www.list.co.uk/music 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 17
Glasgow ■ Dr Feelgood and White Ace The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 7.30pm. £13. Rhythm’n’blues veterans from the 70s, whose unhinged sound inspired the early punk acts. ■ RSNO: Big Band Christmas Party Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 7.30pm. £12–£32 (concessions available). See in a swinging Christmas as Eliot Murray directs the RSNO Big Band through an eclectic and enjoyably cheesy selection of seasonal tunes, including ‘Silent Night’ and ‘White Christmas’. Also featuring a mystery guest star. ■ Swingin’ into Christmas RSAMD, 100 Renfrew Street, 332 5057. 7.30pm. £10 (£7). Once again, singers from the Musical Theatre programme are joined by the RSAMD Big Band in a festive programme that’s sure to get your toes a- tapping.
Edinburgh ■ Elin Larsson Group and Mercy Mercy Mercy The Lot, 4–6 Grassmarket, 225 9922. 8pm. £10. Double bill featuring Swedish saxophonist Larsson plus Cannonball and Nat Adderlay tunes from Mercy Mercy Mercy led by Colin Steele and Martin Kershaw at this Assembly Direct ‘end of year jazz celebration’. ■ The Freaky Family The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). Organic hip hop and jazzy grooves. Dundee ■ Jazz Dundee Rep, Tay Square, 01382 223530. 10pm. £5. Havana Swing are joined by special guests.
Hamilton ■ Christmas Party Night Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, 01333 450572. 7pm. £37.50. Party night at the Town House, with drinks, canapés, a three course meal and entertainment from funk and soul maestros Big Vern & the Shootahs.
Irvine ■ The Scottish Blues Brothers and Live Showband Harbour Arts Centre, 114–116 Harbour Street, 01294 274059. 8pm. £10. Paying tribute to the seminal anthems and sweet soul music of Jake & Elwood, this duo bring with them a full eight-piece band.
Friday 18
Edinburgh ■ Lucy Kerr Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £4 (£3). Sax-led modern quartet. ■ 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 Acid jazz and funk from Gecko 3 (18 Dec) followed by Leeds-based vocalist Terri Shaltiel and her funk band (1 Jan). Dundee ■ Christmas with The Rat Pack Caird Hall, City Square, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £22.50–£25.50 (£20.50–£23.50). Beat the winter blues with the Christmas version of Frank, Sammy and Dean – The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas, with seasonal classics including ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’, ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’, ‘Let It Snow’ and many more.
Hamilton ■ Christmas Party Night Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, 01333 450572. 7pm. £37.50. See Thu 17.
Saturday 19
Glasgow FREE The Dias Quartet Brel, 39–43 Ashton Lane, 342 4966. 3–6pm. Pulsating grooves from this jazz-funk quartet fronted by Brazilian trumpeter Reginaldo Dias. ■ Konrad Wiszniewski Quartet City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. 8pm. £12. A Christmas concert from one of Scotland’s finest young sax players. Ryan Quigley and Paul Towndrow are going to feature as special guests (Glasgow only). See preview, page 72. 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. ■ Christmas with the Rat Pack Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 8pm. £23.50–£27.50. See Fri 18. ■ 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. The line-up includes six-piece soul/funk act Washington Street (19 Dec), Hammond organ grooves from The Privates (26 Dec) and The Dirty Martinis (2 Jan).
Hamilton ■ Christmas Party Night Hamilton Town House, 102 Cadzow Street, 01333 450572. 7pm. £37.50. See Thu 17.
Milngavie FREE Jazz Super The Cross Keys, 1 Station Road, 956 4211. 8pm. Live jazz while you dine from Bobby Wishart Quartet with vocalist Kenny Patterson.
Sunday 20
Edinburgh FREE Lorna Reid and Graeme Stephen Café Grande, 184 Bruntsfield Place, 228 1188. 7–9pm. Cool and classy vocalist Reid, with guitarist Stephen. ■ Konrad Wiszniewski Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £5 (£4). See Sat 19. FREE The Whighams Jazz Club Whighams Wine Cellars, 13 Hope Street, 225 8674. 8.30pm. All singers and instrumentalists are welcome at this jazz jam with a different host every week and a stellar trio. Craig McMurdo hosts a ‘Festive Jam and Open Mic’ (20 Dec) followed by an ‘end of year’ session with Sue McHugh (27 Dec) and Clare Daly (3 Jan). ■ The Beau Nasties The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). Mix of folk, blues and Celtic influences. Bathgate ■ Festive Brass Regal Theatre, North Bridge St, 01506 632558. 7pm. £9 (£7). The Whitburn Band plays a selection of Christmas music.
Monday 21 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.
Jazz Music
Tuesday 22
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. 6pm. 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 23
Glasgow ■ Live Jazz Tchai Ovna, 42 Otago Lane, 357 4524. 8pm. £2. A mixture of standards and originals played on guitar, drums and saxophone. FREE Mono Jazz Mono, 12 King’s Court, King Street, 553 2400. 8pm. Weekly jazz residency with a house quartet of Lorne Cowieson, Euan Stevenson, Andy Sharkey and Jim Drummond.
Edinburgh ■ Jazz Bar Trio The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8pm. £4 (£3). Cool swinging jazz from the house trio on piano, bass and drums. ■ Soul Society The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). Funk and blues from Mike Kearney’s four-piece. Livingston ■ Festive Brass Howden Park Centre, Howden, 01506 777666. 7pm. £9 (£7). See Sun 20.
Thursday 24
Glasgow FREE Leo Forde Quartet Brel, 39–43 Ashton Lane, 342 4966. 6–9pm. New guitar-led jazz band from Strathclyde’s BA Applied Music Course. Edinburgh ■ Jazz Bar Trio The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £2 (£1). See Wed 23. ■ The Freaky Family The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm. £2 (£1). See Thu 17.
Saturday 26
Glasgow FREE The Alan Gilbert Quartet Brel, 39–43 Ashton Lane, 342 4966. 6–9pm. Straight-ahead jazz from the gifted guitarist plus band. Edinburgh ■ Jazz Bar Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8.15pm. £4 (£3). Drummer Bill Kyle leads this jazz four-piece. FREE Faye Levy Trio Eighty Queen Street Bar and Restaurant, 80 Queen Street, 226 5097. 9.30pm. Live jazz sounds from singer Levy and this cool trio. ■ Fish Fry The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11.30pm–3am. £5 (£3). See Sat 19.
Sunday 27 Glasgow ■ Raymond Gubbay: Glenn Miller Orchestra Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. 3pm & 7.30pm. £15.50–£26. Ray McVay leads a swingin’ concert of 40s hits as well as a few Christmassy numbers. The orchestra is joined by their own versions of The Uptown Hall Gang and The Moonlight Serenaders, and more guests.
17 Dec 2009–7 Jan 2010 THE LIST 85