Paul Booth Organ Trio

Michael Breckerish postbop virtuosity and languidly hot ballad-playing.

With support from the Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra

(Friday 8 March)

Having released four solo albums to date, Paul Booth has firmly established himself as an in-demand solo artist as well as a 'first call' sideman for many big names in both jazz and popular music worlds. Although Paul runs several groups including a Quintet (with Phil Robson and Michael Janisch) and Bansangu Orchestra, more recently he has been going out with this organ trio featuring the constantly popular Ross Stanley and Scot (now returned from the USA) Andrew Bain. This band grew out of his latest album Trilateral which also featured tracks recorded in New York by a trio including Clarence Penn. The gig is part of a European Tour.

Reviewers clearly talk from different starting points when assessing this trio:

"The organ trio is a calm and relaxing ensemble. Ross Stanley's floaty chordal washes and Andrew Bain's low-key drums give Booth a strong foundation for his tenor playing." - The Jazzman

"... is characterised by 'fire and energy', but also versatile enough to negotiate all the twists and turns of both a Pastorius piece and the haunting melodic path of a Mingus composition." - The London Jazz Blog

Paul Booth - saxes
Ross Stanley - Hammond organ
Andrew Bain - drums

Latest CD: Trilateral (features 3 PB trios) - Pathway Records PBCD0103

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Paul Booth

Paul Booth Trio by Mike Porter

Liz Fletcher Quintet

(Friday 15 March)

One of the UK's best singers with a top rank band.

Is Liz Fletcher finally getting the recognition she has always deserved? Perhaps the reaction to her new CD "Liz" suggests so.

"... she has an undemonstrative style that makes light of her sophisticated technique, and inhabits a song with a stillness that can seem almost diffident, Fletcher is the real deal, and she doesn't copy anybody else. Panayi's flute breaks are highly attuned to his leader's walking-on-water style."

Wakefield was lucky to have been introduced to Liz by Alan Barnes, who used her for his collaborations with Alan Plater and she has been a favourite ever since. This visit sees her with the band that launched her CD at the 606 Club last September.

Exciting pianist Leon Greening leads a "spectacularly tight rhythm section".

The sympathetic expertise of Andy Panayi's flute playing provides the icing on the cake.

Liz Fletcher - voice
Andy Panayi - flutes
Leon Greening - piano
Oli Hayhurst - bass
Clark Tracey - drums

Latest CD: Liz -

Web: www.lizfletcher.com

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Tim Thornton Quartet

(Friday 12 April)

The most natural young double-bassist in years.

Tim visited Wakefield with Dylan Howe a couple of years ago but this is the first band under his own name and his debut recording (New Kid).

The band will play music from the album featuring fiery originals, swinging standards and exciting arrangements. The standard of bass playing has risen so much over the past decade that only a virtuoso will stand out; here we have just that with a talent for composition as well. As icing on the cake Tim has teamed up with the superb Dave O'Higgins who can always be relied upon to give any gig a fillip.

Dave O'Higgins - saxes
Grant Windsor - piano
Tim Thornton - composer and bass
Chris Draper - drums

Latest CD: New Kid (SaySo Records SEHS005CD)

Web: www.timthorntonbass.com

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Tim Thornton

Tim Thornton Quartet by Mike Porter

Brandon Allen / Quentin Collins Quartet With support from the Robin Porter Quartet

(Friday 19 April)

Established jazz pairing returns with organ and drums.

Aussie Brandon and Quentin have been best mates since the former hit these shores. Both have the determined attitude to give their all to the music whenever they play. Both are in demand for numerous bands and sessions. Brandon leads the Wednesday late show at Ronnie's each week and organised the Highgate Jazz Festival at four venues last summer. Quentin was last with us for our Christmas party and Brandon with the Dylan Howe band - however together they will create additional magic. Ross Stanley's groove and Enzo Zirilli's rattle will ensure the drive never flags.

"... It was no surprise to find the Collins/Allen quartet (completed by organist Ross Stanley and drummer Enzo Zirilli) delivering over an hour of unfussy but melodic hard bop, delivered with grace, but infused with zip and bristling with bustling energy." - London Jazz

Quentin Collins - trumpet
Brandon Allen - tenor sax
Ross Stanley - organ
Enzo Zirilli - drums

Latest CD: What's it Gonna Be (Sunlight Square records)

Web: www.myspace.com/qcbaquartet

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Brandon Allen / Quentin Collins Quartet

Brandon Allen / Quentin Collins Quartet by Mike Porter

Tony Woods Lyric Ensemble with Nikki Iles With support from Ben Powling's Shark Squad.

(Friday 26 April)

The last creative venture of Michael Garrick now with Nikki Iles.

Vocalist Nette Robinson began a musical collaboration with the late legendary composer/pianist/arranger/educator Michael Garrick MBE in 2009. From then until his untimely death in November 2011, Nette worked closely with him and performed and recorded many of his songs, some of which were written specifically for her. The ensemble's saxophone player, Tony Woods, has kept the music alive with Nikki Iles now in the piano chair. Original songs are often settings of works by British poets including Shakespeare, others involve lyrics to Bill Evans melodies. Iles is the perfect musician to provide valediction for the late Garrick.

Nette also writes and arranges for her Little Big Band while Tony was featured on the 2012 CD "Kwartet" with Tim Whitehead.

"The cool-voiced and clearly enunciating Robinson caresses lyrics…Woods supplies elegant saxophone colour and bite… a striking set." - Michael Tucker - Jazz Journal

Tony Woods - saxes
Nette Robinson - voice
Nikki Iles - piano
Matt Ridley - bass
Chris Nickolls - drums

Latest CD: Home Thoughts

Web: www.lyricensemble.co.uk/index.html

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Nette Robinson

Nikki Iles and Nette Robinson by Mike Porter

Al Wood Nine

(Friday 3 May)

Sax-heavy mid band plays classic swing to bebop brilliantly.

Al Wood is a legend of swing bands, arranging and music education in the North. He began his career with the Maynard Ferguson band and is a multi-instrumentalist playing almost any brass or reed instrument. He became director of jazz performance at Leeds College of Music and led the Big Band there for many years, producing many special arrangements for them. After he left the college ex-students persuaded him to recreate a big band as the experience and training he had given them was such a blast. The "Nine" is a cut-down version of that band with the only brass input from Al's own trumpet. What you can expect is the tightest playing of fine arrangements of jazz from the classic era - powerful and entertainingly listenable music with terrific soloing.

"This was real music played by real musicians" - Ian Darrington, Wigan Jazz Festival

Al Wood - director, saxes and trumpet
Jim Corry - alto sax
James Russell - alto sax
Stuart MacDonald - tenor sax
Simon Kaylor - tenor sax
Sam Thornton - baritone sax and voice
Graham Hearn - piano
Garry Jackson - bass
Bob Howard - drums

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Al Wood Nine

Al Wood by Mike Porter

Al Wood Nine by Mike Porter

John Etheridge & Christian Garrick - Sweet Chorus With support from Blue Ejder.

(Friday 10 May)

Tribute to Stephane Grappelli - a gypsy jazz quartet.

John Etheridge is one of the UK jazz scene's great enthusiasts. He arrives guitar in hand and immediately radiates his pleasure in playing music. With a background that includes swinging with Stephane Grappelli, playing jazz-rock with Soft Machine and recreating the music of Frank Zappa, he has much experience to draw on.

Sweet Chorus is Etheridge's tribute to Grappelli and guitar icon Django Reinhardt. Tunes the violin-guitar partnership made famous are celebrated with an immediacy that makes them sound familiar yet fresh, with Etheridge and violinist Chris Garrick spurring each other into ever hotter variations over guitarist Dave Kelbie and double bassist Pete Townsend's admirable rhythm patterns.

"What breathtaking texture, what staggering variety, what pace and spontaneity - and what fun !" - Andrea Charters

John Etheridge - guitars
Christian Garrick - violin
Dave Kelbie - rhythm guitar
Pete Townsend - bass

Latest CD: SWEET CHORUS A TRIBUTE TO STEPHANE GRAPELLI Chasing Shadows

Web: www.johnetheridge.com/sweetchorus/index.htm

Blue Ejder
A vocal / guitar duo of Sunniva Brynnel (voice) and Aubin Vanns (guitar) performing songs in Swedish and English.

“This duo is such a refreshing change... One of the things I love about this duo is the space, which, so well balanced by Aubin’s accompaniment to Sunniva’s singing, allows the listener to truly become engrossed by the reflective and passionate interpretations. A sheer joy and heart warming!"

Web: www.blueejder.com




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John Etheridge & Christian Garrick

John Etheridge & Christian Garrick by Mike Porter



















Sunniva Brynnel and Aubin Vanns

Alex Hutton Trio - Legentis

(Friday 17 May)

Classically influenced composing with a cinematic feel.

Alex hails from Sheffield originally but has been based in London for some 10 years where he is in demand as a club programmer, radio presenter, composer (for film too) and pianist. This tour is to promote his third studio album Legentis (Atlantis and Legend compressed) which has a through-composed feeling as though a score for an imaginary film. His expert pianistic skills are supported by the virtuosity of Yuri and Asaf - both musicians with skills in a wide range of styles and able to contribute fully to the feel of the music and direction of any piece.

This is wholly melodic original music played with grace and fire.

"... This band's melodic warmth, their sympathetic fusion of piano with bass lines of cello-like elegance, and the fiery urgency of the drums. It's the kind of music that speaks to a wide listenership, whether its roots are appreciated or not." - John Fordham (Guardian)

Alex Hutton - piano
Yuri Golubev - bass
Asaf Sirkis - drums

Latest CD: Legentis (F-IRECD 53)

Web: www.alexhuttonmusic.com

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Alex Hutton Trio

Alex Hutton Trio by Andy Shaw

Alex Hutton Trio by Andy Shaw

Trudy Kerr - With support from the Matt Parkinson Quartet from 7:30pm

£14.00 / £12.00 (Friday 24 May)

An experienced vocalist.

Owing to a family bereavement overseas Georgia Mancio is unable to appear at Wakefield Jazz this week.

At very short notice experienced performer Trudy Kerr will visit to sing in her place. The same band will support her led by the terrific pianist Tim Lapthorn with Juie Walkington on bass and Dave Ohm on drums.

“Trudy... offers something extremely tasty for every discerning musical palate... a showcase for the singer’s fluid phrasing and mellifluous tone.” - Peter Quinn (previously for Jazzwise)


Trudy Kerr- voice
Tim Lapthorn - piano
Julie Walkington - bass
Dave Ohm - drums


Web: www.trudykerr.com

Latest CD: Ted & Gladys - The Rhythm of Life


Web: www.georgiamancio.com

Latest CD: Silhouette

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Trudy Kerr

Georgia Mancio

Gilad Atzmon's Orient House Ensemble

£14.00 / £12.00 (Friday 31 May)

Perhaps their most enduring ensemble work yet.

Maverick, award-winning saxophonist Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble are back on the road with their latest album Songs Of The Metropolis. For the last 12 years the quartet have been touring all over the world, stunning audiences with their firebrand performances packed with drama, pathos, luscious harmonies and wit. Atzmon's latest compositions are a sweeping homage to our great cities, from Moscow to Buenos Aires, Scarborough and beyond. Each tune is at once reminiscent and hopeful. In a time of great uncertainty and turbulence Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble deliver melodies that provide an anchor to wherever it is that we call home.

"Paean to a recent past, when urban spaces belonged to the people who lived in them and cities had distinct emotional characters." - Financial Times

Gilad Atzmon - clarinet & sax
Frank Harrison - piano
Yaron Stavi - bass
Eddie Hick - drums

Latest CD: Songs of the Metropolis (World Village)

Web: www.gilad.co.uk

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The Weave

£14.00 / £12.00 (Friday 7 June)

Liverpool based Jazz musicians playing warm, melodious home grown tunes.

These are all immensely experienced musicians who have played in an array of world, pop, blues, swing and funk bands for an average of ten years. Now leader, Martin Smith has gathered them together to help him express his creative urge and has developed a programme of serious, but eminently listenable pieces for a recently released CD. His previous Jazz offering, a quartet CD, was picked up by the label Candid and championed by Michael Parkinson and Humphrey Lyttelton.

Tony Ormesher has visited Wakefield before with the Magic Hat Ensemble.

"Great music in which the true spirits of jazz walk benignly and contentedly." - Digby Fairweather

Martin Smith - trumpet & composer
Tony Peers - trumpet
Tony Ormesher - guitar
Rob Stringer - piano
Hugo Harrison - bass
Tilo Pirnbaum - drums

Latest CD: The Weave

Web: http://theweavemusic.com

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