Saturday 28 January 2012

Good stuff this Feb at 7 Arts...


Wicked Words Open Mic

01/02/2012

Wicked Words is the longest running live literature event in Leeds and we’re entering our 10th year! Come along to listen to an eclectic mixture of poetry and words on the first Wednesday of every month and get the chance to read your own literary musings.

Seven Jazz - Zoe Rahman

02/02/2012

Popular and highly acclaimed pianist Zoe Rahman shot to wider public awareness when her luminous album Melting Pot was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize, returns to Seven with her fifth album Kindred Spirits, part of an extensive UK tour.

LBA presents Leeds Finest - 2 Nights of Word, Rhyme and Song

03/02/2012

Singers Night featuring Vixxen, Rae Rae, PJ, Tyrone Henry, K-One, T & T, Marqus Romelle, Cherie Johnson and Bianca Gerald backed by Unbound. Hosted by Gemma Lake.

Sunday Jazz - Nikki Allen Sextet

05/02/2012

Nicki Allan is back in Leeds at Seven Arts by popular demand for another round of hot arrangements from her legendary sextet. With a new album under her belt she will sing some new songs, some original and standard favourites but always with the classic stamp of unique brass and syncopated jazz to flavour them.

Jamilah Barry - Lost In The World

05/02/2012

Jamilah Barry is a talented 16 year old Singer/Songwriter from Leeds. With original songs and covers, this will be an unmissable evening, showcasing a range of impressive local talent. Special guest is Tom Milner.

Screen Seven - True Grit

06/02/2012

True Grit beats a path back to the original Charles Portis novel to spin the tale of 14-year-old Mattie Ross, a pig-tailed angel of vengeance, hellbent on finding the man who robbed and killed her father.

NUEMusicTheatre - Raise Your Voice

07/02/2012

An evening of song and dance plus small section of songs from NUEMusicTheatre's upcoming production of 'Bare: A Pop Opera.'

Leeds University Theatre Group - Look Back In Anger

09/02/2012

Look Back in Anger (1956) is a John Osborne play about a love triangle involving an intelligent but disaffected young man (Jimmy Porter), his upper-middle-class, impassive wife (Alison), and her haughty best friend (Helena Charles).

Leeds University Theatre Group - Look Back In Anger

10/02/2012

Look Back in Anger (1956) is a John Osborne play about a love triangle involving an intelligent but disaffected young man (Jimmy Porter), his upper-middle-class, impassive wife (Alison), and her haughty best friend (Helena Charles).

Leeds University Theatre Group - Look Back In Anger

11/02/2012

Look Back in Anger (1956) is a John Osborne play about a love triangle involving an intelligent but disaffected young man (Jimmy Porter), his upper-middle-class, impassive wife (Alison), and her haughty best friend (Helena Charles).

Photo - Tom Swire

Afternoon Jazz - Yoruba

12/02/2012

Pianist/composer Aron Kyne was been awarded Jazz Futures funding by Jazz Yorkshire to help him develop as a jazz musician here in Yorkshire. Anyone who saw Yoruba at Seven in June last year will understand how well deserved that award was.

Screen Seven - The Big Picture (L'homme qui voulait vivre sa vie)

13/02/2012

In this Highsmithian thriller, Romain Duris is on intense, smouldering form as Paul, a wealthy corporate lawyer who secretly despises his own bland, conformist life; he has artistic longings and a general discontent exacerbated by dislike of his neighbour: a dishevelled, bohemian individual whom he suspects of having an affair with his wife.

Black Film Club

14/02/2012

Black Film Club is an independent organisation screening films on the second Tuesday of each month at Seven. Please tell someone or bring someone with you.

Ellen and the Escapades

15/02/2012

Ellen and the Escapades play a special gig at Seven to celebrate the success of their pledge campaign. Each ticket comes with a free download of their debut album 'All the Crooked Scenes', available from the 6 February, 2 months in advance of general release.

Seven Jazz - The Jim Mullen Reunion Band

16/02/2012

Jim Mullen moved to London from Glasgow in 1969, going on to work in the groups of Pete Brown, Brian Auger, Vinegar Joe and Kokomo. In 1975 he met sax player Dick Morrissey and began a 15 year association.

LBA presents Leeds Finest - 2 Nights of Word, Rhyme and Song

17/02/2012

Lyricist Lounge featuring Dread Man, J Bravo, Dialect, Asher Don, Jay Grant, Nathaniel Benson, Leeds Young Authors, Kama Kazie, Triple M, Jay C-Town and K-One. Hosted by Saima Bouden.

Urban Sprawl - Wrecked

18/02/2012

Urban Sprawl, Yorkshire’s only homeless theatre company presents the world premiere of new play, Wrecked.

Sunday Jazz - The Fruit Tree Band

19/02/2012

Fruit Tree are favourites of the Seven Jazz audience led by the skilled and energetic pianist (and Garforth Festival organiser) Dave Evans. They take on grooves and at times semi-free excitement equally to create a thrilling array of sounds.

Screen Seven - Brighton Rock

20/02/2012

An adaptation of Graham Greene's classic novel about a small-town hood who marries a waitress who witnessed him murdering a rival thug in order to keep her quiet. As his gang begins to doubt his abilities, the man becomes more desperate and violent.

Cafe Psychologique - Conversations in the Art of Life

21/02/2012

Chat and think over a drink hosted by Chris Powell with special guests, Dr Fiona Thorne and Dr Andrew Wilson. Café Psychologique builds on the idea of the Café Scientifique movement and other Cafés such as Café Philosophique.

SAA-UK - An Evening of Sacred Music

23/02/2012

An evening that brings together two award-winning international musicians, Ustād Harbhajan Singh (winner of Sangeet Natak Academy Award 2010) and Ustād Sukhvinder Singh Namdhari (featured on the Grammy Award winning CD “A Meeting by the River” in 1994).

Chance Theatre Company - The Importance of Being Jeff

24/02/2012

Jeff is about to die. He knows this; he planned it. What he didn't plan was spending his last few hours in the company of two strangers debating the finer points of his soon to be ex-existence.

Chance Theatre Company - The Importance of Being Jeff

25/02/2012

Jeff is about to die. He knows this; he planned it. What he didn't plan was spending his last few hours in the company of two strangers debating the finer points of his soon to be ex-existence.

Sunday Jazz - Centre-Line

26/02/2012

Centre-Line are a fresh, vibrant and creative jazz group that prides itself on the spontaneity, creativity and empathy among its musicians. The group is directed by Darren Altman and features Leeds favourite and LCM tutor Russell van den Berg on sax.

Screen Seven - Armadillo

27/02/2012

The film depicts six months in the posting of a handful of young soldiers and includes a frightening sequence in which a patrol faces a Taliban ambush. The hellish skirmish ends with a Danish hand grenade killing several insurgents.

Kill for a Seat Comedy

29/02/2012

Another rip-roaring line-up introduced by genial host, Silky. Buy tickets either at Seven or via www.ticketweb.co.uk early to avoid depression!

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Baby it's cold outside.....

Dear Yorkshire Gig Guide… but February nights don’t have to be gloomy! Why not come and warm your cockles (and anything else you want) at our Seven Jazz gigs at Seven Arts Leeds? Two evening highlights to choose from this month – acclaimed pianist Zoe Rahman with her “Kindred Spirits” group on 2nd February and guitarist Jim Mullen’s Reunion Band who will be visiting Seven Arts on 16th February. Our Sunday afternoon gigs also offer you everything from seven piece Cuban Band “Yoruba”, top jazz vocalist Nikki Allen with her sextet, pianist Dave Evans and his mercurial Fruit Tree band and contemporary jazz from saxman Russell Van den Burgh and drummer Darren Altman’s and their band “Centreline”. But to start with this coming Sunday…

Sunday afternoon 29th January: Corey Mwamba/Dave Kane/Alexander Hawkins
Description: Description: Description: http://www.sevenjazz.co.uk/images/stories/corey%20mwambaweb.jpg
This is a free improvising acoustic trio on the cutting edge of British Jazz. The language they use mixes popular, folk and art music from all over the world. Corey Mwemba is a vibes player who as well as having made four electro-acoustic albums, is on two albums made by Quantic, one by Arun Ghosh and one by Ty. Dave Kane is a Leeds based double bass player and composer who had been feted for his work with pianist Matthew Bourne and Stephen Davis and has a fantastic duo with the trumpeter Alex Bonney which performed with Ken Vandermark in 2008. Alexander Hawkins is a pianist who mines a rich vein from the free jazz seam, mixing music from Steve Lacy, Roscoe Mitchell, Dudu Pukwana and Ornette Coleman with his own compositions.  "absorbing, intriguing and at times downright exhilarating music" ~ Vortex Jazz Reviews. Listen at http://trio.coreymwamba.co.uk/ £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm

Thursday evening 2nd February 8pm – Zoe Rahman’s “Kindred Spirits”

Zoe Rahman piano, Idris Rahman clarinet, US drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Davide Mantovani (picture of Zoe at Seven Arts taken by Phil Songa). Our second evening concert of the season will be stunning – it features the popular and highly acclaimed pianist Zoe Rahman. Zoe shot to wider public awareness when her luminous album Melting Pot was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize. She returns to Seven with her fifth album Kindred Spirits, part of an extensive UK tour. Released on 23 January on her own Manushi label the music continues her vibrant exploration her English, Irish and Bengali heritage combined with her sparkling contemporary piano work and framed by her strong melodic composing style. Her brother Idris (best known for his own groove-heavy band Soothsayers) joins her on clarinet alongside her fine regular rhythm section of London-based US drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Davide Mantovani. Do book early -this will be popular. Tickets £15/12 concessions in advance from Seven Arts 0113 26 26 777 or on the door. Stand by tickets for full time students are £5 on the door only. Doors open 8pm for the concert, music is 8.30-11pm.

Sunday afternoon 5 February: The Nicki Allan Sextet
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Nicki Allan Vocals, Joel Purnell Tenor Sax, Mark Chandler Flugel/Trumpet, Graham Hearn, Adrian Knowles Double Bass, Ronnie Bottomley Drums. Nicki Allan is back in Leeds at Seven Arts by popular demand for another round of hot arrangements from her legendary sextet. With a new album under her belt (You're gonna hear from me - 33 Records) she will sing some new songs, some original and standard favourites but always with the classic stamp of unique brass and syncopated jazz to flavour them.  £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm

Sunday afternoon 12 February: Yoruba
Description: Description: Description: http://www.sevenjazz.co.uk/images/stories/Yoruba/Yoruba/yoruba%20-%202.jpg

Greg Nichols trumpet, Ben Lowman alto sax, John Waugh tenor saxophone, Aron Kyne piano, Sam Vicary bass guitar, Ali Mac percussion, Tim Carter drums (photo taken at Seven Arts by Tom Swire). Pianist/composer Aron Kyne was been awarded Jazz Futures funding by Jazz Yorkshire to help him develop as a jazz musician here in Yorkshire. Anyone who saw Yoruba at Seven in June last year will understand how well deserved that award was. The jazz/salsa/fusion band are back united by their love for high-energy Salsa and Jazz. Yoruba are a powerful 8-piece band intent on producing a tight driving sound. Led by Aron and comprising of some of the hottest young talent from around the Leeds area this band draws together a diverse mix of influences. They have created their own fusion of Jazz-Salsa-Samba, blending beautiful harmonies with syncopated rhythms, killer solos with a massive horn section sound. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm

Thursday evening 16 February 8pm – Jim Mullen’s Reunion Band
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Jim Mullen guitar, Gareth Williams piano, Mick Hutton bass, Gary Husband drums. This, our third evening concert came about from a conversation between Seven Jazz, Sheffield Jazz and bassist Mick Hutton. The result was the reunion of a Quartet that was in existence for six years from 1996 and was one of the most powerful and exciting bands ever to appear on the UK Jazz Scene. It's members are amongst the most experienced jazz musicians in the country and  the group developed an extremely powerful musical identity. They recorded five cds: We Go Back (1996), Live In Glasgow (1997), Burns (2000), Animation (2001), Somewhere In The Hills (2002). Now reformed for this two-week tour the band will be playing a mixture of new music specially written for the tour and some of their older repertoire. Again do book early- this will be a popular gig. Tickets £15/12 concessions in advance from Seven Arts 0113 26 26 777 or on the door. Stand by tickets for full time students are £5 on the door only. Doors open 8pm for the concert, music is 8.30-11pm.

Sunday afternoon 19 February: The Fruit Tree Band
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Dave Evans piano, Kenny Higgins bass, Alex Wibrew drums. Fruit Tree are favourites of the Seven Jazz audience led by the skilled and energetic pianist (and Garforth Festival organiser) Dave Evans. They take on grooves and at times semi-free excitement equally to create a thrilling array of sounds. Tart and sweet by turn, but never syrupy, you’re enticed to taste and enjoy. Real jazz original - all their tunes are composed by Dave Evans and arranged with the band. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm

Sunday afternoon 26 February: Centreline
Description: Description: cid:image006.jpg@01CCC966.DD62F940
Darren Altman's Centreline with Russell van den Berg - sax, Jez Franks- guitar, John Harvey- electric basses. Centre-Line are a fresh, vibrant and creative jazz group that prides itself on the spontaneity, creativity and empathy among its musicians. The group is directed by drummer Darren Altman and Leeds LCM tutor Russell van den Berg on sax. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm

The Jazz Workshops at Seven Arts continue in February on Saturday 4 February and Saturday 18 February, 2-30 to 4-30 pm. Learn to play jazz in convivial surroundings!   For further information & bookings contact Jean Watson by email at jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.com or phone 0113 237 0700.  The workshops are at Seven Arts, 31 Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 3PD (0113 26 26 777) and cost  £10/£8 concessions.  

Dominic Moore also runs a jazz workshop/improvisation group at the Methodist Centre, Chapel Allerton on the following Friday dates (£5 per session) 7.30-10pm : 10 Feb and 24 Feb. Contact Dominic dominicgmoore@hotmail.com.

Jazz Yorkshire’s 2012 jazz awards will be held on March 19th at Dean Clough. If you like Seven Jazz or any of the artists you have seen over the past year,  then please do take a little time to say so by adding your vote before 19 February… the link is http://www.jazzyorkshire.org/awards/

The categories for the awards are:
music and musicians
•        musician of the year
•        young musician of the year
•        vocalist of the year
•        band of the year
•        album of the year
•        big band of the year
•        youth big band of the year
•        composer/arranger of the year
where it happens
•        pub of the year
•        club of the year
•        venue of the year
•        festival of the year
•        promoter of the year
•        supporter of the year
education
•        educator of the year
media
•        website of the year
•        media award
fundraising / sponsorship
•        business supporter / sponsor of the year
•        fundraiser of the year
special award
•        lifetime achievement award

For all details of all our events and latest news updates see us on www.sevenjazz.co.uk, follow us on Twitter or befriend us on Facebook. Look forward to seeing you soon at Seven Arts, 31 Harrogate Road, Leeds LS3 3PD

Steve Crocker
Seven Jazz Leeds.
Seven Jazz is supported by Jazz Yorkshire and PRS

Monday 23 January 2012

The multi award winning Stacey Kent to headline the 6th Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival



The multi award winning Stacey Kent to headline the 6th Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival
 July 6th, 7th and 8th 2012


The Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival returns for its sixth year set in the award winning grounds and Elizabethan Hall of Burton Agnes, East Yorkshire, YO25 4NB. Organised by the Hall’s sax-playing owner, Simon Cunliffe-Lister, the festival runs over three days showcasing some of the UK’s hottest jazz and blues acts in the most stunning and serene of surroundings.

“Possibly the most enjoyable jazz concert I've ever attended.” The Independent

Grammy nominated and multi award winning Stacey Kent, including the British Jazz Award and BBC Jazz Award for 'Best Vocalist', is a sublime singer, rightly famed for her peerless interpretations of the Great American Songbook, but equally adept singing in French or Portuguese. Her beautiful tone and wonderful phrasing bring a fresh beauty to everything she sings and she sings from the soul. She tells us her stories with faultless phrasing and a lucid, enchanting voice and it is her beautiful version of Hushabye Mountain that has bewitched TV viewers on the recent Dreams Bed campaign. After eight studio albums, her current album Dreamer In Concert is her first live album and the first album that captures her magical onstage persona.
Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival are delighted to announce that Stacey will headline their festival on the main stage - Saturday 7th July.

"Stacey Kent is a revelation. There is nobody singing today who can compare with her. She has the style of the greats, like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. And she sings the words like Nat Cole - clean, clear and almost conversational with perfect phrasing. And that's as good as it gets." Three-time Oscar-winning songwriter, Jay Livingston
"Devastatingly stylish...a beauty in any circumstances" The Observer
"A delight" The Guardian

More artists are to be confirmed over the coming weeks.

Held over three days, with performances both inside the stately Elizabethan Hall and outside in the Hall’s beautiful grounds, the Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues festival presents a varied line up of funk, traditional jazz, hard blues, dreamy vocals and everything in between.

“Tis the musical equivalent of a Sunday stroll through the grounds of a stately home… you won't find more beautifully serene surroundings this side of Woodstock for such an experience” All Gigs - Festival review

The main stage on the lawn hosts the festival’s headline acts. With rolling fields behind and pristine woodland to the side, you couldn’t ask for a more stunning setting for some of the UK’s top Jazz and Blues artists to perform. Inside the Hall, intimate acoustic performances mix with original Elizabethan carvings and French Impressionist art to create an inimitable festival experience.
On Friday and Saturday evening the Wolds Top beer tent plays host to the Beverley Arts Trust’s late night sessions of folk, jazz and rhythm ‘n’ blues.

Local food and drink feature heavily at the festival. At the tea tent and food lawn, festivalgoers can indulge in home-baked treats, barbecued local meats, freshly prepared curries, and salads grown in the neighbouring walled garden. In the beer tent award winning Wold Top beer is on tap, brewed just five miles away from the festival site.

A campsite in the field adjacent to the Hall offers welcome hot showers and panoramic views of the Yorkshire Wolds for those wishing to pitch a tent for a night or the whole weekend.

Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival welcomes families of all ages with its safe, easy-going vibe. There is plenty on offer for children including a Children’s Corner with play area, 15 acres of magical gardens to explore including a walled garden with maze, jungle garden and giant games and a woodland walk with forest creatures to find. Free face painting and balloon artistry caps off the entertainment.

Built between 1598 and 1610 by Sir Henry Griffith, Burton Agnes Hall is an Elizabethan stately home that has stayed within the Cunliffe-Lister family for more than four hundred years. Fifteen generations have filled the Hall with treasures, from magnificent carvings commissioned when the Hall was built to French impressionist paintings, contemporary furniture, tapestries and other modern artwork in recent years.
The charm of the house is that it is clearly a loved and lived in home and visitors are welcomed openly by the family in joining them to spend many enjoyable hours at Burton Agnes Hall.

‘Burton Agnes Hall ranks among the finest, and best presented, houses in England.  It is the perfect English house, embodying the climax of the final great age of domestic architecture’
Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the National Trust, journalist and author of England's Thousand Best Houses

2012 Festival Tickets info:
Weekend Advance Ticket
Friday 6pm – midnight, Saturday 11am – midnight, Sunday 11am – 6pm
£40 before 1st June / £50 after 31st May (Concessions £38 / £48)
Concessions: OAP’s, Season ticket holders, students, children 12-15 years
Children under 12: FREE with an adult

Day Ticket: Saturday 11am – midnight
£30 before 1st June / £35 after 31st May (Concessions £28 / £32)
Day Ticket: Sunday 11am – 6pm
£25 before 1st June / £30 after 31st May (Concessions £23 / £28)
Evening Ticket: Friday 6 pm – midnight or Saturday 6pm – midnight
£20 EACH DAY before 1st June / £25 EACH DAY after 31st May (Concessions £18 / £23)
Camping Voucher: Camping open Friday 3pm – Monday noon
£30 before 1st July / £35 after 31st May
Available online at www.burtonagnes.com and from the Festival Ticket Office Tel: 01262 490 324
Or Visit Burton Agnes Hall and its courtyard shops.