Roger Beaujolais Quartet
Triptych – The Paul Edis Trio
Alyn Cosker Quartet
Ubunye
Kristian Borring Quartet
Bootleg Eric Band
Perpetual Motion Machine
Printmakers
Birkett & Fisk play Venuti & Lang
Sam Leak’s “Adrift”
John Crawford’s Latin Quintet
Kate Williams’ 4 plus 3 with Georgia Mancio
Loz Speyer’s Inner Space
Dan Whieldon ‘Positive Changes’ Quartet
Roger Beaujolais Quartet
Friday 16 February 2018
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Master of the vibraphone tours to promote his best received quartet recording yet
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Roger has been in recording studios since 1982 and releasing albums under his own name since 1989. He’s still brilliantly well received and the latest, nineteenth, CD “Sunset” has had the best reviews to date. His work in studios and teaching mean Roger has had 30 years of perfecting his craft and he shows this in every mallet stroke.
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Long-standing colleagues Robin Aspland, Simon Thorpe and Winston Clifford have a bedded-down relationship with him and this is a fully integrated band.
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“This is a terrific no-nonsense album of exciting and relaxing jazz which once again shows Roger Beaujolais to be both a fine player and an essential member of the UK jazz scene. Long may his butterfly valves rotate.” – Mark McKergow, London Jazz News
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Roger Beaujolais – vibraphone
Robin Aspland – piano
Simon Thorpe – bass
Winston Clifford – drums
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Latest CD: Sunset (Stay Tuned ST010)
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Web: rogerbeaujolais.com
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Triptych – The Paul Edis Trio
Friday 23 February 2018
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Major pianist from the North East with his most established trio
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Paul is an established name on the UK Jazz scene as both a Pianist and Composer. Based in Newcastle he has performed with a host of jazz luminaries including Jon Faddis, Tim Garland, Greg Abate, Julian Siegel, Tony Kofi, Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams, Steve Waterman, Vasilis Xenopoulos and many more. He regularly performs at some of the UK’s top venues, festivals and on radio. This trio was broadcast from last year’s Sage Jazz Festival.
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He has given classical recitals, played for numerous shows and recordings and is in high demand as a sight-reader and accompanist. His group brings a diverse repertoire and extensive experience to create new interpretations of old standards alongside new compositions, often with a rhythmic twist involving metric modulations and longer form compositions.
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“On this evidence the names of Liam Noble and Paul Edis should routinely be spoken of in the same breath.” – Ian Mann, TheJazzMann
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Paul Edis – piano
Paul Susans – bass
Rob Walker – drums
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Web: www.pauledis.co.uk
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Alina Bzhezhinska’s London Quartet
Friday 2 March 2018
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Sadly, the appalling UK weather made travel to Wakefield Jazz impossible for this gig. We hope to welcome Alina back in November.
Alyn Cosker Quartet
Friday 9 March 2018
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Scots drummer shows off his talent for composition and rhythm
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Alyn has long been “the” drummer of choice north of the border holding a permanent seat in Tommy Smith’s Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. His lead role in that Orchestra’s presentation of the music of Buddy Rich was a tour de force as exciting as any drummer can achieve. However less well known are his talents as a composer and arranger; this band rectifies that oversight.
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Alyn has long been “the” drummer of choice north of the border holding a permanent seat in Tommy Smith’s Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. His lead role in that Orchestra’s presentation of the music of Buddy Rich was a tour de force as exciting as any drummer can achieve. However less well known are his talents as a composer and arranger; this band rectifies that oversight.
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The band’s first album Lyn’s Une was critically acclaimed and the second album is soon to be released. We can expect the best of both tonight.
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“Alyn Cosker represents the best of the new generation of drummers currently on the scene. He’s smokin’!” – Joe Locke
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Steve Hamilton – piano
Davie Dunsmuir – guitar
Colin Cunningham – bass
Alyn Cosker – drums
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Latest CD: Lyn’s Une
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Ubunye
Friday 16 March 2018
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South African Vocal Jazz – A Northern Line Ambassador Artist gig sponsored by Jazz North
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This band represents pianist Dave Evans’ long-lasting interest in South Africa and its music.
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He combines his jazz quartet with a trio of close harmony vocalists (ex-pat. South Africans from the Huddersfield area). Ubunye (‘one-ness’) unites singers hailing from Kwa Zulu Natal in South Africa with gospel and R’n’B players from Yorkshire, in an inspirational blend of jazz, Isigqi – traditional Zulu music – and Afro-pop. High energy African beats and traditional sounds morph into more contemporary African musical styles. All that and the jazz skills of this established quartet. Bring it on!
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“It’s a soulful, goose bump inducing experience.” – Manchester Jazz Festival
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Dave Evans – piano and songwriting
Nik Rutherford – guitar
Kenny Higgins – bass
Alex Wibrew – drums
Thandanani Gumede – voice and songwriting
Nokuthula Zondi-Kamudyariwa – voice
Xolani Mbatha – baritone voice
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Web: www.ubunye.co.uk
Kristian Borring Quartet
Friday 13 April 2018
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Danish guitarist resident in Australia with a huge UK reputation
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During his time in London, over the past ten years or so, Kristian has played with all the top UK musicians. This means that when he puts a personal project together he can pick from an array of great musicians to join him. That’s just what this band represents. He is also a prolific and accessible composer so he is never short of entertaining material to take into the recording studio. This tour promotes his latest CD – recorded live at The Vortex in London.
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Pretty much every track is a joy. This is confident, sophisticated work at every level – composition, arrangement, execution – and a pleasure to listen to throughout.
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Kristian Borring – guitar
Rick Simpson – piano
Dave Whitford – bass
Jon Scott – drums
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Latest CD: Kristian Borring Quartet Live at the Vortex
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Web: Kristianborring.com
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Bootleg Eric Band
Friday 20 April 2018
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To celebrate the anniversary of Eric Parkin: the music of his eponymous recording
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This is a Newton / Tracey band to play their music, primarily the Bootleg Eric Suite.
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That music was written to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Wakefield Jazz.
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One piece was composed and titled Bootleg Eric, a Wakefield character (Eric Parkin) who always made his own recordings of Wakefield Jazz gigs. The suite was recorded and the consequent album also named “Bootleg Eric”. The band and the music was revived at last year’s Swanage Jazz Festival. Eric Parkin died shortly before that performance.
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We asked Dave and Clark to reprise the music once more to celebrate the anniversary of Eric’s death. After more than 20 years, few of the original band were still playing or available. This is also a variant of the Swanage band.
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However, this band of equivalent star quality is to visit Wakefield Jazz on this occasion to honour Eric and to give us the opportunity to hear, once more, great music played by a very special Octet.
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This will be a rare experience and should not fail to move us.
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David Newton – piano (composer)
Clark Tracey – drums (composer)
Steve Fishwick – trumpet
Mark Nightingale – trombone
Derek Nash – alto sax
Paul Booth – tenor sax
Dean Masser – tenor sax
Arnie Somogyi – bass
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Latest CD: Bootleg Eric (ASC records)
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Web: www.ascrecords.com/bootleg_eric.html
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Perpetual Motion Machine
Friday 27 April 2018
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Two guitars and two saxes add verve to high-energy jazz and rock
A Northern Line Ambassador Artist gig sponsored by Jazz North
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Almost as soon as humans created machines, they attempted to make “perpetual motion machines” that work on their own and that work forever. However, the devices never have and likely never will work as their inventors hoped. With an unusual line-up of twin tenor saxophones, twin guitars, bass, and drums, the band Perpetual Motion Machine creates a cinemascope sound that surrounds the listener and the power comes not from sheer volume, but from the breadth (stylistic and spatial) of its sources which include the likes of Bowie and Peter Gabriel. Rock, free-improvisation, spoken word, and jazz coexist in this exciting new music, crafted by artists who embrace these traditions in all their variety and depth.
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“Perpetual Motion Machine play their own original music; a dynamic mixture of jazz, rock, funk and ambient soundscapes, with an energy and dynamism that will have you on the edge of your seat.” – Steve Crocker – 7 Jazz (now JazzLeeds)
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Sam Dunn – guitar
Jamie Taylor – guitar
Ben Lowman – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Nadim Teimoori – tenor saxophone
Garry Jackson – electric & double bass
Steve Hanley – drums
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Latest CD: Ignition
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Web: www.samdunnguitarist.co.uk/perpetual-motion-machine
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Printmakers
Friday 4 May 2018
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Our patron brings her supergroup for the best in British Jazz
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The epitome of mature English Jazz has been arrived at through many iterations of the best of British musicians under the leadership and inspiration of Nikki Iles (best pianist – British Jazz Awards 2017).
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The other constant factor of seminal importance to this band’s sound is the vocal expertise of Norma Winstone MBE. Norma uses her voice as an instrument for the great range it has but sings words, often written by herself, for their sophistication and wit. With Mike Walker and Mark Lockheart, both capable of wonderful flights of improvised fancy, there is a possibility of exploiting Nikki’s writing (and of her heroes Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor) to the full. The best in UK bass and drums combination is personified by Steve Watts and, a generation younger, James Maddren.
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“In the old days, this band would have had the words “All-Stars” in their name. Every one of them is a leading figure in British contemporary jazz. Together, they create 10 evocative sound-pictures of places and times. It’s remarkable how just five instruments and voice can suggest space and depth as they do.” – Dave Gelly, The Observer
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Norma Winstone MBE – vocals
Nikki Iles – piano
Mark Lockheart – tenor sax
Mike Walker – guitar
Steve Watts – bass
James Maddren – drums
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Latest CD: Westerley (Basho records)
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Web: https://nikkiiles.co.uk/the-printmakers
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A Wakefield Jazz Club festival gig (1 of 5)
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Andrea Jenkyns, MP for Morley and Outwood, welcomes the start of our 31st Anniversary Jazz Festival. Seen with our Patron Nikki Iles and Norma Winstone MBE.
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Birkett & Fisk play Venuti & Lang
Friday 11 May 2018
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Authentic ’20s/30s jazz: rhythmic and uplifting with infectious energy
A Northern Line Ambassador Artist gig sponsored by Jazz North
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Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang were boyhood friends in New York who set a precedent for string jazz that was followed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli.
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Emma Fisk has been playing jazz violin since she was a teenager when she soaked up classic Grappelli recordings. James Birkett is among the country’s most acclaimed guitarists. He developed and led one of the UK’s first degree programmes in jazz and related music, which is now run at Sage Gateshead. However, we in Wakefield acknowledge him for another reason. For 5 years from early 1982, Jim ran a jazz gig at the Wakefield Arms in the centre of the city, which was the precursor of Wakefield Jazz, so it is entirely appropriate as a Founders’ gig.
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“Truly outstanding performances by two top draw instrumentalists totally au fait with the music they were recreating. Emma Fisk swings like few violinists do whilst Jim Birkett (I can’t get used to calling him James) can cover just about any style from Lang to Metheny via Django and Christian. Together, it was a musical marriage made in Pink Lane.” – Lance Liddle, The Jazz Cafe, Newcastle upon Tyne
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Emma Fisk – violin
James Birkett – guitar
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Latest CD: Birkett & Fisk play Venuti & Lang
Websites:
www.emmafisk.co.uk
www.jamesbirkettmusic.com
www.birkettandfisk.com
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A Wakefield Jazz Club Festival Gig (2 of 5)
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Sam Leak’s “Adrift”
Friday 18 May 2018
Support from 7:30 pm – The Dan Wyllie Nonet
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Contemporary jazz with a gospel-tinged, and folk-inspired, freedom and abandon
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Leak himself impresses, both as a player and composer, because he’s not afraid to wear his influences on his sleeve. The imprint of Keith Jarrett’s American quartet is particularly evident, but the group manage nevertheless to carve out a space of their own. By not trying too hard they achieve plenty. He is a thoughtful and resourceful young pianist with a wonderful touch and a very sensitive ear to the overall ensemble sound. What is striking on a first listen to his new material is how he patiently develops his lines and uses space masterfully. This is another great young talent who looks more than capable of helping to keep the Brit Jazz flag proudly flying well into the future.
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Sam Leak – piano
Simon Read – bass
Dave Smith (Robert Plant) – drums
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Latest recording: Places (with Aquarium) (Jellymould Jazz). New Trio release this month.
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Web: www.samleak.com
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A Wakefield Jazz Club festival gig (3 of 5)
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John Crawford’s Latin Quintet
Friday 25 May 2018
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Pianist joined by two Uruguyans and two Brits to present a varied diet of Latin-flavoured jazz
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Through his Spanish mother, John developed an early interest in Spanish, then Latin-American music. He has played in a huge variety of commercial and jazz contexts but when left to his own devices he always returns to his first love where he can indulge his jazz skills and stylistic preference. To boost the authentic rhythmic sound of the band he has two musicians from Montevideo playing guitar and (mainly) cajón. Simon Pearson (drums) is also a well-experienced drummer in this genre.
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“Another impressive outing from Crawford. The programme is a mix of originals plus a genre spanning selection of outside material covering flamenco, latin and related sounds, all of which makes for an interesting, varied and stimulating album.” – Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann
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John Crawford – piano
Guillermo Hill – guitar
Richard Sadler – bass
Andres Ticino – percussion
Simon Pearson – drums
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John Denison (Chair) and Chris de Saram (Promoter) of Wakefield Jazz are shown with the new Mayor of Wakefield, Stuart Heptinstall, and John Crawford’s Latin Quintet.
L-R John Denison, John Crawford – piano, Stuart Heptinstall, Chris de Saram, Richard Sadler – bass, Guillermo Hill – guitar, Simon Pearson (from Leeds) – drums, Andres Ticino – percussion
Latest CD: Times and Tides
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A Wakefield Jazz Club festival gig (4 of 5)
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Kate Williams’ 4 plus 3 with Georgia Mancio
Friday 1 June 2018
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Jazz trio with Guastalla string quartet and a wonderful singer
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An award-winning team of two of the UK’s leading artists: pianist/composer Kate Williams and vocalist/ lyricist Georgia Mancio in a collection of songs, old and newly co-written, arranged for trio, string quartet and voice, linked by the concept of finding home.
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Finding Home is the maturation of their 10 year collaboration with past performances at Ronnie Scotts, Cleethorpes Jazz Festival and a televised broadcast for BBC Radio Scotland’s prestigious Jazz Nights at The Quay. Kate has also worked with Bobby Wellins (Smoke And Mirrors 2012), Chris Biscoe, Stan Sulzmann and The Pete Hurt Jazz Orchestra. Georgia’s other credits number Bobby McFerrin, Ian Shaw, Liane Carroll, Jason Rebello and her own ReVoice! and Hang Festivals.
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“There is nothing forced or stilted in this combination. The trio plays with genuine swing; the quartet freely deploys its own natural dynamics. Of all the jazz-classical blends I have heard recently this is certainly the most convincing and enjoyable. And Kate Williams is a very good jazz pianist anyway – crisp, incisive and totally at one with the rhythmic ebb and flow.” – Dave Gelly
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Georgia Mancio – vocals
Kate Williams – piano
Oli Hayhurst – bass
Dave Ingamells – drums
John Garner – violin
Julian Fish – violin
Miguel Rodriguez – viola
Sergio Serra – cello
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Latest CD: Four plus Three
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Web: kate-williams-quartet.com
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A Wakefield Jazz Club festival gig (5 of 5)
Loz Speyer’s Inner Space
Friday 8 June 2018
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For the new music commissioned for this tour, Loz Speyer is writing a series of “portraits” dedicated to particular Jazz innovators; and, in a new departure for Inner Space, there will be music collectively composed by the band, and evolving during the tour.
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Inner Space plays jazz with a rare warmth and immediacy. The compositions combine rhythmic changes with subliminal references that synthesize New Orleans, Bebop, contemporary straight-ahead and Free Jazz. The album title refers to the margin or hinterland between composition and improvisation, a territory that is well known to all of the members of this quintet. Among the great jazz artists referenced as influences by Speyer are Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman and Steve Lacey, traces of whom can all be detected in Inner Space’s music
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“One of the happiest evenings I’ve heard in jazz for many a long night… Music as rare as this defies description. Go along and see them! Or get their forthcoming CD…” – Karl Dallas, the Morning Star (UK – Halifax gig)
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Loz Speyer – trumpet and flugelhorn
Chris Biscoe – alto sax and alto clarinet
Rachel Musson – tenor and soprano sax
Ollie Brice – bass
Gary Willcox – drums
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Latest CD: Life on the Edge
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Web: lozspeyer.com
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Dan Whieldon ‘Positive Changes’ Quartet
Friday 15 June 2018
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Award winning pianist performs refined and elegant music
A Northern Line Ambassador Artist gig sponsored by Jazz North
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Dan studied classical piano at Birmingham Conservatoire and whilst there discovered Jazz after hearing a CD of Michel Petrucciani. He later studied in Brussels which gave him a further love of European Jazz. He won the Nottingham National Jazz Piano Competition in 2008. For this, the last gig of the season, he is bringing us a new band performing his pieces: contemporary European in style, rich in harmony, refined and elegant, the melodies eloquently voiced by the lyrical flugelhorn of Richard Iles. Dan’s long time bass player, Gavin Barrass and drummer Caroline Boaden add their skills to the mix.
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“Dan is also a master of solo and duo playing, providing the perfect partner, with his exceptional playing!” – Adrian Stevenson, Manchester Jazz Festival, 2012
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Dan Whieldon – piano
Richard Iles – flugelhorn
Gavin Barrass – bass
Caroline Boaden – drums
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Latest CD: Positive changes
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Hits: 1709
