Remi Harris Trio
Trish Clowes’ My Iris
Jam Experiment
Derek Nash Acoustic Quartet
Seamus Blake Band
Dennis Rollins Organ Quartet
Tom Rivière’s Family Band
Pat McCarthy Quartet featuring Shannon Reilly
Angus Bayley’s Scrapbook Septet
Talinka Quartet
Zoe Rahman Solo
Pete Oxley / Nicolas Meier Quartet
VEIN
Firebird Quartet
Jay Phelps Quartet
Jonathan Gee Quartet featuring Tim Whitehead
Dominic Galea Quintet
Denys Baptiste Quartet – The Late Trane
Remi Harris Trio
Friday 13th January 2017
Gypsy Jazz, swing and blues from a young guitar virtuoso
Self-taught and dedicated to the art of making music spontaneously Remi says of himself –
“Guitar has always been about improvising to me, that’s what I love about many of the early rock and blues bands that I grew up listening to, they were really jamming and interacting with each other in the moment. Jazz appealed to me because it’s all about improvisation, freedom and experimentation, it was a natural progression for me having just spent my teens playing in rock and blues jam bands. It started with just learning a few licks to put into my blues solos but it wasn’t long before I was bitten by the bug.”
If you enjoyed Matt Holborn’s band last year then this is definitely for you.
“Superb, thoughtful lightning speed lines, created with flare and passion… he’s a very fine player and his trio has one of the best sounds I’ve heard in a gypsy jazz idiom – very alive and truly acoustic. He can play flawlessly and with great passion in pretty well any style” – Paul Jeffries – Jazz on Tap
Remi Harris – lead guitar
Caley Groves – rhythm guitar
Mike Green – bass
Web: remiharris.com
Latest CD: “In On The 2” (Yardbird Arts)
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Trish Clowes’ My Iris
Friday 20 January 2017
Trish Clowes has been on an rapid upward trajectory since before leaving college. She was quickly recognised by the BBC and made a “New Generation Artist” in 2012 which culminated in her commission to write a suite for them performed at the 2014 London Jazz Festival and which won a BASCA Composition award the following year. She has worked with the cream of UK’s jazz musicians of her and older generations and is universally complimented for her writing and improvisational skills.
Her latest project evokes the multifaceted ‘Iris’ – a Greek mythological character who pops up frequently in the works of Shakespeare. This is developed from recent musical collaborations and features new material written for the CD recorded in 2016.
“Her themes and harmonies are angular and quirky, and she shares Thelonius Monk’s talent for building an overall sense of inevitability out of surprising details. As an improviser she achieves a similar melding of the unexpected and the inexorable” – Barry Witherden BBC Music Magazine
Trish Clowes – tenor sax
Ross Stanley – piano
Chris Montague – guitar
James Maddren – drums
Web: trishclowes.com
Latest CD: My Iris debut CD to be launched this month.
Jam Experiment
Friday 27 January 2017
Fine young band shows how they’ve developed since their appearances with Liane Carroll
With support from Bands of the Shelley Music Centre
Wakefield’s Rory Ingham was always an ambitious trombonist and came into his own when he formed this band with fellow students at Chethams Music School in Manchester. The bonus was that Alex Bone (alto) was made BBC young musician of the year soon after. They have played twice before for us, as a support band and with Liane Carroll’s last performance. Since then they have gone from strength to strength, Alex performed at the Proms, Jazz North made them their “Introducing” band and they have played many Northern Festivals. Recently Rory was adopted by a local brass instrument firm to endorse their trombones. The new material and extra experience now makes them a wholly credible band in their own right.
Rory Ingham – trombone
Alex Bone – alto sax
Toby Comeau – piano
Joe Lee – bass
Jonathan Mansfield – drums
Web: facebook.com/thejamexperiment
Latest CD: First Day (Sound Cloud)
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Derek Nash Acoustic Quartet
Friday 3 February 2017
With support from the Abbie Finn Quartet
Jools Holland’s lead alto player exudes his usual energy with his new band
Leader of Sax Appeal and co-leader of Protect the Beat, Derek has always known how to create a popular band. His charismatic appeal also earns him a place in Jools Holland’s band. If that weren’t enough he runs his own recording studio and has been responsible for the introduction of many young jazz stars. This new project features the cream of his generation of jazzers in sympathy with his desire to entertain and delight. Make no mistake, this gig will be a lot of fun.
They are promoting their second CD with a title that provoked this review :
“You’ve Got to Dig It to Dig It, You Dig? Not just a groovy album title, but wise words of advice. Saxophonist and band leader Derek Nash clearly takes this advice to heart, crafting an album that’s filled with eminently dig-able music.” – Bruce Lindsay – All About Jazz
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Derek Nash – saxes
David Newton – piano
Geoff Gascoyne – bass
Clark Tracey – drums
Web: dereknash.com
Latest recording: You’ve got to dig it to dig it, you dig? (Clown’s Pocket Records)
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Seamus Blake Band
Friday 10 February 2017
Featured Artist of the Orpheus project touring Northern Jazz Clubs
New York based saxophonist/composer Seamus Blake is recognized as one of the finest exponents of contemporary jazz. His music is known for its sophistication, bold improvisations and “sheer swagger”. He has been a feature on the New York scene for 20 years, especially as a featured soloist with the Mingus Big Band. In February 2002, Seamus took first place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in Washington D. C. As the winner, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.
He has also played and recorded with John Scofield, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Dave Douglas in addition to 16 CDs under his own name and 70 others as side-man. It is a coup for this project, co-organised by Apollo Jazz and Norvol Jazz, to have made it possible for him to visit the North of England for exclusive appearances such as this.
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Seamus Blake – tenor sax
Ross Stanley – Hammond organ
James Maddren – drums
Web: seamusblake.com
Latest CD: Seamus Blake Quartet Live in Italy
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Dennis Rollins Organ Quartet
Friday 17 February 2017 (with support from 7:30 pm)
Trombone hero plays a range of music, well known and new, with an outstanding trio
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Supported by Lee Jones – solo guitar, from 7:30 pm
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Although born in the West Midlands, Dennis developed as a musician in Doncaster under John Ellis with whom he still has close connections. He went further with the Jazz Warriors and then played in various bands including the funk fusion groups Us3, Jamiroquai and Brand New Heavies, with whom he toured the USA. He stayed in the funk idiom with his own successful band Badbone & Co. and then veered back towards jazz with his organ trio The VelocityTrio. He brought them to Wakefield in 2014. Here he extends the trio to include Arnie’s bass, and Matt Home (drums) replaces Pedro Segundo.
Rollins is a vibrant and exciting player with full command of his instrument. Clearly he is already an important voice on the UK jazz and funk scenes and his visits to the USA are extending his audience internationally. (All Music)
Dennis Rollins – trombone
Jim Watson – piano (originally billed as Ross Stanley for piano and organ)
Arnie Somogyi – bass
Matt Home – drums
Latest CD: Symbiosis (Artist)
Web: dennisrollins.com
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Tom Rivière’s Family Band
Friday 24 February 2017
Bass player leads a pianoless quartet with strong influences of Ornette Coleman
(Northern line ambassador artists sponsored by Jazz North)
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This is a superb, freewheeling band composed of four long-time musical collaborators and friends. Rooted in the music of Ornette Coleman and the 1960’s avant-garde, Family Band play powerful music – moments of fierce intensity, a tender spirituality and the blues combine to form an emotionally complex and cathartic whole that rarely fails to move. They are currently preparing a second CD of music recorded live at the Manchester Jazz Festival at a terrific and well-received gig.
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“What a revelation – exciting group, gradually revealing more and more depth and thrilling the audience to the very end” – Blow The Fuse, The Vortex
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Kim Macari – trumpet
Riley Stone-Lonergan – tenor saxophone
Tom Rivière – double bass
Steve Hanley – drums
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Latest CD: Family Band (NCD010)
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Web: www.tomriviere.com
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Pat McCarthy Quartet featuring Shannon Reilly
Friday 3 March 2017
East Coast stalwart with a vocalist of exceptional quality
(Northern line ambassador artists sponsored by Jazz North)
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This band has the dual qualities of presenting an accessible show while playing good jazzl. Pat is based on the Lincolnshire coast where he has worked with many of the jazz stars passing through the Grimsby club and has co-operated with Gill Wilde in curating the Cleethorpes Festival. An indefatigable player, he has always run a band of his own and this latest project is enhanced by the lovely singing of Shannon Reilly – a real find. With Thom Whitworth to add to Pat’s soloing and Warren’s dependable bass playing you will be entertained by straightahead jazz with plenty of banter.
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“Shannon is a vocalist of exceptional quality. Her work with Pat McCarthy, one of the UK’s leading guitarists, has been a great success.” – Mike Gordon (Scarborough Jazz)
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Shannon Reilly – vocals
Pat McCarthy – guitar
Thom Whitworth – trumpet
Warren Jolly – bass
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Web : www.patmccarthyjazz.co.uk
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Angus Bayley’s Scrapbook Septet
Friday 10 March 2017
Maverick scientist / composer debuts his new CD “Scrapbook”
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Angus published a paper on the rÔle of wavefront kinetics in small scale wrinkling in the journal “Soft Matter”, but this was a hobby sustained by his artistic expression through music. His band Scrapbook has gigged around London for some time and its growing reputation has led to an eponymous recording which they now celebrate.
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Sitting somewhere between jazz, folk and rock, Scrapbook’s music is a collection of heartfelt odes, underpinned by chord sequences that tell a story in their own right. Each musical theme is in it for the long game; pretty melodies dance and swell over the course of minutes, gradually transforming into fierce and fiery chordal riffs loaded with dark and beautiful harmony.
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“His music for Scrapbook is both pensive and poignant, clad in a delicate timbre of horns and strings.” (The Stables, Wavendon)
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Angus Bayley – piano, composition
Kieran McLeod – trombone
Alaric Taylor – trumpet
Nick Sigsworth – violin
Daisy Watkins – viola
Paul Trippett – bass
Dave Hamblett – drums
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Latest CD: Scrapbook (Spark)
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Web: www.scrapbook-music.com and www.angusbayley.co.uk
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Talinka Quartet
Friday 17 March 2017
Singer revives her career at the behest of her husband Gilad Atzmon
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Tali Atzmon had a starry career as actress and singer in Israel until she became a mother. Since then freelance photography and filmaking have given her time to bring up her family and retain an involvement in the arts. Now she is returning to the stage with an unusual band which gives her and Gilad an opportunity to explore areas of music-making distinct from what we might normally associate with Gilad. He has, however, arranged the music, produced the album and added a very individual baroque musician to the group to give it a distinctive sound. You won’t find a viola da gamba in any other jazz ensemble.
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Talinka is a musical attempt to defy the boundaries between styles and genres. It is where folk, early music, jazz and tango merge into simplicity, harmony and warmth. The band plays original materials but it also treats the American songbook in a refreshing manner.
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Tali Atzmon – vocals
Gilad Atzmon – bass clarinet, soprano sax, accordion
Jenny Bliss Bennett – viola da gamba, violin, flute, voice
Yaron Stavi – double bass
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Enzo Zirilli – drums (unfortunately, now not able to attend)
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Latest CD: Talinka
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Web: www.gilad.co.uk
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Zoe Rahman Solo
Friday 24 March 2017
Highly individual pianist and composer exposes her pure talent
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Zoe has been a favourite at Wakefield Jazz since she burst onto the scene with her quartet featuring drummer Gene Calderazzo with whom she had a fascinating rapport. Her own music is quirky and very personal, at times having explored both her father’s Bengali heritage and her mothers’s Irish influence. She was recruited into Courtney Pine’s band where she stood out as the exceptional soloist she is. This partnership developed into many duo performances with Courtney on bass clarinet, in which the fluid creativity of Zoe’s playing encouraged him to reinvigorate his own jazz chops. Now British Jazz Awards’ pianist of the year and nominated for Jazz FM’s Instrumentalist of the year, she has hit a high which we shall be proud to showcase. Solo presentations are demanding events, but Zoe’s winning personality and widely varied musical styles add to her impeccable jazz capabilities to produce an absorbing /engaging evening’s music.
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Solo presentations are demanding events, but Zoe’s winning personality and widely varied musical styles add to her impeccable jazz capabilities to produce an absorbing /engaging evening’s music.
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“Holy soul food. It feels good to listen to a musician who plays from the heart… another bliss infusion” – AllaboutJazz.com
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Zoe Rahman – grand piano
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Latest CD: Dreamland (solo piano)
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Web: www.zoerahman.com
Pete Oxley / Nicolas Meier Quartet
Friday 31 March 2017
Ten guitars are better than two when played by virtuosi
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Pete Oxley has been visiting Wakefield for many years and Nic Meier has been a couple of times. Now they join forces to present a modern duet combining Pete’s essential Englishness with Nic’s Euro – Middle Eastern influences. Both are absolute masters of the guitar, though with their own traits in technique; Pete’s Charlie Christian / Joe Pass style contrasts with Nic’s rock-influenced Mike Stern style. Together they can cover it all, electric and acoustic. Thanks to their carefully crafted compositions, they demonstrate the qualities that make the guitar duo such a rewarding combination, making use of various guitars, layered at times to symphonic effect. What’s also readily apparent is their undoubted technical skill and obvious joy in playing. They will feature numbers from their three albums together, the latest released just last year. Quite an achievement when Nic spends much of his time touring the world with Jeff Beck.
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So expect a dazzling display of contemporary fare, ranging from Turkish panache to soundscapes of Latin America to English pastoralism. What’s more, hear this played on nylon string, steel string, electric, 12-string, fretless, slide, synth, glissentar guitars and more!
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Two guys and 10 guitars. Expect the unexpected!
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“In the course of a dozen pieces the array of changing sounds, moods and textures they create is gorgeous, fascinating and apparently endless.“ – Dave Gelly (The Guardian)
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Pete Oxley – guitars
Nicolas Meier – guitars
Raph Mizraki – bass
Paul Cavaciuti – drums
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Latest CD: The Colours of Time
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Web: www.meiergroup.com
VEIN
Friday 28 April 2017
With support from the new singer, Marlena Kelli, and her trio from 7:30 pm
Swiss bassist leads a contemporary trio making a reputation in the UK
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This trio has had a ten year life in Switzerland and has toured the world with Americans Greg Osby and Dave Leibman. They have released a CD each year since 2006, often featuring American soloists, and their latest will provide some of the material for this concert. The brothers Arbenz are both classical and jazz performers and have recorded in both fields. Thomas is the youngest member of the group. Trained at the Basle Music Academy, he too has performed in classical and jazz genres. Florian achieved the European Award of Culture in 2000 for his contribution to music in the widest sense. So we can be assured of top rank playing with an engaging audience appeal.
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“…this magnificent trio is innovative without turning its back on various traditional influences. VEIN leads us to a jazzy future that is beguiling, harmonious, imaginative and rich. Their style, programme and musical quality is so appealing that last year they played eleven countries on three continents.” – Enterprises Magazine
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Michael Arbenz – piano
Thomas Lähns – bass
Florian Arbenz – drums
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Latest CD: VEIN – The Chamber Music Effect ( UNIT Records UTR 4716)
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Web: www.VEIN.ch
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The Chamber Music Effect Review
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Firebird Quartet
Friday 5 May 2017 (with support)
Locally based musicians combine to form a successful band
(Northern line ambassador artists sponsored by Jazz North)
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Supported by the newly formed Wakefield Big Band from 7:30pm
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Performing original compositions with energy and driving grooves as well as music from great contemporary jazz composers, Firebird Quartet deliver enough sophistication for any contemporary jazz aficionados but with a sense of groove that any audience will enjoy. Very local musicians (Leeds and York) these guys have been playing around the North for some time, however in this band a happy coincidence of intentions has coalesced to produce a really successful outfit. Regular playing and happy audiences have shaped performances which will. I guarantee, be much appreciated in Wakefield.
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“Chalk has that beautiful fat sound personified by such as Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown and Freddy Hubbard. Tone wasn’t sacrificed for technique nor vice versa – the perfect balance…” – Lance Liddle (Bebop Spoken Here blog)
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Ian Chalk – trumpet
Martin Longhawn – piano
John Marley – bass
Tim Carter – drums
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Latest CD: Consonance
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Jay Phelps Quartet
Friday 12 May 2017
Canadian trumpeter with a high grade band dedicated to jazz with a whole lot of life
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Jay has become a much in-demand international musician since his last appearance at Wakefield. He plays in a wide range of styles beyond jazz which gives him added appeal. His jazz credentials include playing with and leading Wynton Marsalis’ Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra and hosting the late show at Ronnie’s for a period. He has also appeared in the theatre (Peter Brook’s “The Suit”) and on TV (BBC 2’s “Dancing on the Edge”). The gig will feature arrangements not just by Jay but by virtually the entire band, showcasing their strong individual voices.
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“Phelps is not only keeping the spirit of Jazz alive but breathing a whole lot of new life into it.” – Amanda McCormack
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Jay Phelps – trumpet / vocals
Rick Simpson – piano
Mark Lewandowski – bass
Shane Forbes – drums
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Latest CD: Projections of Miles
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Web: www.JayPhelps.net
Jonathan Gee Quartet featuring Tim Whitehead
Friday 19 May 2017
With support from the Alexander Fisher trio at 7:30 pm.
A reprise of the band which composed and played our 25th Anniversary suite
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Jonathan Gee has a long history of appearances at the club and was commissioned to compose a piece to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2012. In fact he brought a whole set of pieces “The Wakefield Silver Suite” and asked Tim Whitehead to join his trio. It is a huge pleasure that the same band is able to join us once more in our celebratory Festival Month. Further, they promise to play our suite again, many pieces from which have become a regular part of Jonathan’s repertoire and have developed considerably since our first hearing. Both musicians are highly respected as players and composers and we are delighted they will highlight this anniversary.
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“…breathtaking risks, improvisational genius, all channelled through technical assurance, provide edge-of-the-seat excitement.” – Chris Parker ( Vortex Jazz Club) (JG)
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“’Whitehead more than justifies his reputation as one of Britain’s most thoughtful composers and improvisers.” – Chris Parker (The Times)
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Tim Whitehead – saxophones
Jonathan Gee – piano
Ben Hazleton – bass
Tristan Maillot – drums
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Latest CD: Dragonfly (JG) Colour Beginnings (TW)
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Web: www.timwhitehead.co.uk and www.jonathangeetrio.co.uk
Dominic Galea Quintet
Friday 26 May 2017
Protégé of Stan Tracey makes a rare visit to the UK
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During his life Stan Tracey took his family for many holidays to the island of Malta. Unsurprisingly, he had contact with the jazz community there and high among them was a pianist, Sammy Galea, father of Dominic Galea. Both Sammy and later the young Dominic studied with Stan and occasionally played in the UK.
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Dominic’s talent has been largely restricted to his homeland, until now. Clark is bringing him to the UK for a short tour of venues with good pianos and has put a quartet together to support him. He is an award-winning composer, member of the Malta Council for Culture and Arts and teaches at the University of Malta. He has played and recorded with an international band which included John McLaughlin.
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“His piano soars in melodic and atonal abandon while the drums and bass provide a subtle yet omnipresent sense of tension.” (Sunday Times)
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Dominic Galea – piano
Nadim Teimoori – tenor sax
Martin Shaw – trumpet
Mark Lewandowski – bass
Clark Tracey – drums
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Latest CD: Jozetta (Dominic Galea’s London Quintet)
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Web: www.dominicgalea.com
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Denys Baptiste Quartet – The Late Trane
Friday 2 June 2017
Renowned UK tenorist pays homage to the great Coltrane’s later music
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Denys is a Mercury and MOBO winner as well as BBC and Parliamentary Jazz Awards winner (for best album). He rarely records these days but has been stimulated to return to the studio by the 50th anniversary of the passing of John Coltrane, for whom he had enormous respect.
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This tour will feature the work prepared for that recording and brings out of London for another rare appearance the wonderful pianist Nikki Yeoh. Long term associate from Tomorrow’s Warriors, Rod Youngs (drums), and Neil Charles (bass) complete the quartet.
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Much of John Coltrane’s music is documented as records and CDs but sadly few artists perform this later works and as a result some great melodies are unfamiliar to audiences. Dusk Dawn, Crescent Living Space, Vigil and After the Rain are some of the compositions performed during, ‘The Late Trane’.
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“The traditionally swaggering tenor-sax tone with a soulfully imploring contemporary edge is still fully functioning. There’s plenty of Coltrane-driven orthodox-postbop that largely avoids the rhythmically byzantine nu-jazz challenges of recent years.”- John Fordham (Guardian)
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Denys Baptiste – tenor saxophone
Nikki Yeoh – piano
Gary Crosby – bass
Rod Youngs – drums
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Latest CD: The Late Trane
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