Rommi Smith - Jazz and Poetry at Seven Arts, September 2nd

Jazz and Poetry are two artforms that have history together. Don't just take my word for it, read this NPR piece from 2014 that highlights five examples of albums where jazz and poetry meet - from Steve Swallow's long term collaboration with poet Robert Creeley to the setting of Elizabeth Bishop's verse by pianist Jeremy Siskind.

Rommi Smith is a perfect example; a poet, jazz singer and writer, she has written many works about jazz and can be seen performing with jazz musicians including Laura Cole and Jenni Molloy. On September 2nd, she teams up with pianist Dave Evans and bassist Kenny Higgins to perform these works at Seven Arts in Leeds. As if that wasn't enough, she will bne supported by Dave Evan's newest big band initiave (which we wrote about recently here).

Tickets for the event cost £10/8 and can be purchased through the Ticket Source website. Rommi will also be holding a workshop talk about her poetry before the gig which is free to all ticket holders.

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.