Monthly Archives: October 2010

Tonight: MOBO winners for a fiver

Posted on
Reply

It must be the bargain of the year! Award-winning journalist Kevin Le Gendre and super-jazz group Empirical join forces this evening at the Live Box at The Drum to celebrate the musical legacy of the stunning alto saxophonist and human rights activist, Cannonball Adderley. Against a backdrop of archival audio, and moving and still images Kevin LeGendre illuminates the life and work of this brilliant saxophonist while Empirical stylishly reprise a selection of Adderley’s repertoire appealing to both progressive and nostalgic jazz listeners alike. And because theis gig was planned long before the MOBOs were announced, tickets are the regular Live Box price of £5 (£3). Box Office 0121 333 2444 Buy Tickets Online: http://www.the-drum.org.uk/event/live-box-featuring-walk-tall

Gig review: Golden Age Of Steam

Posted on
1

Jazz Club at The Rainbow, Digbeth
27-10-10
Reviewed by JJ Wheeler

Apparently, dinner was not particularly forthcoming for James Allsopp’s Golden Age Of Steam last night. However, any evidence of low blood-sugar levels was soon dismissed as the trio meandered into a well-balanced set of intriguing, occasionally enthralling originals.

Admittedly it took until the second part of the first segue of tunes before the audience could latch onto what was happening onstage – a slow, wieldy start taking its time to settle, but by the time drummer Tim Giles crashed into the rock stylings of Buffet Table, with the quirkiest of heads, the group seemed to be in full swing.

The music swayed from minimalist soundscapes to epic Prog-Rock like moments that could be shared with the likes of Yes or Mahavishnu Orchestra before the second duo of tunes trickled into a serene epilogue, with Kit Downes manipulating his Hammond Organ to create an eerily Clangers-esque theme.

Initially like a lullaby, the gently rocking For No Raisin wound itself up into an incredibly bluesy display of pure groove. As the tempo gradually decreased, the audience was left gasping for every backbeat, before Eyepatch exploded into the release of energy and sheer excitement the night seemed to be building toward. Another segue, this time reminiscent of a broken merry-go-round, brought about one of the most beautiful ballads I have heard in a long time. Allsopp took his time, leaving ample space to savour his flowing, melodic lines, like a sweet taste on the listeners tongue. A suitably intelligent way to conclude a brilliant set.

The week ahead in gigs

Posted on
2

What’s 40 years old and still bursting with youthful enthusiasm? The Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra, that’s what.

And it returns to its spiritual home, the mac, on Sunday for a big celebration.

MYJO will be led, naturally, by John Ruddick, who, with his wife Nichola, has been running the band for 30 out of the last 40 years. Guest soloists will be trombonist Mark Nightingale, who cut his big band teeth with MYJO all those years ago, and Sophie Feek, a singer just at the start of a promising career.

Tickets are £18 and include a “meet the band” party and buffet in the interval. The whole shebang starts at 7.30pm in the mac theatre, and, as we hear about the importance of private sponsors supporting the arts as public funding cuts bite, let’s hear it for Henley Golf and Country Club who have sponsored this gig.

Book now at www.macarts.co.uk or on 0121 446 3232.

Also on Sunday evening, Stratford Jazz have the Magic Hat Ensemble. The band, Steve Chadwick (trumpet) Andrzej Baranek (piano) Nick Blackla (bass) Tommy Ormesher (guitar) and Rob Turner (drums), will be playing music from the CD just out, This Conversation Is Now Over.

Expect standards, like Monk’s Epistrophy, played in a fresh funky way, and Darn That Dream taken to pieces in a dreamy fashion.

Stratford Jazz meets at No.1 Shakespeare Street in Stratford-upon-Avon. Start time is 8pm and tickets are £8 on the door. More at www.stratfordjazz.org.uk

Before that there’s some time to remember pianist and composer Horace Silver as John Patrick and his band pay tribute to the man who brought a bright smile and some soulfulness to jazz in the 1950s. They will be doing it in the Symphony Hall Foyer between 5.30pm and 7pm tomorrow. It’s a co-promotion between Birmingham Jazz and Symphony Hall and that means they meet the cost. For you it’s completely free.

If you like a little ska with your jazz, or jazz with your ska, the Herbert Spliffington AllStars are for you. They are at the Bearwood Corks Club this evening bringing smiles to faces and movement to feet. Doors open at 8.30pm, the groove settles at 9pm, entry is £5 on the door and there is more at www.bearwoodjazz.co.uk

Looking into the future, now would be a good time to book your tickets for these three upcoming recommendations:

Friday 5 November: Singer Claire Martin and her band, featuring pianist Gareth Williams, are at the CBSO Centre. Her latest album, A Modern Art, is superb and includes vocal versions of tunes by E.S.T. and Joshua Redman. Book at www.birminghamjazz.co.uk or on 0121 780 3333.

Saturday 20 November: Trumpeter Christian Scott is turning heads and getting ears pricked up with his modern mix of jazz, rock and hip hop. His album Yesterday You Said Tomorrow contains his own tunes and a cover of Thom Yorke’s Eraser. He is at the Hare & Hounds, tickets are available from www.theticketsellers.com and from Polar Bear in Kings Heath. Or call 0844 870 0000.

Monday 29 November: Three of Dave Brubeck’s sons, pianist Darius, multi-instrumentalist Chris and drummer Dan, play tribute to their father’s music with help from saxophonist Dave O’Higgins. They are at the Town Hall, so book at www.thsh.co.uk or on 0121 780 3333

Late reminder: Golden Age Of Steam tonight

Posted on
1

Golden Age of Steam is reeds player James Allsop, drummer Tim Giles and Kit Downes playing organ. They are playing at the Jazz Club this evening. The venue is The Rainbow in Digbeth, the start time is 9pm and tickets are £4 on the door. This is a Birmingham Jazz gig.

The band was formed by Allsop primarily to play his compositions.

On the band’s truly dreadful looking MySpace site (mind you, what MySpace site looks nice?), Allsop explains: “These compositions attempt to create new structural spaces for improvisation by establishing highly ambiguous sound worlds that explore the intangible area in between rhythm, tonality and total improvisational freedom. These pieces are inspired by the combination of anarchic playfulness and formal logics of Ligeti’s music, the joyous saxophone thunder of Coltrane and Ayler and the twisted lyricism of Captain Beefheart…amongst many other wonderful people…”

Read more:http://www.myspace.com/thegoldenageofsteam#ixzz13GhPvcYd

And if you can’t quite figure out what all those big words mean, here’s an alternative view of the Golden Age Of Steam:

It’s not jazz but… Salif Keita

Posted on
Reply

One of the most joyous sounds in all the world, and one which has been buoying my life up on a dull day for the last 25 years, is the voice of Malian superstar Salif Keita.

It’s magnificent on record but is even better heard in the flesh, which is what you can do this evening in Birmingham Town Hall. I’ve seen the man countless times in the last couple of decades and every time it has been different, but every time it has been wonderful.

He writes great songs and he has great bands, but what is most striking in concert is the presence of the man – there is no one else with quite his aura, quite his dignity and quite his dedication to his art.

Tonight’s gig starts at 8pm and there is no suppport. Book at www.thsh.co.uk or call 0121 780 3333.