Dear Yorkshire Gig Guide.
My, its summer! Time to celebrate the royal nuptials with some great jazz at Seven Arts Leeds during May. This coming Thursday we feature American guitarist Howard Alden with his trio, in concert with New York jazz vocalist Jeanne Gies. Later in May we have an evening with a jazz supergroup including Alan Barnes, Mark Edwards, Jeremy Price, Tony Kofi, Clark Tracey and bassman Arnie Somogyi, performing the music of jazz bassist Charles Mingus. Our Sunday afternoons this month are our usual eclectic mix featuring contemporary jazz from Matt Anderson, salsa from Como Loco, Hot-Club from Djangonauts, and two big bands – Garforth JRO and to finish the month Kim Macari’s big band celebration of the music of Scottish saxman Duncan Lamont – and Duncan will be there too.
Great gigs – do come and do spread the word!
This coming Thursday evening April 28th 8pm – Howard Alden group featuring Jeanne Gies
A must for all lovers of mainstream jazz and great jazz songs. With Howard Alden guitar, Jeanne Gies vocals, Gary Jackson, bass, Caroline Boaden drums this will be an intimate evening with one of America's best known jazz guitarists and Concord recording artist Howard Alden, in concert with New York jazz singer Jeanne Gies. Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie and Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and George Van Eps. Soon he was working professionally around Los Angeles playing in groups ranging from traditional to mainstream to modern jazz. In 1979, Alden went east, for a summer in Atlantic City with Red Norvo, and continued to perform with him frequently for several years. Jeanne Gies is a fantastic jazz singer from New York – she has sung with the best including Bucky Pizzarelli and Joe Cohn as well as Howard. With support from Leeds jazz favourites the Ben Danzig/Julia Turner duo.
Tickets £15 or 12 concessionary price, with full time student tickets £5 on the door. Tickets available from Seven Arts bar, or tel 0113 26 26 777. We are offering two free hotel spaces in Leeds that night for people coming from distance who want to stay over – email through our website (www.sevenjazz.co.uk) with your ticket number if you want one – first come first served!
Jean and Howard will also be running a masterclass before the gig talking about guitars, accompanying singers, anything you’d like to know, come along and ask - it will be interesting. It will run 6.15-7.15pm - for more details see below.
Sunday afternoon May 1st 1-4pm Matt Anderson Quartet
Matt on sax, Aubin Vanns guitar, John Marley bass, Sam Gardiner drums. Matt is a good friend of Seven Jazz, He has appeared with his own quartet before as a student at Leeds College of Music and as a sideman in bands and big bands led by others. An LCM graduate he now performs with and composes for various projects around the UK, for example his new ‘Songs of the Ridings’ project commissioned by Creative North Yorkshire. Matt is a member of Jazz Yorkshire’s Futures scheme to help some of the best young musicians establish their careers in the region. Seven Jazz are right behind the Futures awards, we believe it is important to help develop our jazz talent. £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free.
Sunday afternoon May 8th Salsa Como Loco
Since 2006, Salsa Como Loco have been getting the party started across West Yorkshire. A 12 piece collaboration of musicians from various bands including the Peace Artistes, Bassa Bassa and Duende, their overpowering love of Cuban style salsa dance music is infectious. Influenced by Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Chano Pozo, Celia Cruz, they have put together a stonkin' dance set so come prepared to move – or just to enjoy. Price £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free
Sunday afternoon May 15th 1-4pm Djangonauts
Since 2006, Salsa Como Loco have been getting the party started across West Yorkshire. A 12 piece collaboration of musicians from various bands including the Peace Artistes, Bassa Bassa and Duende, their overpowering love of Cuban style salsa dance music is infectious. Influenced by Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Chano Pozo, Celia Cruz, they have put together a stonkin' dance set so come prepared to move – or just to enjoy. Price £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free
Sunday afternoon May 15th 1-4pm Djangonauts
Come and hear Andy Cholerton on accordian! Also Chris Walker guitar, Kevin Walker bass and Phil Johnson drums. Their contemporary take on the Gypsy Jazz style, original arrangements and virtuoso technique have delighted audiences throughout the north of England. Taking their lead from contemporary gypsy jazz masters such as Birelli Lagrene and Anglo Debarre the band has a fresh modern sound but is firmly rooted in the style of the legendary Manouche Guitar Virtuoso Django Reinhardt. Tickets £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free.
Thursday evening, May 19th, 8pm Arnie Somogyi’s Scenes in the City – the music of Charlie Mingus
With Arnie Somogyi bass, Alan Barnes saxophones, Tony Kofi saxophones, Jeremy Price trombone, Mark Edwards piano, Clark Tracey drums. A UK jazz super group, Scenes in the City, led by bassist Arnie Somogyi, combine the talents of some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians in an all-star line-up, playing music of the great composer and bassist, Charles Mingus. The gig includes an appearance by Seven favourites Alan Barnes Clark Tracey and Tony Kofi plus a first at Seven for pianist Mark Edwards. Expect to hear familiar jazz favourites such as ‘Boogie Stop Shuffle’, ‘Fables of Faubus’ and ‘Better Get Hit in Your Soul’ played with the freedom and drive that define one of the most important and colourful figures in Jazz.
Tickets £15 or 12 concessionary price, with full time student tickets £5 on the door. Tickets available from Seven Arts bar, or tel 0113 26 26 777
Sunday afternoon May 22nd 1-4pm Garforth Jazz Rock Orchestra
You asked for them again-here they are! Garforth Jazz Rock Band is a community/youth big band with members from Leeds, Wakefield and the surrounding region. GJRB was formed in the October of 2003. Since this time the band has performed on more than 125 individual occasions! The band has had two tours, the most recent to Durban earlier this year. The band is directed by jazz pianist and festival organiser (also leader of the Fruit Tree band) Dave Evans who is constantly looking for new members to join this exciting, eclectic and sometimes anarchic band. Tickets £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free.
Sunday afternoon May 29th 1-4pm Kim Macari’s Big Band play the music of Duncan Lamont
Kim Macari is a fine young Scottish trumpet player and she is bringing a big band of Leeds College students to Seven to pay homage to one of Scotland's finest arrangers Duncan Lamont. The band will play Duncan's "Carnival of the Animals" suite. When Gil Evans in a magazine interview was asked who his favourite contemporary writer was, he quoted Duncan Lamont. Duncan was born in Greenock, Scotland. He played trumpet with Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists changed to tenor sax became a jazz studio player. Played with almost everyone in show business. He has worked (often as a featured soloist) with Henry Mancini, Robert Farnon, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Bill Holman, Nelson Riddle, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Count Basie, Fred Astaire, Benny Carter, Mel Torme, Paul McCartney, the list is endless. And Duncan has said he will be there at the gig to make it a very special occasion - not to be missed. Tickets £5/4 on the door, kids under 16 free
Our jazz workshops at Seven continue for people who want to learn about jazz or to play jazz.
Thursday 28th April Howard Alden guitar masterclass 6.15 to 7.15pm Howard Alden is one of America's best known jazz guitarists, and he will be performing a concert for Seven Jazz at Seven Arts on Thursday 28th April with his trio and New York singer Jeanne Gies. He has agreed to share some of his knowledge and experience in a one hour masterclass at 6.15pm prior to the concert. In the masterclass Howard is happy to answer questions; he can talk about playing the 7 string quitar, his playing and coaching work on Sweet and Lowdown, plus ideas and tips about playing with a vocalist. No need to bring instruments, as the session is only one hour. All welcome, not just guitarists! Cost of masterclass £8/6 concessions. Book with Jean Watson jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.
Our regular Seven Jazz instrumental workshops are going from strength to strength! The dates of the forthcoming summer workshops are: (all workshops 2-30 to 4-30 pm)
Saturday 30 April: Tutor Richard Ormrod
Saturday 14 May: Tutor Martin Townshend
Saturday 28 May: Tutor Colin Byrne
The workshops cost £10/£8 concessions. Workshop members need to have some experience of playing (say a couple of years), and an interest in jazz, though not necessarily in playing it – just a willingness to have a go! Some reading experience useful but not essential.
Please reserve your place so that we have an idea of numbers & instruments. For further information & bookings contact Jean Watson by email at jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.
Dominic Moore runs a jazz workshop/improvisation group at the Methodist Centre, Chapel Allerton on the following Friday dates in 2011 (£5 per session) 7.30-10pm
29th April (if people will still want to play on day of the Royal Wedding!)
13 May
27 May
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.
Just a reminder about this Thursday (April 21st) the day before Good Friday, Crown of Lights Music Events launch their first ever tribute night!
Yes, another night of the most excellent LIVE music you will witness anywhere. Three MIGHTY bands and a very unique acoustic(ish) duo. Set in a fantastic, easy to find venue with great cheap ale :D
