Empirical
Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon
Alexander Hawkins and Laura Cole
A Tribute to Duncan Lamont: with Duncan Lamont Jnr, featuring Esther Bennett and Beverley Beirne
A Requiem: The Alan Barnes Octet + poet Josie Moon
Alison Rayner Quintet
Calum Gourlay Quartet
Greg Abate (with Pete Rosser Trio)
Dale Storr – The Sounds of New Orleans
Xmas Blues Party with Stevie Williams and the Most Wanted Band
Alina Bzhezhinska presents “Alina Hip Harp”
SogoRock
Pigfoot
Nicola Farnon Trio
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Empirical
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Friday 4 October 2019
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The season begins with one of the UK’s most exciting jazz ensembles, multiple award-winners, consistently acclaimed since their formation in 2007.
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“Flirting with nostalgia while living on the edge of experimentation” – Jazzwise
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Nathaniel Facey – alto sax
Tom Farmer – double bass
Lewis Wright – vibraphone
Shaney Forbes – drums
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Website: www.empiricalmusic.com
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Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon
Friday 11 October 2019
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The UK’s leading jazz French horn player, Jim Rattigan is bringing his twelvetet to Wakefield. Jim has played with the orchestras of Carla Bley, Charlie Haden, Mike Gibbs and Django Bates, and has created in his own project “a perfect balance of scored ensemble and improvisation” (Dave Gelly). A star-studded line-up featuring many regular visitors to Wakefield Jazz.
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Jim Rattigan – french horn
Martin Speake, Andy Panayi, Mick Foster – saxophones
Robbie Robson, Steve Fishwick, George Hogg – trumpets
Mark Nightingale, tenor trombone
Sarah Williams – bass trombone
Hans Koller – piano
Mark Hodgson – double bass
Tim Giles – drums
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Website: https://jimrattigan.com
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Alexander Hawkins and Laura Cole
Friday 18 October 2019
– Double bill
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Alexander Hawkins is an internationally acclaimed contemporary jazz/impro pianist, making a rare Yorkshire solo appearance, enticed by our fine grand piano. Described as “state-of-the-art contemporary piano jazz, combining an advanced technique with a teeming imagination” in the Guardian, this will be a unique experience.
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Solo piano of Laura Cole, Leeds-based exploratory pianist, building on her solo album Enough, featuring compositions by musicians including Nikki Iles, Jason Yarde and Julie Tippetts.
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Alexander Hawkins – piano
Laura Cole – piano
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Website: www.alexanderhawkinsmusic.com/home.html
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A Tribute to Duncan Lamont: with Duncan Lamont Jnr, featuring Esther Bennett and Beverley Beirne
Friday 25 October 2019
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Duncan Lamont Jnr presents a tribute to his father, the legendary saxophonist and composer Duncan Lamont, who sadly died in July. With two excellent singers and a top trio, Duncan jnr will revisit a catalogue of nearly 70 years of compositions. With songs recorded by Cleo Laine, Natalie Cole, Tina May and many others (not to mention the Mr Benn tv theme), Duncan Lamont was an understated giant of British jazz since the 1950s, and a favourite at Wakefield Jazz.
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Duncan Lamont Jnr – alto sax/flute
Esther Bennett + Beverley Beirne – vocals
John Crawford – piano
Adrian Knowles – bass
Caroline Boaden – drums
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Website: https://duncanlamont.com
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facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EstherBennettMusic
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Also: Tribute to Duncan Lamont 25/10/19 – Theme from Mr Benn (D. Lamont)
A Requiem: The Alan Barnes Octet + poet Josie Moon
Friday 1 November 2019
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A jazz and poetry commission commemorating all who have died in conflict over the past century, and a call for peace.
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Alan Barnes – alto sax/clarinet/flute
Pat McCarthy – guitar
Dave Green – bass
Sebastiaan De Krom – drums
Gilad Atzmon – alto sax/clarinet
Dean Masser – tenor sax/clarinet
Neil Yates – trumpet
Mark Nightingale – trombone
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Website: https://josiemoon.co.uk/2019/02/08/a-requiem
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Website: www.grimsbyjazzprojects.com
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Alison Rayner Quintet
Friday 8 November 2019
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Winners of Ensemble of the Year in the 2018 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, the vibrant, communicative performances of the Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ) are described as “a celebration of life itself” by London Jazz News.
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Band members Alison Rayner and Deirdre Cartwright have been at the forefront of championing women in UK jazz for 30 years with the organisation they co-founded, Blow the Fuse.
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ARQ’s music combines richly nuanced compositions with folk-infused grooves, skilful musicianship and a love of improvisation.
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“Purposeful, full-toned and melodic…a beautifully integrated band” ★★★★ The Observer
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Alison Rayner – bass
Steve Lodder – piano
Deirdre Cartwright – guitar
Diane McLoughlin – saxophones
Buster Birch – drums
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Website: www.blowthefuse.com/artists/arq
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Calum Gourlay Quartet
Friday 15 November 2019
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support from Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra
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known for his deep warm tone, controlled execution as both a supporter and improviser and rock solid time and pulse.
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Calum Gourlay – bass
Helena Kay – tenor sax
Kieran McLeod – trombone
James Maddren – drums
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Website: https://www.calumgourlay.net
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Greg Abate (with Pete Rosser Trio)
Friday 22 November 2019
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The return of the NY bebop sax maestro who played so sensationally last year, that we had to have him back ASAP.
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Greg Abate – alto sax
Pete Rosser – piano
Adrian Knowles – bass
John Settle – drums
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Website: https://www.gregabate.com
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Dale Storr – The Sounds of New Orleans
Friday 29 November 2019
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A musical journey showcasing the legendary piano players of New Orleans – breathtaking piano playing and singing accompanied by encyclopaedic storytelling.
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Dale Storr – piano
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“A very, very fine piano player indeed” ~ Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2
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Described by Jazz Journal magazine as the “piano man’s piano man…” and “a national treasure”, Dale Storr’s musical journey has now brought him recognition as one of the UK’s leading exponents of New Orleans piano.
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Inspired by his parents record collection of early Rhythm n’ Blues and Rock n’ Roll, the evocative music of New Orleans quickly became a passion for the young pianist. He immersed himself into the styles of heroes like Dr.John, James Booker, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino and Huey ‘Piano’ Smith to name but a few. His piano studies took him to Sheffield where he established himself as a highly sought after pianist backing many top blues stars from the U.K. and America.
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However, the music of his beloved New Orleans was always going to take precedence and from 2008 Dale went solo with his now acclaimed ‘Sounds of New Orleans’ show.
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“Storr’s music is authentic barrelhouse pianism and singing and should be on the play list of all broad minded jazz lovers” ~ Jazz Journal magazine
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Since then he has wowed audiences across the U.K. and Europe with his intoxicating piano mastery and vocals, as well as sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the crescent city. Dale draws in the audience with the rich history behind the music telling the often risque stories of his much loved piano heroes.
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He has reached the finals of the British Blues Awards seven years in succession and also won the 2015 best musical performance award at the Buxton Fringe Festival.
Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride of the music and tales of the great New Orleans piano players.
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Website: https://dalestorr.com
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Xmas Blues Party with Stevie Williams and the Most Wanted Band
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Friday 6 December 2019
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A slight change to the usual Christmas Party. Come early because some of the food will be served BEFORE the first set. We won’t forget the monster raffle. Oh, and the band will be sensational as well.
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All ticket gig
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Doors open at 6:30 pm. Music from 8 pm
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Stevie Williams – bass/vocals
Clive Mellor – harmonica/vocals
Markie Creswell – guitar/vocals
Dave Hassell – drums/percussion
Billy Buckley – guitar/lap steel guitar
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Website: www.steviewilliams.co.uk
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.Alina Bzhezhinska presents “Alina Hip Harp”
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Friday 17 January
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A return to Wakefield for the London-based Ukrainian harpist, featuring her own recent compositions plus the works of legendary harpists Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane.
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“Bzhezhinska – an artist to watch.”
★★★★ Jane Cornwell, Evening Standard
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“Bzhezhinska shares with Alice (Coltrane) a mastery of the jazz harp.”
★★★★★ Will Hodgkinson, The Times
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Alina Bzhezhinska – harp
Mikele Montolli – Electric Bass
Adam Teixeira – Drums
Joel Prime – drums
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Website: www.alina-harpist.com
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Internationally renowned harpist Alina Bzhezhinska has a strong reputation for innovation. This time she creates a unique sound on the harp with electronics and loop pedals, supported by Mikele Montolli (bass), Adam Teixeira (drums) and Joel Prime (percussion). Through a combination of original works and covers, she pays homage to some of jazz, funk and hip-hop’s greatest innovators. Her new quartet draws from a variety of influences, including the likes of Dorothy Ashby’s ‘Afro-harping’, Alice Coltrane’s spiritual outputs and Sun Ra’s free form jazz experimentation; as well as 90’s Triphop and Kuti-esque Afrobeat rhythms.
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Encouraged by her collaboration with Kamaal Williams, Shabaka Hatching and Ursula Rucker, she steps out in new jazz territory.
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Biographies
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Two years ago, Bzhezhinska stormed the UK music scene when her quartet and appeared at the Barbican during the EFG London Jazz Festival alongside Denys Baptiste and Pharoah Sanders – and has been nominated for Best Live Experience of the Year at the 2018 Jazz FM Awards. Later she produced her critically acclaimed album, Inspiration (Ubuntu Music), featuring award winning saxophonist Tony Kofi. She has since performed at the London Jazz Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and the WOMADelaide Festival in Australia. With a fresh outlook and encouraged by her collaboration with Kamaal Williams, Shabaka Hatching and Ursula Rucker, she now steps into new jazz territory.
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Bassist, Mikele Montolli (Verona, Italy) has performed and recorded with such great artists as ”Sun Ra Arkestra” Knoel Scott quartet and Marshall Allen, top U.K. Jazz singers Julie Dexter and Heidi Vogel, and L.A. saxophone legend Don Menza, thus building an extensive music vocabulary based on Afro-American tradition fused with years of classical training and experimental form-free music. In 2017 Montolli released his debut album “Satellite House”.
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Adam Teixeira is a drummer, percussionist, composer and educator from Toronto, Canada currently based in London. Versed in many world rhythmic vocabulary, Adam mixes various influences with a unique and modern expression. “Adam Teixeira alternates with perfect intuition between pushing forward and supportively underpinning at the drums.” – Ian Ballamy.
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Australian drummer/percussionist, Joel Prime has become an important addition to British jazz. 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 created the opportunity for Joel to perform with Tony Kofi, Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet, Mr Little’s Noisy Band, Felix Riebl and The Copasetic Foundation, amongst others.
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SogoRock
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Friday 24 January
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Led by resident Hungarians Bela and ‘Laky Franz’ with their fellow LCoM alumni, SogoRock (meaning ‘brother-in-law’) resists classification: the band blends elements of jazz, fusion, funk, rock and gospel along with the musical heritages of each player with an open spirit and impeccable musicianship.
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A Northern Line Ambassador Artist gig sponsored by Jazz North
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Ferenc Lakatos – synth
Kris Urbanski – tenor saxophone
Nik Svarc – guitar
Bela Horvath – piano, keyboards
Alexander Miller – bass
Joshua Gumbs – drums
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Website: www.sogorock.co.uk
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Pigfoot
Friday 31 January
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A thrilling all-star line-up creating their own genre of avant-trad New Orleans music – 21st century acid trad! Featuring music by Elvis Presley, Curtis Mayfield, Mozart and Wagner, with rumbustious solos by a quartet of regular favourites at Wakefield Jazz.
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Bursting on to the scene in 2013 Pigfoot have met critical acclaim appearing at top festivals throughout the UK including London. The Wakefield audience can expect to hear work from their latest CD “Pigfoot Shuffle” with re-workings of a range of classic material; Led Zeppelin’s raucous “Black Dog”, the 70’s funk of Curtis Mayfield’s “Pusherman”, the South African township transformation of a Mozart aria from “The Marriage of Figaro” and a medley of Elvis Presley and Wagner material. Liam Noble’s creative and individual keyboard and piano format allows Chris Batchelor’s trumpet and James Allsopp’s baritone sax to combine as a flexible and powerful frontline, egged on by the inspired eccentricity of Paul Clarvis’ sparky and spiky drumming. Anything can happen but you can be sure that everyone will have a good time!
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Chris Batchelor – trumpet/cornet
Liam Noble – piano/keyboards
James Allsopp – tenor sax/bass clarinet
Paul Clarvis – drums
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Website: www.chris-batchelor.com/projects.html
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Nicola Farnon Trio
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Friday 7 February
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By popular demand, a return visit for the Sheffield-based trio, featuring Nicola’s passionate swinging style and charismatic stage presence.
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With an engaging repertoire of classic jazz standards and original songs, Nicola’s vocals are guaranteed to get the evening swinging along in fine style. Piero Tucci takes tenor sax and piano, adding to this trio’s outstanding versatility and stage presence. Phil Johnson’s intense and propulsive drumming will be holding the rhythm for this crowd-pleasing trio.
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Nicola Farnon vocals/bass
Piero Tucci piano/tenor sax
Phil Johnson drums
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Website: www.nicolafarnon.com
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