, Lara Jones and Witch ‘n’ Monk.

Each artist has been awarded a Jerwood Jazz Encounters Fellowship which will give them the chance to experiment with presenting jazz in unusual spaces and the digital realm. The 18-month programme will equip the artists with the skills and contacts they need to develop bold new work. Each Fellowship includes R&D funding, in-depth mentoring, a two-day Creative Lab hosted by Birmingham City University and specialist support from digital partner The Space.

The artists have already started developing ideas for site-specific or digital works for presentation at some of the leading music festivals in Europe in 2021 to include Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Oxford Contemporary Music and Sage Gateshead.

Pianist and composer Elliot Galvin said “I am fascinated by presenting music in new contexts and communicating work to audiences in new ways. This Fellowship will allow me to build on my creative ideas with the support and guidance of industry professionals to help me realise a new installation piece that is in dialogue with its environment, playing with context as much at content. This is something that I have worked on before, but never with the support network that this Fellowship provides, allowing the work to develop to its full potential.”

Faye MacCalman is an improvisor, performer and composer who will use the Fellowship to explore issues around mental health. She said: “I’m really excited for the potential of this piece to grow and document the very human but still difficult to talk about experiences of mental health, and to test the boundaries between music, spoken word and art. I want to learn more about making music for spaces where the public can engage outside of the usual jazz circuits or concert halls and developing new ways of working that can have a social impact.”

Lara Jones is a saxophonist, improviser, composer & collaborator who has been working on a series of compositions based on train stations and train journeys. She said: “Having become fascinated by the sounds of the stations/trains and the stories that are told, I’m interested in presenting my work in the place in which the music has been inspired and composed. I can’t wait to work with a space where it can become so intrinsic to the music, performance and audience that the music couldn’t exist without it.”

Witch ‘n’ Monk (formerly Bitch ‘n’ Monk) is the twinning of nonconformist Colombian flautist Mauricio Velasierra and anarchic soprano and guitarist Heidi Heidelberg. They said: “It is rare to have the chance to incubate a radical new artistic idea, with the support of a dedicated team of experienced and specifically chosen mentors. We are looking forward to developing a new format for musical performance that combines aspects of the promenade theatre experience, engaging with socio-political issues and a direct connection with the audience. As musicians experienced in live performance and recorded music, we will have the opportunity to explore some completely new artistic techniques, as well as building on those we have developed over many years, and recontextualise them in completely new settings.”

John Opie, Deputy Director of Jerwood Arts said: “Many congratulations to the five artists selected for Jerwood Jazz Encounters. Their ideas in response to the programme’s premise of fashioning new pieces for unusual spaces are really inspiring and I am excited for the journey of conversations and making that they are going to take over the coming eighteen months. The current situation is really tough on artists, so we’re pleased to offer this small reprieve from the gloom, especially as it is all about thinking laterally and ambitiously.”

Artist Biographies

Elliot Galvin
Elliot Galvin is a pianist and composer whose work spans a variety of mediums. His main artistic vehicles are his trio, who have released 4 albums to date including ‘The Influencing Machine’ that was named one of the albums of the year in both Downbeat and Jazzwise, and his freely improvised solo piano project with which he recently released a critically acclaimed live album. Along with this he is a prolific composer, being commissioned by the London Sinfonietta, Ligetti Quartet, St. John’s Smith Square amongst many others. He is also a key member of the mercury nominated band Dinosaur and one half of the Binker Golding / Elliot Galvin Duo.
https://www.elliotgalvin.com/

Faye MacCalman
Faye is an improvisor, performer and composer playing saxophone, clarinet and voice with a boundary challenging ear. After growing up in the North of England, spending time at school in the Australian countryside and honing her ears as an improvisor in Montreal playing in tiny spaces with legendary instrumentalists, her music making quickly took on this uprooted and adventurous influence, crossing different sound worlds fearlessly and with a raw storytelling honesty. Blending influences from jazz, folk-blues, experimental pop-rock and the avant-garde. Faye composes for and leads award winning, genre defying band ‘Archipelago’, as well as performing solo and in collaboration with likeminded artists across the UK and beyond. Faye is also placing a growing emphasis on the social impact of music making, and as a member of North East organisation ‘Creative Spaces’, providing workshops to isolated communities focused on making the therapeutic benefits of music accessible. In 2018 with an HMUK ‘Peter Whittingham Development Award’ Faye co-created a new residency ‘BETWEEN WAVES’ for female-identifying artists from around the UK to create new music with Archipelago in Newcastle. In 2019 Archipelago received support from BBC Introducing and were selected to perform at Latitude Festival, with Tom Robinson (BBC6 Music) including them in his festival highlights show.
https://fayemaccalman.wordpress.com/

Lara Jones
Lara Jones is a saxophonist, improviser, composer & collaborator based between Leeds and London. She is a member of award-winning bands J Frisco and Beyond Albedo. As a soloist, Lara has recently completed her place on Manchester Jazz Festival’s Hothouse Programme which commissioned her to write a new series of audio-visual based works for saxophone & electronics of which she is now receiving composition mentorship from Anna Meredith through Brighter Sound. Lara has performed across the UK & Germany at venues such as Royal Festival Hall, Cafe Oto, The Vortex, Kings Place & festivals such as London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival & Tubax International Festival. She has supported many artists including Courtney Pine, Novelist, Portico Quartet, Laura Jurd & Matthew Bourne.
http://www.larajonesmusic.com

Witch ‘n’ Monk
Witch ‘n’ Monk (formerly Bitch ‘n’ Monk) is the twinning of nonconformist Colombian flautist Mauricio Velasierra and anarchic soprano and guitarist Heidi Heidelberg. The driving force of the duo is a shared commitment to depict the multiverse, through an un-compromised, new musical language of composition and improvisation that travels fluidly between forms.
This multiverse is constructed with a collection of Latin American flutes radically manipulated with effects and extended techniques, anarchic soprano vocals that move seamlessly and suddenly between characters and timbres, analogue electronics and a jazz-punk guitar/bass hybrid. The essence of their collaboration is encapsulated in the name; dark and light, feminine and masculine, punk and Romantic, free-form and intricately composed. Exploring extremes and creating contrast are fundamental to their work and thus they tread upon the edges of genres. Celebrated in the jazz, contemporary classical and DIY underground music scenes they have played across the UK and Europe, at prestigious venues and festivals such as London, Manchester and Umea Jazz Festivals, Amsterdam’s Bimhuis, London’s Royal Festival Hall and Paris’ La Cigale, but also they produce avant-garde live film scores performed at communist Italian skateparks or among the thorn bushes in overgrown East London gardens.
Their previous releases ‘Fulafalonga’ and ‘We Are Peering Over’ were released in 2014 and 2016 to critical acclaim and their new album will be released in May 2020.
http://www.bitchnmonk.com/

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 28 April – 3 May 2021
In association with BBC Radio 2
Cheltenham Jazz Festival features headline acts, cutting-edge jazz and unique collaborations. It started in 1996. Cheltenham Jazz Festival is part of Cheltenham Festivals, a charity which creates world-class cultural festivals and year-round accessible talent development, outreach and education programmes. Over 225,000 visitors a year are inspired by its Literature, Science, Jazz and Music Festivals. http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz

Gateshead Jazz
Gateshead Jazz is the UK’s biggest jazz festival under one roof - Sage Gateshead (an international music centre in the North East of England). Its focus is on attracting new audiences with cutting-edge artists joining established names, platforming talent from across the North. Sage Gateshead welcomes around 500,000 visitors a year and has a long standing commitment to Jazz, with a year-round programme to serve and grow new audiences as well as develop new artists. http://www.sagegateshead.com

Jerwood Arts
Jerwood Arts is the leading independent funder dedicated to supporting UK artists, curators and producers to develop and thrive. We enable transformative opportunities for individuals across art forms, supporting imaginative awards, bursaries, fellowships, projects, programmes and commissions. We present new work and bring people from across the arts together through our exhibitions and events in London, as well as across the UK. http://www.jerwoodarts.org

Manchester Jazz Festival
mjf is the city’s longest running music festival and champions regional artists and celebrates musical innovation. Accessible to all, mjf features five days of contemporary jazz from the north west, UK and abroad, with national premieres of original work and international debuts. http://www.manchesterjazz.com

OCM (Oxford Contemporary Music)
OCM is a unique producer that works to develop and present the highest quality and most innovative new music and sound-based live events, to engage diverse local and national audiences with its work, and to deepen understanding and appreciation of musical cultures from within the UK and worldwide. OCM works in four key areas: presenting a regular concert programme in Oxford, commissioning and producing new work in Oxford and across the UK, running artist development programmes, and delivering a programme of education and outreach (mostly in Oxford). Our commissions and projects focus on placing inspiring music and sound based work in places and situations that will reach a large and diverse audience. http://www.ocmevents.org

The Space
The Space is a commissioning and development organisation, established by Arts Council England and the BBC to support greater digital access to the arts. The Space is committed to supporting and facilitating the UK arts sector to realise its digital ambitions. The organisation commissions arts projects, offers online audience and digital skills development, and provides a production and distribution pipeline to ensure that these projects reach a wide and diverse range of audiences. http://www.thespace,org

Mabon reschedule their “Last Huzzah!” tour to 2021.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Welsh folk/rock band Mabon, led by accordionist Jamie Smith have forwarded their latest newsletter, including details of their farewell tour, now re-scheduled for the spring of 2021.

A Good-News MABON Newsletter!

REMATCH!

As you know or will have guessed, a global pandemic foiled our farewell tour, ‘The Last Huzzah!’ So we’ve moved the goalposts!

Instead of retiring gracefully this summer as planned, we’ve rescheduled as many as possible of our cancelled gigs into one noisy burst next spring - HUZZAH!

We *will* still play one last, vibrant blast of MABON music - we hope that you will come and join us in the Easter holidays of 2021.

There may not be tickets available yet as many venues are closed, but SAVE THESE DATES!

Tues 30/03/21 - CARDIFF - Saint David’s Hall

Weds 31/03/21 - DEVON - Pavilions Teignmouth

Thurs 01/04/21 - LONDON - Cecil Sharp House

Sat 03/04/21 - LIVERPOOL - Philharmonic Hall

Tues 06/04/21 - DORSET - Bridport Arts Centre

Weds 07/04/21 - NOTTINGHAM - Lakeside Arts

Fri 09/04/21 - BUILTH WELLS - Wyeside Arts

Sat 10/04/21 - CARDIGAN - Theatr Mwldan

These are the shows confirmed so far (subject to a few things we can’t predict in these uncertain times) - but we hope we can fit in just a couple of other dates too, so keep your eyes peeled!

As well as these theatre shows, most of our 2020 festival bookings have asked us to play in 2021 instead. We will perform at as many of those events as we possibly can, for sure.

(Also, what would have been our very last gig this year, may still happen:
31/10/20 - NEWQUAY - Lowender Peran
Watch this space to see if it will go ahead.)

Here’s a big shout out to any venues which we haven’t been able to reschedule yet, or may not even be able to visit again. We were gutted to miss our last chance to play at the wonderful Plough Arts in Torrington; the lovely trio of West End Centre, Forest Arts and Ashcroft Arts in Hampshire; Canolfan Ceiriog in the glorious Ceiriog Valley; Fishguard Folk Festival which would have been great fun this weekend; and some wonderful small venues and village halls, where we always have such a warm welcome and some riotous shows!

NEW VIDEO!
Because we had to cancel our tour gigs, here’s a WHOLE MABON CONCERT to ensure you don’t get withdrawal symptoms.
Filmed at Llangollen’s iconic International Eisteddfod last year, you’ve already seen one or two snippets of it - now here’s the full, unedited set.
It features some of our newer music, and a couple of time-honoured favourites - some of the tunes you would have heard had you been able to join us this spring.
Please do Share with anyone you think might enjoy it, and let us know if you enjoy the show - we certainly did!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chXgrPrEEy4&feature=youtu.be

SUPPORT THE BAND

Some of you have been in touch to ask if our musicians will manage ok without the gig income we rely on - thank you so much for your concern!

It’s true that many musicians are pretty stuffed at this point, and most or all of our livelihood has vanished.

There are two ways you could support the band at this time, should you wish to:

1. You could VISIT OUR ONLINE SHOP to top up your CD or T-shirt collection, or to buy presents for friends. We’re even still offering our back catalogue at half price - happy days. https://www.jamiesmithsmabon.com/shop/

2. We have set up a crowdfunder, for anyone who would like to make a contribution to supporting the band.

So if:

you were going to attend a MABON show this spring, and would consider contributing some of your ticket money;

you’ve enjoyed the Llangollen video and would like to throw a few quid into the virtual hat;

or just if you feel you’d like to support the band in a very direct way while our musicians can’t do the work we usually do;

then hit the donate button below - and thank you.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-last-huzzoops?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet

Support MABON’s musicians with a donation
Do stay in touch! It’s always lovely to hear from you, so do use our email or Facebook or Twitter to say hello.

Our best wishes to you and yours:
we hope you stay well and happy.

Iolo
and all of MABON.

NEWYDDION DA!

AMDANI - ETO!

Fel y gwyddoch neu ddyfaloch, perodd y pandemig inni orfod canslo yr holl gyngherddau oedd yn weddill ar ein Taith Ola’ eleni. Felly, ry’n ni’n newid y drefn!

Yn lle ymddeol ar ddiwedd yr haf fel oedd y bwriad, fe ail-drefnon ni gymaint o gigs ag oedd yn bosib, a’u cywagu mewn i wyliau’r Pasg flwyddyn nesa. Yei!

Fe *wnawn* ni gael cyfle i ddod atoch chi i ddweud ffarwel - gobeithio dewch chithau i glywed ein taith OLA-ola yn 2021!

Dyma’r rhai a gadarnhawyd hyd yma - cadwch y dyddiadau’n glir!

Maw 30/03/21 - CAERDYDD - Neuadd Dewi Sant

Mer 31/03/21 - DYFNAINT - Pavilions Teignmouth

Iau 01/04/21 - LLUNDAIN - Cecil Sharp House

Sad 03/04/21 - LERPWL - Neuadd Philharmonic

Maw 06/04/21 - DORSET - Bridport Arts

Mer 07/04/21 - NOTTINGHAM - Lakeside Arts

Gwe 09/04/21 - LLANFAIR-YM-MUALLT - Canolfan Wyeside

Sad 10/04/21 - ABERTEIFI - Theatr Mwldan

Yn ogystal a’r theatrau yma, mae’r rhan helaeth o’r gwyliau a’n gwahoddod i chware eleni, wedi gofyn inni ystyried 2021. Fe wnawn ni’n gorau glas i chwarae’r gwyliau hynny.

(Hefyd, mae yna un gig eleni falle fydd yn digwydd o hyd, sef:
31/10/20 - CERNYW - Lowender Peran
Bydd hi’n dibynnu beth yw’r drefn erbyn hynny - croesu bysedd amdani!)

Dyma anfon ein cyfarchion mwya gwresog at y lleoliadau hynny lle falle na chawn ni gyfle i chware eto: Plough Arts yn Nyfnaint; triawd West End Centre, Forest Arts ac Ashcroft Arts yn Sirgigmoch; Canolfan Ceiriog yn Nyffryn gogoneddus Glyn Ceiriog; Gwyl Werin Abergwaun fasai wedi bod yn hyfryd benwythnos yma; a rhai o’n hoff lefydd i chware, y neuaddau pentre bychain lle ry’n ni’n cael croeso mor gynnes a noswethiau mor hwylus.

FIDEO NEWYDD!
Gan inni orfod canslo’n holl gigs leni, ac er mwyn ichi beidio gweld ein heisiau ni ormod, wele GYNGERDD GYFAN ichi.
Fe rannon ni un neu ddau drac o’r gig yma eisioes, a ffilmiwyd ar lwyfan brydferth Eisteddfod Ryngwladol Llangollen llynedd - nawr dyma;r gyngerdd gyfan ichi mewn un talp bywiog.
Fe glywch chi rywfaint o’n cerddoriaeth newydd, yn ogystal a rhai hen ffefrynau - blas bach o beth baswn ni wedi bod yn chware ichi gwanwyn yma.
Wnewch chi ei Rannu gydag unrhywun fasai’n ei fwynhau? Gobeithio y mwynhewch chi’r gwylio, gymaint ac y gwnaethon ni’r chwarae.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chXgrPrEEy4&feature=youtu.be

CEFNOGWCH Y BAND

Mae’n amser chwithig ar gerddorion ar hyn o bryd, a’n gwaith wedi diflanu dros nos. Pe carech gefnogi cerddorion MABON, mae dwy ffordd dda fan hyn…

1. Gallech ymweld a’n SIOP AR-LEIN er mwyn llanw unrhyw fylchai yn eich casgliad CDs a chrysau-T; neu eu prynu fel anrhegion i’ch cyfeillion. Ry’n ni’n dal i gynnig ein holl recordiadau heblaw’r un mwya newydd am hanner pris - ewch am fargen!
https://www.jamiesmithsmabon.com/shop/

2. Ry’n ni wedi creu tudalen ar-lein i bobl fasai’n hoffi dangos eu cefnogaeth drwy gyfranu. Felly os:

oeddech chi’n bwriadu dod i’n gweld eleni, ac ydych chi’n fodlon rhoi peth o’ch arian tocyn o hyd;

wnaethoch chi fwynhau’r fideo Llangollen ac yn teimlo’r hoffech daflu rhywbeth yn yr ‘het’ digidol;

neu os am unrhyw rheswm hoffech wybod eich bod yn cefnogi cerddorion mewn ffordd uniongyrchol iawn tra nad allwn wneud ein gwaith arferol;

gwasgwch y botwm glas isod. Diolch o galon
.https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-last-huzzoops?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet

Cefnogwch gerddorion MABON drwy gyfrannu
Aroswch gyda ni! Mae wasted yn braf cael clywed wrthoch chi, pe carech gysylltu drwy ebost neu Facebook neu Dwitter.

Dyma’n dymunuiadau gorau am iechyd da i chi a’ch teulu; a diolch eto am eich cefnogaeth a’ch brwdfrydedd.

Iolo
a phawb yn MABON.

Lockdown News from Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Enterprising folk musicians Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer have instigated a number of initiatives to help ensure their artistic and financial survival during lockdown. Newsletter attached.

Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer write;

Lockdown News from Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer

Vicki & Jonny in Lockdown

It’s been nearly 10 weeks since our last face-to-face gig. As with all touring musicians we very quickly lost all of our touring work, currently around 6 months, but we can’t be sure that we will have any touring until next year. To this end we’ve been trying to figure out ways of making a living. We’ve been selling CDs and books. We’ve been teaching using Skype and Zoom. We also have a PayPal tip jar. We have a YouTube playlist of some of the videos we’ve put together over this time - click here! http://www.swan-dyer.co.uk/corona-how-to-help/

Vicki has been working on creating nyckelharpa teaching resources, these are all on her blog - The Nyckelharpa Effect. Although it is based on teaching the Nyckelharpa, there are lots of tunes, exercises, play-along videos and even a virtual session at Halsway Manor Bar where you can play along with both of us.
http://nyckelharpaeffect.blogspot.com/?mc_cid=28678a3297&mc_eid=9617b1899c

Jonny has been creating an incredible soundscape album which he will probably run a kickstarter on. More about that when it’s closer to completion!

We’ve converted almost every corner of our house to different tasks. We have a recording room (spare room) and also a film studio (the lounge), which swaps between green screen for videos and a stage set for LiveStreaming.

This brings us onto the most exciting thing and that is we have two livestream events coming up. We did a our first livestream half hour slot about a month ago and we discovered how much we had missed playing to real people - even if we couldn’t see them.

Chester Folk Festival have decided to go online and have put together an ambitious program using Zoom and YouTube Premiers. We are doing a Meet the Artist at 3pm on Monday afternoon in Zoom (Community Centre) and also the Monday evening concert in Marquee 1 at 8pm (YouTube premier). There are details on their website and we’ll put up links as soon as we have them on our FaceBook page. https://www.chesterfolkfestivalonline2020.co.uk/?mc_cid=28678a3297&mc_eid=9617b1899c

Folk Weekend Oxford are putting on a series of events and we are honoured to have been asked to do a full set Zoom concert for them. This is particularly exciting for us as it means that we can reach people all over the world - so if this email has found its way to Sweden, or the USA - you can come and see us from the comfort of your own homes! Register your interest now! Come and be our audience.
https://folkweekendoxford.co.uk/component/eventbooking/zoom-events/vicki-swan-and-jonny-dyer.html?mc_cid=28678a3297&mc_eid=9617b1899c

Stay safe out there and hope to see you all again in person before too long!

Vicki & Jonny

http://www.facebook.com/swandyer

https://www.instagram.com/swandyermusic/

Serious Announces Participants of Fifteenth Edition of Take Five Programme.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Live music producers Serious have announced the participants of the fifteenth edition of their prestigious talent development scheme "Take Five". Press release, including details of individuals, att.

We have received the following press release;

SERIOUS ANNOUNCES PARTICIPANTS OF FIFTEENTH EDITION OF TAKE FIVE PROGRAMME

Live music producers Serious are proud to announce the participants of the fifteenth edition of their prestigious talent development scheme Take Five – an annual programme that offers mentorship and opportunities to eight of the finest emerging jazz and improvising musicians from across the United Kingdom, funded by the PRS Foundation, Help Musicians, Arts Council England, Night Dreamer, Garrick Trust and Serious Trust.

Going back fifteen years, the programme has brought through the likes of Seb Rochford (of Polar Bear), Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet, The Comet is Coming), Yazz Ahmed, and Nubya Garcia – serving as a pivotal moment in their careers that led to wider recognition, touring, record deals, and more.

This year’s eight participants are an eclectic group, demonstrating the vibrancy and variety of the UK’s burgeoning jazz scene and offering a taste of what is to come from the genre in the coming years. They are:

Jasdeep Singh Degun (sitar, voice)

Jelly Cleaver (guitar, voice, producer)

Jemma Freese (keyboards, piano, voice)

John Pope (double bass, bass guitar)

Noemi Nuti (voice, Paraguayan harp, flute, and more)

Rosie Turton (trombone)

Sam Eagles (saxophone)

Sarathy Korwar (drums, tabla, percussion)

The scheme centres around a week-long residency that brings the artists together with music industry experts, giving them a chance to learn about the complexities of the business in an intimate setting, and offering them the chance to take some time out from their usual busy touring/recording schedules and step back and think about how to advance their music and careers. They also get to collaborate on a series of pieces that each of them arranges for the entire group, directed by the esteemed composer and saxophonist Jason Yarde.

Due to the complications around COVID-19, this year’s residency has had to be postponed to early 2021, but the ongoing mentorship of the scheme continues apace, with Serious providing the artists with guidance and funding through what is an especially difficult time for all musicians.

This year’s Take Five programme also marks the beginning of a new series of performances by the artists which are directly linked to their participation in the programme – taking the form of the inaugural “Take Five Showcase” as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival in November 2020. Other aspects of the scheme such as mentorship, funding and marketing support will create further opportunities for the artists to reach a wider audience and gain a greater foothold in the rapidly evolving music industry.

For more information about the artists, you’ll find their biographies below and on Serious’ website here: https://serious.org.uk/what-we-do/work-with-artists/edition-xv-2020

To listen to each of the artists’ music, check out this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVysr8RrgbqFHUdCS9uBD8bB_htUTiMoB

To find out more about Take Five, please visit our website here: https://serious.org.uk/what-we-do/talent-development/take-five

Joe Frankland, CEO of PRS Foundation said ‘Take Five offers important opportunities at timely career stages and we’re delighted to be supporting this latest edition. So many exciting and creative jazz musicians have benefitted from the programme including Shabaka Hutchings, Shirley Tetteh, Zara McFarlane, Peter Edwards and Laura Jurd to name a few. I look forward to seeing what these participants do next’.

Lucy Bampton, Head of Creative Programme, Help Musicians said: ‘We are delighted to once again support the Take Five programme and to play our part in offering the next generation of inspirational jazz artists a platform to develop their artistic and leadership skills. Help Musicians is committed to supporting musicians from all genres and walks of life, and with Take Five and 30 years of our Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, we hope to continue to contribute to helping jazz musicians find a way to thrive. This year has been, and continues to be, challenging for musicians but by working in collaboration to ensure initiatives such as this exist we can ensure there are development opportunities in the face of adversity.’

Abel Selaocoe, musician and participant of Take Five Edition XIV said of the programme: ‘Serious and Take Five have been so crucial in connecting me with those that can impart incredible musical knowledge and lend a hand in understanding all other aspects that make being on stage possible. All the while having a chance to sculpt a unique voice to show on some fantastic platforms.’

Take Five 2020 artist biographies

Jasdeep Singh Degun - Sitar, Voice
Awarded the Yuva Sangeet Ratna ‘Musician of the Year’ at the National Indian Arts Awards 2016, Jasdeep is fast establishing a name for himself as a rising star of the Indian classical and contemporary music scenes. An active musician and sitar player, Jasdeep has performed internationally in many high profile productions and prestigious venues, including Buckingham Palace, the Amphitheatre in Doha, and the Royal Albert Hall at the 2014 BBC Proms to name a few.
As a British-born composer, Jasdeep has developed a well-rounded sense of musicality and sensitivity towards not only Indian Classical music but many other different styles and genres of music. He has gained a rich experience in collaborative work across art forms and regularly creates music for classical and contemporary ensembles. He has recently been commissioned by Opera North to write and perform a new concerto for Sitar and Orchestra titled ‘Arya’, to go on tour in 2020.
Jasdeep has worked with musicians and producers such as Guy Chambers, Cerys Matthews, Melanie C, and Vangelis as a regular studio session musician and was awarded a Sky Academy Scholarship to work on ‘Anomaly’, his debut album of contemporary and classical music. As part of the scholarship, Jasdeep is currently mentored by the illustrious multi-instrumentalist and producer, Nitin Sawhney. Jasdeep continues to push the boundaries of Indian classical music in the UK as well as developing his unique versatility as a promising young artist.

Jelly Cleaver - Guitar, Voice, Producer
Jelly Cleaver is a band leader, singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer based in South London. She’s been called ‘the next artist to make an impact on London’s Jazz Scene’ by Supreme Standards and recently received the Steve Reid Award. With an eclectic taste in music, Jelly is heavily involved in both the jazz and DIY/punk scenes in London. She’s also an activist, and a strain of political dissent runs through her music.
Her latest album, The Dream Jazz Manifesto, was released in May 2019, receiving critical acclaim and radio play by BBC Radio 1xtra, Rinse FM, Jazz FM, Worldwide FM, Soho Radio and others. She has been a featured guest numerous times on stations like Worldwide FM and GW Jazz. She has also performed at the Jazz Café and Pizza Express in London and several times in Bristol as well as festival appearances at We Out Here, Brainchild, Jazz Stroud, DJazz and the London Jazz Festival. As part of Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Frontline she has also performed at multiple festivals such as Love Supreme, Wilderness, Women of the World and supported Monty Alexander at Cadogan Hall.
She has played in the live bands of a number of artists including Cherise Adams-Burnett, Loucin Moskofian, Katie Moberly, Kasia Konstance and Queen Colobus.

Jemma Freese - Keyboards, Piano, Voice
Jemma Freese started playing piano around the age of 10 and quickly discovered that she liked making up songs and only enjoyed playing her own material. As a teenager, she was heavily influenced by Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Muse and Tom Waits, this fed into her interest in jazz as a vocalist as well as piano player. From the age of 17 she started writing her own songs to help her get through the bullying she went through at school. She then went on to study Pop Composition and Jazz vocals at Leeds College of Music from 2014-2017 for which she graduated with First honours.
Jemma is now a full-time musician and teach vocals and piano/ keyboard at Leeds Music Academy and has done numerous jazz and improvisation workshops with Jazz North and BlueJam Arts in Penrith aimed at young females. Her projects include J Frisco, an avant-garde/ electronic/ punk/ experimental/ jazz trio; freese trio, a triphop/ electronica/ grunge/ darkjazz band where she composes all the music; DOMI, an electro-pop band with members from the UK, Czech Republic and Norway; Eva Eik, a 4-piece alternative electronic Scandi-pop band where she is one of the composers; Maximo Park where she is the keyboardist/ backing vocalist; and No Fixed Identity, a duo where she improvises on the keyboard, creating a dark/ spoken word/ hiphop/ experimental/ electronic/ jazz sound.

John Pope - Double Bass, Bass Guitar
John Pope is a bass player and composer based in the North East of England. His main focus as a creative musician explores the boundaries and combinations of jazz, free improvisation, rock and experimental music. His primary projects include a chord-less quintet of Northern musicians (John Pope Quintet, Northern Line 2019 ambassador artists), an ongoing composition project blending structured pieces and free improvisation with a flexible ‘chamber group’ ensemble (developed during Sage Gatesheads ‘Summer Studios’ 2019).
John is also co-leader of the avant-jazz trio CARTOON with UK improv veterans Chris Biscoe and Roger Turner, and a founding member of award winning garage-jazz band Archipelago, lead by Faye MacCalman (Take Five Edition XIV). Alongside these projects he performs as a sideman in many varied groups across the jazz and improvised music spectrum, including The Lindsay Hannon Plus (2015 Northern Line Artists) and Ponyland (2018 Northern Line).
In addition to working in jazz he is an active member of the UK improvised music scene. He has performed solo as an improviser around the country, as well as in collaboration with internationally recognised artists, including appearances at festivals across the country (London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, TUSK and Gateshead International Jazz Festival at the Sage) as well as internationally in prestigious venues such as Bimhuis (Holland) and Area Sismica (Italy).
In addition to his career as a performer, John is a committed practitioner of education and community outreach as a composer/arranger and facilitator.

Noemi Nuti - Voice, Paraguayan Harp, Flute
Born in New York City, from Italian descent, Noemi’s musical personality has always been characterised by a fusion of Mediterranean and metropolitan sounds. She graduated from Trinity College of Music, London with a master’s in Jazz and received a BA in Music from Brunel University on Classical harp.
Her debut album Nice to Meet You was produced and featured trumpet sensation Quentin Collins and was the first release on the up-and-coming Ubuntu Music Label. It received wide critical acclaim across the board. Six out of eleven tracks have been featured on various radio shows, two of which on the highest possible rotation on Jazz FM.
She has toured around the UK with her own band during 2015 and 2016 with notable performances supporting Brazilian legend Marcos Valle at Islington Assembly Hall and headlining on the closing night at Ipswich Jazz Festival as well as establishing herself on the London music scene.
In 2017, Noemi collaborated with sax legend Jean Toussaint, pianist extraordinaire Liam Noble and a fantastic Brazilian rhythm section at London’s renowned Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho. She regularly tours with Andrew McCormack’s Graviton internationally as lead singer, playing in prestigious venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, the 606 Jazz Club, the Vortex as well as Europe.
Noemi has released her second album Venus Eye in March 2020, on the Ubuntu Music Label. Noemi has composed nine out of the eleven tracks and is both the lead vocals and harmonies singer on the album and Paraguayan and classical harp player.

Rosie Turton - Trombone
Rosie Turton’s musical path is defined by her unwavering desire to explore new territories: sounds, cultures, textures and collaborations, she’s always open to discoveries. A mainstay of the new London Jazz scene, Rosie started the trombone at age 11. She played with Tomorrow Warriors which was instrumental in Rosie’s development as a musician and is still involved with them these days, returning to run workshops and performing with the Nu Civilisation Orchestra. There, she met some key pillars of London’s burgeoning new jazz scene: Nubya Garcia, Joe Armon-Jones and Sheila Maurice-Grey amongst others. Like them, she went to Trinity College of Music and started jamming at the Steez night. From that period was also born Nérija, a 7-piece collective newly signed to Domino Records that she’s part of. In addition to that, Rosie is involved with a variety of artists. From collaborating with jazz collectives Where Pathways Meet and Steam Down, to recording with Jitwam and Hollie Cooke, she has also recently performed with notable artists Soweto Kinch, Jason Yarde, Sampa The Great and Gaika.
In 2015, following her explorative nature, she got really interested in Indian Classical Music for its soundscape and meditative feeling. Influenced by spiritual jazz forebears such as Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, she went on a trip to North India and began an exploration of the parallel musical paths of jazz and Indian ragas.
After exploring the eclectic music scenes of London, New York and the Himalayas, Rosie put together a group of her own. The group, lead by strong melodies blends the sound of trombone, violin and electronics over a bed of interlocking grooves and soundscapes. She released her first EP with this group, ‘Rosie’s 5ive’ on Jazz Re:Freshed, the release of which lead her to be listed as ‘One to watch 2019’ by The Guardian.

Samuel Eagles - Saxophone
During his 7 year career, Samuel Eagles has placed himself in many circles from Bebop to contemporary Jazz and from Afro beat to artistic alternative original music. Samuel is constantly using this wealth of experience to search for new paradigms in his own music which has earned him much critical acclaim nationally and internationally throughout almost a decade.
Born and raised in London, Samuel caught the attention of Saxophonist Mornington Lockett who saw his vast potential and therefor went on to mentor him. Gaining a place at the prestigious Junior Jazz program at The Royal Academy of Music Samuel was under the wing of Nick Smart where his early musical promise was nurtured. Later Eagles was accepted into Trinity College of Music and master Jean Toussaint went on to mentor Samuel long after graduation. In 2017 Eagles performed at The Bucharest International Jazz Festival where he and his band SPIRIT went onto win the festivals prestigious award. In the same year he also won an award in the global ‘7 Virtual Jazz Club’ competing among many heavy weight bands and musicians. Eagles’s F‐IRE debut album ‘Next Beginning’ was released in 2014 and his 2nd album, released in 2017 on Whirlwind Records were both received with rave reviews. Gaining over 430K streams on Spotify, this enabled Samuel to begin touring internationally in Europe. Samuel now surrounds himself with some of the UK’s torch bearer’s such as Sam Leak, David Hamblett, Ralph Wyld, Ant Law, Max Luthert, Daniel Casimer and many more. Samuel plans to release his next album in 2020.

Sarathy Korwar - Drums , Tabla, Percussion
Born in the US, Sarathy Korwar grew up in Ahmedabad and Chennai in India. He began playing tabla aged 10, but was also drawn to the American music that he heard on the radio and leaking through the doorway of his local jazz music shop. He moved to London where he trained as a classical tabla player under the guidance of Sanju Sahai at SOAS, focusing on the adaptation of Indian classical rhythmic material to non-Indian percussion instruments.
Korwar has since established himself as one of the most original and compelling voices in the UK jazz scene, leading the UPAJ Collective - a loose band of South Asian jazz and Indian classical musicians brought together through a love of collaboration and improvisation who set up a residency at the Jazz Café in London. Korwar has collaborated with the likes of Shabaka Hutchings, clarinettist Arun Ghosh and producer Hieroglyphic Being, as well as groups Penya and Ill Considered. He has toured with Kamasi Washington, Yussef Kamaal and Moses Boyd.
Korwar’s daring debut album, Day To Day, recorded with the support of the Steve Reid Foundation, was released by Ninja Tune in 2016. The album fused traditional folk music recorded with the Sidi community in India with contemporary jazz and electronics.
In November 2018, Gearbox Records released a triple vinyl live album by Sarathy Korwar and UPAJ Collective. My East Is Your West, performed and recorded at a sold out Church of Sound show, a critically-acclaimed take on the cultural appropriation of ‘spiritual’ Indo-jazz, the three hour show was recorded following a single 45-minute rehearsal. The resulting album was awarded The Guardian’s Contemporary Album of the Month.
Korwar released his second studio album, More Arriving, through The Leaf Label in July 2019, an honest reflection of Korwar’s experience of being an Indian in Britain, and as such is a leap forward from his previous releases, incorporating rappers from Mumbai and New Delhi, spoken word and his own Indian classical and jazz performances.

Jazz Coalition Commission Fund Awardees Announced.

Friday, May 22, 2020

The first round of Jazz Coalition Commission Fund recipients has been announced with a total of fifty one commissions to artists. Press release, including full list of recipients, attached.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz Coalition Commission Fund Awardees Announced;

FIRST ROUND OF JAZZ COALITION COMMISSION FUND GRANTEES ANNOUNCED!

Read about Jazz Coalition at WBGO
https://www.wbgo.org/post/jazz-coalition-announces-first-wave-awardees-its-commission-fund#stream/0

We are thrilled to announce the first round of Jazz Coalition Commission Fund recipients here. Because of your support we are able to award 51 commissions to the following deserving artists. Our esteemed jury of peers and colleagues voted and with a tie, we ended up at 51 total grantees.

BUT we are not done, and we aim to continue to raise more money to fully fund another round of commissions. Please continue to help us spread the word and increase our impact. Download your Membership assets and also find the group PSA featuring supportive artists below. Please share on your socials far and wide. With your support, together we will spark new creativity!

LIST OF GRANTEES

Aaron Myers
Aaron Parks
Alexa Tarantino
Alfredo Colon
Amir ElSaffar
Amirtha Kidambi
Anthony Wilson
Ashley Henry
Ben Lamar Gay
Ben Williams
Bertha Hope
Brandee Younger
Brandon Ross
Camila Meza
Camille Thurman
Chris Morrissey
Christian Sands
Christine Jensen
David Torkanowsky
Dayme Arocena
DJ Logic
Dred Scott
Elio Villafranca
Greg Ward
Herlin Riley
Jaimie Branch
James Brandon Lewis
James Carter
Jazzmeia Horn
Joel Ross
John Santos
Johnathan Blake
Jon Cowherd
Jon Hassell
Kate Gentile
Lakecia Benjamin
Linda May Han Oh
Melissa Aldana
Mino Cinélu
Monnette Sudler
Nduduzo Makhathini
Orrin Evans
Rio Sakairi
Roy Nathanson
Sara Serpa
Shabaka Hutchings
Tarus Mateen
Tim Berne
Vincent Herring
Wallace Roney Jr.
Wayne Horvitz

Together we can continue to grow the Commission Fund and impact more jazz musicians worldwide – so please help us spread the word by sharing on your channels and social media.

Enjoy this Public Service Announcement video from some of our biggest supporters including John Scofield, Dianne Reeve, Chucho Valdes, Terri Lyne Carrington, Arturo O’Farrill, Luciana Souza and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrUF5aMzsSY

https://www.jazzcoalition.org/

140 UK Music Venues Removed from ‘Critical’ List ………For Now.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The success of the Music Venue Trust's recently launched "Save Our Venues" campaign has seen 140 venues removed from the 'Critical' list. Press release attached.

PRESS RELEASE

#saveourvenues Campaign Sees 140 UK Music Venues Removed from ‘Critical’ List ………For Now.

London, May 19th 2020 – Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced that the #saveourvenues campaign launched three weeks ago today has now resulted in 140 grassroots music venues being removed from its ‘critical’ list.

#saveourvenues, which has so far raised over £1.5m in donations, was initiated by MVT in response to the continued economic threat to over 500 grassroots music venues throughout the UK.

As a result of donations from music fans, music industry companies and other organisations, alongside important interventions from public bodies such as The London Mayor’s Office, Creative Wales and Arts Council England 140 grassroots music venues are now protected from imminent closure. The work done by the MVT crisis intervention team in providing legal and planning advice, liaising with landlords and helping venues navigate through the complex bureaucratic process to access help, has also been instrumental during this campaign.

The artist community are supporting the campaign with donations and live events and a number of virtual festivals have also taken place or are scheduled, including Independent Music News Lockdown, Vive Le Rockdown, Colston Hall Presents and Liverpool Digital Music Festival. Over 150 events have already taken place with many more lined up in the coming weeks.

However, this activity does not mean that any these 140 venues are protected permanently and MVT are calling for more music industry donations and governmental intervention to help secure their long-term future, particularly around the issue of the rent relief for grassroots music venue tenants.

Mark Davyd, founder and CEO of MVT said, “The fact we have managed to remove 140 grassroots music venues off of our critical list in the last three weeks is, of course, a cause for celebration but we are not complacent as this is only a relatively short-term fix. Whilst the immediate threat of closure for these venues has been halted they are still under real threat in the coming months as are over 400 others. This is a good start and we can’t emphasise how grateful we are to those music fans, music industry companies and public organisations who have supported the #saveourvenues campaign so far, but we cannot relax as we still have a mountain to climb to secure the long-term future of this sector. We still desperately need more music industry companies to step up and help with donations alongside real action from government specifically around rent relief, more financial help and clearer guidance.”

For more information on the #saveourvenues campaign please visit: http://www.saveourvenues.co.uk

We work to gain recognition of the essential role these venues fulfil, not only for artist development but also for the cultural and music industries, the economy and local communities. We aim to preserve and improve venues, making them more efficient and improving the experience for performers and audiences. Long-term we plan to acquire the freeholds of as many of these vital venues as possible.

Music Venue Trust is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, registration no: 1159846.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 17/05/2020.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on May 17, which is transmitted by a number of UK and international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist;

First broadcast on May 17th and now available at any time at mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Dinosaur - To the Earth (Edition)

Antti Lötjönen Quintet East - ALQE (We Jazz Records)

Chip Wickham - Blue to Red (Lovemonk)

Maisha & Gary Bartz - Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions (Brownswood)

Gary Husband & Markus Reuter- Music of our time (Moonjune)

Peter Rosendal - Trickster (Stunt Records)

Dinosaur - To the Earth (Edition)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time;

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

https://satokofujii.com/wp_site/

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Satoko Fujii receives 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Pianist and composer Satoko Fujii has received a 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music. Press release attached, including details of other award winners.

We have received the following press release;

Acclaimed pianist and composer Satoko Fujii receives
2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music

The pioneering avant-garde artist is among a dozen honorees

One of the most original pianists in free jazz.” – Steve Greenlee, Boston Globe

“An improviser of rumbling intensity and generous restraint.” –Giovanni Russonello, New York Times

“The Ellington of free jazz.” – Cadence Magazine

Internationally acclaimed improvisor Satoko Fujii is one of a dozen members of the international improvised music community to be honored with a 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music from The Horse with No Name.

“I am beyond thrilled and grateful to be recognized with so many other remarkable creative musicians. It means so much to receive this acknowledgement,” says Fujii, a tireless, prolific and versatile pianist, composer and accordionist.

Other 2020 recipients are Raymond Boni, Peter Brotzmann, John Edwards, Mats Gustaffson, Okkyung Lee, Arto Lindsay, Paul Lytton, Sam Newsome, Alexander von Schlippenbach, LaDonna Smith, and Nate Wooley. These respected members of the international improvised music community “represent a spectrum of ages and diverse backgrounds, have been chosen for their artistic intelligence, independence, and integrity,” says John Corbett of Corbett vs. Dempsey.

This year, in a period of unprecedented turbulence and challenge, the Instant Award in improvised Music is conferred on twelve respected members of the international improvised music community. These individuals, who represent a spectrum of ages and diverse backgrounds, have been chosen for their artistic intelligence, independence, and integrity.”

Underwritten by an anonymous patron and musical devotee, the Instant Award in Improvised Music is presented to outstanding improvisors. Previous Instant Award recipients are Susan Alcorn, Joe McPhee, Ikue Mori, and Evan Parker. Corbett vs. Dempsey is proud to be the official mouthpiece for the Horse With No Name.

For information visit https://www.corbettvsdempsey.com/2020/05/01/instant-award-improvised-music-2020-recipients/.

Critics and fans alike hail Satoko Fujii as one of the most original voices in jazz today. She’s “a virtuoso piano improviser, an original composer and a bandleader who gets the best collaborators to deliver,” says John Fordham in The Guardian. In concert and on more than 80 albums as a leader or co-leader, she synthesizes jazz, contemporary classical, avant-rock, and folk music into an innovative style instantly recognizable as hers alone. A prolific bandleader and recording artist, she celebrated her 60th birthday in 2018 by releasing one album a month from bands old and new, from solo to large ensemble. Franz A. Matzner in All About Jazz likened the twelve albums to “an ecosystem of independently thriving organisms linked by the shared soil of Fujii’s artistic heritage and shaped by the forces of her creativity.”

Over the years, Fujii has led some of the most consistently creative ensembles in modern improvised music, including her trio with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black and an electrifying avant-rock quartet featuring drummer Tatsuya Yoshida of The Ruins. Her ongoing duet project with husband Natsuki Tamura released their sixth recording, Kisaragi, in 2017. “The duo’s commitment to producing new sounds based on fresh ideas is second only to their musicianship,” says Karl Ackermann in All About Jazz. Aspiration, a CD by an ad hoc quartet featuring Wadada Leo Smith, Tamura, and Ikue Mori, was released in 2017 to wide acclaim. “Four musicians who regularly aspire for greater heights with each venture reach the summit together on Aspiration,” writes S. Victor Aaron in Something Else. As the leader of no less than five orchestras in the United States, Germany, and Japan (two of which, Berlin and Tokyo, released new CDs in 2018), Fujii has also established herself as one of the world’s leading composers for large jazz ensembles. Recent and forthcoming projects include a 2019 solo album, a duo recording with vibraphonist Taiko Saito, and a new release by Fujii ensemble Kaze featuring Ikue Mori.

Announcing JAZZ COALITION; Formed By Jazz Industry Professionals to Commission Artists During Lockdown.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Jazz Coalition is a diverse network of jazz industry professionals, artists & supporters dedicated to raising funds and commissioning artists to create new work in response to these challenging times

We have received the following press release;

Announcing JAZZ COALITION; Formed By Jazz Industry Professionals to Commission Artists During Lockdown

http://www.jazzcoalition.org

GLOBAL JAZZ COMMUNITY UNITES TO LAUNCH JAZZ COALITION - A COLLECTIVE OF INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, MUSICIANS, ADVOCATES & FANS CONTRIBUTING TO A COMMISSION FUND SUPPORTING ARTISTS TO CREATE NEW WORK

Jazz Industry Veterans Brice Rosenbloom (NYC Winter Jazzfest),

Gail Boyd (Gail Boyd Artist Management),

Danny Melnick (Absolutely Live Productions)

Join Forces to Form Jazz Coalition

Musicians today face economic ruin unless organizations intervene providing resources and hope. Given the current reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, the timeline of resuming live performances worldwide is uncertain. There is an immediate need to keep artists in the global jazz community actively creating and compensated for their work.

For this reason, professionals in the jazz field, spearheaded by Brice Rosenbloom, founder of NYC Winter Jazzfest, Gail Boyd, an entertainment lawyer and artist manager at Gail Boyd Artist Management, and Danny Melnick of Absolutely Live Entertainment, a veteran concert and festival promoter, have aligned to launch Jazz Coalition.

Jazz Coalition is a diverse network of jazz industry professionals, artists, and supporters dedicated to raising funds and commissioning artists to create new work in response to these challenging times.

“With daunting uncertainty now within the live music industry and specifically in jazz,” says Rosenbloom, “we realize the need to selflessly pivot and unite the jazz community in an immediate effort to commission musicians and nurture their creativity,” adds Rosenbloom. “These commissions will create a new canon of work reflecting our collective resilience.”

“Jazz musicians have always composed music to reflect the times we are living in,” Boyd adds. “The idea that musicians will receive a grant to compose music at this time serves the purpose of documenting where they are, what they are thinking, and how they are coping at this very crucial time in our history. I am proud to be a part of the team that is helping to make that happen.”

Melnick notes a mantra of NEA Jazz Master Todd Barkan: “Take care of the music and the music will take care of you.” Melnick adds, “With that spirit at heart, we have come together during this unprecedented time to start a global movement in support of, and encouragement for, the jazz artists who create beautiful and timeless music. We know this isn’t a panacea but we hope to uplift as many musicians and listeners as possible.”

Many jazz musicians are also joining Jazz Coalition to support their colleagues in need. “As you know, and as you can probably testify, we are living in some very challenging times. And these challenging times have affected our jazz community,” remarks GRAMMY and TONY award winner and NEA Jazz Master, Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Additionally prominent jazz educators and musicians have donated their own funds already to Jazz Coalition. Founder of Berklee College of Music’s Institute For Jazz and Gender Justice, and 3x GRAMMY-winning drummer, composer and producer Terri Lyne Carrington adds, “We’re all struggling one way or another during this time of social distancing, especially the arts community. It is crucial that artists are able to remain creative and be compensated.” University of Pittsburgh Director of Jazz Studies, flutist and composer Nicole Mitchell continues, “I know that the independent musicians are some of the hardest hit by the Coronavirus because they can’t work, they can’t perform, they can’t help bring people together right now.“

Encouraging others to support the commission fund, saxophonist and GRAMMY-winner and 14-time nominee Joe Lovano values the process “to create new works for the future in this time of need and renewal.” Meanwhile South African pianist, composer and healer Nduduzo Makhathini deeply expresses the artistic responsibility. “This is indeed a difficult time. But also an interesting time. It is a moment to reflect. It is a moment to think about new innovations. It is also a moment to think about new sonic imaginings. More than ever artists’ creation requires a deeper level of deliberateness.“

Major artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Scofield and Joshua Redman have contributed to Jazz Coalition and asked others to donate as well.

How It Works;

Individuals and industry members may support artists by becoming Jazz Coalition members. Membership is possible by registering a minimum contribution of $100. Individuals, if they are able, are encouraged to give more to maximize overall impact, and increase the number of commissioned artists.

Coalition members have the privilege of nominating artists to be considered as recipients of the Commission Fund. Selected from the list of nominees through a jury process, grantees will each receive $1000 to commission new work for existing or new ensembles. Artists will premiere their work at Jazz Coalition partner venues, when live concert assembly restrictions are eventually lifted.

Jazz Coalition members are encouraged to recruit fellow colleagues and potential supporters to join the team and help grow the Commission Fund further. All contributions will be collected by the 501(c)(3) organization Search & Restore, and are fully tax deductible.

Jazz Coalition is currently jurying the inaugural 50 commission recipients which will be awarded this week. As more money is raised additional commissions will be awarded.

About Jazz Coalition Commission Fund;

A collective of industry professionals, musicians, advocates and fans, Jazz Coalition identifies needs affecting the jazz and improvised music community, and strategizes response solutions and opportunities. With an initial silent funding goal of $50,000, deserving recipients will receive $1,000 micro-grants through a nomination and jury selection process among coalition members.

The funding pool will have a secondary stage with a public fundraising campaign and additional outreach to grow the fund and increase the number of grantees. Recipients will share their works-in-progress via livestream events, which will be promoted through the Jazz Coalition website, our social media as well as partner email lists, websites and social media. Artists will eventually premiere their commissioned works at partner venues when public assembly is safe again.

Coalition members may support the Commission Fund by contributing to the fund directly and by attracting new donors. Coalition members will participate in the nomination and juried selection process of recipients.

Coalition Members To Date

Aaron Goldberg, musician

Aaron Johnson, Knitting Factory Management

Adam Schatz, Search & Restore

Alexander Threadgold

Amy Pearce, Serious Productions

Andreas Scherrer, Company of Heaven

Ann Braithwaite, Braithwaite & Katz Communications

Anna Becker, On Stage At Kingsborough

Anna Sala, AMS Artists

Ariana Hellerman, Downtown Brooklyn Partnerships

Arturo O’Farrill, Afro Latin Jazz Alliance

Ashley Kahn, Journalist/Educator/Author

Bari Koral, Artist/Educator

Bill Bragin, NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center

Bonnie Wright, Fresh Sound Series

Branford Marsalis, musician

Brendan Rawson, musician

Bria Skonberg, musician

Brice Rosenbloom, Winter Jazzfest

Carine Zuber, Moods (Switzerland)

Chad Fowler, musician

Chris Mees, B Natural Agency

Chris Weller, Big Fish Booking

Cynthia Herbst, American International Artists, Inc.

Dahlia Ambach Caplin, Verve Music Group

Dan Atkinson, Western Jazz Presenters Network

Dan Tepfer, musician

Danny Melnick, Absolutely Live Entertainment

Darlene Chan, Playboy Jazz Festival

Dave Willard, musician

David Bither, Nonesuch Records

Dee Dee Bridgewater, musician

Donna Fritchey, Allentown Symphony

Ed Arrendell, The Management Ark

Ed Trefzger, Jazz Week

Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall

Enzo Capua, Umbria Jazz

Eric Oberstein, artist manager/producer

Erika Elliott, City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage & Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

Esperanza Spalding, musician

Fabian Almazan, musician, Biophilia Records

Fleurine, musician

Frank Malfitano, Syracuse Jazz Festival

Gail Boyd, Gail Boyd Artist Management

Gary Moffie, musician

Glenn Siegel, Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares

Greg Williamson, UpperWest Music Group

Hans Wendl, artist manager and record producer

Howard Mandel, Jazz Journalists Association

Ina Dittke, artist manager and booking agent

Isabel Soffer, Live Sounds

Jack Walsh, BRIC Arts

James Krents, Verve Music Group/Impulse Records

Jan Ole Otnæs, Nasjonal Jazzscene (Norway)

Jana Herzen, musician, Motema Music

Janis Burley Wilson, August Wilson Center

Jason Olaine, Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jazz Foundation of America

Jean-Noël Ginibre, Loop Productions

Jill Davidson, The Cabot

Jill Sternheimer, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Jim Fahey, Symphony Center Presents Jazz

Joan Belgrave, musician

Joe Lovano, musician

Joe Pignato, Bright Dog Red

Joel Chriss, J. Chriss & Co.

John Comerford, Paradigm Studio

John Gilbreath, Earshot Jazz

John Murph, Journalist/DJ

John Newcott, WBGO-FM

John Nugent, Rochester International Jazz Festival

Jonas Herbsman, Shukat Arrow Hafer Weber Herbsman, LLP

Josh Feigenbaum, music producer

Josh Jackson WRTI-FM

Josh Kohn, Creative Alliance

Joshua Redman, musician

Julie Lokin New Audiences

Karen Kennedy 24/Seven Artist Development

Ken Druker, Verve Music Group

Kris Davis, musician, Pyroclastic Records

Larry Buchas, supporter

Laura Quinlan, Rhythm Foundation

Lee Mergner, JazzTimes

Lois Gilbert, JazzCorner

Louis Marks, Ropeadope, Renew Music

Luciana Souza, musician

Lukas Frei, Cirquid Music

Lydia Liebman, Lydia Liebman Promotions

Marc Kaplan, SubCulture

Mark Christman, Ars Nova Workshop

Mark Jacobson, UMS/University of Michigan

Mark Rini, Groov Marketing & Consulting

Mark Rochon, musician

Marty Ashby, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild

Matt Merewitz, Fully Altered Media

Maurice Bernstein, Giant Step

Maurice Montoya, Maurice Montoya Artists

Maurin Auxéméry, Montreal Jazz Festival

Meghan Stabile, Revive Music

Meshell Ndegeocello, musician

Michael Dorf, City Winery

Michael Orlove, Rebeca Rodriguez Family

Michele Amar, France Rocks

Mike Bindraban, Good Music Company

Mike Epstein, Epstein & Co

Myles Weinstein, Unlimited Myles

Nels Cline, musician

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Nick Lewis, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (UK)

Nicole Mitchell, musician

Pascal Pilorget, Giant Steps

Paul Siegel, Rolling Fork Music

Peter Schulze, Sendesaal Bremen

Peter Shapiro, Dayglo Ventures

Rachel Z Hakim, musician

Rainbow Robert, Vancouver Jazz Festival

Reiner Michalke, Stadgarten, Monheim-Triennale

Reza Ackbaraly, Qwest TV

Robin Burgess, Burgess Management

Ron Ozer, Arden Concert Gild

Rudresh Mahanthappa, musician

San Jose Jazz

Sara Donnelly, South Arts

Sarah Geledi, Jazz Night in America

Sarah Humphries, ECM Records

Scott McNiece, International Anthem

Scott Southard, IMN Agency

Sébastien Vidal, TSF Jazz

Seth Abramson, Jazz Standard, Rabbit Moon Productions

Seth Rosner, Pi Recordings

Simon Rentner, WBGO

Steve Frumkin, JWP Agency

Steve Milliken, JusticeAid

Sue Auclair, Sue Auclair Promotions

Sunny Sumter, DC Jazz Festival

Susan Brink, journalist

Ted Kurland,The Kurland Agency

Terri Lyne Carrington, Berklee College of Music Instituate for Jazz and Gender Justice

Thomas Rome, artist manager

Thomas Vermynck, J.A.W Family

Toby Tumarkin, IMG Artists

Todd Barkan, Keystone Korner Baltimore

Todd Walker, Outermost Agency

Tom Gaughan

Tom Windish, Paradigm Agency

Tony Zambito, JazzBuffalo

Vijay Iyer, musician

To join please visit;
http://www.jazzcoalition.org

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz On The Radio’ playlist, 10/05/2020.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on May 10th, which is transmitted by a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

European Jazz Hour 18 – May 10th

New Releases

Chris Biscoe - Wobbly Rail 5 (Bandcamp – 50% for http://www.refuge.org.uk)

Alexander Hawkins/Tomeka Reid - Shards & Constellations (Intakt)

Marie Kruttli - The kind of Happy One (QFTF)

inDOLPHYlity - Out to punch (ARFI)

Two of the many bands I had been looking forward to seeing at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival last weekend….. Roll on 2021

Shake Stew

The Rite of Trio

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time;

Weekly:
http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.alecdankworth.com

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Emily Dankworth, Alec Dankworth and Demi Garcia - new video, “Calico Skies”.

Friday, May 08, 2020

"Calico Skies" by Paul McCartney, featuring Emily Dankworth, Alec Dankworth and Demi Garcia, recorded 'under lockdown'. Links to video attached.

Alec Dankworth writes;

Tamborine ~ Alec Dankworth Newsletter

Hi there,
Its been a while since the last newsletter.

I hope you might like to watch the latest video produced ‘under lockdown’.
Calico Skies by Paul McCartney, featuring Emily Dankworth, Alec Dankworth and Demi Garcia.

Emily’s YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/qjja7jZX77M

Alec’’s YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqsDYNAwjobUnZ70dGn4JXw

Keep safe,
Alec

Justin Adams & Mauro Durante, new online content and rescheduled UK tour.

Thursday, May 07, 2020

The world music duo of Justin Adams & Mauro Durante have rescheduled their UK tour for November 2020. In the meantime new online content has been released for the enjoyment of audiences.

Serious have forwarded the following press release;

JUSTIN ADAMS & MAURO DURANTE

Rescheduled from May, we welcome this new collaboration on tour this November. All purchased tickets remain valid

Tuesday 17 November | MANCHESTER Band on the Wall
Wednesday 18 November | BASINGSTOKE Anvil
Sunday 22 November | LONDON Purcell Room
Monday 23 November | BRISTOL The Louisiana

Tickets from serious.org.uk/JustinAndMauro

Watch our film about how these two master musicians met and developed their unique sound together through friendship and shared love of international music. From different musical paths; one post-punk, rock, and blues, the other from the trance of Taranta, folk, and traditional, their music builds up a frenzy of passion and elation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYIAhHHRm1E&feature=youtu.be

Justin Adams, guitarist, producer and composer, has been a creator of wonders with Robert Plant in the Sensational Space Shifters. His production on landmark albums by Tinariwen and Rachid Taha highlights his feel for North African groove, while his award-winning collaborations with Juldeh Camara linked griot tradition with raw blues spirit. His work with artists such as Jah Wobble and Sinead O’Connor was infused with the spirit of post-punk London, while his solo guitar album Ribbons was cited by Songlines magazine among the top 50 albums of the past decade.

This new collaboration with Mauro Durante stems from a concert led by Ludovico Einaudi, the legendary Notte de Taranta in Puglia, where the two first played together, recognising kindred spirits in the trance rhythms of Taranta which transcend “melancolia” or the blues. Mauro Durante toured the world for many years with Ludovico Einaudi playing violin and frame drums. He is one of the leading players in the pizzica style of Southern Italy and leads Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, who have played great festivals all over the world. Last year they were featured in their own concert at the BBC Proms (where Justin Adams guested with them) and they won Best Group in the Songlines Music Awards.

They have also released new music separately during lockdown:

Justin Adams presents his contemplative response to current times in this thoughtful music video for new track ‘Endless Ocean’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G254VokXc08&feature=youtu.be

Mauro Durante’s beautiful video of unity, WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME DANCE, was directed by Gabriele Surdo and has garnered over 400k views online and rising. It has also been projected on buildings around the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MxRG0Jpdak&feature=youtu.be
https://www.facebook.com/wereallinthesamedance/

In Southern Italy, music and dance were once used to exorcise the poison of the Taranta spider. Today, in the midst of a global emergency, music comes out of the walls of a house in Puglia. 112 dancers film themselves performing a dance with their smartphones. In their rooms, houses, on rooftops, balconies, on fire escapes… Everywhere. Everybody on the same music. We’re all in the same dance.

‘Quarantine and seclusion were getting overwhelming. I was feeling sad and scared, then I grabbed my violin, wrote a piece and got the idea of making a video out of it, involving dancers from different parts of the world who would film themselves from their own quarantine.

After speaking to my wife Silvia, a dancer, and my friend Gabriele Surdo, one of the most talented film directors I know, we started almost feverishly, daydreaming and traveling in thought. Hundreds of people responded to our appeal - friends, colleagues and people completely unknown to us. People who shared their time, their distant bodies, moving in unison.

We are excited, moved. We are not alone’ (Mauro Durante)

For information on all Serious shows please go to http://www.serious.org.uk

Barbican announces new digital content, pays tribute to NHS, and appoints interim Artistic Director.

Thursday, May 07, 2020

The Barbican has made more free digital content available, including a tribute to the late drummer and founding father of Afrobeat, Tony Allen. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Barbican announces new digital content, pays tribute to the NHS and appoints interim Artistic Director

The Barbican today announces new digital content available for everyone to read, watch and listen to for free. All content is available at barbican.org.uk/readwatchlisten and via the Barbican’s social channels.

Highlights include:

A Tony Allen playlist, curated by Strut Records in tribute to the legendary Afrobeat drummer, who last appeared at the Barbican in 2019

Complicité’s award-winning production of The Encounter (2015), filmed at the Barbican, accompanied by a live discussion event and public Q&A with Simon McBurney

A specially recommissioned and recorded conversation between Karen Knorr and Anna Fox, two of the artists featured in Masculinities: Liberation through Photography (2020) in the Art Gallery

Family favourites chosen by Barbican Cinema curator Susie Evans to keep the over 5s entertained during lockdown

Inspired by the Barbican’s international arts programme, the curated mix of podcasts, playlists, films, videos, talks and articles enables audiences to continue to enjoy the Centre’s rich and varied programme.

Podcasts can be accessed from the Read, Watch & Listen page or by subscribing to the Nothing Concrete podcast via Acast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

While the artistic programme moves online, the entrance to the Centre on Silk Street now displays a message of thanks to the NHS (download the image here), and on Thursdays the Conservatory will be illuminated in blue to coincide with the weekly nationwide applause for NHS workers and carers.

Meanwhile, the Barbican has recently appointed Leonora Thomson as interim Artistic Director, following Louise Jeffreys’ departure from the role in April this year. Leo first joined the Barbican in 2008 as Head of Communications, and in 2010 became Director of Audiences and Development. In 2015 she joined Welsh National Opera as Managing Director, where she worked until last year.

Leo Thomson, interim Artistic Director, Barbican said:
“We’re really pleased that people are enjoying the programming we’re curating for them on our Read, Watch & Listen page. We’re presenting a range of content that showcases the uniqueness of the Barbican’s artistic offer, exploring the times we’re living through but also bringing inspiration and joy. I’m thrilled to be working at this incredible institution. Although it’s strange not being in the building, it’s still an honour to help the organisation through this difficult period.”

Digital highlights

Alongside previously announced online highlights including a Nothing Concrete podcast series with Stephen Fry – the second episode of which will be available on Wednesday 13 May, Ballet Black’s streaming of Ingoma (2019), two short films commissioned for the cancelled The Lark Ascending: People, Music, Landscape concert, a live discussion between filmmaker Kitty Green, Birds Eye View director Mia Bays and Barbican curator Sonia Zadurian about The Assistant, and a Q&A with Barbican Visual Arts Curator Alona Pardo about the exhibition Masculinities: Liberation through Photography, this week’s new digital content includes:

Music

Celebrating Tony Allen
Following the sad news of legendary Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen’s death on 30 April 2020, the Barbican’s Spotify channel now hosts a playlist: Barbican Profile: Tony Allen, as a tribute. A career retrospective, this playlist is curated by Strut Records and covers the full breadth of music performed by Tony Allen, beginning with his work with Fela Kuti and ending with his final track with Gorillaz.
Tony Allen last performed at the Barbican on 21 February 2019 in a collaborative concert alongside producer and composer Jeff Mills and he celebrated his 70th birthday with a special concert at the centre in 2010. Bryn Ormrod, Creative Producer at the Barbican said: “I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of legendary Tony Allen. Tony was a beautiful person with a unique talent and a wicked sense of humour, it was easy to feel affinity with him. His drumming changed music forever; a pioneer of Afrobeat along with Fela, he also had a deep love of jazz, to which he returned with a recent release on Blue Note. We were honoured to have him grace the Barbican stage on many occasions - most recently with Jeff Mills. He leaves an indelible, joyful imprint and legacy in our hearts, minds and ears.”
The playlist is compiled by Quinton Scott at Strut. The label specialises in archive compilations ranging from African, Caribbean and Latin styles to underground disco and post-punk and has also released new studio projects by Mulatu Astatke, Pat Thomas, Seun Kuti, Ebo Taylor and more.

Cinema

Curators’ Picks

This week’s Cinema Curators’ Picks come from Susie Evans, as she suggests family favourites to keep the over 5s entertained during lockdown. Susie is curator of films and workshops for the Barbican’s hugely popular Saturday morning Family Film Club and the annual Family Film Weekender.

For children (and adults) Buster Keaton’s slapstick never loses its appeal. Susie recommends three shorts: One Week (USA 1920), The Scarecrow (USA 1920) and The Haunted House (USA 1921). Another Family Film Club perennial favourite for the whole family is Kirikou and the Sorceress (France/ Belgium 1998, Dir Michel Ocelot) (U), a captivating animation based on traditional west African folk tales.

Also on her list of must-sees is the ever-popular Moomins and the Comet Chase (Finland 2010, Dir Maria Lindberg) (U), which follows the lovable Tove Jansson characters on further adventures; Alfonso Cuarón’s beautifully shot A Little Princess, (UK 1995) (U), about a young girl’s tribulations at boarding school; and Big Bad Fox and Other Tales (France/ Belgium 2017, Dir Patrick Imbert) (U), a quirky trio of stories following the trials of a put upon fox and his rivalry with the local chickens. Susie Evans’ picks will be available on the Barbican’s Read, Watch & Listen page.

Please note that subscription fees apply for selected streaming platforms.

Theatre and Dance

The Encounter available to stream
For one week, from Friday 15 – Friday 22 May, Complicité’s award-winning production of The Encounter (2015), co-produced with and filmed at the Barbican, is available to stream here. Directed and performed by Simon McBurney, it will be accompanied by a live discussion event and public Q&A on Wednesday 20 May at 7.30pm. Audiences can register for the event at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xx91TL0fTuSMyesYwDVKXg.

Cheek by Jowl podcast
Every Friday, Cheek by Jowl’s Artistic Directors Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod release a new podcast, in conversation with the host Lucie Dawkins. Insights into theatre, acting, directing and life are discussed around a particular theme each week. The podcast is available here.

Visual Arts

Karen Knorr and Anna Fox in conversation
On Tuesday 12 May, the Barbican releases a recording of In Conversation: Karen Knorr and Anna Fox on Mixcloud. Originally part of the public programme for Masculinities: Liberation through Photography (2020), and cancelled due to the temporary closure of the Centre, this talk has been specially recommissioned and recorded. The artists, both featured in the exhibition, discuss their practise, career experiences and the show.

Revisiting Strange and Familiar: Britain as Revealed by International Photographers (2016)
Every Thursday from 14 May the Barbican Instagram channel @barbicancentre hosts #ThrowbackThursday, looking back into the archives at some of the standout exhibitions of the last 15 years. This week focuses on Strange and Familiar: Britain as Revealed by International Photographers (2016) which was curated by iconic British photographer Martin Parr.

Exploring the archive
Past Barbican Art Gallery exhibitions can be experienced via the Google Arts & Culture platform. Virtual walk-throughs of The Vulgar: Fashion Redefined (2016), The Japanese House: Architecture and Life after 1945 (2017) and Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins (2018), as well as long-reads on a range of exhibitions and topics including the Lee Krasner: Living Colour (2019) show, are available.

BARBICAN TEMPORARY CLOSURE INFORMATION
The Barbican is temporarily closed until further notice due to UK Government advice on Coronavirus/Covid-19. All events taking place until Tuesday 30 June 2020 have now been cancelled or postponed. Everyone who has booked a ticket for a Barbican event during this period is eligible for a full refund. Information on how to claim this is published here. Anyone who has tickets up until the end of June has been contacted by the Box Office.
The Barbican is encouraging audiences to make a donation so it can keep investing in the artists and organisations with whom it works. Audiences are also being asked to consider donating to the Centre’s Resident and Associate companies to support them through these difficult times.

The Barbican is home to Resident Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra; Associate Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra; Associate Ensembles the Academy of Ancient Music and Britten Sinfonia, Associate Producer Serious, and Artistic Partner Create. Our Artistic Associates include Boy Blue, Cheek by Jowl, Deborah Warner, Drum Works and Michael Clark Company. The Los Angeles Philharmonic are the Barbican’s International Orchestral Partner, the Australian Chamber Orchestra are International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra are International Associate Ensemble.

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Public information

http://www.barbican.org.uk

Melody Gardot calls out to musicians to join her remotely on her new charity single ‘From Paris With Love’.

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Melody Gardot has put a call out to musicians across the globe to perform in place of a standard orchestra on her new charity single.Press release att.

We have received the following press release;

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SINGER
MELODY GARDOT
CALLS OUT TO MUSICIANS AROUND THE WORLD TO JOIN HER, REMOTELY, ON NEW SINGLE
‘FROM PARIS WITH LOVE’

WATCH A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM MELODY ON INSTAGRAM HERE https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_keL0CKv-4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

On International Jazz Day, the world-renowned jazz singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Melody Gardot, put a call out to musicians across the globe to perform in place of a standard orchestra on her eagerly-awaited new single – entitled ‘From Paris With Love’ via Decca Records to benefit healthcare workers and other musicians.

Like many, amidst the constraints of this pandemic, Gardot has been forced to put the recording of her newest studio album on hold. The situation has inspired her to launch a personal initiative dedicated to musicians from around the world who are also currently confined to their homes. The principle is simple: bring together an orchestra of strings and wind instruments who are currently unable to work and pay them as if they were in the studio together.

“There are so many magnificent artists and musicians on the planet who are not able to live their art or exercise their profession right now. I am at home in Paris waiting like everyone else. I realised we can try to do something beautiful all together and come out “virtually” from our confines to continue producing. I hope this project will give love and hope” explains the singer, who is waiving her profit on the track to support the charity Protégé Ton Soignant (see below for details).

Musicians apply via http://www.melodygardot.com. They will be sent musical charts, backing tracks and instructions with which to record and film themselves performing the piece at home.

Individual parts for the final recording will be chosen from submissions by Melody and her long-time collaborators, multi-Grammy winning producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeleine Peyroux), multi-Grammy winning conductor, arranger and composer Vince Mendoza (Bjork, Robbie Williams, Elvis Costello) and legendary engineer Al Schmitt.

Any musician chosen and featured in the final recording will be paid a fee relative to a standard UK union recording wage.

This single, once assembled will also be accompanied by a video, featuring all participating musicians, performing from their homes, dotted around the globe.

‘From Paris With Love’ will be a taste of the direction Gardot is heading for her next album, details of which are to be revealed soon.

Decca and Melody are waiving their profit on this track and will pay a minimum of £0.50 to the charity Protégé Ton Soignant for each permanent download sold in the UK and 0.20p for each permanent download sold outside of the UK or for every 150 streams.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast May 3rd 2020.

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show, which is transmitted on Mixcloud and by a number of UK & international stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Peter Slavid Radio Playlist

First broadcast May 3rd - now available at mixcloud.com/ukjazz

AKA Moon - Opus 111 (Out there)

Dominic Ingham Quintet - Role Models (self)

Master Oogway - Earth & Other Worlds (RuneGrammofon)

I like to sleep - Daymare (RuneGrammofon)

Wolfgang Muthspiel - Angular Blues (ECM)

Julius Windisch Quartet - Chaos (Hout records)

Verneri Pohjola - The Dead Don’t Dream (Edition)

Martial Solal & Dave Liebman - Masters in Paris (Sunnyside)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.tangojazzquartet.com

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 7pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Tango Jazz Quartet - new videos produced for the benefit of audiences during Covid-19 lockdown.

Sunday, May 03, 2020

Gustavo Firmenich, leader of Argentina's Tango Jazz Quartet has forwarded a series of eight new videos for fans to enjoy during lockdown. Details attached.

Gustavo Firmenich writes;

I hope you are well and handling the difficult situation created by the COVID 19 pandemic in the best way. The musical family could not be oblivious to this hard blow and surely we share anxieties and uncertainties, but surely each of us also does not stand still and each one will be looking for a way for better things to come out of this crisis. Tango Jazz Quartet is working to try to contribute its little grain of sand so that the music accompanies each of those who are isolated in their homes and concerned about their present and future. So the group did not stop working and produced a series of videos with different themes from their repertoire.
And nothing better than to share them and offer them selflessly to those who have trusted us and have given us the honor of being able to play in your venue.
Below are the links to the material that the group has produced so far that, if you wish, you can show to your audience.

A FUEGO LENTO
https://youtu.be/VIAaI1pqyRg

CUANDO TU NO ESTAS
https://youtu.be/MAPW5LWu3F4

DOÑA UBENZA
https://youtu.be/w1JRMabd08c

EL ULTIMO CAFÉ
https://youtu.be/Yyf3i_t6Sl4

MILONGA DE LA ANUNCIACION
https://youtu.be/EVIGt_He2Uw

SILBANDO
https://youtu.be/Ng40jBWmosw

ZAMBA PARA OLVIDARTE
https://youtu.be/Ef2CBCcgKgc

QUEDATE EN CASA (STAY AT HOME)
https://youtu.be/cxV0xqxR_zg

Ian adds;

Thanks to Gustavo for forwarding these videos for TJQ’s fans in the UK to share. Tango Jazz Quartet have been frequent visitors to Europe and have performed on several occasions at Black Mountain Jazz in Abergavenny, which is where I got to meet Gustavo and the rest of the band. I’m delighted to share these videos with the Jazzmann audience and wish Gustavo and his bandmates well in these strange and challenging times.

Vitor Pereira introduces his new ‘Electric Chamber’ quartet with a series of new videos.

Sunday, May 03, 2020

Portuguese born, London based guitarist Vitor Pereira has formed a new quartet featuring cellist Shirley Smart. The group hopes to record later in 2020 but has already issued a series of live videos.

Vitor Pereira writes;

I just thought about taking advantage of all this time spent at home during this crazy days to introduce you to my new band. We got some videos made just before the coronavirus hit. We’re planning to record something before the end of the year, but for now hope you enjoy these videos.

Electric Chamber is the latest band of guitarist Vitor Pereira
Once upon a time, on a particularly grey and rainy London day Vitor decided to dig into his old and forgotten folders of composition sketches and unfinished songs hidden away in the depths of his laptop.
Under a folder called “chamber” he found examples of music he had written years ago as an attempt to explore using a cello in some sort of chamber jazz setting.
The fragments of music sounded incredibly interesting and the potential for creating a new sound which explores elements of chamber classical music and the freedom and looseness of jazz was evident.
Electric Chamber was born!!

Shirley Smart – cello
Alam Nathoo – tenor sax
Adam Teixeira – drums
Vitor Pereira – guitar/compositions

“What if Ravel traveled through time and made a jazz band with cello, saxophone, drums and electric guitar”
……. Well, it would probably be something quite different but it might just tempt you to check out my new chamber jazz band’s videos:

https://youtu.be/WtoOv_RU6Bg

https://youtu.be/G7wIs1DLkdw

https://youtu.be/fWe-4WH80SA

https://vitorpereira.net/index.php/electric-chamber

https://www.facebook.com/electricchamber

https://www.facebook.com/vitorpereiraquintet

https://twitter.com/varpereira

Fergus McCreadie signs to Edition Records.

Saturday, May 02, 2020

The Scottish pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie has signed to Edition for the release of his second album ‘Cairn’, due in early 2021. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release from Edition Records;

SCOTTISH PIANIST FERGUS McCREADIE SIGNS TO EDITION

SCOTTISH WUNDERKIND PIANIST FERGUS McCREADIE SIGNS TO EDITION RECORDS.

The Scottish pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie signs to Edition for the release of his second album ‘Cairn’, due in early 2021.

Fergus McCreadie on signing to Edition:

“I’m excited and honoured to be signing up to the Edition roster of artists, joining musicians who I’ve respected and looked up to for many years. Edition is known for having an eclectic and forward-looking catalogue and a strong presence on the European scene, and so to be part of the output of such great music is a real pleasure.
With my bandmates, David Bowden and Stephen Henderson, we independently released our first album ’Turas’ to a positive reception in 2018. It was an album that we were really happy with musically and pleased to put out into the world. However, our second album I believe represents a major step forward for the band, both musically and career-wise. We’ve played a number of shows since the first album was recorded and so I believe we are much stronger as a unit, moving closer to that goal of sounding like one musician. The compositions also feel more mature and a more natural fusion of the two types of music I love so much - Jazz and Scottish Folk. With the larger number of shows we’ve been playing, I believe we’re ready for a new chapter in our career as a band, and signing to Edition represents that next step. I’m excited for the opportunities that will come from being part of a prestigious enclave of musicians, and I’m really looking forward to working closely with Dave and the rest of the great team on pushing this music that we’re proud of as far as we can.”

Fergus McCreadie burst onto the national scene with his self-released debut album Turas in 2018. Rooted in a Scottish folk tradition and expressing advanced rhythmical flair, the album sparked a wake of interest from global promoters and industry, collecting Album of the Year at the Parliamentary and Scottish Jazz Awards and shortlisted for the cross-genre Scottish Album of the Year Award 2019. In 2018 he was a BBC Jazz Musician of the Year Finalist.

Fergus is a complete and well-rounded musician, a passionate communicator and consummate performer, a composer of elegant, nuanced and captivating music as well as a pianist and improviser of exceptional ability and originality.

With his trio, featuring long term cohorts David Bowden and Stephen Henderson, he encompasses a rare freshness of sound in this well-trodden format reminiscent of the originality and personality with which the likes of The Bad Plus and EST emerged almost two decades ago. In a vastly changed era since then, Fergus and his trio, with their profoundly mesmerising and compelling music, look set to evoke similar trajectories in developing a global audience. They certainly have the necessary instrumental command, communication and originality.

As founder and CEO of Edition Records, Dave Stapleton, explains: “I first became aware of Fergus from his personal, handwritten letter introducing his trio to me. Following him closely over subsequent months I was drawn by how the trio were able to command my attention as imaginative improvisers with a strong Scots voice, deeply emotive music performed with a high degree of energy and spirit. As a team at Edition, we all feel Fergus and his trio have the originality and talent to build large global audiences for this music and we can’t wait to share their journey with them”.

About Fergus McCreadie

Pianist Fergus McCreadie is one of Scotland’s most exciting young talents. Born in Jamestown, near Strathpeffer, he grew up in Dollar and graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2018.

As well as winning the prestigious Peter Whittingham Jazz Award with his trio in 2016, he has twice won the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the year under-17s Prize and is the winner of the Guy Jones Prize, the Joe Temperley Prize from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Linda Trahan Memorial Prize from St Andrews University.

His trio has featured at the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, Aberdeen and Islay jazz festivals regularly and has toured in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and Estonia. The group has also appeared at Oslo and Stockholm jazz festivals and Ronnie Scott’s International Piano Trio Festival.

Released in Spring 2018, the trio’s debut album, Turas, has been praised for “reflecting his engagement with the Scottish landscape and musical traditions while also showing a firm grasp of the jazz piano tradition” (Jazz in Europe). Turas won Album of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2019 and Best Album at the Scottish Jazz Awards 2019, following on from McCreadie’s Best Instrumentalist title at the 2018 awards.

The album was also shortlisted for the cross-genre Scottish Album of the Year Award 2019, reaching the final ten from 290-plus candidates, a rare feat for a jazz album.

McCreadie’s music is an innovative blend of jazz and Scottish traditional music. Turas (Scottish Gaelic for ‘Journey’) featured eight original compositions designed to take the listener on an auditory journey of Scotland. Depicting scenes from the Western Isles to the East Neuk of Fife, the music evoked the landscapes from which it took its inspiration.

McCreadie, who also works with drummer Graham Costello’s widely acclaimed STRATA, among other groups, performs with bassist, David Bowden, the winner of the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year title in 2017 and leader of the acclaimed, world music influenced band Mezcla, and drummer Stephen Henderson, a Jazzwise magazine One to Watch in 2018.

Fergus McCreadie is one of Scotland’s most exciting new-generation young artists

Cairn continues his stellar trajectory applying the themes and melodies of Scotland folk music to impressive jazz ability

Fergus’ debut album, Turas, won ‘Album of the Year’ at the Parliamentary and Scottish Jazz Awards 2019 and was shortlisted for the cross-genre Scottish Album of the Year Award 2019

By the age of 15, Fergus had already won the U17s Young Scottish Jazz Musician award 2013 and went on to win it a second time the next year, the only time this feat has been achieved

BBC Jazz Musician of the Year 2018 Finalist

The trio are influenced by fusing Scottish folk music and Jazz – both David Bowden and Stephen Henderson play in the Celtic band Dosca

Fergus’ piano playing influenced by heroes Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau

Fergus is part of a vibrant Glasgow scene

http://www.fergusmccreadie.co.uk

http://www.editionrecords.com

Barbican announces new digital content during temporary closure.

Saturday, May 02, 2020

The Barbican has announced new digital content available for everyone to read, watch and listen to for free. All content is available at [url=http://www.barbican.org.uk]http://www.barbican.org.uk[/url] and via the Barbican’s social channels.

We have received the following press release;

Barbican announces new digital content during temporary closure

Highlights include:

A podcast series with Stephen Fry on music, art, isolation, mental health and the healing power of art, starting on 6 May
Ballet Black’s Ingoma (2019), co-commissioned and filmed at the Barbican, available on YouTube from 3 May
Two short films commissioned for the cancelled The Lark Ascending: People, Music, Landscape concert, featuring new sound recordings and compositions by artist and musician Rob St John and readings from author Richard King
A live discussion between filmmaker Kitty Green, Birds Eye View director Mia Bays and Barbican curator Sonia Zadurian about The Assistant on 6 May
A Q&A with Barbican Visual Arts Curator Alona Pardo about the exhibition Masculinities: Liberation through Photography on 7 May

Podcasts can be accessed from the Read, Watch & Listen page or by subscribing to the Barbican’s Nothing Concrete podcast via Acast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Since the Centre’s temporary closure on Tuesday 17 March, the Read, Watch & Listen section of the Barbican’s website has seen an increase of 350% in visitors, compared to the same time last year, with numbers of new visitors to the site up by 390%.

Sir Nicholas Kenyon, Managing Director, Barbican said: “During these difficult times, we’re continuing to focus on connecting audiences with the arts and with each other. On our website and social channels we’re offering a uniquely Barbican mix of high-quality digital content across all artforms. From videos and images to podcasts, articles and talks from some of the amazing artists who regularly appear in our programme, we’re bringing the arts that audiences love direct to their homes. We hope there’s something for everyone, whatever their interests. The big increase in traffic to our website since we closed our doors on 17 March shows that in these uncertain and worrying times, the arts continue to inspire, enlighten and comfort.”

Below you can find a selection of the content divided into two sections: Just announced, and Already available.

JUST ANNOUNCED

Writer, actor, comedian and campaigner Stephen Fry joins journalist Chris Gunness for a new four-part series on the Nothing Concrete podcast. The conversations begin on Wednesday 6 May and focus on music, art, isolation, mental health and the healing power of art – using composer Ludwig van Beethoven’s revelatory Heiligenstadt Testament as a springboard. Heiligenstadt Testament is a letter written by Beethoven to his brothers, in which he reflects his despair over his increasing deafness and his contemplation of suicide. The podcast episodes will be released each Wednesday throughout May. Part of the Barbican’s Inside Out season, the podcast coincides with National Mental Health Awareness Week at the end of May, and marks Beethoven’s 250th anniversary this year.

Also on 6 May at 12pm, Barbican Cinema Curator Sonia Zadurian introduces a live discussion between filmmaker Kitty Green and Birds Eye View director Mia Bays, about the release of The Assistant. Inspired by real-life events, The Assistant follows an ambitious young woman working for a powerful film producer over the course of one day that may just define her future. The film is a timely exploration into today’s dysfunctional workplaces. The Assistant is available to watch on digital platforms from Friday 1 May. Join the live discussion event here.

On Thursday 7 May, Barbican Art Gallery curator Alona Pardo will answer questions about the current exhibition Masculinities: Liberation through Photography. Everyone is invited to submit questions on the Barbican Twitter @BarbicanCentre, with the Q&A starting at 2pm on Sunday 7 May. #Masculinities

Ballet Black’s Ingoma (2019), co-commissioned and filmed at the Barbican is available via their website from Sunday 3 May for one week. Choreographer Mthuthuzeli November was subsequently nominated for an Olivier and National Dance Award after the world premiere at the Barbican. #BBonFilm

From 5-19 May, the Barbican joins its Community Collaborator Headway East London for their #HomeNotAlone campaign, highlighting the creative work that the charity does with survivors of brain injury and the exceptional artists they have as members. Content will be phased across the duration of the campaign and will include a long-read essay about the partnership with Headway East London, as well as an Instagram take-over by one of Headway East London’s members. The Barbican has also recently released an online printing workshop run by Headway East London member, Billy Mann, based on the Art Gallery exhibition Masculinities: Liberation through Photography. The workshop can be watched online here.

ALREADY AVAILABLE

Below you can find information and links to content that is already available on Read, Watch & Listen, divided by artforms.

Visual Arts

As part of the public programme for the exhibition Masculinities: Liberation through Photography (2020), the Barbican hosted talks with and about acclaimed photographers. Two of these are now available on Mixcloud: In Conversation: Catherine Opie and Jonathan D. Katz and Remembering Photographer Peter Hujar with Stephen Koch.

Heavy handed, we crush the moment, an immersive performance project presented by Last Yearz Interesting Negro (Jamila Johnson-Small) in 2019 can now be viewed online, accompanied by a Q&A with Johnson-Small and Barbican curator Lotte Johnson. This performance commission was a contemporary response to the Barbican exhibition Into the Night: Cabarets and Clubs in Modern Art.

Past Barbican exhibitions are celebrated online through a range of podcasts, long-reads and videos: Women in the Weimar Republic, Art for all: ¡30–30! in Mexico City and Rebuilding Vienna’s Cabaret Fledermaus discuss some of the cities featured in Barbican’s 2019 exhibition Into the Night: Cabarets and Clubs in Modern Art. Artist Trevor Paglen explores the themes of his 2019 Curve commission From ‘Apple’ to ‘Anomaly’. Centring on the Barbican’s retrospective Lee Krasner: Living Colour (2019), curator, writer and art historian Katy Hessel from The Great Women Artists discusses the legacy of Lee Krasner with contemporary artists Flora Yukhnovich and Chantal Joffe. Other published long-reads include Daria Martin on her Curve exhibition Tonight the World (2019), a video discussion on the 2018 exhibition Modern Couples: Art, Intimacy and the Avant-garde, as well as an in-depth look at some of the couples featured in the exhibition - Emilie Flöge & Gustav Klimt, Camille Claudel & Auguste Rodin and Jean Arp & Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Following the Barbican’s major 2017 show Basquiat: Boom For Real, Basquiat enthusiasts can view a 360 video tour of the acclaimed exhibition. Tim Lawrence’s article Basquiat and Downtown, on the 1970s and 80s New York music scene, is also available to read.

Barbican exhibition-inspired playlists such as Masculinities and Basquiat and hip hop can be accessed on the Barbican’s Spotify channel.

Music

The Lark Ascending: People, Music, Landscape was a collaborative concert scheduled to take place at the Barbican on 24 March and subsequently cancelled. Two short films that were commissioned for the concert – featuring new sound recordings and compositions by artist and musician Rob St John and readings from author Richard King – are now available to watch on the Barbican’s website. The sound recordings include larks, curlews, lapwings, oystercatchers, swifts, fence wires bowing in the wind, underwater photosynthesis, tank fire heard through metal warning signs, decaying oceanic communication cables, creaking sea ice, water running through plant stems, the resonance of underground bunkers and boreholes, electromagnetic fields, upland springs and more.

A long-read article by Jon Dale delves into the history of ambient music, its influence on mainstream music and its resurgence in recent years. It features illustrations by Aleesha Nandhra, a mix by Tomoko Sauvage, and a playlist featuring songs and musicians mentioned in the text. Similarly, a long-read article by Tokyo-based writer Ian F Martin explores the history of experimental music scenes in Japan, and is published alongside a Barbican curated Spotify playlist, re-releases of three podcasts with Japanese Music fans Howard Williams (Japan Blues), Yosuke Kitazawa (from Light in the Attic Records) and Ian F Martin (author of Quit Your Band), and illustrations by Aleesha Nandhra.

In the Nothing Concrete podcast’s Sound Unbound series, presenter Josie Long talks to creative minds about the music that moves them, with some help from conductor Ben Gernon. Guests include Steve Reich, Karine Polwart, Ken Loach, Jayde Adams, James R Gaines, and Ballet Black’s Cassa Pancho. The Composer Focus series takes listeners on a journey through the life and music of five different composers, with five familiar voices as our guides: Countertenor Iestyn Davies on Handel, baritone Roderick Williams on Britten, conductor Sir Antonio Pappano on Mahler, violinist Richard Tognetti on Mozart and conductor Sakari Oramo on Sibelius. In addition, the Barbican Team has curated Spotify playlists with introductions to composers Stravinsky and Mahler, minimalism and music for piano.

The Barbican’s family of orchestras can be experienced online in a variety of ways: The London Symphony Orchestra streams concerts every Thursday and Sunday, the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s past concerts can be listened to on BBC Sounds for 30 days after their original broadcast date on BBC Radio 3, Britten Sinfonia shares behind the scenes interviews and performances, and the Academy of Ancient Music streams concerts every Sunday.

Cinema

The Barbican Cinema team has curated and created film content for audiences to explore and enjoy, from Curator’s Picks, live filmmaker discussions with Barbican curators, and treasures from the archive. In the week of 4 May, Gali Gold, Head of Barbican Cinema, chooses five films that put the concept of ‘home’ – and its complex meanings – at the forefront. When people across the world are being asked to stay indoors, the public is reminded of the fact that ‘home’ has always been both a physical place and a powerful symbol of identity, status and relationships. The film picks feature Flag Wars, Detained, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, No Home Movie, and The Queen of Versailles. Previous Curator’s Picks feature LGBTQ+ comedies chosen by Alex Davidson, Before the Blockbuster picks by Sonia Zadurian, Susie Evans’ highlights of the best in classic and contemporary cinema for Kids under 5; and Tamara Anderson’s picks of animated short films. (Please note that subscription fees apply for selected streaming platforms.)

On the Nothing Concrete podcast, journalist Chris Gunness looks back at the Barbican’s Borders and Boundaries season – a cinematic gaze on borders the world over – that took place in November 2019 to mark the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Further talks from our cinema archive include producer Ben Eshmade speaking to French filmmaker Olivier Assayas in May 2015, Oscar-winning actor Regina King on If Beale Street Could Talk (February 2018) and director Raoul Peck about I Am Not Your Negro, his 2016 documentary about writer and activist James Baldwin. Recently, Barbican cinema curator Alex Davidson interviewed Levan Akin, the writer & director of And Then We Danced (Sweden, Georgia & France, 2019) as part of the #PeccadilloSofaClub, a new series of LGBTQ+ films screening every Thursday.

Theatre and Dance

On the Barbican’s Nothing Concrete podcast, Chris Gunness speaks to Belarus Free Theatre co-Artistic Director Natalia Kaliada about Dogs of Europe (2020). Dogs of Europe was recently performed in a secret location in Minsk ahead of its originally scheduled world premiere at the Barbican. Listen here.

Michael Clark Company’s Olivier Award-nominated to a simple, rock ‘n’ roll . . . song. (2016), filmed at the Barbican in 2017 is currently on BBC iPlayer for two months (from Thursday 9 April).

Boy Blue’s Emancipation of Expressionism (2013), directed by Danny Boyle and filmed at the Barbican (2017) and R.E.B.E.L (2018) filmed at MC Motors in Dalston, east London are both available on YouTube. The company has just launched new Emancipation of Expressionism GCSE resources to support students and teachers, available from the company’s website.

Cheek by Jowl’s The Winter’s Tale (filmed at the Barbican in 2017) and Measure for Measure (filmed at the Barbican in 2015) are both available on YouTube and cheekbyjowl.com until Monday 25 May. Measure for Measure is performed in Russian with English subtitles, and The Winter’s Tale is performed in English with Spanish, French and English subtitles available.

Availability of the BBC film of Breach’s It’s True, It’s True, It’s True: Artemisia on Trial, has been extended to Sunday 17 May. The theatrical production was scheduled to play in The Pit but was cancelled due to the closure. Watch here.

BARBICAN TEMPORARY CLOSURE INFORMATION

The Barbican is temporarily closed until further notice due to UK Government advice on Coronavirus/Covid-19. All events taking place until Tuesday 30 June 2020 have now been cancelled or postponed. Everyone who has booked a ticket for a Barbican event during this period is eligible for a full refund. Information on how to claim this is published here. Anyone who has tickets up until the end of June has been contacted by the Box Office.

The Barbican is encouraging audiences to make a donation so it can keep investing in the artists and organisations with whom it works. Audiences are also being asked to consider donating to the Centre’s Resident and Associate companies to support them through these difficult times.

Public information
http://www.barbican.org.uk

About the Barbican

A world-class arts and learning organisation, the Barbican pushes the boundaries of all major art forms including dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts. Its creative learning programme further underpins everything it does. Over a million people attend events annually, hundreds of artists and performers are featured, and more than 300 staff work onsite. The architecturally renowned centre opened in 1982 and comprises the Barbican Hall, the Barbican Theatre, The Pit, Cinemas 1, 2 and 3, Barbican Art Gallery, a second gallery The Curve, public spaces, a library, the Lakeside Terrace, a glasshouse conservatory, conference facilities and three restaurants. The City of London Corporation is the founder and principal funder of the Barbican Centre.

Eddie Martin launches “The Birdcage Sessions”, every Sunday evening during lockdown.

Saturday, May 02, 2020

Bristol based bluessman Eddie Martin will perform a concert from his home every Sunday evening commencing on May 2nd 2020. Details attached.

Eddie Martin writes;

Eddie Martin Newsletter

Eddie is Streaming Live This Sunday. Request your Fave Song!

REQUEST YOUR FAVOURITE SONG IN EDDIE’S LIVE STREAMING SHOW THIS SUNDAY

Hi Friends and followers,

I do hope you are all coping out there in lockdown all over the world.

I’ve decided to beat the gig cancellations and bring my music to you the only way I can. So this Sunday at 7pm (6pm GMT) in “THE BIRDCAGE SESSIONS”, I will perform a concert from my home, streaming live every Sunday from 7pm, on Facebook YouTube and Instagram.

I will write and perform a new song every week for you and these songs will be recorded for a forthcoming solo album called “The Birdcage Sessions”.

I also want to make the show a REQUEST show…so reply to this email and tell me what favourite song you’d like me to perform for you. Remember I’ll be at home and solo, so might struggle with some big band tracks!

Some of you saw me post my first new song video from lockdown last week…here it is on youtube now…this song “Before We Wake Up”, is the first to be played from “The Birdcage Sessions” album and I’ll play it again Sunday. Please let me know what favourite song I can play for you and listen in on Sunday.

You can preorder the new solo album CD “The Birdcage Sessions” by paying £12 including post and packing for a signed copy to http://www.paypal.me/eddiesmusic

Don’t forget to listen in on Sunday!

Best wishes
Eddie

ps remember! everything is on the website http://www.eddiemartin.com

Cath Roberts Newsletter: Spring 2020.

Friday, May 01, 2020

Saxophonist Cath Roberts has forwarded her latest newsletter including details of new live recordings available via Bandcamp.

Cath Roberts writes;

Cath Roberts Newsletter: Spring 2020

Hello
Welcome to my broadly-seasonal email newsletter, Spring 2020 edition. Hope everyone is okay. I don’t have much to report at the moment with everything on hiatus, but as usual you can always keep up with what goes on (if anything) between these emails by checking in on my website and/or following me on Twitter.

New live recordings Bandcamp site
With all live music off for a while yet, I’m working on a new project that looks back at the gigs I’ve been a part of over the past few years. My hard drives are full of audio from past concerts, and in normal times I hardly ever had time to listen to them. In lockdown, or at least in the rare moments that I’m able to focus on working at something, there’s time to have a good dig around in the files and listen back to some sets. I’ve set up a new Bandcamp site that will act as a kind of scrapbook of old and raw live recordings from my archive. This will be a slow burner, but the first two recordings are up now - a solo set and a duo set with Seth Bennett, both from 2016. All the music on this site will be ‘name your price’, so there’s the option to pay on the door for these old gigs. The money will be split equally between the musicians on the recording.
https://cathrobots.bandcamp.com/

Recommendations for this Friday
As you may be aware of from seeing a billion social media posts, Bandcamp are giving artists some extra support during the pandemic by waiving their commission on the first Friday of the month in May, June and July. We have something in the pipeline at Luminous HQ for the July one, so keep an eye out for that. And as today is May 1st, I thought I’d pull together a few recommendations of music to check out and support some artists close to my heart. Head to my blog to read the post and check out some sounds. If you’re able to support artists by buying music, these fee-waiver days are a great time to do it!
http://cathrobertsmusic.co.uk/blog/2020/05/01/new-live-recordings-site-and-some-bandcamp-recommendations/

Thanks for reading. At this point I usually say ‘see you out there’, but for now I’ll say stay safe! And hope to see you at a gig in the hopefully-not-that-distant future.

Take care,

Cath

http://www.cathrobertsmusic.co.uk

https://twitter.com/cathrobots

Jazz FM Awards postponed to Autumn 2020.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The Jazz FM Awards ceremony, originally scheduled to take place at Shoreditch Town Hall in May 2020 has been postponed until the autumn. Press release, including details of nominees, attached.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz FM Awards Postponed To Autumn 2020

The Jazz FM Awards ceremony, originally scheduled to take place at Shoreditch Town Hall next month, has been postponed until the autumn. The event is one of the most prestigious in the UK jazz calendar and celebrates the very best of the global jazz, soul and blues scenes. This year’s nominees include Charles Lloyd, Branford Marsalis, Jacob Collier, Celeste, Philip Bailey, Moses Boyd, Joe Armon-Jones, Keb’ Mo’ and Jazzmeia Horn amongst many others.

Jazz FM Content Director Nick Pitts:
“Having consulted with the wider Jazz FM Awards team and our sponsors, we have made this tough but correct decision to postpone the ceremony slated for 27th May at the Shoreditch Town Hall. We wish this were not the case but it would be irresponsible to not put the safety of all our guests, performers, staff, sponsors and partners above all else. We’ll be moving the event to later in the year, when we and the jazz community are able to safely gather in one space to hand out the Awards and celebrate in the usual style.
I would like to take this moment to thank our key partners and sponsors – Serious, PPL, PRS for Music, Mishcon de Reya, Arqiva, Cambridge Audio, British Airways, Oanda and Shoreditch Town Hall – for agreeing to continue to support the Jazz FM Awards over this longer period of time, and the Awards team and I are looking forward to creating a new event later in the year to celebrate all that is good about jazz, soul and blues when it is safe to do so.”

http://www.jazzfmawards.com

The Jazz FM Awards is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Mishcon de Reya, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva, Oanda, British Airways, Shoreditch Town Hall, Yamaha UK, Blue Orchid Hotels and Saville Row Gin.

Full list of 2020 nominations:

BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Cambridge Audio
Rosie Turton
Xhosa Cole
Yelfris Valdés

THE DIGITAL AWARD
Sponsored by Oanda
Chiminyo
Jacob Collier
Jazz re:freshed

THE INNOVATION AWARD
Sponsored by Mishcon de Reya
Jazz re:freshed
Moses Boyd
Sarathy Korwar

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hampstead Jazz Club
Binker Golding
Mark Kavuma
Shirley Tetteh

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Saint Lucia Wellness Festival
Branford Marsalis
Charles Lloyd
Kris Davis

SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by British Airways
Anderson .Paak
Celeste
Philip Bailey

BLUES ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Blue Orchid Hotels
Keb’ Mo’
Gary Clark Jr.
Jon Cleary

VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Alice Zawadzki
Georgia Cécile
Judi Jackson

PUBLIC VOTE;

PRS For Music UK JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR
Joe Armon-Jones
SEED Ensemble
Yazz Ahmed

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Arqiva
Ashley Henry – Beautiful Vinyl Hunter
Binker Golding – Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers
Branford Marsalis Quartet – The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
Jazzmeia Horn – Love and Liberation
SEED Ensemble – Drift Glass
Yazz Ahmed – Polyhymnia

VENUE OF THE YEAR
Band on the Wall, Manchester
Church of Sound
Love Supreme Festival
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
The Verdict, Brighton
Vortex, Dalston

SPECIAL AWARDS

Impact Award
TBA

Gold Award
TBA

PPL Lifetime Achievement Award
TBA

About Jazz FM:
Jazz FM is the largest commercial jazz station in the world, celebrating the complete spectrum of jazz in all its colourful forms since 1990, and celebrating its 30th birthday year in 2020. Jazz FM broadcasters, producers and entire team are true devotees, with a deep love and understanding of their particular jazz shade; their passion is vivid, their enthusiasm infectious, sharing the finest jazz with everyone. As the UK’s only dedicated jazz broadcaster, Jazz FM is on a mission to entertain, promote and celebrate all that’s great about jazz. Involvement with national festivals and awards is part of this - setting the bar high for live performance, recognising outstanding talent and strengthening the jazz community. No matter how people tune-in they always listen in colour.

About Bauer Media UK:
Bauer Media UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately-owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.

About Serious:
Serious is a producer of live jazz and international and contemporary music. Working with artists and partners from the UK and internationally, Serious creates and produces a diverse range of concerts, tours, festivals and live events. Serious creates and produces the EFG London Jazz Festival, which celebrated its 25th year in 2017. In addition, Serious is Associate Producer at London’s Barbican. Serious provides Talent Development opportunities for emerging and established artists and delivers an extensive learning and participation programme.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast April 26th 2020.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Broadcaster and journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK and European Jazz radio show, which is transmitted by a number of UK and international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Playlist for Show 16 – first broadcast April 26th

Available now at any time at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Henrik Jensen Followed by Thirteen - Affinity (Babel)

Claudio Vignali – Rach Mode On (Auand)

Donatello D’Attoma – Oneness (Dodicilune)

Kaja Draksler Octet – Out for Stars (Clean Feed)

Let Spin – Steal the Light (Efpi)

Guillaume Orti & Stéphane Payen – Volume 1 (Diatribe Records)

Tom Green Septet – Tipping Point (Spark!)

Teis Semey – Throw Stones (Loumi records)

Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet – Bluebeard (Challenge Records)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time;

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.towerseyfestival.com

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 6pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Crowdfunding campaign launched to save Towersey Festival.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

The long running Towersey Folk Festival in Oxfordshire, scheduled to take place in August 2020 has been cancelled due to Covid-19. A Crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help save the Festival.

The latest bulletin from Towersey Festival is attached.

2021 Tickets On Sale Now
WANT TO HELP SECURE THE FUTURE OF THE FESTIVAL?
Purchasing tickets now for Towersey Festival 2021 is the BEST way to support the future of the festival!
BOOK 2021 TICKETS NOW
Have you got tickets yet for Towersey 2021? We know it may feel a long way off but this really is the best way to support and secure the future of Towersey Festival.
The 2020 line-up is moving ‘lock stock and barrel’ and with all the artists committing to be there, it would be great if you could as well. It’s guaranteed to be a very special weekend.
We all need something to look forward to in these difficult times and what would be better than a long weekend in a beautiful field, enjoying music, dance, workshops and spending time with family and friends, old and new.
Get your tickets now for Another Lovelier World.
https://www.towerseyfestival.com/2020-tickets/

Crowdfunder has raised over £22,000!
We have had an amazing response to our Crowdfunder Campaign to support the future of the Festival. With over £22,000 raised so far we are well on the way to hitting our target.
However there is still a huge financial hole to fill and every little bit helps so if you haven’t yet checked out the rewards on offer, please do and share the campaign with as many people as you can.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/towersey-festival

The Crowdfunder Campaign offers some amazing and exclusive packages and gifts ...... and we have just added some NEW music and workshop rewards thanks to some of our Festival regulars.

By purchasing a gift or package you help us keep Towersey Festival alive!
With your support (if you have the means) Towersey Festival can remain the beautiful, independent event it has always been.
Martin Simpson with guitar

A 3 hour, 1-to-1 guitar lesson with one of the greatest acoustic guitarists in the world, Martin Simpson.

Campfire Cooking Day with BackWoods Experiences. Combine elements of bushcraft & foraging. Prepare and cook 3 dishes on your self-built campfire. 7 hour workshop in Oxfordshire.

Unlocking Your Full Life Potential Workshop 90 minute live online group workshop.
Identify the common voices that are holding you back in life and develop strategies to begin to remove them.
Date & Time: 4th June 7pm

Here’s a reminder of some of the other great rewards on offer ......

Circus skills workshop now half price
Festival Director, Joe Heap, really wants to get out and teach some Circus Skills so we have reduced the donation required for this Circus Skills Day from £1200 to just £600. That’s a full day, for 15 people, at a location of your choice.
A great work team away day, birthday party or just fun day with friends and family.

Blue and orange Towersey 2020 t-shirts
Limited edition Towersey Festival 2020….” The one that wasn’t” T’shirts for all the family. Featuring 55 white tents for each of the previous festivals and 1 empty tent for 2020, the first festival we’ve had to postpone in the history of the festival! Blue adults version and sunny orange for children.

Thank-you so much for all the love and support! We will get through this together.

Stay safe and be kind xx

CALL TO ACTION - Cockpit Theatre launches COCKPITCH - The online broadcast Busking Platform for Artists on Lockdown.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Call out to performers. The Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone, London is now taking bookings from all over for their all-new online broadcasting initiative: Cockpitch, running Fri May 1st - Sat 31st Oct.

We have received the following news release;

CALL TO ACTION - Cockpit Theatre launches COCKPITCH - The online broadcast BUSKING PLATFORM for ARTISTS ON LOCKDOWN

CALL OUT FOR PERFORMERS, MUSICIANS AND ONE-MAN BANDS!
Friday May 1st - Saturday 31st October 2020

Cockpit Broadcast’s Cockpitch will bring the sounds of the streets indoors and hopefully earn a few bob for performers currently in lockdown…

The Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone, London is now taking bookings from all over for their all-new online broadcasting initiative: Cockpitch. Whether you’re a regular street artist or musician - or more accustomed to performing in concert halls - if you’re unable to work under lockdown conditions, Cockpit Broadcast can help you to reach your audience. In place of the traditional hat/violin case, a donate button will enable viewers to show their appreciation. To take part/for more details, get in touch via .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

http://www.thecockpit.org.uk/cockpitch

https://www.thecockpit.org.uk/cockpitbroadcast

The Cockpit
Gateforth St, Marylebone, London NW8 8EH,
07855 393 760

‘Between The Lines’ concert series moves to October 2020 and announces full line up.

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Curated by Serious the 'Between The Lines' concert series at CLF Art Café in Peckham, London will feature Erased Tapes, Leafcutter John, The Spectacular Empire and more. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Between The Lines series moves to October and full lineup with Erased Tapes, Leafcutter John, The Spectacular Empire acts announced.

BETWEEN THE LINES

OCTOBER | LONDON CLF Art Café, Bussey Building, Peckham

Tickets from http://www.serious.org.uk/btl

Wednesday 7 October | ERASED TAPES: ANNE MULLER, DANIEL THORNE, HATIS NOIT

Thursday 22 October | LEAFCUTTER JOHN, HELEN PAPAIOANNOU, SKYLLA (RUTH GOLLER, LAUREN KINSELLA, ALICE GRANT)

Thursday 29 October | THE SPECTACULAR EMPIRE: LORAINE JAMES, GLOR1A, DEMIGOSH

Originally set to take place in May, we’re extremely fortunate to have been able to rearrange the entire series to take place in October and can’t wait to share these unique sets of showcases with you. 

Serious is very proud to present a new edition of Between The Lines – our concert series of music that transcends genre – joining forces with some of our favourite artists, labels and collectives to co-curate a series of performances of boundary-pushing music throughout October in the CLF Art Café in Peckham’s Bussey Building.  

Each night features a collection of musicians at the forefront of musical experimentation, ranging from neo-classical cello to Japanese Gagaku, an acapella vocal group to modular synth improvisation, and queer IDM to experimental RnB. 

First, on Wednesday 7 October our friends at Erased Tapes have curated a beautiful triple bill, continuing their Erased Tapes 2020 series, featuring German cellist and Nils Frahm collaborator Anne Müller’s first live appearance in London since the release of her debut album Heliopause, a solo set from Immix Ensemble founder and saxophonist Daniel Thorne, and the enchanting London-based Japanese voice artist Hatis Noit, plus some surprises on the night. 
https://serious.org.uk/events/btl-erased-tapes-oct
Anne Müller: https://annemuller.bandcamp.com/album/heliopause
Daniel Thorne: https://vimeo.com/118694971
Hatis Noit: https://youtu.be/0v0HacvKcK8

Then on Thursday 22 October we are joined by legendary electronic musician and producer Leafcutter John, who has put together a night of new collaborations and projects spanning the wide range of his extensive musical output. He’ll be performing with saxophonist and composer Helen Papaioannou in a first-time collaboration, and to support he’s invited his friend Ruth Goller (of Melt Yourself Down and Vula Viel fame, amongst others) who will perform with her new trio Skylla, featuring vocalists Lauren Kinsella and Alice Grant. Presented in association with Border Community. 
https://serious.org.uk/events/btl-leafcutter-oct
Leafcutter John: https://youtu.be/XaCOvylhxks
Skylla: https://vimeo.com/340450443 
Helen Papaioannou: https://youtu.be/wGjhaBLelgc 

Finally on Thursday 29 October we team up with The Spectacular Empire – an artist collective led by experimental grime/dancehall artist GAIKA – who have put together a triple bill of spectacular proportions of artists at the cutting of edge of London’s RnB and Hip-Hop scene. Featuring Hyperdub’s IDM producer Loraine James (whose debut album For You And I was named The Quietus’ Album of 2019), experimental /genre-bending RnB artist GLOR1A, and rising Afro-Irish rapper DEMIGOSH. 
https://serious.org.uk/events/btl-spectacular
Loraine James: https://youtu.be/R-hqMQug3aQ
GLOR1A: https://youtu.be/9hpO5gsm_5g
DEMIGOSH: https://youtu.be/HGDrC_2YmCA

View the series at http://www.serious.org.uk/btl

MultiTraction Orchestra - new remote collaboration to release first single, “Emerge Entangled” on May 1st 2020.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

"Emerge Entangled" features 27 musicians in 8 different countries, including UK-based improvisers Alex Roth, Tom Ward, Raph Clarkson, Joy Ellis, Kieran McLeod, Andrew Woodhead and Huw V Williams.

Alex Roth of MultiTraction Orchestra has forwarded the following information;

The debut single from newly-formed MultiTraction Orchestra - a platform for remote collaboration among a global community of experimental composers, producers and improvisers Will be released on May 1st 2020.

Constructed from improvisations recorded in response to a single stimulus track made available online via an open call, “emerge entangled” features 27 musicians in 8 different countries, including UK-based improvisers Tom Ward, Raph Clarkson, Joy Ellis, Kieran McLeod, Andrew Woodhead, Rosanna Ter-Berg, Huw V Williams, Jon Scott and many more.

The track will be released independently on Friday 1 May to coincide with Bandcamp’s show of support for artists.

Once released, the track will be available at
https://alexrothmusic.bandcamp.com/

There will also be a video, which will premiere on my Facebook page on Thursday 30th April at 7pm.
https://www.facebook.com/alexrothmusic/

http://www.alexrothmusic.com

Musical Artists Call For Economic Justice in the Digital Domain.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

The Music Workers Alliance has launched an emergency petition directed at Facebook, Google and YouTube asking for relief and justice in the digital marketplace. Details attached.

We have received the following press release;

Norah Jones, Bela Fleck, Black Madonna & Wayne Shorter among thousands music figures who back petition calling for Immediate Relief and for Economic Justice in the Digital Domain

MUSICAL ARTISTS CALL FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN THE DIGITAL DOMAIN

At market close on April 10th, while tens of thousands of musicians and DJs across the country tried to access unemployment benefits, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Larry Page of Google/Youtube had respectively earned $6.2 billion and $3.6 billion, for the week, according to Forbes Magazine. On that same day, the Music Workers Alliance launched an emergency petition directed at Facebook, Google and YouTube asking for relief and justice in the digital marketplace.

The petition has already gathered over 3000 signatures — among them some of the most accomplished musicians and DJs from all genres. We call on these corporations to pay 1% of their advertising revenue to a relief fund for the “content creators” whose unpaid labor generates much of their wealth. As live music work is shut down indefinitely and will likely remain so for more than a year, this relief fund must be made available to music workers for the duration of the shutdown.

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/a-call-by-musical-artists-for-basic-fairness-in-the-digital-marketplace?source=direct_link&

Furthermore, recorded work is no longer a viable income stream due to mass copyright infringement enabled by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Section 512. The MWA petition calls for these corporations to put an end to infringement by adopting “Standard Technical Measures” (STMs).

Restoration of a fair digital market is impossible while YouTube — responsible for nearly half of all online music consumption — continues to profit while enabling mass infringement.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed many weaknesses in our social safety net and labor laws. The predicament of musical artists — the original gig workers — is particularly poignant. With live performances disallowed, music workers’ ongoing calls to address online infringement by adopting STM’s carry new urgency.

MWA’s petition represents the largest ever unified expression of working musical artists across genres demanding economic justice in the digital domain.

Short list of prominent signatories and quotes below:

Andy Stack (Wye Oak)
Ariana Paoletti (Volvox)
Austin Wulliman (JACK Quartet)
Bela Fleck
Beth Orton
Bill Frisell
Boots Riley (The Coup)
Catherine Irwin (Freakwater)
Charles Lloyd
Claire Chase (International Contemporary
Ensemble)
Crystal Waters
Danilo Perez
Danny Krivit
Deena Abdelwahed
Delia Beatriz (Debit)
Emma Burgess-Olson (UMFANG)
Esperanza Spalding
Fred Wesley
Four Lost Souls (Bethany Thomas, John
Szymanski, Jon Langford, Tawny Newsome)
Franz Nicolay (The Hold Steady)
Harry Gregson-Williams
Henry Threadgill
Jack DeJohnette
James Newton Howard
Jason Moran
Joey La Neve DeFrancesco (Downtown Boys)
John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood)
John Patitucci
John Zorn
Johnny Gandelsman (Silk Road Ensemble, Brooklyn Rider)
Julie Covello (Dj Shakey)
Karriem Riggins
Keith Levenson
Kronos Quartet (Hank Dutt, David Harrington,
Sunny Yang, John Sherba)
Laurie Anderson
Luciana Souza
Marc Ribot
Marea Stamper (Black Madonna)
Matana Roberts
Mekons (Jon Langford, Sally Timms)
Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards)
Mike Servito
Nels Cline (Wilco)
Nick DeSimone (Nickodemus)
Nicky Mao (Kiro Kone)
Noah Lennox (Animal Collective, Panda Bear)
Norah Jones
Osvaldo Golijov
Peggy Abrams, on behalf of Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
Peter Zummo
Rex King
Rhiannon Giddens
Roberto Carlos Lange (Helado Negro)
Rosanne Cash
Roy Lamb
Sam Amidon
Terri Lyne Carrington
Thao Nguyen (Thao & the Get Down Stay
Down)
Vijay Iyer
Wayne Shorter

Beth Orton: “With so much financial destabilisation for musicians it is more important than ever for digital profit sharing to be equitable and fair.”

Charles Lloyd: “Online streaming and illegal uploading of recordings has decimated our professional income. This needs to change.”

Sally Timms (Mekons): “...Who would even look at digital platforms without our content which at this point is essentially stolen by multi-billion dollar tech companies? Pay people! Pay the musicians, the artists, the writers. Also pay the delivery guys, the rideshare drivers and everyone else who gets screwed in the digital economy and pay them right!”

Austin Wulliman (JACK Quartet): “This crisis continues to underscore the immense creativity of today’s musicians, which is simply appropriated by tech platforms for their own profit. While musicians continue to imagine a cultural response to our current climate their work is taken without payment. We need a new model of artist pay that matches the realities of the way artists create today. If tech companies want the content that drives mass viewership to their platforms they need to pay for it.”

Marc Ribot: “All my work is shut down through June, with more cancellations expected. If we don’t deal—NOW—with the mass online infringement that has destroyed our ability to make money from recording, then soon WE’RE going to be shut down.”

Music Workers Alliance is an organization of, by, and for independent musicians and DJs. Our mission is to further Musician/DJ empowerment through collective economic and political action. MWA members are affiliated with Arts for Art, Building Beats, Indie Musicians Caucus and the Jazz Advisory Committee of Local 802 AFM, MOMENT NYC, Musicians for Musicians, NYC Artist Coalition, Sound Mind Collective, Underground Producers Alliance and many other organizations.

http://www.musicworkersalliance.org

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/a-call-by-musical-artists-for-basic-fairness-in-the-digital-marketplace?source=direct_link&

Peter Slavid -’ European Jazz Hour’ playlist - first broadcast April 19th 2020.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Broadcaster and journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music to be played on his UK and European Jazz radio show, which is transmitted by a number of UK and international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

European Jazz Hour - first broadcast April 19th 2020

AKA Moon - Opus 111 (Out there)

Aparticle - The Glamour Action (UR Records)

Paolo Bacchetta - The Storytellers (Auand)

Monocled Man - Bernabe Jurado (Whirlwind)

Nevi - Istanbul Edition (Losen)

ReDivider - Mere Nation (Diatribe Records)

Rob Luft - Life is the Dancer (Edition)

Toivo Quintet - View (Losen)

Stay safe

Peter

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

https://www.buzzsprout.com/973312/3395491

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 6pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Nick Tomalin and Simon Whiteside launch new Jazz Podcast.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Jazz pianists Nick Tomalin & Simon Whiteside have launched a new Podcast series called 2-5-1, Two pianists, Five Podcasts, One subject. The latest programme discusses "Sonny Clark as Sideman".

Nick Tomalin writes;

Along with fellow pianist Simon Whiteside I have launched a new jazz podcast series called 2-5-1, Two pianists, Five Podcasts, One subject.

Our first subject is the jazz pianist Sonny Clark who as you probably know recorded extensively for Blue Note in the 1950’s and early 60’s. We talk about his life, as well as examine his work in more detail both as a sideman and leader. We will also speak a bit more about his musical style with the help of some transcriptions we’ve done.

We’ve so far recorded and released two episodes of the podcast the most recent of which you can link to here:

In this episode Nick Tomalin and Simon Whiteside discuss the music Sonny Clark recorded with Buddy de Franco, Grant Green and Dexter Gordon. Even after re-recording the Buddy De Franco section to half it’s length, the original podcast plan to also include Sonny Criss and Hank Mobley meant it ran to 1.5 hours. So we decided to drop those two sections.
If you would like to hear that long version it will be publicly available on our Patreon page later. If enough people register their interest through comments on the podcast outlets we can upload it to all the usual suspects later.

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=25450273

Samantha Wright launches Kickstarter campaign in support of debut album “How About Now?”.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Clarinettist and composer Samantha Wright has recorded the music for her debut album. She has launched a Kickstarter campaign to cover release costs with a view to an Autumn 2020 release.

Samantha Wright writes;

Last March I recorded my debut album with my quartet in Hamburg. We’re really happy with the takes, and excited to release it hopefully by Autumn 2020.
I’ve created a Kickstarter campaign to try and raise some money to cover some of the costs, and also offer people the opportunity to pre-order the album, in addition to other “rewards”.

PRESS RELEASE;

“HOW ABOUT NOW?”

The Debut album from Samantha Wright

Samantha Wright is a jazz clarinettist from Manchester UK, and has been living in Hamburg since 2017. She is sincerely devoted to researching the clarinet’s
presence throughout the historic timeline of jazz, as well as encouraging and helping other musicians learn more about this music. In 2019 she founded her internationally popular Jazz Clarinet Transcription blog, an educational resource that is used by musicians (beginners to professional) worldwide. (https://samanthawright.co.uk/blog)
“I want to make jazz music and education as accessible as possible.”

Following the completion of her Master studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Wright continues to be present in the university, now officially as the
lecturer for Jazz Clarinet.

In March 2020, Samantha’s quartet (with Sophia Oster on piano, Tilman Oberbeck on bass and Wolff Reichert on drums) entered the studio to record their very first
album together. Following 3 days of intense music making, “How About Now?” was born! An album consisting of 10 tracks, with 6 composed by Samantha, 3 by Tilman
and 1 arranged by Sophia. The sound engineer for the session was the wonderful Oliver Bergner, who has recorded, mixed and mastered for NDR Bigband, Nils
Wogram, Pablo Held and Joachim Kühn, amongst many others.

To be able to release her debut album, Samantha has created a Kickstarter campaign, where it’s possible to donate in a number of ways, by:

- Pre-ordering the album digitally or as a physical CD (delivered internationally)

- all of the above, PLUS lead sheets of all of the songs

- all of the above, PLUS transcriptions of all of the clarinet solos

- Buying a clarinet lesson with Samantha Wright

- Booking the quartet (or smaller duo format) for an event or concert

....and much more can be found on the kickstarter campaign page.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/howaboutnow/samantha-wrights-debut-album-how-about-now?ref=user_menu

Branco Stoysin - new video putting a different perspective on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Monday, April 20, 2020

Guitarist and composer Branco Stoysin has posted a new video on Youtube that takes an alternative view of the Corona Virus pandemic.

Branco Stoysin writes;

Current issues from a different perspective

Considering the current situation, and I know that everyone is sick of listening about C-virus, here’s something from a completely different perspective…

As nobody in the power, the governments and media etc. are not telling this to people and as sadly vast majority of people just do not get it, I wish to invite you to watch this 2.5 minutes long video, a view from a different and more positive perspective…

Link to the video:
https://youtu.be/gD4Ox7C9drw

If you agree with what you see and read then please share it with as many people as possible.

If you are already acting upon these issues then kudos to you.

If people don’t agree, don’t care and won’t act then we’re all in a very deep manure.

Stay safe, healthy and not-coronised… and enjoy in fresh air, quietness, birds song, blue sky, bright Sun and the absence of lethal jumbo-jets contrails, well for now…

Thanks for reading.

Best wishes.
Branco Stoysin guitarist / composer / music arranger / tutor / ... and the rest

“A musical journey to warm the soul” Sarah Ward, Jazz FM.

“Music of great delicacy and charm” Chris Parker.

“The sound of a master craftsman at work” Ian Mann.

Sun Recordings, London.
https://www.brancostoysin.co.uk
for CDs, DVDs, Music Books and much more.

Video for the latest album and 20th anniversary of Sun Recordings label >
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCU5fWVS5wg

“The practical success of an idea is dependent of the attitude of its contemporaries”. Nikola Tesla

Fergus McCreadie, livestream series to continue every Tuesday night during Covid-19 lockdown.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Scottish pianist Fergus McCreadie will be live streaming improvised concerts from his family home in Dollar, Clackmannanshire every Tuesday during the lockdown. Details attached.

Publicist Rob Adams writes;

Scottish pianist Fergus McCreadie will be live streaming improvised concerts from his family home in Dollar, Clackmannanshire every Tuesday during the lockdown.

Each concert is completely spontaneous, as McCreadie chooses a key and follows his imagination, with the addition of an occasional jazz standard requested by the audience.

The concerts, which begin at 8pm, can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/fergusmccreadiepianist

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist.

Friday, April 17, 2020

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 14/04/20, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Now available at
https://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz/first-broadcast-april-12th/

European Jazz Hour 14 April 12th

Hildegunn Øiseth – Manana (jazzland)

Article XI - Live in Newcastle (Discus)

Glass Museum - Rekyavik (Sdban)

Superposition - Superposition (WeJazzRecords)

Yuri Golubev - Two Chevrons Apart (Basho)

Ulrich Drechsler - Caramel (enja)

Mike Westbrook - Love & Understanding/Citadel/Room 315 (myonlydesire)

Avishai Cohen - Big Vicious (ECM)

Stay safe
Peter

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

https://business.facebook.com/downforthecountswingorchestra/videos/1013966442334684/

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 6pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival / Edinburgh Festival Carnival cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic.

Friday, April 17, 2020

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, which was due to take place in July 2020, has been cancelled. Statement attached.

We have received the following Media Announcement;

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival / Edinburgh Festival Carnival will not go ahead due to Covid-19 Pandemic

In accordance with the UK Government and Scottish Government’s public health advice we are sad to announce that we will not be presenting the 43rd edition of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival in July, nor the 9th Edinburgh Festival Carnival.

Our key priority is the health and wellbeing of our audiences, practitioners and staff and we wish you all well through this challenging time.

Chair of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Councillor Jason Rust said “The last few weeks have reinforced to me how special live music is, from intimate gigs to great sonic adventures. The sense of community that live music creates is special too as audiences unite with musicians to share a moment”.

“I believe music can continue to unite us and bring joy in these worrying times, and we are working on how we can still share that with you in the coming weeks via our online platforms. Our staff are unearthing interesting footage and content to share and working with closely with Scottish musicians to bring you new digital content which is an artistic response to the times”.

“The Board of Directors would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival team in developing this programme”.

“In these difficult times, we are doing our best to support the Scottish musicians and practitioners without whom we will not have a Jazz and Blues scene, and will do our best to re-schedule the many artists who were due to be involved in delivering the Festival and Carnival.”

“Starting on Wednesday 22nd April, we will be sharing the footage of the Scottish Blues Weekend that happened in February – please do tune in and enjoy”.

“In closing, I’d like to thank our funders, partners, participants and audiences for their loyalty, support and understanding”.

For updates see http://www.edinburghjazzfesival.com

The Festival is planning for the 2021 edition from Friday 16 to Sunday 25 July
The 42nd Edinburgh Jazz & blues Festival took place from 12-2st July 2019. Featuring over 140 concerts in 13 venues across 12 wards in the City and attracted a live attendance of 68,200 plus over 12,000 digital audiences. The Festival offered over 930 musician engagements with over 521 from Scottish musicians. Highlights included a performance by Jan Garbarek, the premiere of Glasgow drummer Graeme Costello’s Strata Expanded, Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana, Ibibio Sound Machine, Fergus McCreadie / Tommy Smith Duo, American superstar bluesman Kenny Wayne Sheppard and new projects from Nicole Smit and Jed Potts.
The Festival is funded by The Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and Creative Scotland.

Social Media

Festival:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/edinburghjazz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghJazzandBluesFestival

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edinburgh_jazz/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JazzandBluesFestival/videos

Carnival

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdFestCarnival

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghFestivalCarnival

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edinburghfestivalcarnival/

Down For The Count Swing Orchestra release video release new video as a tribute to all key workers during the Corona Virus crisis.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Down For The Count released a brand new video two days ago featuring 26 musicians all filmed in their homes as a tribute to all key workers who are keeping the UK moving right now.

We have received the following press release;

Down For The Count released a brand new video two days ago featuring 26 musicians all filmed in their homes as a tribute to all key workers who are keeping the UK moving right now.

Their take on Let’s Face The Music and Dance proved to be a viral smash with almost 30,000 Facebook views already.

You can see the video at : https://youtu.be/Ls49N_W6INg

As Mike the band leader explains: “We’re all in awe of what our key workers are doing at the moment, particularly our NHS staff, and we wanted to do something to show our appreciation of them. It’s so inspiring how healthcare workers carry on doing such a difficult job day after day, and we thought that the song “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” epitomises that attitude perfectly. Also, music and dance both have the ability to lift people’s spirits. This is such a difficult time for everyone – including for us as musicians, unsure when we’re going to be able to play together again – so we wanted to do something positive to bring a little joy into people’s lives.

“The video is a collaboration between Down for the Count, and our friends City String Ensemble – their leader, Sophie Poteratchi, and I came up with the idea. It features musicians from all over England and Scotland – including an NHS doctor from Edinburgh – who recorded the song separately from their own homes.

“Once we had chosen the song, I transcribed the 26 orchestral parts from the original Billy May arrangement, written for Nat ‘King’ Cole in the early 1960s, and sent them round to all the musicians who individually recorded their separate parts at home, whilst listening to just the drums and bass in their headphones. Some of the musicians have home recording equipment, but most of them just recorded the audio on their phones and sent it back to me to mix together.

“Sophie and I also asked everyone to film themselves playing – the only instruction was “put on your concert dress and have fun” – everyone dusted down their tuxedos and ballgowns, propped up their phone on piles of books, and imagined they were at a concert. Everyone had their own little individual take on the “have fun” message and it was great to see what everyone came up with (especially when they had bars of rest – everything from quickstepping around the living room to cooking cauliflower soup!). Sophie then watched over 4 hours of footage from the individual musicians, and somehow, over the course of a week, condensed it all down into one 3 minute video.

“It’s amazing how all this could be achieved from the comfort of our own homes in keeping with the Stay Home guidelines. We wanted to demonstrate how you can still achieve something and collaborate with others without having to leave your home, all the while helping to protect the NHS and raising money for NHS Charities Together. It’s amazing how dressing up, donning our suits and best dresses and playing one of favourite swing tunes has got us all feeling more positive than we had in weeks. We wanted to share that feeling with other music fans and also make people smile and laugh in the process - we hope this video goes some way to lifting peoples’ spirits and raises money for a great cause too.”

http://www.dftcswingorchestra.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/downforthecountband

Twitter : @dftc_band

Instagram : @downforthecount_band

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist.

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Peter Slavid writes;

My latest radio show is now available.

PART 1 - features the winners of this year’s 7Virtual Jazz Club https://7virtualjazzclub.net/

Main Section

Winner: vibraphonist Simon Moullier

My Pick: Pianist Stephan Aeby

Under 25 Student’s Section

Winner: Trumpeter Evan Taylor

My Pick: Michelangelo Scandroglio

(NB: The 2020/21 competition is now open for entries)

PART 2 – New Releases

Martina Almgren – Peace of Mind (Oh Yeah Records)

Karolina Almgren Projekt – Live I Umea (Oh Yeah Records)

Mark Lotz Trio - The Wroclaw Sessions (audiocave)

Obradovic-Tixier duo - The boiling stories of a smoking kettle (Naim)

Per Oddvar Johansen - The Quiet Cormorant (Losen)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time;

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 6pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ)

JazzLeeds - latest newsletter.

Monday, April 06, 2020

Steve Crocker has forwarded the organisation's latest newsletter, including details of cancelled and re-scheduled shows, livestreams and on line archive footage.

Steve Crocker writes;

The Leeds Lockdown Sessions

With the virus keeping everyone indoors, the jazz business is having to go online. We are no exception at JazzLeeds - welcome to our weekly Jazz Leeds lockdown… Also we’ve got up to date news on our cancellations, postponements and what we’ll be up to in the autumn. plus our favourite live jazz streaming, and some suggestions about how you might best support musicians through this time.

JazzLeeds cancellations
We’ve unfortunately had to cancel most of our spring and summer programme due to the Covid-19 virus. So - no summer JazzLeeds festival in July - we’ll have to wait another year to see the acts that were appearing - and no Chapel Allerton Arts Festival in early September, although we are still hoping to run some of the Village Jazz Festival events (4-6 September) ourselves

We have been able to re arrange some of our gigs as follows…

Ian Shaw with Iain Ballamy and Jamie Safir @Seven Arts 8pm is now recheduled for Thus 12 November

Louise Gibbs “Love You Madly” @Seven Arts 1.30pm is now rescheduled for Sunday afternoon Nov 29th

Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra @Seven Arts 8pm is now rescheduled for Thus 8 October

Sound of 59 @Seven Arts 8pm is now rescheduled for Thus 17 Dec

Refunds are available for advanced tickets sold for cancelled concerts,and for re arranged concerts you can have a refund or just hold on to your tickets and present them at the new date.

Our Rush Hour Jazz series and our Jazz Workshops are also suspended at present but Tessa Smith our Jazz Voices Choir Leader will be running an online summer choir, starting this coming week - If you are interested, please subscribe to her newsletter to hear all about it. The link is here https://tessasmith.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=69db758b91f5b9e67320c4723&id=79357f647a - do pass it on!

Autumn listings

From October, our concert Live listings are currently

Thus 1 Oct Jobic le Masson and Steve Potts - “Double Dutch Treat” @Seven 8pm

Sun 4 Oct Suppertime @Inkwell 1.30pm

Thus 8 Oct: Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra re arranged from March 8pm

Sun 11 Oct Pete Johnson Brodie Jarvie and Steve Hanley Inkwell 1.30pm

****Mini Jazz Piano Festival @Seven Arts***
Sun 18 Oct John Colliani Trio 1.30pm
Sun 25 Oct Andrew McCormack solo 1.30pm
Thus 29 Oct Fergus Mcreadie Trio 8pm

Sun Nov 1 Tango jazz with Martin Alvarado piano and vocals, Eero Koivistoinen, and Alexi Tuomarila. Seven Arts 1.30pm

Sun Nov 8 Daisy George Trio with Daisy George bass Will Barry piano and Jay Davis drums @Inkwell 1.30pm

Thus 12 Nov Ian Shaw, Ian Ballamy, Jamie Safir “What’s New” re arranged from March 8pm Seven Arts

Sun Nov 15 Seven Jamie Taylor with US guitarist John Stowell Seven Arts 1.30pm

Sun Nov 22 Tori Freestone Trio Seven Arts 1.30pm

Thus 26 Nov Josephine Davis “Satori” Seven Arts 8pm

Sun Nov 29 Louise Gibbs “Love You Madly” @Seven Arts 1.30pm - re arranged from March

Thus 3 Dec Nigel Price and “Wes Re-imagined’ Seven Arts 8pm

Sun Dec 13 About Time – Malcolm Strachan sextet 1.30pm Seven Arts (tbc)

Thus 17 Dec Adrian Knowles and Sound of 59 - re arranged from April 8pm

Sun Dec 20 Christmas Jazz Cafe at Inkwell 1.30pm

Leeds lockdown Sunday sessions
On Sunday afternoon, when we would normally be opening up for an afternoon of jazz, instead we’ve a selection of some of favourite music from our archives. This week Eric Alexander, Claude Deppa, Tiptoe, Tina May, Ari Hoenig (++) and THE RAFFLE (for the Wensleydale cheese!). Check our our You Tube Facebook Page from 1.30pm - the lockdown link is…. here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJPubOw76nk&lc=UgyKCFuI9Pqk86ng14l4AaABAg

Live streaming jazz favourites
Here are three of our favourite live streams - catch up with them here

Emmett Cohen trio - New York pianist swings his way through the lockdown
https://www.facebook.com/emmet.cohen

Enrico Tommasso - Leeds born trumpeter (and Louis Armstrong fan) is posting funny affectionate and endearing tributs to the jazz trumpet masters
https://www.facebook.com/enrico.tomasso

Chic Corea - a nightly masterclass posts from the piano legend
https://www.facebook.com/chickcorea/

How can we help musicians?
With all jazz venues now closed because of the coronavirus, musicians and singers have seen their main source of income suddenly cease. Most musicians rely on gig money to survive and even those with teaching jobs or other supplementary incomes will be finding it difficult to support themselves during this self-isolation period. Many musicians have their music available from their own website or as downloads, and I’d urge you to buy their CD’s!
So the gigs might be cancelled but at least there will then be a direct way of helping the people we that we respect and admire - that’s after all why we do this stuff! I’m sure a lot of promoters do this already but if not there is no more urgent time that now…

Watch our website and social media for further updates - our web is http://www.jazzleeds.org.uk

Our email address for queries is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Good luck and stay safe!

Steve Crocker
JazzLeeds

Composing in a crisis ... an update from Tim Kliphuis.

Monday, April 06, 2020

Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis has forwarded his latest newsletter, including details of his current composing activities and the setting up of his new Patreon page.

Tim Kliphuis writes;

Composing in a crisis ... an update from Tim Kliphuis

Dear all,

Looking back with gratitude on my long USA tour and the one Russian concert in Kazan on 16 March - very poignant with the orchestra, crowd, Shlomo Mintz and myself knowing this would be the last for a while, just before everything shut down.

The new reality in my life, and that of my music colleagues, is that of no income other than some online teaching, and the hope that the current crisis will pass someday.

I have been using this time to work hard on my new composition “The Five Elements” which will be a mesmerizing and thought-provoking piece in 5 movements, about the state of the world.

For those who have lost loved ones, I am creating a new version of J.S. Bach’s Chaconne for violin solo (some of you have heard a halfway version in concert during the tour) as a soothing, 15-minute in memoriam.

Both pieces mean a lot to me and I am aiming to record them while I can’t travel internationally - but I will need support in making that happen.

That’s why I have started a page on Patreon, which offers a way of supporting me in exchange for exclusive tracks, live online concerts, and online talks; but also I will be involving you in the creative process and asking for your feedback.

Here I tell you more about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmorcfF8I-E&t=2s

The link to become a patron is here:
https://www.patreon.com/timkliphuismusic

Can I ask you to have a look? All support GREATLY appreciated!

Will keep you informed and hope we see each other live soon again.
Best wishes and stay safe,
Tim

Tim Kliphuis
The Netherlands
http://www.timkliphuis.com

Lynne Arriale Trio - new album and 2020 US and European tour dates.

Saturday, April 04, 2020

American pianist and composer Lynne Arriale released her latest trio album "Chimes of Freedom" on March 6th 2020. She has a number of tour dates scheduled in the US and Europe later in 2020/21.

Lynne Arriale has fprwarded the following press release;

The Lynne Arriale Trio has been touring in support of their critically acclaimed Give Us These Days, which was named one of the Best Jazz CDs of 2018 by Jazz History Online and reached #15 on the US Jazz Week Radio Charts.

Lynne’s newest release, (March 6, 2020) her 15th album as a leader, Chimes of Freedom, was recorded in Europe for release by Challenge Records International. Lynne is joined by renowned musicians, Dutch bassist/co-producer Jasper Somsen, drummer, E.J. Strickland, and guest vocalist, K.J. Denhert. Chimes reached #8 on the US Jazz Week Radio Charts.

LYNNE ARRIALE TRIO
featuring Jasper Somsen & E.J. Strickland
Juan Carlos Villorroel
‌

“One of the most exciting pianists in contemporary jazz” (The Guardian- UK),pianist/composer, Lynne Arriale, has performed on international concert st ages over the past 25 years.

Jazz Police called her “the poet laureate of her generation”. She has touched the hearts and inspired the imaginations of audiences worldwide and has been consistently praised as having a “singular voice” as a pianist, bandleader and composer.

“Lynne Arriale’s music lies at the synaptic intersection where brain meets heart, where body meets soul. She achieves a special, deep connection with her audience, and the energy flows both ways. Arriale’s emotional authenticity allows her audience to feel and think along with her…She is one of jazzdom’s most intensely unique voices.” JazzTimes

Chimes of Freedom, Lynne Arriale’s 15th album as a leader, was recorded in Europe for release by Challenge Records International. Lynne is joined by renowned musicians, Dutch bassist/co-producer Jasper Somsen, drummer, E.J. Strickland, and guest vocalist, K.J. Denhert.

In Chimes, her most passionate artistic statement to date, Lynne reflects on freedom, cultural diversity, and her wish that all refugee families may reach an inclusive safe harbor among the democratic nations of the world. This remarkable collection features seven of Lynne’s original, deeply personal works. The spiritual, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, together with Lynne’s evocative Journey, The Dreamers, 3 Million Steps, Hope, The Whole Truth and Lady Liberty weave a dramatic narrative, crowned by the trio’s collaboration with K.J. Denhert singing Bob Dylan’s Chimes of Freedom and Paul Simon’s American Tune.

Chimes is a worthy and timely successor to Lynne’s critically acclaimed Give Us These Days; a thematically-related suite that considers the transient nature of human existence.

Lynne is known throughout the jazz world for the honesty and lyricism of her melodic lines, her virtuoso technique, and her genius for creating a synergistic environment around the trio, whose sound is greater than the sum of its parts. Her albums have topped the Jazzweek US Radio Charts and have been on numerous “Best Of” lists including The New Yorker, United Press International, JAZZIZ, JazzTimes and Jazz History Online. She toured with the 100 Golden Fingers tour of Japan with iconic jazz pianists, Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Monty Alexander, Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Harold Mabern, Roger Kellaway, Junior Mance and Ray Bryant. Arriale has performed and/or recorded with jazz greats Randy Brecker, George Mraz, Benny Golson, Rufus Reid, Larry Coryell and Marian McPartland.

The world’s great jazz festivals and concert stages have invited Lynne to perform, including five performances at the Kennedy Center and performances at Lincoln Center, Montreux, Burghausen, Gilmore, Spoleto Arts, Montreal, Monterey, North Sea Jazz, Stuttgart, Pori, San Francisco, Ottawa, Zagreb, Perth, Brisbane, Rouen, Cannes MIDEM, Sardinia, Rochester, Wigan, Poznan, Estoril, Palermo, Inverness, Cork and San Javier. Lynne has toured extensively throughout Europe, Australia, Japan, South America, South Africa, the US and Canada.

She has been consistently praised as having a “singular voice” as a pianist, leader, composer and arranger. With stunning clarity, purpose and emotional force, that voice now rings out with Chimes of Freedom.

JASPER SOMSEN
Double bassist/composer/producer, Jasper Somsen, has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband and Paolo Fresu.
Jasper performs worldwide and can be heard on over 40 albums. In addition to performing and composing, Jasper and is also a renowned studio producer,
having produced ten albums for Challenge Records, which includes four albums as a leader.

E.J. STRICKLAND
Enoch Jamal “E.J.” Strickland is world-renowned drummer and composer who has appeared on over 60 albums. He is in great demand in New York’s jazz scene and has toured, performed, and recorded with some of the greatest names in contemporary music: Wynton Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, Cassandra Wilson, Terence Blanchard, Lizz Wright, Russell Malone, George Colligan, David Gilmore, Vincent Herring and Nnenna Freelon. As a bandleader, E.J. has released three albums.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

April 29, 2020 • Jazz Showcase, Chicago
May 1, 2020 • The Dunsmore Room, Minneapolis, MN
May 4, 2020 • Birdland Theatre, NYC
May 8, 2020 • Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
October 9, 2020 • Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Munich, Germany
October 10, 2020 • Chorus Club, Lausanne, Switzerland
October 11-12, 2020 • Pizza Express, London
March 5, 2021 • Jazzclub Uster, Uster, Switzerland
March 6, 2021 • Sijthoff, Leiden, The Netherlands
March 7, 2021 • Catharinakapel, Harderwijk, The Netherlands

PRESS;

“The poet laureate of her generation..”
Jazz Police

“Lynne Arriale’s music lies at the synaptic intersection where brain meets heart, where body meets soul. She is one of jazzdom’s most intensely unique voices.”
JazzTimes

“Lynne Arriale’s brilliant musicianship and bandstand instincts place her among the top jazz pianists of the day.”
New York Times

“She belongs among the poets. Truly distinctive, her improvisations weave a seductive combination of lyricism and muscle.”
The London Times

“As with every move in her celebrated career, Lynne Arriale remains both readily identifiable in her different pursuits and impossible to pin down in specific character. Whether given to introspection or taken by extroversion, she remains a force of nature.”
All About Jazz

“Transcendent… arguably her most potent release yet.”

.”...there’s an overarching feel of freedom and joy that surpasses all that came before. Majestic themes typically build intensity over the tracks while allowing Lynne’s bandmates plenty of room to shine…This album sits atop a discography that continually evolves, from an artist who manages to combine the ethereal and ferocious. And one who never lets us forget the melody.”
Jazz
Police

“Jazz piano avatar…Pianist, arranger, composer and educator Lynne Arriale has been one of the most inventive and enduring standard bearers of the jazz piano tradition…. ”
Hothouse Magazine

“When pianist Lynne Arriale plays the first notes on her new album… .....jazz that sounds so elegant and powerful, from such a sound and such energy, you just want more and you will not be disappointed over the entire length of the album.
......her absolutely determined, and truly impressive, musical strength has certainly contributed to her successful 25 year-long international career. Her concerts are an experience….of concentrated intensity.”

“Lynne Arriale becomes a sister in the musical spirit of power players such as John Coltrane’s pianist McCoy Tyner.”

“In jazz, developing your own musical personality, your own unique voice that stands out from all the others, tops the list of crucial achievements. On her 14th album, Lynne Arriale demonstrates how to use this gift to repeatedly convince and surprise her audience. The result is brilliant, and I urge you to listen to it for yourself.”
Bayerische Rundfunk, Germany

“...the improvised melody flows in a rush through Arriale’s fingers, as if the power of the combined forces of the trio were unable to contain the music.”
Jazz History Online
‌

La Linea – The London Latin Music Festival - Reschedules To The Autumn.

Saturday, April 04, 2020

La Linea, London's Latin Music Festival has announced the rescheduling of its April/May dates to September /October/ December 2020. New details attached.

We have received the following press release;

La Linea – The London Latin Music Festival - Reschedules To The Autumn

La Linea announces the rescheduling of its April/May dates to September/October 2020*

A series of new additions to the festival are also announced

La Linea – London’s Latin Music Festival – announces today that this year’s event, originally scheduled to run throughout April and May, will now take place in September and October.

Festival Director Andy Wood:
“We have built La Linea on a sense of celebrating the community in music and dance. With London in lockdown it is important to be able to look forward to a time when we can come together again and so we’re really happy to have been able to reschedule the entire La Linea 20 event for later on in the year”.

La Linea celebrates the very best of the Latin music world and this year’s 20th anniversary event will host an array of world exclusive commissions, one-off UK concerts and specially curated shows across the capital.

The festival is also today releasing details of a series of new support acts for the rearranged shows alongside a special opening night event featuring two of the great Latin music big bands on September 4th. The full list of rescheduled dates is below.

Tickets already purchased for existing dates remain valid for new dates.

Created in 2001 by Como No, the UK’s main producer of live events from Latin America, to showcase the Latin contribution to the wider musical world and to celebrate new artists, new collaborations and new projects, La Linea has built a global reputation for bringing together a host of outstanding Latin music artists in London every April and May.

La Linea 20 is supported using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Tino Contreras appearance at La Linea is supported by The Anglo Mexican Foundation. Mestizo is a British Council programme, co-produced with La Linea and supported by the PRS Foundation.

La Linea 2020

Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor
+ Dorance Lorza + El Swing DJs: Johnny G & Gerry Lyseight + Javier La Rosa + Rich Fallon + Dr Jim
Friday 4 September
Electric Brixton
£25 in advance
Doors 9pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/maykel-blanco-y-su-salsa-mayor-2/

Ana Tijoux
+ new support Fedzilla + DJ Cal Jader
Tuesday 8 September
Jazz Cafe
£20 in advance
Doors 7pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/ana-tijoux-4/

LoLa MC Showcase
Friday 11 September
Rich Mix
£12 in advance
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/lola-mc-showcase-night/

Weyler: Maradona in Mexico
Saturday 12 September
Rich Mix
£15 in advance
Doors 8pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/weyler-maradona-in-mexico/

Sara Correia
+ new support Babesa Cubana
Friday 25 September
Union Chapel
£18 in advance
Doors 7pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/sara-correia/

Melingo
+ new support Andria Antoniou + Roman Gomez
Thursday 1 October
Rich Mix
£18 in advance
Doors 7.30pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/melingo-6/

Tino Contreras
Tuesday 6 October
EartH Theatre
£20 in advance
Doors 7pm - 10:30pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/tino-contreras/

Mestizo
Featuring Theon Cross, Steam Down, León Pardo, Diana Sanmiguel, N. Hardem, Daniel Michel, Marco Fajardo, Alejandro Cifuentes and more
Monday 19 October
Electric Brixton
£17 in advance
Doors 7pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/mestizo/

Lina_ Raül Refree
+ new support Francisco Sales
Monday 19 October
Union Chapel
£18 in advance
Doors 7pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/lina-raul-refree/

Juana Molina
Saturday 4 December
The Jazz Cafe
£22 in advance
Doors 7pm
https://www.comono.co.uk/la-linea/juana-molina/

*NB the La Linea 20 shows with Bebel Gilberto and Fernando Otero are still being rescheduled and we hope to be able to announce new dates for them soon along with making some bran new additions to the line-up.*

Information and tickets for all shows http://www.lalineafestival.com (prices shown are before booking fees).

Facebook: lalineafestival

Twitter: @lalineafest #lalinea20

Instagram: lalineafest

La Linea 2020 Listings:

Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor
A special opening night show for the rearranged La Linea festival featuring two great Latin music big bands with music from the hubs of Cuba and Colombia along with a great DJ line-up.
Maykel Blanco and his Salsa Mayor spun their way into the Havana music scene fifteen years ago and remain the most popular live band in Cuba. Maykel combines catchy lyrics with irresistible dancefloor-ready arrangements to make his songs favourites among DJs and dancers.
Last year he had two huge hits on the island with both Ya Tu No Coronas and Que Tiene Que Tu Mueve (the title track of the new album) reaching #1 in the charts of Cuba’s most important radio stations.
Maykel Blanco was born in 1981 in Havana, and at the age of twelve, began to study percussion at night school and later on at the Amadeo Roldan Conservatory. He formed his own band at fifteen and then, in 2005, took over the musical direction of Salsa Mayor, which is known there as ‘The Musical Machine of Cuba.’
Dorance Lorza & Sexteto Café is one of the leading bands in London’s vibrant salsa scene. Pioneering the worldwide ‘salsa con vibes’ revival at the turn of the century, Sexteto Café was one of the first bands in Europe to favour the small combo salsa sound of 1960s/1970s bands like Joe Cuba’s Sextet rather than that of the more common big brass-heavy salsa orchestras of the day.
Colombian born band leader Dorance Lorza has an impressive record as a musician, arranger, composer and producer, working with the biggest names in Colombian salsa music such as Grupo Niche, Los Del Caney, Los Titanes, Los Nemus Del Pacifico, Orquesta Canela, Santiago Ceron, La Octava Dimension, Kike Harvey, Cali Aleman and Fruko y su Orquesta and is a regular at La Feria de Cali.
Salsa Caliente! support comes courtesy of a full line up of top Cuban Salsa DJs playing for the dancers – Javier La Rosa, Richard Fallon & Dr Jim and El Swing DJs: Johnny G and Gerry Lyseight holding up the Colombian and rest of the world salsa end from their club night El Swing – playing the hottest new salsa dura to the deepest, classic Fania – and all the amazing music in between.

Ana Tijoux
Ana Tijoux makes a welcome return to La Linea following her two sold out shows at the festival in 2015 and 2018. Ana’s solo career began in 2009 and she has since become arguably the most important Chilean musical figure of her generation.
Returning to her rap roots, with her new single out on 28 January - title track of the album to be released later this year – Antifa Dance, (antifa means anti-fascist) is an urgent call to the internationalism that the world emergency demands.
When the civil protests in Chile started in October 2019, a familiar noise soundtracked the unrest: cacerolazos, the time-honoured tradition of banging pots and pans together as a form of protest. Within twenty-four hours of the start of the protests, Ana Tijoux had launched #Cacerolazo on Instagram with 1.8 million views to date. The viral song samples the clatter of wooden spoons and saucepans and creates an infectious, impossible-to-ignore beat, converting a song about protest into an act of resistance in its own right. Further tracks from her new album will be released in February (Cumbia), March (Rebelion de Octubre) and April in the run up to her La Linea show.
Ana has recorded five albums since 2007, and collaborated with global figures such as Mexican Julieta Venegas, Uruguayan Jorge Drexler, Palestinian Shadia Mansour. She won a Latin Grammy in 2014 and has been nominated for six other Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.
Born in France during the exile of her parents from the military dictatorship in Chile, Tijoux began her career in the late 90s with the ground-breaking rap trio Makiza. She is a Grammy-winning soloist, best known for her smooth voice and her political lyrics, an icon for feminists, students, and leftists around the world. It is just as common to see her doing interviews on Al-Jazeera or Democracy Now! as it is to see her grace the stages of Lollapalooza or Roskilde. With the intention of re-connecting with her roots and fighting for a whole continent, she has become the voice of a generation, not only in Chile but for Latinos worldwide.
Fedzilla + DJ Cal Jader (support for Ana Tijoux)
Astute and outspoken, Fedzilla is an MC and artist straddling dembow-heavy beats with a Latin twist. A key member of the award-winning London-Havana soundclash Wara, she weaves between ragga, cumbia, hip-hop and dancehall. Beats supplied by Movimientos DJ Cal Jader.
YOUTUBE
Pass It On: https://youtu.be/KcrSLpVEhqI

LOLA MC Showcase
LOLA MC, the London Latin Music Conference unites the business for a day of ideas exchange at Rich Mix. In the evening, La Linea will host a public showcase for emerging artists from London’s vibrant Latin scene.

Weyler: Maradona in Mexico
Javier Weyler’s stunning score for the recently released Netflix original series ‘Maradona In Mexico’ draws on musical styles from across Latin America to help tell the story of Diego Armando as he takes on a new challenge as coach of Doradas de Sinaloa in the Mexican second division.
Javier Weyler and his band perform live from the soundtrack, drawing on its mix of contagious beats and melodies - from Argentina to Mexico – blending acoustic and electronic instrumentation and backed by visuals from the series.
Javier Weyler is a composer, producer, musician, engineer and a former member of Stereophonics. Weyler has collaborated with many artists, including Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), Zak Starkey (The Who, Oasis), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Natalia Lafourcade.

Sara Correia
La Linea 2020 hosts the UK debut for Sara Correia whose intense, smoky, powerful and incredibly passionate voice captures love, sadness, saudade and joy, the city of Lisbon and the Portuguese soul.
Her debut album, Sara Correia —released in 2018 —sets her voice in a mainly acoustic instrumental setting featuring musicians Ângelo Ferreira – “undoubtedly one of this generation’s Portuguese guitar geniuses” – Marino de Freitas on bass guitar, and Vicky Marques on percussion. The album earned her two nominations for the PLAY-Portuguese Music Awards, in the categories of Best Fado Album and Best New Artist. The international edition of her debut album was released by Wrasse Records in 2019.
Correia grew up in a family of fadistas and was just 13 years old when she won the Grande Noite do Fado (a major festival and singing competition). Her husky high-contralto voice still projects the intensity of the roots music she grew up listening to.
Soon after her victory, she was invited to sing at one of Lisbon’s most important venues for fado, the Casa de Linhares, where she was lucky to learn from some of the greatest singers such as Celeste Rodrigues, Jorge Fernando and Maria da Nazaré. “I will always think of them as the school of being a fadista”, she declares. The experience of the fado house is vital to her. “It is very important to me, it is almost mandatory. It’s where you get your bearings and learn to use your voice, where you grow into your identity, singing night after night as if your life depended on it. All the great fadistas of today and all of the greats in our history came into their own at fado houses.”
Babesa Cubana (support for Sara Correia)
From the 1940s onwards many Greek songs have been coloured and driven by the rhythms and sounds of Brazil, Cuba and Argentina. Fronted by Latin jazz singer Andria Antoniou, musicians from Greece and South America add a Latin tinge to the contemporary Greek songbook.
YOUTUBE
Promo video: https://youtu.be/mtMNgfb8Iyc

Melingo
Melingo is a Buenos Aires-based musician and tango artist, his songs both deceptively tender and desperately catchy, with a brilliantly wayward cast of musicians to illuminate his vignettes. Melingo will perform material from his new album Tango Rebetiko(released March 2020), which completes the musical circle of his families ida y vuelta from Greece to Argentina.
Melingo’s mother’s side of the family were tango people, but on his father’s side, his grandmother sang opera. Melingo’s incessant touring brought him into contact with other ancestral musical roots when a Viennese woman, Daniela Melingo, sought him out at a concert in Austria. She turned out to be his second cousin, descended from a brother of Melingo’s Ravel-loving grandfather, and told him that their family came from the Greek island of Zakynthos, the birthplace of rebetiko, Greece’s anarchic musical movement.
With the precision of Borges and the bluntness of Bukowski, Melingo crafts atmospheric musical statements that transport listeners to a gotan world of lunfardo backslang, drug addicts, drifters, deadbeats and alcoholics. It’s no surprise Melingo’s tango bizarro sound has been compared to that of Tom Waits and Nick Cave.
“The man who makes Tango seriously cool!” The Independent
“A mesmerising stage presence.” The Times
Andria Antoniou & Roman Gomez (support for Melingo)
Support is Andria Antoniou & Roman Gomez who have recently released their debut album Encuentro - a blend of tango and Latin American folklore with jazz. Inspired by themes of displacement and nostalgia set against the experience of love and the power of women to resist and seek freedom.
YOUTUBE:
Encuentro live promo video: https://youtu.be/oWZl1Jf6xa4
Tango na noite: https://youtu.be/s2uApMBcF4E

Tino Contreras
The UK debut of the extraordinary Tino Contreras playing music from his ground-breaking 1978 Quinto Sol album Musica Infinita, a psychedelic, experimental jazz record now re-released on Gilles Peterson’s Arc Records.
Born in Chihuahua in 1924 to a family of musicians, Contreras is a Mexican jazz master drummer who for more than six decades has melded Latin influences with free jazz, psychedelia, avant-garde experimentation and global sounds from Egypt, India, Turkey, and elsewhere. Tino’s career started in the 1950s and has seen him share stages with many of the greats – including Dave Brubeck, Cannonball Adderley and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Now in his nineties, Contreras continues to play, record, and receive recognition for his contribution to Mexican jazz and beyond.
Musica Infinita was the product of Contreras’ long and productive partnership with Estrella Newman, a scholar who championed pre-Columbian culture and Mexico’s experimental traditions. Contreras filtered these local traditions through an American-influenced jazz lens. Inspired by a nighttime visit to the Pyramid of the Sun, in the ancient city of Teotihuacan, Contreras decided to adopt the name Quinto Sol for the band. Quinto Sol – or, “Fifth Sun,” is the fifth period of the Aztec Calendar, based on an Aztec carved stone structure known as the Sun Stone. Musica Infinita channelled these grand concepts into a visceral musical experience. The initial album pressing was private and limited to about 500 copies - the album did not enjoy wide distribution, so until now has remained a cult item among experimental jazz fans.
The story behind Peterson re-releasing the record is serendipitous. Several years ago, he bought a copy before a gig in Japan, and it soon became one of his most cherished discoveries; he was awed by its otherworldly blend of jazz fusion and psychedelia. Years later, booked to play at a festival in Mexico, Peterson was introduced to Carlos Icaza, a record collector and musician, who also had a copy of the record – in fact, he has two – and to whom it was also an extremely special album. To Peterson’s delight, Icaza suggested they meet up with Contreras who, is still active and based in Mexico City. Soon enough, the three of them were sat down together and agreed upon a plan to re-issue “Musica Infinita”.
By the time he recorded “Musica Infinita”, Contreras had been a part of the Luis Arcaraz orchestra, had led a series of outfits to record albums for the Musart label, been part of recordings for the Polydor, Typic and Berta imprints, and had introduced Mexico to the Dominican Republic’s merengue rhythm, through his 1953 recording debut with an orchestra, the ‘Volado por los merengues’ 10”.

Mestizo: Featuring Theon Cross, Steam Down, León Pardo, Diana Sanmiguel, N. Hardem, Daniel Michel, Marco Fajardo, Alejandro Cifuentes and more
Global premiere performance for a big band mestizo collaboration between the new music scenes of Bogotá and London.
Last September, with support from the British Council, Theon Cross, Nubya Garcia and Steam Down travelled to Colombia to perform at Bogotá’s Jazz al Parque. Whilst there they caught some studio time with members of the city’s inspirational independent scene. Months’ of musical exchanges later the Mestizo sound is now ready to meet its audience.
Neither London, nor Bogotá, this is a brand new international local sound that draws on the diaspora roots of the British and Colombian musicians. At one moment filtered through Grime, at another via the haunting sound of the gaita, Mestizo is in the house.
Like their UK counterparts, contemporary Colombian musicians have embraced different musical traditions to create new and refreshing music. Twenty years ago, young Colombians from major cities began to create musical fusions between cumbia and currulao mixed with jazz, hip-hop, salsa, and electronica and transformed afro-diasporic traditional Colombian music.
With a full supporting line up of Colombian and UK DJs and other live surprises.
Mestizo is the British Council programme to foster music collaborations between artists and producers from the United Kingdom and Colombia. It is co-produced with La Linea, and supported by the PRS Foundation.

Lina_ Raül Refree
This is fado rewired and recast. Lina, a Portuguese singer renowned for her haunting interpretations of Amalia Rodrigues’s classic repertoire, reinvents fado classics in a brand new way with Spanish producer and multi-instrumentalist Raül Refree (Rosalía, Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo).
Lina and Raül Refree have sloughed off the old trappings and exacting traditions of fado and made it into a perfect fit for the twenty-first century. Replacing guitars with piano and analogue synths, they have reinvented the music and done it while keeping the rich beauty of the melodies and the aching poetry of the words that are such a vital part of the tradition.
Their new album Lina_Raül Refree, released in January 2020, is fado for today, a sound that goes beyond geography. It sheds the old skin for the new, yet still leaves it as Portugal’s soul; a beautiful cry of emotion.
Lina has a long background in fado; her family has sung it for two generations and she took it up when she was 15, then studied opera and turned to the stage where she portrayed fado’s great queen, Amália Rodrigues, before being invited to become a regular at Lisbon’s iconic Clube de Fado. Lina has released two albums –Carolina in 2014, recorded with António Zambujo’s producer Ricardo Cruz, and enCantado in 2017, produced by Diogo Clemente, who has worked with Carminho and Mariza.
Lina invited Raül to produce her new album on the strength of his collaboration with the flamenco incendiary Rosalía on her record Los Angeles, the album that first made her name.
Raül Refree has been widely praised for his solo work, including the album La Otra Mitad, as well as his ground-breaking productions combining experimental rock, flamenco and pop with occasional jazz influences. He has also produced albums by Lee Ranaldo, Rocío Márquez, Roger Mas, Nacho Umbert, Senior i el Brutal, Christina Rosenvinge, Las Migas, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Josh Rouse, Kiko Veneno, Mala Rodríguez, and Els Pets.
Francisco Sales (support for Lina & Raul Refree)
Portuguese guitarist, and long-term Incognito member, Francisco Sales plays an atmospheric, filmic set of music from his soon to be released third solo album.
YOUTUBE
Hungary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neBqYi-M3g0
Valediction: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ2ObX5WPBQ

Juana Molina
Argentinian singer-songwriter Juana Molina specialises in experimental folktronica, mixing acoustic styles and electronica in songs that constantly switch between charming and quirky to downright spooky. She explores disorientation with twisting beauty, built of layer upon layer of polyrhythms, dissonant synth melodies and distorted voices. Her music is in love with texture and timbre, even a seemingly conventional song is soon transformed by her edgy and intriguing off-kilter soundscapes.
The unrivalled mistress of mysterious, sophisticated experimental pop, her last full album Halo’s sonic palette was refined by her two decades of experimentation to create a narrative defined not by words, but by mood. Her latest EP Forfun takes four tracks from the album Paraguaya, Un Dia, Vagos and The Rat, and revisits them as joyful punk.
This is Juana’s first La Linea appearance since her 2004 debut when she was supported by Jose Gonzalez.
“edgy and intriguing off-kilter soundscapes” – The Guardian
“Closest thing to genius” – The Quietus

R.I.P. Wallace Roney (1960 - 1920).

Saturday, April 04, 2020

The Jazzmann was saddened to hear the news of the passing of American trumpeter Wallace Roney due to complications of Covid-19. A statement from his publicist, Lydia Liebman, is attached.

Lydia Liebman writes;

Concerning the Passing of Wallace Roney

Wallace Roney: May 25, 1960 - March 31, 2020

Dear friends,

I am saddened to confirm that the iconic trumpeter and jazz legend Wallace Roney passed away due to complications of COVID-19 this morning just before noon. The family is looking to have a memorial service to honor Wallace and his musical contributions once this pandemic has passed. Please respect their privacy at this time.

Working with Wallace was and will remain one of the greatest privileges of my life. It was an honor to represent him and to be part of his musical world. I cannot even begin to express how much I will miss him and his music.

Please, friends, be safe.

With love and light,
Lydia

Ian adds;

All at The Jazzmann were saddened to hear of this tragic news.

I was lucky enough to see Wallace Roney perform live back in 2009 when he appeared at that year’s Hay Festival as part of drummer Jimmy Cobb’s ‘Kind of Blue’ band, a sextet assembled by Cobb to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the seminal Miles Davis album “Kind of Blue”. Effectively Roney played the role of Miles Davis, who had been his inspiration and mentor. My account of that performance can be read as part of my Festival coverage here;
https://www.thejazzmann.com/features/article/the-guardian-hay-festival-hay-on-wye-2009

I must admit to being less than familiar with Roney’s work on disc and have nothing further to add in this regard.

Roney’s passing is a tragic loss for his family, and for the jazz community as a whole. He was only fifty nine years of age, a couple of years younger than me, and his death serves as a stark and shocking reminder, as if any were needed, as to just how serious this global crisis really is.

Music through the Lockdown! - with Phil Meadows.

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Saxophonist, composer and educator Phil Meadows has instigated a number of initiatives to help him, and his listeners, get through the current Covid-19 lockdown. Details attached.

Phil Meadows writes;

Music through the Lockdown!

Fill your time with Phil

I hope that you, your friends and your family are keeping safe!
With us all in lockdown, I’ve spent the past week making lots of content to help you make the most of your new found free time. Here’s a list of what you can check out and how you can support its creation:

The Underpass Returns:
The second edition of my online radio show has now been released and is available for your ears. It features 45 minutes of my favourite music, uniting genres from across the globe and bringing unsigned artists together in the same playlist as major label acts. Click here to listen.
https://www.mixcloud.com/philmeadows/2-the-underpass/

Launching my… Online Jazz School:
With ensembles closing their doors, many people have been left without a musical outlet, so I have created my very own jazz school. Packed full of video lessons, hand-outs and quizzes; it’s a fully interactive online platform where you have weekly challenges to complete and upload and one hour per week of live Q&A with me.
All of this costs less than a single one-to-one lesson and as an extra bonus, those who sign-up in the next couple of days get a free download of my Lifecycles album. Click here to learn more. https://www.patreon.com/philmeadows

Social Media Channels:
I’m keeping my social media channels up to date with lots of extra tips, tricks and fun musical activities so do make sure you check them out and interact with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

You can also support me…
As you’ll be aware, all of this content takes a lot of time and effort to prepare. I absolutely love making this stuff available for free as I believe that music should be open-access wherever possible, so that everybody gets a chance. That’s why I’ve set up a Patreon, where if you are feeling generous, you can support the creation of my content for as little as £3 p/m (a cup of coffee) or £5 p/m (a pint). Click here to learn more. https://www.patreon.com/philmeadows

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/philmeadows
Instagram: @philmeadows
Twitter: @PMeadowsMusic
Facebook/philmeadowsmusic
Website: http://www.philmeadowsmusic.co.uk

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 29/03/2020.

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Broadcaster and journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK and European Jazz radio show, which is transmitted by a number of UK and international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

Stay home, stay safe….and listen to the radio

This week’s show is now available to listen at any time at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz:

Orchestra Nazionale della Luna - There’s still life on earth (BMC)

Agile Experiments - Alive in the Empire (Bandcamp )

Miklós Lukács Cimbiosis Trio - Music From The Solitude Of Timeless Minutes (BMC)

Francesco Cusa & The Assassins - The Uncle (Improvvisatore Involontario )

Øyvind Brække sextet - Wilderness (Losen)

Pericopes + 1 - UP (Losen)

Tineke Postma - Freya (Edition)

Ville Herrala - Pu (We Jazz Records)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm

http://www.cabmuzikradio.com Sunday 5am EDT

http://www.coftonradio.co.uk (Birmingham) Monday 6pm

Please send downloads to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (or physical CDs to me at 27 Pembroke Rd, Ruislip, HA4 8NQ

Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Satchmo Award to Rachel and Mat Domber of Arbors Records.

Monday, March 30, 2020

The Florida based Jazz Club of Sarasota has presented its prestigious Satchmo Award to Rachel Domber and her late husband Mat, founders and operators of Clearwater based Arbors Records.

We have received the following press release regarding the presentation of this award;

Jazz Club of Sarasota presents prestigious Satchmo Award to Rachel and Mat Domber of Clearwater-based Arbors Records

Sarasota, FL: The Jazz Club of Sarasota presented its prestigious Satchmo Award to Rachel Domber and her late husband Mat, founders and operators of Clearwater-based Arbors Records, on March 12 at a reception that was part of the pandemic-interrupted Sarasota Jazz Festival. The presentation had been planned as an important part of the Jazz Club’s 40th Anniversary Festival and was hastily rescheduled as musicians and audiences departed under an advisory from governmental officials.

Ed Linehan, president of the Jazz Club and managing director of the Sarasota Jazz Festival, said, “We are very pleased to honor the work of Rachel Domber and her late husband Matthew by presenting them with the Satchmo award, the Jazz Club’s highest recognition. This recognition commemorates the contributions of jazz great Louis Armstrong, nicknamed ‘Satchel Mouth’ or ‘Satchmo. We also thank The Harold and Evelyn R. Davis Memorial Foundation, which sponsors the award in memory of Jazz Clubfounder Hal Davis.

“The Jazz Club created the Satchmo award in 1987 to honor those who have made a unique and enduring contribution to the living history of jazz, our original art form. I can’t think of anyone who fits that definition better than the Dombers,” Linehan said. “Through their efforts, Arbors has produced hundreds of albums since 1989, representing many classic styles of Jazz. The Arbors catalogue reads like a Who’s Who of American jazz of the last half century, including recordings by our own Dick Hyman—an NEA Jazz Master—and Ken Peplowski.”

Mat Domber was a New York-based lawyer with real estate interests in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Florida. He was also a jazz fan, record collector and listener, beginning with his preteen visits to Nick’s in Greenwich Village. He and his wife Rachel founded Arbors Records as an act of generosity, creating a culture of support and kindness that continues to this day.

“We started in 1989 without thinking of establishing a record label, but only to try to give our friend Rick Fay something he could sell on the bandstand. It grew into a labor of love and we now have over 400 recordings in our catalog,” Rachel said. The impetus was their friendship with Rick Fay, an outstanding reedman, singer, and composer who had been in the music business for over 40 years, mostly as a performer at the Disney parks in California and Florida, but who had never recorded as a leader.

Arbors changed that with their first release and Fay’s first album, Rick Fay’s Hot Five: Live at Lone Pine. Starting with Dixieland recordings by various Rick Fay groups, the highly regarded niche company now embraces traditional, contemporary, and classic jazz as well as the swing styles of the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s and beyond. The label, which describes itself as “Your Home of Contemporary Jazz and Swing,” features nationally and internationally acclaimed jazz performers as well as rising stars.

Beyond making records, Arbors was also the originator and producer of the acclaimed March of Jazz weekend jazz parties in Clearwater, Florida, starting with Bob Haggart’s 80th birthday in 1994 and continuing through 2012, when Mat died and Rachel needed some time to regroup.

Arbors is also a sponsor of the Sarasota Jazz Festival and the Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic in Clearwater Beach, Florida, as well as the Arbors Invitational Jazz Party, geared toward pianists, which began in 2002. In addition, Arbors president Rachel Domber was also president of the Statesmen of Jazz, an ensemble of legendary senior musicians who toured the world from 1998-2010 and recorded two Arbors CDs. In keeping with their generous nature, the Dombers never took reimbursements for their administrative, travel, or other costs. Instead, 100 percent of the proceeds went to the musicians and to nonprofit organizations that promote the continuation of jazz.

“I am very thrilled to have this award and I know Mat is so very happy too,” Rachel said, regarding the unique trophy designed by sculptor Frank Eliscu, who also designed the Heisman Memorial Football Trophy. “It was a surprise—and a tremendous feeling—to look at the list of other Satchmo recipients and realize that Arbors Records has recorded and supported many of them. They include of course Ken [Peplowski] and Dick [Hyman], whose new Lerner and Loewe album Counterpoint we’ve just released.” Among other Satchmo winners that Arbors has recorded as leaders (with Satchmo award dates in parentheses) are NEA Jazz Masters George Wein (1987) and Milt Hinton (1988); Bob Haggart (1999); Jerry Jerome (2002); Bucky Pizzarelli (2003) and John Pizzarelli (2003), Svend Asmussen (2012), and Wycliffe Gordon (2016). Those recorded as sidemen include Peter Appleyard (2007), Jeff Hamilton (2018), and the most recent winner, Houston Person (2019).

In keeping with its philosophy of supporting talent young and new, the latest Arbors recordings, released in 2018-2020, include two Lerner and Loewe projects: the previously mentioned Counterpoint by Satchmo winners Dick Hyman (2001) and Ken Peplowski (2014), and Adrian Cunningham and His Friends Play the Tunes of Lerner and Loewe. Other new releases are Professor Cunningham and His Old School Swing Disney; James Suggs: You’re Going to Hear From Me; Ken Peplowski and Diego Figueiredo; Amizade; Dave McKenna in Madison; Warren Vache: Songs Our Fathers Taught Us; and a new album, Everyone Wants to Rule the World, due out this month, pairing the hot young trio La Lucha with jazz stars Ken Peplowski, Diego Figueiredo, Chuck Redd, last year’s Satchmo winner Houston Person, and others.

Arbors doesn’t restrict its generous support of jazz to recordings and festivals. As coronavirus-related government closings have put many musicians (and others) out of work, Rachel and Arbors Records have stepped up to the plate. On March 18 she wrote, “This weekend in New York City we are recording a large group of musicians so we can give them some income during this difficult time. The musicians committed to this venture are Ken Peplowski as leader, along with Houston Person, Russell Malone, Nicki Parrott, Phil Stewart, Peter Washington, and Ehud Asherie. I don’t know if it will come off because of a possible New York City shutdown, but we will see.” Unfortunately the health situation in NYC canceled this plan, but Rachel is undaunted. In fact, under her sponsorship, guitarist Diego Figuereido is recording the last few original songs for his Arbors album Antartica in his native Brazil, where recording studios are still open.

Looking back on Arbors’ three decades and its significant impact on the world of jazz, Rachel said, “It has all been worth it. And I’m very proud to receive the Satchmo Award. It gives me the energy and inspiration to keep going on.”

For further information about Arbors Records, visit https://arborsrecords.com/, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or call 727.252.0123, (727 )866-3042, or 1.800.299.1930.

The Jazz Club of Sarasota, founded in 1980, is dedicated to preserving, promoting and presenting jazz, America’s original musical art form. The Club has provided over 50 jazz-related events each year for over 40 years. Chief among them is the highly respected Sarasota Jazz Festival, presented every March. In addition to producing numerous jazz events, over the years the Club has granted over $250,000 to aspiring young jazz musicians.

To learn more, visit http://www.jazzclubsarasota.org,email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or phone 941.366.1552 (W-F, 9-5).

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 22/03/2020.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Broadcaster and journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK and European Jazz radio show, which is transmitted by a number of UK and international radio stations.

Peter Slavid writes;

European Jazz Hour First Broadcast – March 22nd

Stay in,
stay safe
and listen at any time at
https://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz/first-broadcast-march-22nd/

Gina Schwartz – Panonica (crackedanegg records)

Meta Zero - Prometheus (QFTF)

Steve Houben - 7/7 (Igloo)

Max Nagl Trio - Moped (Jazzwerkstat)

Vula Viel - What’s not enough about that (Vula Viel)

Gabriele Fava - I can see the Darkness fall (Dodicilune)

Torbjörn Zetterberg & Den stora frågan - Are you Happy (Moserobie)

European Modern Jazz on the radio

At any time

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.targetradio.co.uk Sunday/Weds 6pm