Music EDINBURGH JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
FREE Exhibition: Bulles Jazz Blues, Quand la BD swingue! Institut Français d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. 9.30am–6.30pm. See Fri 22. ■ Bill Salmond’s Louisiana Ragtime Band Royal Overseas League, 100 Princes Street, 473 2000. 4–6pm. £9. Swinging sounds from this popular Edinburgh group with special guest, Jake McMahon. ■ Kenny Ellis Trio Bosco Theatre, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 6–7.30pm. £10. The Edinburgh bassist with Brian Kellock (piano) and Brian Keddie (trombone) that play tricky bop tunes with a focus on musical thrill. ■ Joe Louis Walker Band, featuring Todd Sharpville The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 7–8.30pm. £12. Much respected, flamboyant US guitarist. ■ Edinburgh Jazz Festival Orchestra, directed by Ken Peplowski, plays Woody Herman ‘The Four Brothers’ The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £22.50 (£17.50). Driving rhythms, great arrangements and a band packed with great soloists. ■ Martin Taylor – Gypsy Journey The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £20. The virtuoso guitarist is steeped in the gypsy jazz tradition with over a decade of touring with Stephane Grappelli. ■ Red Stripe Band Dans Paleis, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £12.50. Good time blues, boogie, swing and jive band. ■ Offpiste Gurus Bosco Theatre, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8.30–10.30pm. £12. ‘Blues- roots-rock-jazz’ from the great Danish sax player, Fredrik Lundin, a power rhythm trio and the hard-hitting vocals of Trinelise Væring. ■ Rumba Caliente The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 9.30–11.30pm. £12.50. Dancefloor filling sounds fusing salsa, jazz, raga, soul and rumba. Friday 29
■ Al’s Dixie Palz Royal Overseas League, 100 Princes Street, 473 2000. 12.30–2.30am. £9. Traditional folk and jazz star banjo player and vocalist Alastair McDonald fronts this quartet. FREE Exhibition: Bulles Jazz Blues, Quand la BD swingue! Institut Français d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. 9.30am–6.30pm. See Fri 22. ■ Edinburgh Napier University Jazz Summer School Concert Dans Paleis, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 2–4pm. £5. Jazz stars in the making. ■ Mike Hart All Star Band with Edith Budge The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 6–7.30pm. £10. The Festival’s Founding Director puts together an all star band to play classic hot jazz from the 20s and 30s. ■ Konrad Wiszniewski – New Focus The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £15. Scottish tenor saxophonist Wiszniewski presents his own take on Stan Getz and Eddie Sauter’s album Focus. ■ Martin Kershaw Quartet Bosco Theatre, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £10. The alto saxophonist’s Quartet has reinvented itself with the skill, energy and musical nous of Paul Harrison, Euan Burton and Doug Hough. ■ The Rae Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band George Heriot’s School Rugby Club, Bangholm Terrace, 473 2000. 8–11pm. £10. Inspired by George Lewis and Bunk Johnson Mac and Dave Rae’s Band specialise in capturing the New Orleans ‘bounce’. ■ Colin Steele Melting Pot Dans Paleis, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 80 THE LIST 21 Jul–4 Aug 2011
Eska
A trip down memory lane, with this, the return of Eska. The Glasgow indie-rockers enjoyed a moment in the sun during the 90s with Stuart (Mogwai) Braithwaite in the original line-up, and various members going on to cross-pollinate their talents in other bands; the singer Chris Mack (pictured) now performs as the James Orr Complex, and Colin Kearney has been in in the Royal We, Bricolage, Make Love, Empire Builder, sometimes Correcto . . . every bloody band really. ■ Stereo, Glasgow, Fri 22 Jul.
8.30–10.30pm. £12. Colin Steele’s funk and soul-jazz unit. ■ Jack Bruce & The Big Blues Band and Support The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 473 2000. 8.30–10.30pm. £30 (£25). Jack Bruce was the vocalist and bassist in 60s blues rock band Cream and played in John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and Blues Incorporated. His new ten-piece band covers Cream hits and classics by the likes of BB King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Howlin’ Wolf and Robert Cray. ■ Matthew Ford: Swing Legends The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8.30–10.30pm. £12.50. Stylish, smart, sophisticated jazz crooner. ■ Four Corners The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 473 2000. 11pm–3am. £5 before midnight; £7 after. Deep funk, reggae, nu-Latin breaks, Afro beats and soul jazz club night, plus a live set from The Delegators. Saturday 30
■ Spirits of Rhythm Royal Overseas League, 100 Princes Street, 473 2000. 12.30–2.30am. £9. Violet Milne’s band epitomise the warmth of New Orleans Jazz and feature the hot reeds of Ian Boyter and New Orleans style drummer Kenny Milne. FREE Exhibition: Bulles Jazz Blues, Quand la BD swingue! Institut Français d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. 9.30am–1.30pm. See Fri 22. ■ James Hunter & the Hard Way, Dana Dixon Blues Band and Rosy Blue The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, 473 2000. 1–4.30pm. £12.50. Real blues and soul groove from vocalist Hunter. ■ Seaside Skiffle Royal Overseas League, 100 Princes Street, 473 2000. 4–6pm. £9. Skiffle blended deep southern blues and country music with British traditional jazz passion. Here’s a fun re- make with Eric Wales, Jerry O’Regan, Hamish McGregor and Ken Ford. ■ Havana Swing The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 6–7.30pm. £10. A very tight five-piece band playing lightning solos and subtle harmonies with energy, passion and charm. ■ Brian Kellock Trio and Carol Kidd & Brian Kellock The Hub, Castlehill Royal Mile, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £17.50. Brian Kellock’s classic Trio with Kenny Ellis and Stu Ritchie
opens the concert and then the man himself accompanies the wonderful singing of Carol Kidd. ■ Lillian Boutté New Orleans All Stars Dans Paleis, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £12. Lillian Boutté recreates the atmosphere of Bourbon Street everywhere she goes. Tonight she leads a New Orleans Party Night featuring a six piece band driven by Kenny Milne’s classic and authentic drumming. ■ Pervoe Solnce, Jef Neve/Pascal Schumacher Bosco Theatre, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £10. Simply beautiful music from this Russian seven- piece; jazz-rock drums, classical guitar, jazz bass, classical cello, bop trumpet, melancholic folkloric accordion, trance samples, vibraphone harmonies and much more besides. ■ Fat Sam’s Band The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8.30–10.30pm. £15. Fat Sam’s Band offer foot-tapping, infectiously upbeat jazz and swing. ■ Robert Cray Band The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 473 2000. 8.30–10.30pm. £30 (£25). Festival debut for the blues legend and his trademark guitar-driven soul-blues, funky grooves and soulful ballads. ■ Vegas! The HMV Picture House, 31 Lothian Road, 473 2000. 9pm–3am. £15. A special collaboration from swing/easy listening club Vegas and the EJ&BF starring The Vegas Big Band featuring Little Miss Leod & The Horndog Horns, with special guests The Jive Aces and the fabulous regular Vegas hosts. Sunday 31
■ Swing 2011 Royal Overseas League, 100 Princes Street, 473 2000. 12.30–2.30am. £9. Inspired by the 40s Parisian Hot Club music of Django Reinhardt and featuring the soloing of clarinettist Dick Lee and guitarist Stephen Coutts, and the arrangements driven by John Russell (guitar) and Roy Percy (bass). ■ The River Devils, Lyndon Anderson Band and John Bruce’s Safehouse The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, 473 2000. 1–4pm. £7.50. The River Devils close the show with slide guitar boogie and Hammond organ- driven grooves led by guitarist Sandy Tweeddale.
■ Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra Dans Paleis, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 4–6pm. £5. Experience the joy of a big band in full flight as Edinburgh’s young stars take to the stage. Dan Hallam leads the Orchestra. ■ Gospel Concert with Lilian Boutte St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road, 229 1142. 6–7pm. £tbc. A special fundraising gospel concert in aid of charity. Led by New Orleans music ambassador, singer Lillian Boutte. ■ Nova Scotia Jazz Band with Brian Kellock The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 6–7.30pm. £10. A fresh take on the classic jazz style of the 1920s and 30s, joined by pianist Brian Kellock. ■ Curtis Stigers The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £25 (£20). Back by popular demand, the vocalist and saxophonist will be interpreting the Great American Songbook. ■ Freddie King & Lillian Boutté Dans Paleis, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £12. Classic Jazz vocals from the deep south and the sophisticated north of the USA. They’ll sing solo sets with an all-star rhythm section fronted by Tom Finlay, then duet standards from the American songbook and blues classics. ■ Maxime Bender Quartet and John Fleming Quartet Bosco Theatre, The Spiegel Garden, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8–10pm. £10. Bender is influenced by the compositional piano/sax interplay found on 70s albums like Keith Jarrett’s Belonging. John Fleming Quartet play as part of the Breaking Ground Series. This young band play beautiful lyrical music rooted in the jazz tradition. ■ Neil Cowley Trio The Spiegeltent, George Square Gardens, 473 2000. 8.30–10.30pm. £15. A high energy show with the drive of rock and the surging dynamics of dance music.
JAZZ Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 16 days before publication to henry@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Henry Northmore. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 21 Edinburgh ■ Jazz Bar Quartet The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 8pm. £4 (£3). Jazz four-piece. ■ Future Heroes The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 11pm. £2 (£1). Groovy funk four-piece (formerly known as Freaky Family) from guitarist Aki Remally.
Friday 22
Glasgow FREE Dias Brazil Boteco do Brasil, 62 Trongate, 548 1330. 7.30pm. Jazzy Brazilian rhythms, bossa nova, samba and salsa. Edinburgh ■ Late’n’Live The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. 12.30–3am. £5 (£3). Late night jazz and funk acts and DJs. Featuring 70s style funk from The Privates.
Saturday 23 Glasgow FREE Jazz Café at the Tron Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 287 8910. 12.30–2.30pm. Chill out at the Tron as the Glasgow Jazz Festival opens a Jazz café in the bar. Part of the Merchant City Festival. ■ The Penman Jazzmen King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street,