Music Jazz
Jazz Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to henry@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Henry Northmore and Kenny Mathieson. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 5
Glasgow ■ The Portico Quartet and Sweet Billy Pilgrim The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7.30pm. £10. Mercury- nominated jazz meets classical outfit, who mix the richness of Brahms with the unruly nature of Mingus. ■ Will Vinson and Mark McKnight Quintet City Halls: Recital Rooms, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £10. The New York-based English sax star has played with Rufus Wainwright, Ari Hoenig’s Punk Bop and Eddie Gomez, here playing with Irish guitarist McKnight’s quartet.
Edinburgh ■ Paul Towndrow Slovakia Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 473 2000. 8.15pm. £6 (£5). Gifted alto-saxophonist Towndrow brings in two guests from Slovakia, vibraphonist Miroslav Herak and pianist Michal Vanoucek, for a UK tour. ■ The Freaky Family The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.15pm. £1. Organic hip hop and jazzy grooves. Peebles ■ June Tabor Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre, Eastgate, 01721 725777. 7.30pm. £14 (£12). A fine interpreter of traditional song, with a concert of jazz- inflected folk. She’s sung with Fairport Convention and the Oyster Band, with whom she memorably covered the Velvet Underground’s ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’.
Friday 6
Glasgow ■ Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra Festival CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. £5 per day. Two days of free jazz and improv music from the GIO plus special guests. Friday features Axel Dorner, Arild Vange, Neil Davidson, Filario Farinoppo, Aileen Campbell and Peter Nicholson. Edinburgh ■ Mark McKnight Organ Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £5 (£4). Headed by Belfast guitarist McKnight and organist Ross Stanley. ■ Skunk Funk The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm–3am. £5 (£3). Night of top funk from DJ Aki and live guests, including
funk, dance and disco from Federation of Disco Pimp (6 Nov) plus funk-rock from Monkey See, Monkey Do (13 Nov).
Bathgate ■ Big Vern & the Shootahs Regal Community Theatre, 24–34 North Bridge Street, 01506 433634. 8pm. £14 (£12). Shake a tail feather with Glasgow’s answer to The Blues Brothers. Paisley ■ Lorna Reid Jazz Quintet Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, 887 1010. 7.30pm. £10 (£6). A selection of live numbers from the cool and classy vocalist and band. For this performance she appears with top saxophonist Konrad Wisniewski and the Euan Stevenson Trio.
Saturday 7
Glasgow FREE Paul Towndrow Slovakia Quartet Brel, 39–43 Ashton Lane, 473 2000. 1pm. See Thu 5. ■ Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra Festival CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 2,30pm & 7.30pm. £5 per day. Today's line-up includes: Cr:acc Ensemble, John Burgess, George Murray, Una MacGlone, Yoko Miura, Susan Alcorn and Pyramidion. See Fri 6. FREE The June Love Trio Trader Joe’s, 325 Hope Street, 332 4017. 2.30pm. Old school jazz and Nina Simone covers. Edinburgh FREE The Mellotones The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 3.30pm. Jimmy Taylor and band play songs by Mel Torme and other great jazz vocalists. ■ World Premiere Quintet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £4 (£3). A different selection of five leading jazz players come together for each session with no rehearsal. ■ Fish Fry The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm–3am. £5 (£3). Scottish jazz, funk, soul and Latin bands join DJ Astroboy, including Newcastle hip hoppers 27 Club (7 Nov) followed by rare grooves, hot horns and bass from Man at the Window (14 Nov).
Sunday 8 Edinburgh FREE The Whighams Jazz Club Whighams Wine Cellars, 13 Hope Street, 225 8674. 8–10.30pm. All singers and instrumentalists are welcome at this jazz jam with a different host every week and a stellar trio. This fortnight features Craig McMurdo (8 Nov) and Victoria Bennett (15 Nov). ■ Singers’ Night The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £4 (£3). Opportunity to hear some of the latest emerging singers perform in an intimate setting with the cream of Scotland’s jazz musicians, featuring vocalist Maria Speight.
■ The Beau Nasties The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). Mix of folk, blues and Celtic influences.
Monday 9
Edinburgh ■ The Jazz Bar Big Band The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 7.30pm. £4 (£3). Jazz classics from this 17-piece ensemble. ■ Great Jazz Jam Session The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 10.30pm. £2 (£1). Expect a rich mix of styles as faces old and new drop in to perform with the House Trio each week.
Tuesday 10
Glasgow FREE The Bottleneckers Blackfriars, 36 Bell Street, 552 5924. 9pm. Fifties- style rhythm’n’blues band play a residency. Edinburgh ■ The Six O’Clock Blues & Swing Train The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 5pm. Donation. Live acoustic blues from John Hurt and friends (chess sets available). ■ Tuesday Jam The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 9pm. £2 (£1). Open jazz jam with the House Trio. ■ Tuesday Heartbreak Funk Session The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.15pm. £2 (£1). Funk guitarist and DJ Aki leads this two drummer-fuelled funk band.
Wednesday 11 Edinburgh FREE The Chameleon Jazz Quartet Glass Arcade, Scottish Agricultural College, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, 535 4000. 1.05pm. The four-piece gives an upbeat concert of Latin infused post-bop jazz. FREE Edinburgh University Jazz Orchestra The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 5.30pm. Open rehearsal. ■ Tom Gibbs Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £4 (£3). Creative, inventive jazz from Glaswegian pianist Gibbs. ■ Soul Society The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). Funk and blues from Mike Kearney’s four-piece.
Thursday 12 Edinburgh FREE Rosy Blue Duo National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. 6–6.30pm. The jazz twosome performs jazz standards, blues and original material on a homecoming theme. ■ Jazz Bar Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £4 (£3). Drummer Bill Kyle leads this jazz four-piece.
■ The Freaky Family The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.15pm. £1. See Thu 5. Dundee ■ Jazz Dundee Rep, Tay Square, 01382 223530. 10pm. £5. Havana Swing are joined by special guests.
Perth ■ Manhattan Transfer Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 8pm. £29.50 (£25). Four-part harmonies from premiere vocal group comprising Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel.
Friday 13
Glasgow ■ Jake and Elwood: The Best Blues Brother Show in the World Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £19.50–£21.50. A great big soul, blues and rhythm party with classic hits such as ‘Everybody’, ‘Soul Man’ and ‘Mustang Sally’. ■ Big Guitar Weekend RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. £165 weekend pass; concerts individually priced. Three days of concerts, tutorials and workshops centred around the highly versatile instrument, featuring Pavel Steidl, Yvonne Lyon, the Scottish Guitar Quartet, The Paul McKenna Band and jazz legend Martin Taylor. Edinburgh ■ Andrew Bain’s Upper East Side The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £5 (£4). The Edinburgh- born, London-based drummer is joined by NYC saxophonist Jon Irabagon, bassist Percy Pursglove and pianist Tom Gibbs. ■ Skunk Funk The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm–3am. £5 (£3). See Fri 6.
Dundee ■ Martin Taylor and Alison Burns Apex City Quay Hotel, 1 West Victoria Dock Road, City Quay, 01382 434940. 8pm. £15. The Grammy Award-winning guitarist plays solo and joins forces with jazz vocalist Burns. Part of the Dundee Jazz Festival. Livingston ■ A Funny Valentine: The Story and Music of Chet Baker Howden Park Centre, Howden, 01506 777666. 8pm. £12 (£9). Mike Maran tells the story of Chet Baker, with live music from Colin Steele on trumpet and Dave Milligan on piano.
Saturday 14 Glasgow FREE The Dias Quartet Brel, 39–43 Ashton Lane, 342 4966. 1pm. Pulsating grooves from this jazz-funk quartet fronted by Brazilian trumpeter Reginaldo Dias.
Donizetti The Elixir of Love Please drink responsibly!
A lovelorn peasant, the object of his affections and a quack doctor with a boozy trick up his sleeve. Can there be a happy ending? 22 • 26 • 28 November Festival Theatre Edinburgh 0131 529 6000
76 THE LIST 5–19 Nov 2009