IMOWI Course with Jesse Bannister

Although not strictly jazz, there is quite a tradition in Leeds of jazz musicians and those interested in improvised music studying indian music, too. IMOWI, Indian Music on Western Instruments, has received Arts Council support to run a summer school at Heart in Headingley between 3rd and 5th September.

The course will be run by saxophonist and renowned indian music educator Jesse Bannister and he will be joined by vocal tutor Anol Chatterjee. From 10am until 5pm each day, musicians and vocalists of all abilities are invited to study the traditions of playing and practising Indian Music.

The course costs £130 full price and £90 for the unwaged. There are also two further discounted places at £40 and two places available at no cost for those who want to be involved but cannot afford the full fee.

To find out more about Jesse Bannister, visit his website and to keep updated about similar activities and events, visit the Leeds Inspired website.

Album Review: Jesse Bannister's 'Play Out'

Jesse Bannister: Alto Saxophone, Zoe Rahman: Piano, Kenny Higgins: Bass Guitar, Seb Rochford: Drums

The incorporation of Indian music into jazz is something I am often skeptical of. Although it is certainly not a new phenomenon on the British scene, dating back to the 1960s work of the British avant-garde such as Jamaican born saxophonist Joe Harriott, in recent years I feel it has sometimes been too easy to add some odd time signatures and a tabla player to a record and call the music 'indo-jazz'.

This is not the case with 'Play Out', the new album from alto saxophonist Jesse Bannister. Jesse's deep understanding of and respect for the traditions of Indian classical music run deep through the album, and the music is delivered with such skill and taste that there is not the slightest hint of gimmickry to the indo-jazz fusion presented here. 'Play Out' makes it clear why Jesse has earned the reputation of being the UK's leading Indian/Indo-Jazz saxophonist.

Jesse Bannister's 'Play Out' To Tour This Autumn

UK’s leading classical Indian/Indo jazz Saxophonist Jesse Bannister will be touring his new quartet across the UK this autumn. Featuring MOBO award winning pianist Zoe Rahman, highly acclaimed drummer Eddie Hick (Gilad Atzmon), groove infused lines of highly original and talented  bassist Kenny Higgins (Corrinne Bailey Rae), this powerful line up promises to deliver a challenging and uplifting performance and features tracks from Jesse’s long awaited new album “Play Out”. The record is a fantastic testament to Jesse's strength both as a performer and composer, as well as a stunning realization of his vision of tastefully fusing contemporary jazz with Indian classical.

Jazz in Leeds - Autumn/Winter Programme

Photo by Jon Stanley Austin

Seven Jazz in Chapel Allerton Leeds have announced their Autumn/Winter programme which began with the Chapel Allerton Festival Jazz Sunday on 31 August in Regent Street and will run through to the Christmas Party at Inkwell on Sunday afternoon 21 December with the Nicola Farnon Trio.

2014 marks the seventh anniversary of Seven Jazz – the club started on the 30 September 2007. Seven Jazz now run international fortnightly concerts on Thursdays at Seven Arts and weekly showcase events for local bands at both Seven Arts and Inkwell, along with two fortnightly jazz workshops for musicians and a jazz choir. Since 2007 Seven Jazz (which is run by volunteers) has run over 500 gigs. In 2015 will embark on yet another venture, the Leeds Jazz Festival

Details of all of the gigs can be found on the Seven Jazz website www.sevenjazz.co.uk and are listed below. The evening international concert series start at 8.30pm, and the Sunday afternoon showcase gigs run between 1 and 4pm; ticket prices are detailed on the website; evening gigs are typically £16/14 concessions with a £5 standby ticket for full time students, Sunday lunchtime gigs are £7/5 concessions.