NJN Jazz Advent Calendar - Eskelin/Sharkey/Bourne (Dec 19th)

Behind door number 19 is a group formed especially for The Orpheus Project, a joint project run by Apollo Jazz network and NORVOL jazz. NYC tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin toured the UK with guitarist Chris Sharkey and pianist Matt Bourne performing a programme of completely improvised music.

Click here to listen to BBC Radio's Jazz now which features a live broadcast from their Lescar gig - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0857ydb

Eskelin’s trio, featuring Chris Sharkey and Matt Bourne, is comprised of three strong and individual creative voices that come together to create something greater than the considerable sum of its parts. The group toured between October 8thand October 14th, creating performances that were as unique as they were exciting.

For the past thirty years Ellery Eskelin has been at the forefront of the global creative improvised music scene. Based in New York City, he has traveled widely performing, recording and amassing a very personal and iconoclastic body of work. And yet Ellery Eskelin has always remained deeply committed to the traditions of jazz and American music. Eskelin embodies this seeming contradiction with ease. He does not see jazz as a style or idiom but as a process. Further, a process of creative development that has great relevancy to our time. In this pursuit Eskelin consistently delivers to the listening public unadulterated, passionate music with no excuses and no apologies.

Chris Sharkey is known across Europe as being at the cutting edge of creative music. He has been a member of numerous groundbreaking groups in the UK –including TrioVD, Acoustic Ladyland and Bilbao Syndrome. Internationally, he has collaborated with musicians in France (Christian Sebille), Norway (Nils Henrik Aarsheim) , Lithuania (Liudas Mockūnas) and Spain (Asociación Musica Libre).

Bourne first came to national attention as a winner of the Perrier Jazz Award in 2001, which was followed by an award for innovation at the BBC Radio Jazz Awards in 2002, and the International Jazz Festivals Organisation’s International Jazz Award in 2005. Renowned for his intensely personal and sometimes confrontational solo work, Bourne’s uncanny ability to balance delicacy and virtuosity, while establishing a close affinity with his audience, have become hallmarks of his concert performances.

Northern Jazz heads South for EFG London Jazz Festival

It's les than two weeks until this year's EFG London Jazz Festival kicks off. Ten days of jazz starting on November 11th - over 2,000 artists, 300 gigs and 50 venues. There are a number of Northern artists heading down to fly the flag for Jazz in the North so here's a preview of who's playing and where.

Jazz for Toddlers (Dave Kane & Oli Dover)

As part of the festival's expansive learning and participation programme, double bassist Dave Kane and saxophonist Oli Dover will run a series of workshops throughout the festival aimed at children between 2 and 5. Some of the workshops have already sold out so it's looking like it'll be a huge succes.

Mike Walker and Iain Dixon with The Guildhall Band & Choir (November 11th, Clore Ballroom) 

Two fifths of the supergroup The Impossible Gentlemen, Mike Walker and Iain Dixon join The Guildhall Jazz Band and choir led by pianist Malcolm Edmonstone. Expect a varied programme and a joyful evening of music!

Zoe Gilby Family Jazz All-Stars (November 12th, Cadogan Hall)

Another family-friendly event, one of the North's most beloved vocalists Zoe Gilby will perform a programme that guides families through the jazz greats and Zoe's unique takes on popular songs.

Phil Meadows Project (November 14th, Ray's Jazz at Foyles)

LCoM Alumnus and award winning saxophonist and band leader, Phil unveils his brand new ensemble during the festrival. (He will also perform with his trio SKINT, supporting Donny McCaslin)

Matt Roberts BigISH band (November 14th, Spice of Life)

Another LCoM graduate, Northern boy Matt Roberts has become well established as a big band leader since moving to London.  This large ensemble will pay tribute to one of Matt's heroes, the great Duke Ellington.

Matthew Halsall & Gondwana Orchestra (November 15th, Islington Assembly Hall)

Manchester based trumpeter and composer Matthew Halsall has sold out multiple shows at London Jazz Festivals gone by so this one is sure to be busy. He premieres new work with a line-up including harp, saxophone, piano, bass and drums.

Chris Sharkey's Make It/Break It (November 19th, Southbank Centre)

Chris Sharkey has been comissioned by Serious to premiere this new piece. Over 100 musicians will gather in the day to put together the new piece which centres around improvisation and collective music making.

For more information on full programme and to book tickets, visit the EFG London Jazz Festival website.

Orpheus Project presents: Ellery Eskelin Trio UK Tour, October 2016

Following on from the highly successful inaugural tour featuring Ingrid Jensen back in May, the Orpheus Project (a partnership between NORVOLJazz and Apollo Jazz Network) have announced the second featured artist in the series, New York tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin.

From press release...

The Orpheus Project is proud to present tenor heavyweight Ellery Eskelin as their second featured artist. Joined by Chris Sharkey and Matt Bourne, the trio is comprised of three strong and individual creative voices that come together to create something greater than the considerable sum of its parts. The group will tour between October 8^th and October 14^th, creating performances are sure to be as unique as they are exciting.

For the past thirty years Ellery Eskelin has been at the forefront of the global creative improvised music scene. Based in New York City, he has traveled widely performing, recording and amassing a very personal and iconoclastic body of work. And yet Ellery Eskelin has always remained deeply committed to the traditions of jazz and American music. Eskelin embodies this seeming contradiction with ease. He does not see jazz as a style or idiom but as a process. Further, a process of creative development that has great relevancy to our time. In this pursuit Eskelin consistently delivers to the listening public unadulterated, passionate music with no excuses and no apologies.

For more information about the tour dates, links to book tickets and more, visit the Orpheus Project website. 

October 8^th – Marsden Jazz Festival

October 10^th – Con Cellar Bar, London

October 11^th – Fizzle, Birmingham (Ellery Eskelin Solo)

October 12^th – The Lescar, Sheffield

October 13^th – Seven Arts, Leeds (joint promotion – Seven Jazz & Fusebox)

October 14^th – The Globe, Newcastle (joint promotion – Jazz Coop & Jazz North East)

The Orpheus Project is a partnership between Apollo Jazz Network and NORVOLJazz which seeks to establish a touring network for jazz in the North of England. The project is generously supported by Arts Council England through the Grants for the Arts programme.

 

Be Part of Chris Sharkey's Make It/Break It at Gateshead International Jazz Festival

Guitarist Chris Sharkey has been commissioned by Serious to create a new piece of music which will be performed at Gateshead and London Jazz Festivals. The piece is called Make It/Break It and is a very ambitious work which will be see over 100 musicians taking part.

Chris has put a call out today for more people to be involved in the performance at Gateshead Jazz Festival this coming Sunday (April 17th).

He says -

Musicians of the North East of England! I'm doing something at Gateshead International Jazz Festival 2016 on Sunday and want you to be part of it. It's called Make it/ Break it.  We get together for one day, make something, perform it once, then it's gone. I'll need you for most of the day (from around 11am) then we play at 6.30 in the concourse which will be PACKED with people.
 
ANYONE, regardless of instrument or ability can be a part of this.
 
If you show up, I'll give you something important to do.
 
There is NO DEADLINE and NO SELECTION PROCESS.
 
Reply to the email in the link below, hit me up [on facebook] or just show up on the day.
 
We've got a pretty large ensemble already but I really want to push it over the edge - I hope you can come and be a part of it


For more information, see the event page on Sage Gateshead website. (The article states a deadline of March 18th for people who wish to be involved but as Chris says above, this is not the case!)

 

Jazz North Education Conference - Speakers Announced

Jazz North have announced the speakers that will take part in this year's jazz education conference on March 8th at Leeds College of Music.

Gary Crosby OBE will give the keynote address, discussing his work with Tomorrow's Warriors and his experience in supporting and mentoring young musicians as they transition into professional careers.

Gary will be joined by NYMAZ director Heidi Johnson, renowned improvising guitarist Chris Sharkey and trumpeter and educator Ian Chalk

A limited number of spaces are still available for those wishing to attend and full information can be found on the Jazz North website.

Surprise Fusebox gig with MOLE, Saturday 9th January

Fusebox has announced a surprise gig will take place at the Fox and Newt in Leeds this Saturday, 9th January featuring a brand new group - MOLE.

Fusebox's main programme doesn't start until the end of January, but the group are in Leeds writing and recording so have decided to debut the material live.

Event Details -

MOLE is a brand new Anglo/Irish/Norwegian/French collaboration between the LIMA-compadres Christophe de Bezenac (saxophones), Petter Frost Fadnes (saxophones), Dave Kane (double bass) and Paul Hession (kit). MOLE represents the unexpected, the uncanny, the ambiguous, and searches the dark undercurrents of sonic possibilities in their pursuit of righteousness, peace and good music. MOLE is an acoustic quartet that will tear you a new one.

Except some FULL ON FREE JAZZ & MODERN COMPOSITION amongst other things !!!

So, if you are suffering with the post Christmas, New Year blues then come and be uplifted with MOLE and be among the first to hear their new work.

The indomitable, Chris Sharkey (guitar and electronics) will be providing support with a solo set.

Doors open at 8.00pm and we are still only charging £8/£6 in 2016

Our Top Gigs for Cheltenham Jazz Fest 2015

                                                               Supersonics: Nhu Diep

This week, Cheltenham Jazz Festival director Tony Dudley-Evans published his top picks for this year's festival, which takes place between 29th April and May 4th. The article prompted us to check out the full festival programme and we've selected a few of our own highlights to add to Tony's suggestions.

Impermanence Trio (Parabola Arts Centre, 2nd May 9.30pm)

This is one that Tony included in his picks, too. Pianist Matt Bourne teams up with Riaan Vosloo and Tim Giles to premiere the new group, Impermanence Trio. The show will be interactive, with audience members encouraged to use their phones to make decisions on the music. The trio share the bill with Alexander Hawkins and Elaine Mitchener, a duo that will also be making an exclusive first appearance.

Supersonics (Jazz Arena, 4th May, 10.45am)

An unlikely time for a jazz gig, Chris Sharkey appears as part of the festival's Family Show strand. Supersonics features long-time collaborators Chris, Stale Birkeland and Petter Frost Fadnes as they explore melody, beats and soundscapes. These gigs are open to everyone from 5 years old and over.

Clare Teal (Town Hall, 2nd May, 7pm)

One of Yorkshire's finest, vocalist Clare Teal brings her mini big band to Cheltenham. The show will feature a mixture of material, displaying Clare's own songwriting alongside her interpretation's of jazz standards.

 Dave Douglas/Lee Konitz Quintet (Town Hall, 2nd May, 3.45pm)

Dave Douglas and Lee Konitz present their new quintet for the first time in the UK. Their focus will be on the works of Lee himself, Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh.

Black Friday at FUSEBOX

To remedy the stresses and strains of Black Friday, FUSEBOX in Leeds continue their programme of adventurous, experimental and improvised music.

Tonight, Chris Sharkey brings his trio Shiver back to FUSEBOX, after having their first gig there in 2013. Joined by bassist Andy Champion and drummer Joost Hendrickx, the band is described as being a 'love letter to the electric guitar', a boundary-pushing power trio.

Supporting Shiver are Cameron Vale, a newly emerged Progressive Jazz group that come recommended highly by Chris Sharkey himself! Featuring Miles Spilsbury (sax), George Birkett (guitar), Finn Booth (drums) and Sam Dutton-Taylor (bass).

As always, Fusebox concerts take place at the Fox and Newt, 9 Burley Street, Leeds LS3 1LD (opposite Park Lane College) Tel: 0113 245 4527
ADMISSION £8 / £6 Doors open 8.00 pm Live Music from 8.30 pm

 

Outer Circle Presents: The Dors

Anglo-French group The Dors have been selected to be the first group to tour through the newly established Outer Circle network.

The Dors brings together Christophe De Bezenac and Chris Skarkey (Trio VD) and Eve Risser and Yuko Oshima (Donkey Monkey) to form a group which showcases their formidable talents in contemporary improvisation, composition and performance. The group is supported by Jazz Shuttle, a scheme which facilitates collaborations between English and French musicians.

A little about Outer Circle...

Outer Circle is a grass roots UK touring scheme that co-ordinates the activities of DIY promoters working in areas of music outside of the mainstream. The core idea is co-operation between like minded promoters, sharing ideas, experience and resources, and ultimately co-ordinating their separate activities into a cohesive touring network. The scheme is a celebration of the fantastic musical activities that are happening every day across the country on minimal budgets but fuelled by passion and excitement for outsider music. By simply bringing these geographically spread individuals together and opening a dialogue, we can strengthen each respective music scene and through open co-operation, can each become stronger!

Tour Dates:

Sunday 21st - Splinter, The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle - 8pm
Tuesday 23rd - The Family Album, Derby - 6pm
Wednesday 24th - Jazz at the Lescar, Sheffield
Thursday 25th - Lost Voices, Liverpool
Friday 26th - Freedom Principle, Dulcimer Bar,  Manchester