Chapel Allerton Village Jazz Festival - September 1st - 3rd

Steve Crocker and the team at Seven Jazz are gearing up for the 2nd annual Chapel Allerton Village Jazz Festival, catching the late summer sun between 1st - 3rd September. This is their second festival of the year no less, following on from the highly successful event in Millenium Square in Leeds earlier this month.

From the press release...

The Chapel Allerton Village Jazz Festival in Leeds gets underway in a couple of weeks starting Friday 1st September  and running to Sunday 3rd September. Dazzling jazz sax player Dave O'Higgins will headline, with a special performance with material from his latest album, It's Always 9.30 in Zog at Seven Arts on Saturday 2nd September. 

He plays with quite exceptional fluency and his fund of ideas never runs out - Observer. 

His band will also be giving a masterclass before the concert. There is a definite funky feel to the bands on offer at this second Village Jazz Festival . Dave Kane's amazing Magic Ya Ya band open the festival on Friday 1st September, then there are performances on Saturday by bluesy songstress Terry Shaltiel with guitarist Esmond Selwyn and on Sunday afternoon on the main festival Regent Street stage by rising stars Nag Champa, Dan Goldman's Elec-trio, Hyde Park Brass plus a final set from the popular James O'Hara Blues Band.

There are a whole host of other performances over the weekend as well including pop-up sets from
the Washboard Resonators in  the cafes of Chapel Allerton village, a set from community big band,
Mojo 78, popular vocalist Marlena Rose with Canadian guitarist Jeff Hewer and the latin rhythms of
Tempo Feliz.

All in all 4 venues with 14 different bands - plus the rest of the Chapel Allerton Arts Festival to enjoy
too.

For more information, including links to purchase tickets, visit the Seven Jazz website. 

NJN Jazz Advent Calendar - Dave Kane (Dec 18th)

With only a week to go until the big day, we have 6 more musical offerings in our advent calendar. Leeds College of Music has released an Alternative Christmas Playlist featuring music from their alumni including a piece by double bassist Dave Kane.

Click here to listen to the Playlist including Dave's piece Uh Hu Hu - https://www.lcm.ac.uk/News/An-alternative-Christmas-playlist-to-get-your-toes


Composer/ Bassist Dave Kane was born in a small town called Bangor in County Down in Northern Ireland. At age 16 he bought an electric bass guitar from a catholic priest for 50 pounds, and began moving his fingers up and down the ‘ E ‘ string in local punk and alternative bands. With aspirations of eventually playing on the other 3 strings of the bass, Kane began studying music at a local college with the internationally acclaimed composer and bandleader Brian Irvine. As a direct result of hanging out with Irvine, Kane began to explore the idioms of free improvisation, contemporary jazz, classical music, funk, metal, red wine and general mayhem! Further exploration was required, so Kane rowed across the irish channel on his double bass and studied Contemporary music (essay writing!) at Bretton Hall College of the University of Leeds.

 Unfortunately there were no influential teachers there like Irvine, so he learnt how to use a library and subsequently encountered the music of John Cage, Edgar Varese, Cecil Taylor, Barry Guy, John Coltrane, Iannis Xenakis, Charles Mingus, Frank Zappa and John Zorn. Upon graduating from University Kane lived and worked in London for a while trying to get his ’shit together’ and playing free music with some British Jazz legends including; Keith Tippett, Paul Dunmall, Elton Dean, Evan Parker, Tony Levin, Mark Sanders, Paul Rogers, Alex Maguire and many other heads! Currently based in Leeds, Kane is a founder member of L.I.M.A. (Leeds Improvised Music Association) and the musical director/ composer for the L.I.M.A orchestra. An ever expanding large improv orchestra featuring some of the UK’s finest young musicians inc, Matthew Bourne, Chris Sharkey, Christophe De Bezenac, Petter Fadnes. Other projects include; The internationally acclaimed Bourne/ Davis/ Kane. Dave Kane ( solo double bass + voice ).
The Shank Trio (featuring saxophonist James Allsopp and drummer Tim Giles).
 Didrik Ingvaldsen’s Quartet Alpha. Dave Kane’s Rabbit Project.

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.

Gig Preview: Bitch 'n' Monk at Fusebox, 23rd September

It's the welcome return of Fusebox this week and the team have lined up yet another eclectic, surprising and inspired programme for Autumn.

To start them off, they host Bitch'n'Monk on Friday 23rd September.

Bitch'n'Monk are Heidi Heidelberg and Mauricio Velasierra, an Anglo-Colombian duo that defy genre altogether.

In the intriguing Anglo- Colombian duo Heidi plays guitar, sings and beatboxes and Mauricio plays assorted flutes. The two transform their sound into junkyard electronica through the ingenious use of looping pedals. You’ll spend a while pondering how to classify them. Prog folk? Operatic post-punk? Gothic reggae? But they know how to write melodies - The Guardian

Tickets cost £8/6 and to make it even more of a bargain, the evening will start with a solo set from bassist Dave Kane. It's doors from 8pm and music starts at 8.30pm.

For more information and the other exciting gigs coming up this season, see the Fusebox website.

Gig Preview: Dave Kane Large Ensemble at Seven Arts, March 19th

Double bass player and composer Dave Kane has put together a new project to mark his 40th birthday with a gig at Seven Arts on March 19th.

Kane will conduct a large ensemble playing a programme of music written and arranged for the gig, which will then be recorded.

The band consists of violin, viola, 4 saxes, 2 brass, piano/syns, guitar, drums and bass as well as a very special duo set as support. Audiences will recognise the players (Matt Bourne, Simon Kaylor, Joost Hendrickx, James Mainwaring, Kim Macari, George Murray, Aby Vuillamy, Tom Sidebottom, Oliver Dover, Garry Jackson...) but this will certainly be the first time they've heard them like this!

It's sure to be well attended so arrive early to ensure you get a good seat!

For more information, visit Dave Kane's 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

Splinter at The Bridge's final gig, 26th April

Splinter at The Bridge has been part of the North East jazz scene for many years. Presenting a wide range of improvised music, Sunday evenings have seen many national and international touring groups as well as talent from the local area. However, Andy Champion and Zoe Gilby, who have run the night in recent years, have suffered from lower audience numbers and have made the difficult decision to stop running Splinter. Their final gig will be this Sunday 26th April with Yana - a trio which includes Corey Mwamba, Dave Kane and Joshua Blackmore.

From Zoe Gilby...

I’m sure that the final gig will be a fantastic evening of jazz and improvisation of the highest quality from some of the best musicians in the UK. Thanks to the “regulars” who have supported Splinter over the years, without you, Splinter could not have existed at all.

It has been announced that Jazz North East will take on Splinter, keeping the name and stellar reputation alive as a monthly gig. More news on that soon!

Yoga for Musicians in Leeds

Bassist Dave Kane has started running weekly yoga classes specifically designed for musicians in Leeds.

Highly experienced in yoga, Dave has spent time devising classes which focus on how to utilise yoga as a musician to become healthier, more efficient and more relaxed.

These classes run every Tuesday from 12pm until 1.15pm at the Yoga Space, 378 Meanwood Road, Leeds. Each class costs £6 to attend.

Dave has set up a facebook group with information on the sessions, plus links to yoga articles and videos - Yoga for Musicians UK.

In the meantime, watch the video above to hear Sonny Rollins discuss yoga and how it has helped him be a better musician.