Wednesday 2 January 2013

Kick away those January blues...

A happy new year everyone from Seven Jazz! There are lots of great gigs coming up at Seven Arts this spring including Orient House, Empirical, Ian Shaw and Georgia Mancio, Mark Lockheart’s “Ellington in Anticipation” and “Get the Blessing”. So don’t forget your new year’s resolution to buy one of our bargain season tickets in the next couple of weeks at only £55 full or £40 concession for all five concerts. These are available from Seven Arts, or online at http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenleeds/events.

But to start the year off we have (in the great jazz tradition) a couple of jam sessions - on Sunday afternoon 6 June then on Thursday evening 10 June. You could enter into the spirit by bringing you spats and tux, or even that terrible Christmas present you said you’d never wear; bring your horn/axe if you play, your voice if you sing - or just come along and enjoy listening to some good humoured entertainment !

Sunday afternoon 6 January 1-4pm
We need to pay the rent! So the first of our Jazz rent parties will be this coming Sunday afternoon with Andy Cholerton on keys, Steve Crocker on bass, John Settle on drums laying it down for musicians and singers.  Don't forget those lead sheets!
£5/4 concessions, concession price includes performers, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton

Thursday evening 10 January 8-11
This coming Thursday will be our first evening jam session for a while – thanks to Seven Arts for making the room available. The accompanying trio this time is Al Macsween piano, Steve Crocker bass, Caroline Boaden drums
£5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, concession price includes performers, kids under 16 free, doors open at 8pm, music 8.30-11pm at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton


Sunday afternoon Sunday 13 January Kevin James quartet
Kevin James - vocals/piano, Tom Riviere- bass, Al Morrison - guitar, Joe Montague- drums
Kevin James is a talented singer, pianist, teacher and songwriter who has been part of the Leeds scene now a couple of decades. His music covers a wide range - you can hear Mose Allison and Nat King Cole as influences but he keeps his ears open for tunes old and new. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton

Thursday evening 17 January 8pm: Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House
Gilad Atzmon, saxes, Frank Harrison, piano, Yaron Stavi, bass, Eddie Hick, drums
Our first international presentation of 2013 features the thrilling jazz saxophonist and Blockheads Gilad Atzmon bringing his Orient House Ensemble to Leeds and presenting his unique blend of bebop jazz and Middle Eastern music for what promises to be a stunning night at Seven Arts. Orient House was founded in 2000 and is renowned as one of the world’s invigorating jazz groups, touring constantly all over Europe and the UK and recorded six albums to date, winning many awards and receiving constant worldwide critical acclaim. Their musical history is a story of a relentless attempt to cross the divide, blending East and West and forming a new improvisational language out of Jazz and ethnic music.
‘The best musician living in the world today’ Robert Wyatt.
£16/13 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 8pm, music 8.30-11pm at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton, tel 0113 26 26 777; full time student standby £5 on the door only

Sunday afternoon 20 January:  Rod Mason’s “Elements"
Rod Mason saxes, Richard Hammond electric bass, Richard Wetherall piano, Dave Walsh, drums
Rod is a bit of a fixture at Seven Jazz these days, playing with other people's big and small bands. It will be great to welcome him back with his own band “Elements” this time. Always good to hear his mighty saxophone sounds matched by the energy of Richard Hammond, Richard Wetherall and Dave Walsh. Jazz, funk, blues, the works. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton

Sunday afternoon 27 January:  Atlantic - a tribute to Atlantic Jazz
Jim Corry (alto sax), James Russell (baritone), Stuart McDonald (tenor), Steve Parry (trumpet), Jamil Sheriff (piano), Richard Hammond (bass) and Dave Walsh (drums)
A tribute to the soul Jazz Era of Atlantic Records by a Sextet led by saxophonists Jim Corry and James Russell with a band of  the crème de la crème of the region’s top musicians. “Atlantic” pay tribute to the record label that in the 1960's and early 70's embraced the period of 'soul jazz', a swinging, soulful programme that has an instinctive, emotional appeal. This will be busy – so get here early! £5/4  concessions, kids under 16 free, doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm at Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton

Jazz Workshops
New year’s resolution to play more music? Then come along to our Seven Jazz Saturday afternoon instrumental workshops at Seven Arts this Spring. All 2-30 to 4-30 pm; £10/£8 concession). Dates are are as follows

This coming Saturday 5 January     
Saturday 19 January
Saturday 2 February
Saturday 16 February
Saturday 2 March
Saturday 9 March (note only one-week gap)

All these workshops are at Seven Arts, 31A Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 3PD
We usually work towards playing two or three numbers as part of our ‘Jazz Café’ on Sunday afternoon 17 March: Autumn Jazz Cafe jam session, 1-4 pm– in a very enjoyable and supportive atmosphere!  Workshop members need to have some experience on their instrument and an interest in playing jazz with others, and a willingness to have a go! 

The Friday night Dom Moore workshop improvisation group at the Methodist Centre Chapel Allerton centre starts up again in January as follows
Friday 11 Jan 7.30-10pm
Friday 25 Jan 7.30-10pm
Cost £5 per session. Contact Dominic Moore : dominicgmoore@hotmail.com  

The Seven Jazz Voices choir has a break now until March 11th as tutor Nicki Allen is away.

Tickets
There is now a new online system of buying tickets for evening concerts at Seven Arts – here http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenleeds/events. You WILL however now still be able to buy tickets at the bar at Seven if you prefer.

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, Chapel Allerton, 31 Harrogate Road, Leeds LS3 3PD


Steve Crocker
Leeds Seven Jazz