Music Jazz&Blues
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 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
Friday 30 Edinburgh FREE Capital Jazz: A Spotlight on Edinburgh Talent Central Library, George IV Bridge, 473 2000. 10am-5pm. A small exhibition on Edinburgh’s Jazz history containing some of the many items donated to Edinburgh City Libraries as part of the Edinburgh Jazz Archive. ■ Daniel Erdmann & Frances Le Bras The Lot, 4-6 Grassmarket, 473 2000. 6pm. £10. The French pianist is steeped in the traditions of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, while his German saxophone partner is one of the most dynamic young players on the edgy German contemporary jazz scene. ■ Alvin Youngblood Hart The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, 473 2000. 8pm. £12. The Memphis guitarist and vocalist is one of the world’s leading new blues powers. ■ Fat Sam’s Band Assembly @ Princes Street Gardens, West Princes Street Gardens, 473 2000. 8pm. £15. High energy, toe-tapping, finger- snapping music in the vein of Louis Jordan, Louis Prima or Basie. The nine- piece band is a throwback to the jump and swing bands of the 30s and 40s and
they have their own Cab Calloway in the charismatic leader, Hamish McGregor. ■ The Rae Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band George Heriot’s School Rugby Club, Bangholm Terrace, 473 2000. 8pm. £9. One of England’s finest exponents of classic New Orleans jazz. ■ Freddie King: Milestones The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £12.50. Edinburgh’s jazz vocalist specialising in bebop, ballads and blues leads a ten-piece band with guest saxophonist Frank Perowsky. ■ Kevin MacKenzie Vital Signs The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £10. One of the most exciting amalgams of jazz and folk ever produced, this nine-piece blends jazz harmonies with folk rhythms and melodies. ■ Salsa Celtica Big Band The Queen’s Hall, 87-89 Clerk Street, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £16. Cuban and Latin American salsa meets traditional Scottish and Irish music. ■ John Burgess Special Quartet The Lot, 4-6 Grassmarket, 473 2000. 9pm. £10. The Edinburgh tenor saxophonist has travelled the world building reputations in North America and Europe for his big rounded sound; his tough, punchy delivery and warm- hearted musical personality. ✽✽ Lizzard Lounge 2010 The HMV 473 2000. 10.30pm. £15. A one-off celebration of Edinburgh’s seminal Lizzard Lounge club. The bill features live sets from Fred Wesley and the new JB’s, London Mercury-nominated hip hop artist Ty, Compost Recording artist and club co-founder Joe Malik, and The Rumba Caliente Afro Latin Soul Orchestra with special guests. Hosted by Joe Malik and Toby Shippey with guests Simon Hodge of the Craig Charles Soul Picture House, 31 Lothian Road,
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival The ten-day fest kicks off again, and among
the things circled in our copies of the programme, we would include China Moses, an American singer based in Paris, with a soul background and a near obsession for the troubled diva, Dinah Washington; Niki King, Scotland’s own smoky-voiced songstress, with her tribute to Billie Holiday; and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, the ten-strong Chicago outfit (above) who blend funk, soul, rap and jazz into high-energy party music. Also worthy of a mention is the Stuart Brown/John Hollenbeck Group’s ‘Naturally Inspired gig’, featuring music based on field recordings of birdsong on Islay. Or as they very intriguingly put it; ‘cross rhythms of geese and the electronic squeals of lapwings’. A pleasingly experimental addition to the programme, we think. ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 30 Jul–Sun 8 Aug.
78 THE LIST 22 Jul–5 Aug 2010
and Funk show and Jim Bathgate of 4Corners and Departure Lounge. See Clubs preview, page 37. ■ Jam Session The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 473 2000. 11pm. £5. After hours basement jazz club.
Saturday 31 Edinburgh FREE Capital Jazz: A Spotlight on Edinburgh Talent Central Library, George IV Bridge, 473 2000. 9am-1pm. See Fri 30. ■ Scotsman Talks: Edinburgh Jazz Traditions: The 1950s onwards The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 11am. £5. John Burgess hosts a panel of musicians and experts to discuss what really happened in the explosion of jazz in Edinburgh in the 50s and why traditional jazz in Edinburgh was so good. With Mike Hart, Graham Blamire, Kenny Milne, Chick Murray and Jim Petrie. FREE Clandemonium Parliament Square, High Street, 473 2000. 11.30am. The world premiere of a unique Scottish jazz flash mob street event. Drummer, Tom Bancroft has created an exciting opportunity for everyone to be part of the festival and is looking for people to take part as drummers, dancers, body percussionists/singers, and kazoo players. To take part, find out more details and reserve a place phone the Festival Office on 0131 467 5200 or email fiona@adjazz.co.uk. Ages: 10+ FREE Jazz Al Fresco Grassmarket, 473 2000. 1pm. A relaxed, informal afternoon of jazz. Three stages will feature a range of easy listening jazz and blues of all styles. The programme includes Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra, Melba Joyce, John Allred, Rosy Blue, Jess Abrams, The RSAMD Sextet and Cool America. FREE Mardi Gras and Parade Grassmarket, 473 2000. 1pm. The Parade leaves City Chambers in the High Street at 12.45pm, and heads to the Mardi Gras. A vibrant splash of colour and exuberant music as the New Orleans party atmosphere comes to Edinburgh. This year the programme includes The Criterion Brass Band, Puff Uproar, Edinburgh Samba School, The Diplomats Of Jazz, Dana Dixon Band and Batchelors of Jazz. Singer Victoria Bennett plays a free session at the Central Library at 11am. ■ Jon Cleary: Piano, Bass & Drums Assembly @ Princes Street Gardens, West Princes Street Gardens, 473 2000. 6pm. £15. One of the greats of the current New Orleans scene, blues- man and pianist. Soulful vocals, jazz piano skills, melodic hooks and sharp lyrics with infectious classic R&B grooves. ■ Ruaridh Pattison The Lot, 4-6 Grassmarket, 473 2000. 6pm. £5. Not yet 18, and currently studying at Edinburgh’s Broughton School, Pattison is a very hot young saxophone player. ■ Old Baileys Jazz Advocates & Climax Reunion The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, 473 2000. 7.30pm. £15. Mike Hart and Jim Petrie have re-created the Climax Jazz Band for the festival for one night only, they’re back with the Old Baileys Jazz Advocates, with Hamish McGregor fronting. ■ Canned Heat Woodstock Reunited Band The Queen’s Hall, 87- 89 Clerk Street, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £32.50 (£28.50). For the first time in ten years, the legendary blues-rock-boogie band who headlined the original Woodstock Festival are back playing in the UK, with three of the original 1969 band members. ■ China Moses The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £15. She’s got a voice that cuts, soulful and strong, and she’s got blues, powerful swing and a high voltage personality: China Moses is a genuine exciting new vocal discovery making her Scottish debut
■ Samuel Hallkvist Center The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £10. Guitarist Hällkvist’s eclectic roots in ragtime, country, metal, noise and early digital electronics, inform music that’s half weird guitar music, half the future of jazz. ■ Fred Wesley and the New JBs Assembly @ Princes Street Gardens, West Princes Street Gardens, 473 2000. 9pm. £15. The Godfather of Funk and Soul, musical director of the James Brown Band in its heyday, partner of Maceo Parker and trombonist of distinction. ■ Martin Kershaw Quartet The Lot, 4-6 Grassmarket, 473 2000. 9pm. £10. Kershaw’s alto saxophone and Chick Lyall’s piano draws on both the American and European traditions ■ Jam Session The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 473 2000. 11pm. £5. See Fri 30.
Sunday 1
Django Special? The Hub, Edinburgh ✽✽ Scotsman Talks: What Makes Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 14:30. £5. John Russell hosts a conversation with Mark Gilbert (Editor, Jazz Journal), Martin Taylor and Fapy Lafertin, discussing the unique qualities and extraordinary legacy of the innovative guitarist. ■ Swing 2010 and Fapy Lafertin The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 4pm. £12.50. Celebrating 30 years as Scotland’s leading Django- inspired band, Swing 2010, with the great gypsy guitarist, Fapy Lafertin. FREE Melba Joyce St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road, 473 2000. 6pm. A special charity concert in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust featuring the powerful voice of Harlem’s Melba Joyce. ■ Ken Mathieson Classic Jazz Orchestra The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, 473 2000. 8pm. £12.50. Ken Mathieson’s Band features the cream of Scottish classic jazz talent, and long time collaborator, New Orleans trumpeter, Duke Heitger. ■ Laura MacDonald & Martina Almgren Oh Yeah! The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 8pm. £12.50. Two of Europe’s leading female jazz instrumentalists, the Scottish saxophonist and the Swedish drummer front a group which sparkles with upbeat grooves and bright melodies. ■ Tam White Sermon Orchestra The Queen’s Hall, 87-89 Clerk Street, 473 2000. 8pm. CANCELLED. Sadly Tam White died on 21 Jun. He was a major figure in Scottish music and our thoughts are with his family and musical colleagues. ■ Melting Pot The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £10. Colin Steele’s soul-jazz- funk band. ■ Todd Gordon sings Sinatra Assembly @ Princes Street Gardens, West Princes Street Gardens, 473 2000. 8.30pm. £17.50. With Ryan Quigley Big Band paying homage to the wonderful Sinatra recordings with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras. ■ Frank Perowsky The Lot, 4-6 Grassmarket, 473 2000. 9pm. £10. Swing to bop from the New York tenor sax and flute player. ■ The Bays and Hidden Orchestra The Caves, Niddry Street South, 473 2000. 9pm. £12.50. Club night Departure Lounge celebrates its seventh birthday headlined by The Bays, one of the UK’s most talked about live acts: deep house and techno, hip hop, electro and drum & bass layered with dubby bass lines, samples and synths. See Clubs preview, page 37. ■ Jam Session The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 473 2000. 11pm. £5. See Fri 30.