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Sam Gardner / Stuart McCallum trio
(Friday 9 September)
Stuart is the featured guitar soloist from Manchester with the popular Cinematic Orchestra and Sam the leading young drummer currently working in Leeds. This trio gives Stuart the opportunity to exercise his considerable Jazz skills and sympathetic support is all he needs - and gets.
Stuart McCallum - guitar
Sam Gardner - drums
John Marley - bass
Stuart McCallum
(Friday 16 September)
Stevie is Snake Davis' singing bass player and this band features a wide range of styles covering all his tastes - rockabilly, country, blues and jazz will be featured. He is a smiling entertainer and , along with Manchester mates Dave, Billy and Mark will please many fans tonight.
Stevie Williams - bass guitar and vocals
Mark Cresswell - guitar and vocals
Billy Buckley - guitar and lap steel guitar
Dave Hasselll - drums
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Stevie Williams
(Friday 23 September)
Trumpet super-star Freddie Gavita joins Matt Ball
Matt leads a straight-ahead outfit from the trombone. His work features constantly around Leeds as a member of Big Bands, Function Bands and Jazz ensembles. This outfit specialises in the Classic Jazz repertoire and will get your toes a-tapping.
A fittingly jazzy entry to our Autumn Season.
Matt Ball - trombone
Freddie Gavita - trumpet
Richard Wetherall - piano
Gary Jackson - bass
Andy Ball - drums
Top
Matt Ball
(Friday 30 September)
Mighty Rod Mason has been a constant presence on the Yorkshire Jazz scene for a couple of decades. This band has been his mainstay for the second half of that period and they have never stopped challenging themselves and giving better and better performances. Their latest repertoire, combining originals with great modern classics, is thoroughly engrossing and entertaining. Rod's exuberant personality now takes him into a bit of percussion and even singing - you have been warned.
Rod
Mason - saxes
Richard Wetherall - piano and keyboard
Richard Hammond - basses
Dave Walsh - drums
Latest CD: Elements - underlying current
Web: www.roomdarkener.net
and www.myspace.com/rodmasonelements
Rod Mason's Elements
(Friday 7 October)
Tommy has been away from the club circuit for many years building up the amazing jazz scene in Scotland. He is the driving force behind the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra for example. He has only played outside his homeland with the European super-group of Arild Anderson and Paulo Vinaccia with whom he has travelled world-wide.
He has now put together a suite of music and a band comprising the cream of Scottish musicians which has been described as the toughest and most creative of his career. Best of all he has arranged a UK tour for them and is coming to Wakefield - a coup for us.
In KENNY MATHIESON's 5 star review for The Scotsman he says :
"Tommy Smith has explored many directions over the years, and Karma adds another to that list with a shift into a more groove- and rock-based idiom. Smith's saxophone playing bristles with invention and a majestic sonority, both in the up-tempo workouts and the more folk-influenced ballads, with their keening, Garbarek-like sound."
Tommy
Smith - tenor sax
Steve Hamilton - piano
Kevin Glasgow - bass
Alyn Cosker - drums
Latest
CD: Karma
(Spartacus Records)
Web:
www.tommy-smith.co.uk
Tommy Smith
(Friday 14 October)
This
exceptional singer and songwriter who has taken the jazz scene by storm
with her distinctive velvety voice, mesmerising songs and Glam Jazz style
presents her tribute to the jazz divas who have inspired and influenced
her. With songs from some of the most loved singers including Nina Simone,
Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday, this performance not only showcases
some popular favourites but also introduces some lesser-known gems from
artists Norma Winstone and Abbey Lincoln amongst others. This will be
Juliet's debut appearance in Wakefield and comes after her successful
UK tour of the project earlier this year when she delighted several sell-out
audiences.
Juliet has worked with several outstanding musicians including Courtney
Pine, Talvin Singh and Seb Rochford and supported high profile performers
such as Georgie Fame, Ron Carter and Take 6. Her three critically acclaimed
albums have won her many fans and she has performed sell-out shows in
venues around the UK as well as in Italy, Germany, Greece, Malaysia and
Russia.
Juiet Kelly - voice
George Moore - piano
Oli Hayhurst - bass
Pat Iliingworth - drums
Latest
CD:
Licorice Kiss
Web:
www.julietkelly.com
Top
Juliet Kelly
(Friday 21 October)
This is the presentation that earned James numerous awards very early in his career. He was Jazz Yorkshire's Composer of the year, and the album, CD of the year for 2010. Even more prestigious was his winning the British Composers Award for Contemporary Jazz Composition in the same year beating Tim Whitehead's Colour Beginnings on the way.
A talented trumpeter, Leeds-trained James discovered a bigger talent for composition and had no trouble putting an all-star band together for his first CD "A Taste of things to Come" and again for "The Causeway Suite". This suite is a nostalgic remembrance of James' Northern Irish heritage with lyrical sections based on Irish folk music and full-blown big band power driving others. The writing relies on inventive soloists capable of extended improvisation while the band moves on. Chaotic sounds characterise other parts giving the musicians plenty of fun on the way. James' conducting of complex and varying time signatures is another source of interest.
James Hamilton - baton
Katie Hawcutt - flute
Jim Corry - saxes
James Russell
Simon Kaylor
Ben Mallinder
Emma Frampton
Gareth Smith - trumpets
Sean Hollis
Steve Parry
Reuben Fowler
Simon Nixon
Jamil Sheriff - piano
Garry Jackson - bass
Kris Wright - drums
Stuart Garside - trombones
Matt Ball
Kyle Shiels
Rosie Nicholl
Tom Bettley - French horn
Phill Wilcox - accordion
Nick Tyson - guitar
Jamil Sheriff
Latest CD: The Causeway Suite
James Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
James Hamilton
With support from Alec Robinson Quartet at 7:30pm
(Friday 28 October)
Robert is an American drummer /composer who was born of a musical family in Peter Falk country New York. He has been professional since the 70s and is now based in Vienna where he plays and composes for Musical Theatre.
His band - the Boom Quartet - has received continual praise in the 'States and received this accolade from Allaboutjazz.com "
"This is get-down, get-greasy and get-dirty music that's still delivered with finesse and invention" - John Kelman Managing Editor.
The UK version of the band plays his music with the same energy and Gilad Atzmon said of them:
"Like Weather Report on a good day!"
They were particularly well received at last year's Brecon Jazz Festival.
The band is touring to promote their second album (title not yet known) and we can expect some explosive sounds in the club tonight.
Greg Heath - tenor sax
Nicholas Meier - guitar
Davide Mantovani - bass
Robert Castelli - drums
Latest CD: Boom Quartet (iM digital)
Web:
www.robertcastelli.com
and www.myspace.com/robertcastelli
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Robert Castelli
(Friday 4 November)
Brass Jaw first played Wakefield in 2006 - their first gig in England. Since then they have enjoyed amazing success playing all over the world. They have also gone through a sound-changing personnel innovation by adding trumpet to what was a saxophone quartet. But that is the hyper-energetic Ryan Quigley who shares the same writing skills, musical drive and sense of humour as the other band members. All are now stalwarts of the Scottish scene and invaluable members of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. Ryan leads his own Big Band and Paul leads a very successful quartet of his own (last outing included Mike Walker). Rightly favourites at Wakefield their success has been fully endorsed by their winning Jazz Ensemble of the Year in the 2011 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. They celebrate this accolade by returning again to Wakefield as part of the European Tour promoting the new CD.
Brass Jaw were recently awarded two awards in The Scottish Jazz Awards: Best Contemporary Jazz Ensemble and Best CD Award for their CD, "Branded".
Allon Beauvoisin - baritone sax
Paukl Towndrow - alto sax
Ryan Quigley - trumpet
Konrad Wisniewski -tenor sax
Latest CD: Branded (Keywork records KWRCD011)
Web:
www.brassjaw.co.uk
and
www.myspace.com/brassjaw
Top
Brass Jaw
Supported by Batmen and Robin
(Friday 11 November)
It is nine years since this band released its first CD so the new album has been keenly anticipated and very warmly reviewed. The hiatus is largely due to the huge demand there is for all these musicians' services, particularly Julian who tours with Partisans and his own trio with Americans Joey Barron and Greg Cohen. He is a major figure on the European jazz roster. A truly virtuoso band the quartet demonstrates the intuitive integration that all small groups aspire to. Liam Noble is central to the project as the pianist's fluid touch and dazzling imagination perfectly complement Siegel's music and playing, and Oli Hayhurt's impeccable deep groove dovetails perfectly and grounds the sound. With the powerhouse drummer Gene Claderazzo on board fireworks are guaranteed.
"...Siegel, bassist Oli Hayhurst, drummer Gene Calderazzo and the unquenchable Noble set the bar pretty high for the art of making idiomatic, eclectic contemporary jazz." - John Fordham in his 4* review for the Guardian.
Julian Siegel - saxes and bass clarinet
Liam Noble - piano
Oli Hathurst - bass
Gene Calderazzo - drums
Latest CD: Urban Theme Park (Basho SRCD 35-2)
Web:
www.juliansiegel.com
Formed in September 2010, the Batmen
and Robin sextet perform an eclectic
mixture of reworked standards and contemporary tunes to deliver a heavy
fusion based set. The group features:
Robin Porter - Alto Saxophone
Jonathan Brown - Electric Guitar
Peter Fernandes - Keys
Thomas Maddison - Electric Bass
Matt Parkinson - Drums
Fred Harper - Percussion
Julian Siegel
Batmen and Robin
With support from A J Nash trio at 7:30pm
(Friday 18 November)
With the resurgence of interest in New Orleans jazz sparked by the antics of multi-talented Hugh Laurie this band should go well. They have been extremely popular around the Midlands for years and even Dave Gelly predicted that they would be the next bearer of the flame shared by Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Dr. John and Jools Holland. Named after a New Orleans venue, they branch off into Blues, Gospel and Jazz at will. Blessed with proper musicality and jazz skills, not to mention the great voice of Debbie Jones, the ensemble provides superb musical entertainment.
Justin
Randall - piano
Debbie Jones - voice and guitar
Gary Barber - bass
Andy Jones - drums
Latest CD: I Wish I Was in New Orleans (BEAR CD 47)
Tipitina
(Friday 25 November)
Multi Award-winning musician (Mercury, MOBO, BBC, Parliamentary and British Jazz Awards) Denys has been top of the UK tree since 1999. His work with Jazz Jamaica and Gary Crosby's Nu-troop brought him to notice but his suite "Let Freedom Ring" for the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King's famous speech destined him to be recognised as a musician of substance.
"Identity By Subtraction" is Baptiste's new studio recording, and features his long-time collaborators: pianist Andrew McCormack, double bassist Gary Crosby and drummer Rod Youngs, offering him the perfect setting for his fiery solo improvisations among the tight ensemble playing of this formidable and highly intuitive band. His writing and playing conjoin the many cultural impressions and expressions of Europe, North America and the Caribbean that have come to define the artist, Denys Baptiste.
We are delighted to bring this band to our small club; Denys has been heard only in concert halls for too long.
A fittingly hard-hitting climax to our Summer Season.
Denys Baptiste - tenor sax
Andrew Mc Cormack - piano
Gary Crosby - bass
Moses Boyd - drums
Latest
CD: Identity by Subtraction (Dune records)
Denys Baptiste
With support form the Andrew Woodhead Quartet at 7:30pm
(Friday 2 December)
One of Europe's most celebrated jazz pianists and composers John has recorded over 80 CDs, mostly for the ECM label, and many of his pieces have become contemporary jazz standards. He is rarely seen in the UK as he is in such enormous demand on the continent but will always be available to join a celebration of the life and music of Kenny Wheeler (most recently on his 80th birthday big band tour). This trio is the nearest to a stable group he's run during the recent past. Its last appearance for Sheffield Jazz at the Crucible studio in 2006 was so magnetically wonderful that they were keen to bring him back. A series of gigs was essential to make the trip worthwhile so we at Wakefield were contacted well over a year ago to investigate our willingness to join a mini Northern tour. After many hiccups this is now happening and his home town of Manchester (RNCM) is also hosting him.
"Taylor is more classical and impressionistic, less gregariously hook-orientated than Esbjorn Svensson or Tord Gustafsen, doesn't convolute pop tunes like Brad Mehldau, reawaken standards like Keith Jarrett, or play with Herbie Hancock's swollen-river imperiousness. But he rebalances elements of all those qualities." - John Fordham (Guardian)
John Taylor - piano
Palle Danielsson - bass
Martin France - drums
Latest
CD: Requiem for a Dreamer (this trio with Julian Arguelles) (CamJazz 2011)
Web:
www.johntaylorjazz.com
Andrew Woodhead Quartet:
Andrew Woodhead - piano
Sam Rapley - tenor sax
Tom McCredie - bass
Alex McManus - drums
Top
John Taylor
(Friday 9 December) All Ticket Event
Christmas Party - starts at 8.00pm - 3 sets with buffet in first break and monster raffle in the second.
In snowy January Joe visited Wakefield for the first time and played /sang to an audience depleted in number by snow. You will have heard how entertaining this accomplished musician is. The immediate cry was "He'd be perfect for our Christmas Party" and so he will. This time he shares some of the pressure with a sax player, Simon Allen, who has great personal appeal and a wonderful sense of fun. His terrific musicianship will ensure we have a great gig.
Joe is currently recording his second album and we shall undoubtedly hear material from that tonight as well as an outing of the catchy single "I like this one". Simon has recently launched his first CD too.
"Best New CD of the year...A very ear-catching singer...highly accomplished pianist...Extraordinarily enterprising, imaginative and articulate songwriter." *****
The Jazz Rag
Joe Stilgoe - piano and voice
Special guest, Simon Allen - sax
Chris Hill - bass
Ben Reynolds - drums
Latest
CD: I Like This One (single) - click on play button:
Web:
www.joestilgoe.com
Top
Joe Stilgoe
Simon Allen