Jazz Services - A voice for jazz

Kevin Figes Quartet

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Kevin Figes - Saxes and compositions

Jim Blomfield - Piano

Will Harris – Bass

Mark Whitlam – Drums

www.kevinfiges.co.uk

Kevin Figes' Quartet plays the saxophonist’s own distinctive compositions and has performed all over the UK for many years to enthusiastic audiences.  The group has to date released two well-received albums, “Circular Motion” (Edition) and “Hometime” (Pig), which have garnered widespread critical acclaim and airplay.  There is a striking level of empathy and interplay within the Quartet that comes from a combination of highly accomplished players, all great improvisers in their own right who have worked closely together for some time.

The compositions are constantly developing to produce work which is challenging and contemporary.  Influences include David Binney, Dave Holland and Chris Potter but also many more spread across many musical genres.  With a tight rhythmic focus that retains its melodic emphasis at all times, Figes and co. produce personal music in a fearless and constantly evolving way.  The tour will showcase music from their recently released album ‘Tables And Chairs’

Kevin Figes - saxophones, compositions

Kevin began studying saxophone with Elton Dean and later attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama studying with Tim Garland. He composes for his own quartet which has released two CDs and tours the UK regularly.  He also writes for the 15 piece big band Resonation which features some of the finest musicians from the west and beyond.  He has a notable connection with Keith Tippett, performing in his big band Tapestry in Portugal and Canada and in his Octet including broadcasts on Radio 3 and a CD release on Ogun.  Kevin has also performed with Dave Stapleton and recorded an album for his label (Edition).  More recently he formed the band “4 Sided Triangle” which included guitarist Mike Outram, and their first CD was released on Pig records in July 2012.

Jim Blomfield - piano

Since moving to Bristol in 1991, Jim has often been the pianist of choice to accompany many of the UK’s finest jazz musicians including Bobby Wellins, Andy Sheppard and Pete King.  Somewhat a specialist in Latin piano styles, he was described by the Independent On Sunday’s Phil Johnson as, “the best British pianist you've never heard of and an absolute marvel.”  Jim’s recording work includes his own album ‘Peaks and Troughs’ (ASC Records), containing both quartet and septet original pieces.  His arranging skills for larger ensemble include compositions commissioned by the Bristol Brass Consort and The Bristol Ensemble, the latter involving collaborations for the contemporary/crossover ‘Elektrostatic’ concerts at Bristol’s Colston Hall.  In addition to his trio, recent projects include co-leading and composing for acclaimed contemporary big band ‘Resonation’ alongside Kevin Figes and bassist Jeff Spencer.

Will Harris - bass

Will's dynamic, versatile and comprehensive approach to the double bass guaranteed he has become an in-demand musician in the South West, having played with the likes of Bobby Wellins, Alan Barnes, David Newton, Tina May and Anita Wardell.  His playing has taken him to venues and festivals across the UK including Brecon, Cheltenham and Oxford jazz festivals, as well as Glastonbury Festival.  Recent studio work has included albums with the Andy Hague Quintet, Jake McMurchie (Get The Blessing) trio, Dom Franks' Strayhorn, and singer Emily Wright's Moonlight Saving Time.

Will developed his skills as an arranger for the Hornstars big band, and now arranges for popular Latin jazz band The Magnificent Seven.  As well as running his own improvising workshops Will worked as a tutor on Nia Lynn's songwriting summer school.  Will was musical director of a big band on BBC Points West, and musical theatre work has taken him to the Theatre Royal Bath as well as London's Soho Theatre and Arcola Theatre.

Mark Whitlam - drums

Mark is also hugely in demand and has performed many of the UK's finest jazz musicians including Alan Barnes, Gareth Williams, Tina May, Dave Newton, Jim Mullen, Mike Outram and Chris Biscoe.  He also plays in the Jim Blomfield Trio, the Nick Malcolm Quartet, Moonlight Saving Time and Jake McMurchie's trio and has recordings coming out with each of these groups.  Mark has appeared at most of the UK's leading jazz festivals including Brecon, Cheltenham, Manchester and Swanage and also Glastonbury Festival, having received air play on BBC Radio 3 'Late Junction' and Radio 6 'Introducing ...' programmes.  As an educator, he tutors undergraduate students as a member of the drum faculty at BIMM Bristol.

“a very smart piece of work” - Jazzwise 

“It’s this combination of rich writing with an outstanding band that gives Figes' solo LP such distinction” - Independent on Sunday

Greyish Quartet

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

David Austin Grey - piano/compositions

Sam Wooster - trumpet

Nick Jurd - double bass

Jim Bashford - drums

http://davidaustingrey.com/projects/greyishquartet/ 

Formed in Birmingham in 2008, Greyish Quartet play original compositions written by pianist and band leader David Austin Grey.  Their music is rooted firmly in the contemporary jazz idiom and Grey and his cohorts are not afraid to take on compositions by established jazz composers such as Wayne Shorter, Dave Douglas and Stan Sulzmann, but collectively the group nevertheless draws on influences from hip-hop and rock to minimalism and modern classical music.

The quartet have recently released 'The Dark Red Room', a set of compositions inspired by film, photography and cinema, and have also started work on new material, building on their previous success, but fresh with new ideas and taking on board deeper elements of composition and performance.  Coupling their diverse range of influences with a contemporary mindset and approach, Greyish Quartet are an increasingly enticing prospect on the UK’s jazz scene.

David Austin Grey - piano/compositions 

David Austin Grey is a UK based pianist, composer and educator who studied music at The University of Birmingham and Birmingham Conservatoire with such musicians as Hans Koller, Liam Noble & Mike Williams. Aside from GQ, David is the founder of One Many People, a jazz/reggae band (initially) commissioned to play music inspired by pianist Wynton Kelly.  Over the last few years David has worked with a number of well-respected musicians including Soweto Kinch, Martin Speake, Yazz Ahmed, Gemma Weekes and Michael Fletcher.  As an educator, writer and leader his previous and current clients include Birmingham Jazz, THSH, Birmingham Conservatoire, Jazzlines, EC Arts, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Nu-Century Arts & The University of Birmingham, and as a performer he has appeared at numerous venues and festivals across the country including Harmonic Festival, Birmingham Town Hall, The Flyover Show, and Glasgow International Jazz Festival.

Sam Wooster – trumpet

Sam grew up Bristol and took an interest in music from an early age.  In 2005 Sam moved to Birmingham to study on the BMus Hons Jazz course, graduating in 2009 with first class honours and later winning the 2009 Yamaha/Classic FM scholarship for outstanding musicians.  Since graduating Sam has become a staple of the Midlands jazz scene and regularly performs around Europe.  Currently he is working with a newly formed trio entitled Cabal and leads his own quartet Husk; a dark plethora of chaotic noise whose emergence into the worlds of jazz, rock and free improvisation has caused quite a stir.

Jim Bashford - drums

Jim’s early influences included both the rock/progressive rock and jazz scenes.  He studied at Birmingham Conservatoire under tutors such as the great Tony Levin, Jeff Williams, Gene Calderazzo, Stephen Keoghn and Malcolm Garrett, as well as studying with Hans Koller, Mike Williams and Jeremy Price.  James now works on the faculty after being given an offer to work there during his 3rd year on the course.  He runs logistics and facilities at the Birmingham Conservatoire and organises workshops with highly acclaimed artists on the jazz scene in Europe and the U.S.

Nick Jurd - double bass

Nick grew up in Grantham, Lincolnshire where he started playing bass guitar at 12.  His interest in the bass became more serious when he switched to double bass having been inspired by the records of Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman.  Having decided to pursue music as a career Nick went on to study at Birmingham Conservatoire, where he learnt from such musicians as Dave Holland, John Taylor, Tony Levin, Arnie Somogyi, Mark Hodgson and Hans Koller.  Nick is currently working regularly in Birmingham both as a highly in demand sideman and as a leader of his own quartet and as part of Cabal, a new Birmingham based trio.

“What is most impressive, apart from the sophisticated writing, is the clear and personal sound and style Grey has developed, together with the highly sympathetic playing of these young musicians.” - The Jazz Breakfast

“A great debut album” - Mike Chadwick/Jazz FM

“Great ability as a band leader.  The music has a cohesion and intent.” - Julian Joseph

Georgia Mancio duo/trio/quartet

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Pic: Lara Leigh

Line-up:

Georgia Mancio - voice (duo, trio, quartet)

Nigel Price - guitar (duo)

Julie Walkington - double bass (trio, quartet)

Tim Lapthorn - piano (quartet)

Dave Ohm - drums (quartet)

http://www.georgiamancio.com/

An award-winning jazz vocalist and lyricist, Georgia Mancio is a standout talent on the UK’s vocal jazz scene. With her live performances an on record she has proved herself a true improviser with an innate musicality and a boundless and bold imagination.  Her music embraces her Anglo/Italian/Uruguayan background: seamlessly performing in five languages and interpreting Fats Waller, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Tom Waits, David Bowie, Kenny Wheeler, The Beatles, Brazilian samba, Chilean folk and Italian pop often with her own beautifully crafted lyrics.

Georgia has performed with Bobby McFerrin, Sheila Jordan, Ian Shaw, Liane Carroll, Jason Rebello, Gwilym Simcock, Bobby Wellins and supported Monty Alexander, Milton Nascimento and Cedar Walton among others.  Alongside her extensive touring schedule she also produces, presents and performs in ReVoice! - the annual international voice festival that began in 2010 in association with the Pizza Express Jazz Club.

This tour showcases three projects with some of the UK’s most impressive players. Her longstanding quartet features original music co-written with pianist, Tim Lapthorn, and arrangements by herself and drummer, Dave Ohm.  Georgia’s strong collaboration with guitarist, Nigel Price, is cemented by a mutual love and respect for standard repertoire. The duo (and trio with bassist Julie Walkington) is a personal journey of these songs with story-telling and improvisation as equal partners.

Nigel Price (guitar)

Nigel Price is one of the most highly regarded and in demand guitarists on the current UK jazz scene. His blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues feel and mastery of chording have made him instantly accessible to audiences and press alike. His organ trio (with Pete Whittaker and Matt Home) won Best Jazz Ensemble in the 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and have released 3 much lauded albums. He is a member of The Filthy Six (Acid Jazz label) and has worked with the James Taylor Quartet, Alan Barnes, Alex Garnett, Snowboy and the Ronnie Scott’s Allstars among many others.

Tim Lapthorn (piano)

Since completing a Post-Graduate Diploma in Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music in 2000 pianist and composer, Tim Lapthorn, has made an indelible impact on the British jazz scene. He has performed and recorded with many leading jazz musicians and groups including: Chris Potter, Eddie Henderson, Ian Shaw, Brandon Allen, Bobby Wellins, Dave Lewis’ 1Up, Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance, Polly Gibbons and Jean Toussaint. As leader of his own trio he has produced four critically acclaimed albums: Outlines, Natural Language, Seventh Sense and his recent release Transport which features his own compositions for trio and string quartet.

Julie Walkington (bass)

Julie started her musical career playing electric bass with various rock, indie and folk bands in the North of England and the USA. Her love of jazz prompted her move to London to study double bass and eventually graduating from the Guildhall School of Music in 1993. She has worked with many of London’s top jazz artists including Ian Shaw, Claire Martin, Anita Wardell, Huw Warren, Martin Speake, Jim Mullen, Janette Mason, Tony Coe and Barb Jungr. Current projects include Tina May, Liz Fletcher, Tammy Weis, Naadia Sheriff, Chris Biscoe, Dave Frankel and Geoff Eales.

Dave Ohm (drums)

Since his professional debut in 1990, Dave has recorded and performed with leading UK artists: Peter King, Claire Martin, Gilad Atzmon, Steve Melling, Ian Shaw, Carol Kidd, Gwyneth Herbert, Julian Arguelles, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Tony Kofi. In 2004 he toured Italy with Benny Golson and U.S. altoist, Wess Anderson (Wynton Marsalis) and in 2006 toured Japan with the GuerillaSound Trio. Recent work includes Gregory Porter, Karin Krog, Rebecca Parris, Dena DeRose and the Ronnie Scott‘s Allstars. Dave co-produced Georgia’s last two albums and leads his own group, Unit of Resistance, featuring Nigel Hitchcock, Laurence Cottle and Paul Stacey.

“A force to be reckoned with.” - BBC Online

“A performer of character, conviction and relaxed virtuosity” - The Guardian ****

"An enviable reputation with both credibility and talent to spare" - Jazzwise

The David Gordon Trio

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

David Gordon - piano

Jonty Fisher - double bass

Paul Cavaciuti - drums

www.davidmusicgordon.com/trio 

Pianist David Gordon takes his internationally acclaimed trio on the road in the spring of 2013 to showcase their recently-recorded new album, The David Gordon Trio Speaks Latin.  As the title might suggest, the recording draws on the musical traditions of Latin jazz but does so in a neatly refreshing fashion.  In particular the three musicians examine tunes that capture the revolutionary spirit of 1960s and -‘70s South America, as well some of the continent’s rich tradition of pop music, with tracks by noted composers and pianists from the region and the genre featuring in the set along with David’s original tunes.

Having toured some of the music previously, and much to their audiences’ delight, the trio’s upcoming UK dates should again emulate the reception they’ve received at home, in Europe and in the US.  Helping to redefine the out-dated notion that Latin jazz is all bossa nova and salsa, the David Gordon Trio bring their collective talents and influences together into one effortlessly cohesive whole.

David Gordon - piano

A highly regarded jazz pianist, David Gordon is also an accomplished harpsichordist in a number of high-ranking baroque ensembles.  Adding to this his fascination with Latin music results in a truly diverse musical outlook, which is displayed in both his playing and compositions.  Other than the trio, his various projects include the Gyspy tango band Zum, the jazz/poetry project RipRap and collaborations with vocalist Jacqui Dankworth and violinist Christian Garrick.

Jonty Fisher - double bass

Bassist and composer Jonty Fisher started his career in 1988 after making the finals of the Barclays Youth Music Awards and has since become a regular on the UK’s jazz scene, especially within London.  He is also a prolific composer, with his pieces appearing on a number of recordings as well as for BBC and Channel 4 television.  As well as David Gordon and his own band, Jonty has played with artists like Liane Carroll, Jacqui Dankworth, Christian Garrick, Frank Holder and Steve Brookstein.

Paul Cavaciuti – drums

Paul’s impressive resume includes not only his work as an internationally recognised drummer and composer but also as a music therapist and educator.  A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, he has played with a great variety of different artists and has lent his talents to the recordings and live shows of the likes of Jim Mullen, Jonathan Gee, Tina May, Jacqui Dankworth, Christie Hennessy, Chris Garrick and Dave O’Higgins, to name a few.  He also leads his own Quartet, and to date has appeared on three albums with the David Gordon Trio.

“A richly gifted player with a sparkling style and boundless imagination” - Independent On Sunday

“The David Gordon Trio is one of the finest contemporary jazz trios currently working on the UK scene…highly recommended.” - Steve Rubie, The 606 Club

- END -

Indigo Kid

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Dan Messore - guitar

Trish Clowes – tenor sax

Calum Gourlay – double bass

Gethin Jones - drums

www.danmessore.com 

Released in April 2012, the debut album from Dan Messore’s contemporary four-piece group on the Babel label featured the talents of Iain Ballamy, who served as the guitarist’s mentor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama as well as producing and recording the album.  However, the star saxophonist was no means the lynchpin of the group - Indigo Kid revolves around Dan’s imaginative compositions and the collective interplay of the whole band, which for this tour features the excellent Trish Clowes on sax duties alongside Calum Gourlay on bass and Gethin Jones on drums.

Dan’s tunes might be rooted in contemporary jazz but as an open-minded music lover he incorporates a range of influences into his music – the keen-eared will pick out folk-inspired inflections from around the world as well as hints of the more esoteric side of ‘70s rock music.  His clear tone and fluid playing style have drawn comparisons to the likes of US guitar legends Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny, while his compositions display a thoughtful maturity that belies his youth.  Combined with the talents of his band mates, Indigo Kid make for a hugely enticing prospect on the UK’s jazz landscape and their live dates on this tour should find their way into every jazz fan’s calendar.

Dan Messore – guitar

Dan Messore’s diverse musical tastes show in his playing, and his varied talents have quickly propelled him through the ranks of the UK jazz scene.  He also runs a residency at The Vortex in London called ‘View From The Tower’, featuring a star line-up septet playing arrangements of a selection of important British jazz composers.  Staying true to his roots, Messore also runs a successful jam (with special guests) at The North Star in Cardiff.  His live and recording work has seen perform alongside the likes of Dave Manington, Nia Lynn, James Maddren, Josh Arcoleo, Ivo Neame, George Crowley, Tom Farmer, Gareth Lockrane, Tina May, Rory Simmons, Martin France among others. 

Trish Clowes - saxophone

A highly and deservedly acclaimed instrumentalist, bandleader and composer, Trish’s debut album ‘Tangent’ has marked her out as a real talent on the UK scene.  She is a versatile player and certainly doesn’t lack for ambition or scope in her projects, and in May 2012 curated her own Emulsion festival with funding from the PRS for Music Foundation, featuring ECM artist Iain Ballamy and premiering four new commissions alongside existing music from Ballamy, Tangent, Rory Simmons’ Fringe Magnetic and contemporary classical group Ensemble Amorpha.

Calum Gourlay – double bass

Double bassist and composer Calum Gourlay is a leading light amongst the new generation of jazz musicians in Europe.  Having firmly established himself in his early years as one of Scotland’s most talented and prolific young players he has now extended to his reach to the rest of the UK and beyond.  As a bassist, he is already known for his deep warm tone, controlled execution as both supporter and improviser, and rock solid time and pulse. He plays in many of the best loved bands in the UK including the Kit Downes Quintet, the George Crowley Quartet and the Josh Arcoleo Quartet.

Gethin Jones – drums 

Gethin is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, having studied jazz drumming for four years. Gethin has a wide range of musical experience having played for numerous brass, rock, folk, jazz and big bands.  He also toured with pop outfit The Poppies who were voted best live Welsh band in 2006.  He is also an experienced show musician having played for numerous professional shows at Aberystwyth Arts Centre as well as at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London, Crewe Lyceum and several provincial theatres.  However, Gethin’s first love is jazz and he has had the pleasure of working with names such as Iain Ballamy, Art Theman, Cameron Pierre, Geoff Eales, Steve Waterman and many more.

“Dan Messore channels Frisell, Fahey and other masters of the fret board, while managing to create a singular sound world of his own...The evocative power of Messore's music is evident from the outset” – Jazzwise

“The quartet has an acute sense of dynamics and pace, giving Messore's compositions a vibrancy and emotional connection that heightens their impact.” – All About Jazz

* Due to building works at the venue, the previously arranged gig at Nottingham’s Bonington Theatre on 23^rd May will now be rescheduled for September.  Please see Dan Messore’s website for more details when they are available.

Dahkla

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Matt Brown – drums

Pete Judge – trumpet

Sophie Stockham – alto sax

Charlotte Ostafew - baritone sax

www.dakhlabrass.com 

Dakhla are a horns-and-drum quartet playing original tunes that blend evocative harmonies, intricate rhythms and absorbing soundscapes.  The band consists of Matt Brown (drums), Charlotte Ostafew (baritone sax), Pete Judge (trumpet) and Sophie Stockham (alto sax); an intriguing line-up that results in some fascinating interplay between the four musicians, whose collective training and experience spans jazz and classical backgrounds.

Having only been together for two years Dakhla have received glowing reviews from local press in and around Bristol and regular airplay on BBC Radio 3 (Jazz on 3 and Late Junction), BBC Radio 6 and throughout various other UK stations.  2013 began with a hugely successful album launch for their newest release 'The Eye of Icarus' which showcases their lively, punchy sound to great effect.  The band have performed extensively in the UK, and late 2012 saw Dakhla chosen to play the Manchester Jazz Festival as part of BBC Introducing's 'Best of New Jazz' by Giles Peterson and Jez Nelson.

Matt Brown – drums

Matt began playing at age 13; ten years later he has toured throughout Europe and played in bands that have had their music distributed globally.  Past highlights include playing the Ascona Jazz Festival with Lillian Boutte and Pee Wee Ellis, as well as Dahkla’s performance at the Manchester Jazz Festival as a part of BBC Introducing’s ‘Best of New Jazz’.  Matt’s current schedule includes touring with Dakhla, Lady Nade and The Silhouettes and concerts throughout Europe and Asia with Sixto Rodriguez, the subject of the Bafta and Oscar award winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man.

Pete Judge – trumpet 

A musician and composer based in Bristol, Pete can be heard lending his sumptuous and searching trumpet to the acclaimed Get The Blessing, multi-instrumental acoustic trio Three Cane Whale and ambient-jazz duo Eyebrow.  Described as “somewhere between the late Don Cherry and the UK's Harry Beckett” by the Guardian’s John Fordham., he is an experienced session and touring player, with credits including work with Super Furry Animals, Noel Gallagher, Jim Moray, John Parish and many others.

Sophie Stockham – alto sax

Sophie has studied with Dennis Rollins, Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch, Abram Wilson, Tomorrow's Warriors and Pee Wee Ellis, and performed at many major venues and festivals across the UK and Europe with her own original projects (Dakhla/Lady Nade/The Hats), including support slots for The Apples, Jerry Dammers (The Specials), The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, The Black Seeds, and The Heavy.  Her strong signature sound makes impressive use of space and melody, and she has had regular radio play (BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 6) with her own original bands.

Charlotte Ostafew - baritone sax 

Charlotte’s classical training forms the basis of her musical understanding and love of an eclectic mix of styles; Balkan brass, Klezmer, European Gypsy music, jazz, baroque and blues, all of which provide the language of her compositions and improvisations.  She has spent ten years writing and performing with several well established Bristol based bands, and has played extensively on the festival circuit in the UK and across Europe.

“Really punchy very powerful energetic sound...kicking bass lines” - Kevin Le Gendre, BBC Radio 3
 

“Uniquely fabulous and fabulously unique acoustic drum & brass outfit that summons the spirit of Balkan wedding bands and New Orleans marching hip-hop” – Venue magazine 

“Exhilarating and original” – Evening Post 

Alex Hutton Trio

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Alex Hutton - piano

Yuri Goloubev - bass

Asaf Sirkis - drums

www.alexhuttonmusic.com 

Pianist Alex Hutton has performed in a number of ensembles and line-ups and is an established solo artist, but his latest trio is one he is particularly enamoured with, and deservedly so.  Combining his own considerable technical abilities with the formidable bass and drum prowess of Yuri Goloubev and Asaf Sirkis, Hutton is able to compose and explore a wide range of through-composed material with his characteristic deftness of touch, but with, as he states, “the power and textures of a larger band”.

Hutton isn’t short of praise when speaking of his colleagues and the partnership brings out a fluid, lyrical side in all three players.  Performing music from his most recent album Legentis, released in May 2012 on the acclaimed F-IRE Collective’s label, Hutton’s UK tour with Jazz Services will showcase a quality trio with a truly impressive collective imagination.

Alex Hutton - piano

Hutton is an established pianist on the London scene, with over a decade’s worth of experience working with some of the UK’s leading lights.  His early years were divided between the piano and mandolin and he subsequently gained a valuable insight into melodies from folk and other genres, and his varied studies have given him a wide-ranging spectrum of influences to draw upon in his playing and composition.  He has released three albums to date as a leader and appeared on many others as a sideman, and somehow finds time to present a regional radio show on the London jazz scene on Hayes FM.

Yuri Goloubev – bass

A regular on the UK scene, the Russian-born bass virtuoso’s presence in any line-up is a clear indicator of quality.  Classically trained and drawn to jazz – his “true calling” – later in life, Goloubev’s musical CV is littered with collaborations and credits from across both musical worlds, and his playing has featured on over 70 recordings.

Asaf Sirkis – drums

A brilliantly versatile drummer, Asaf’s interest in world rhythms informs a good deal of his playing and he regularly brings a subtle but identifiably unique aspect to the groups in which he plays.  His is an internationally sought-after player and a huge asset to the UK’s scene, and his contributions to the groups of Tim Garland, John Law, Nicolas Meier, Kenny Wheeler, Julian Siegel, Andy Sheppard, Phil Robson and many others are marked out by his ability to effortlessly combine a lightness of touch with both drive and groove throughout his playing.

“For those into current piano trio jazz trends, this has to be one of the best and most interesting around at the moment.” - Jazzwise

“In the overcrowded field of the piano trio “Legentis” stands out as a major piece of work both for the quality of Hutton's writing and for the excellence of the performances.” – The Jazzmann

“Alex Hutton is an inventive writer of cinematic, folksong-like melodies…it's the kind of music that speaks to a wide listenership, whether its roots are appreciated or not.” – The Guardian 

Click the link below to download the May 2013 edition of Gigs, with full live jazz listings for the coming month and details of what's on near you, along with highlights and recommendations from our Listings Editor Sabina Czajkowska.  This month's issue includes a run-down of some great jam and improv sessions to get involved with around the UK.

AND REMEMBER, Gigs has a new feature in the Gigs Directory.  You don't have to scroll down many pages to find your local venues - just click on the area name and you'll be automatically taken to a relevant page.  PLUS all the weblinks in this issue are clickable and you can also read more about the bands touring with our support by following a direct link to their profile on our website.

The following extract comes from an article in the recent March issue of Music Teacher magazine - Tony Haynes offers an intriguing and in-depth insight into the art of improvisation...

GO PLAY

Some people put improvisation and jazz in the same bracket – perhaps not synonymous, but certainly closely related. In fact, improvisation is integral to a great many other musical forms – even, once, classical music. Tony Haynes explains more and offers some thoughts on the best way to start improvising

Jazz is the music most people associate with improvisation.  It’s true that improvisation is the driving force in jazz, but improvisation is – and has always been – a significant element in most other musics worldwide.

Jazz in itself is extraordinarily hard to define.  It’s not a genre, style or specific musical sound – in the way that, say, baroque music, gamelan or street samba can be easily identified.  It’s better to think of jazz as an approach or attitude towards music-making which can deliver many different results, but always with two features in common: improvisation and the appropriation of elements of other musics.

Jazz is, uniquely, a music that constantly needs to reinvent itself – and it has done so prolifically and with increasing diversity over the last century or so.  Change is of the essence, and although styles from previous eras may exist side by side, they lack the creative vigour that is essential to jazz; like a big band which uses arrangements from a past age, and where no one improvises, they do indeed become just another musical genre.

I make these points not to imply that one kind of music is superior to another, but because it’s important to appreciate differences if we are to make any headway in understanding improvisation...

Read the full article here at www.musiced.co.uk:

http://www.musiced.co.uk/features/mt03_art_of_improvisation.pdf   

Extract reproduced here with the kind permission of the Editor of Music Teacher magazine.

Exciting news from Dalston's Cafe Oto in London, with the announcement of an open call for proposals for their new Promoters and Artists Fund.

See the venue's website for more info: 

http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/promoters-and-artists-fund.shtm

Promoters and Artists Fund, Café Oto

We are really pleased to be launching our Promoters and Artists Fund to support the creation and delivery of new live events with UK-based musicians. The fund is made possible through support from the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

We are making an open call for proposals. From these, we will identify four projects to support with a grant of £1500. Recipients will also get free use of the venue and support with promotion. These events could be of any description: a one-off live performance, short festival, new commission, residency, series of events or any other format. 

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 1 May 2013

Please note all artists involved must be UK-based.

Please send applications to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it