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 2^nd February and guitarist Jim Mullen’s Reunion Band who will be visiting Seven Arts on 16^th 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 29^th January: Corey Mwamba/Dave Kane/Alexander Hawkins

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 2^nd 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

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


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

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

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

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 19^th 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