Polar Bear, Melt Yourself Down and Matthew Bourne in Leeds

This month, Leeds-based indepdendant record label The Leaf Label reaches its 20th anniversary. As part of these Leaf 20 celebrations, which include vinyl re-releases and a limited edtion edition box set, new Leeds venue Headrow House will host gigs by three of the UK's most innovative and exciting improvsing bands and artists.

JazzFM Awards Shortlist Announced

The complete shortlist of JazzFM Award nominations has been announced ahead of the June 10th winners ceremony at Vinopolis in London.

Manchester's Go-Go Penguin are up for UK Jazz Act of the year and Breakthrough Act, continuing their reign of jazz celebrity while LCoM alumnus Pete Wareham also appears in the UK Jazz Act category with Polar Bear.

The awards, produced by Serious, featured three categories open to public vote and the rest decided by a panel.

For more information, see JazzFM Awards website.

Album of the Year (Public vote): Ambrose Akinmusire The Imagined Savior is Far Easier to Paint; D'Angelo Black Messiah; Dianne Reeves Beautiful Life; Chris Potter Underground Orchestra Imaginary Cities; Polar Bear In Each and Every One; Troyka Ornithophobia

Live Experience of the Year (Public Vote): Loose Tubes at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Blue Note 75th Birthday at EFG London Jazz Festival, Jamie Cullum at Love Supreme Jazz Festival

UK Jazz Act of the Year (Public Vote): GoGo Penguin, Polar Bear, Sons of Kemet

Breakthrough Act: Bill Laurance, GoGo Penguin, Peter Edwards

Instrumentalist: Alex Hawkins, Laura Jurd, Shabaka Hutchings

Vocalist: Alice Zawadzki, Lauren Kinsella, Zara McFarlane

Jazz Innovation: Henry Threadgill, Jason Moran, Theo Croker

International Jazz Artist: Antonio Sanchez, Gregory Porter, Snarky Puppy

Blues Artist: Dr John, Otis Taylor, Valerie June

Soul Artist: D’Angelo, Jarrod Lawson, Lalah Hathaway

Lifetime Achievement Award: Hugh Masekela

Polar Bear Announce New Album, Single and UK Dates

UK jazz luminaries Polar Bear are back with a new album Same As You and a UK tour. Despite its short gestation since the last record, the Mercury Prize shortlisted In Each And Every One, Same As You is a bold statement showing a strong vision for the band's future.

Lots of Jazz at RNCM...

This week, RNCM in Manchester announced their Spring 2015 concert season. Included in the 10-date concert programme are 5 jazz gigs featuring UK musicians who have built up strong international reputations plus a weekend event to launch their new Concert Hall which features another two jazz gigs!

31st January: RCNM Big Band featuring Mark Nightingale

One of the best known jazz trombonists in the UK, Mark Nightingale performs with the RCNM Big Band for their first concert of the year.

7th February: Matthew Halsall/Gogo Penguin/Mammal Hands

Manchester-born trumpeter, band leader and record label owner Matthew Halsall hosts this evening featuring three bands making a big impression on the jazz scene. Halsall's own Gondwana Orchestra will play, along with Mercury Prize nominees GoGo Penguin and new finds Mammal Hands.

20th February: Troyka

The ever-popular jazz-rock trio Troyka bring their 'Mingus meets Motorhead' approach to music to the RNCM. Thi high flying band features Chris Montague (Montreux Jazz Festival Award), Joshua Blackmore and Kit Downes (Mercury Prize nominee).

5th March: Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble

Atzmon returns to the UK after an extensive world tour with his group. ‘A formidable improvisational array…a jazz giant steadily drawing himself up to his full height...’ The Guardian

 19-22nd March: RNCM Big Weekender

This full weekend event launches the new Concert Hall at RNCM. Performances will take place throughout (all free to attend) and amongst the varied programme, the RNCM Big Band will perform with Nikki Iles and Tina May and Courtney Pine brings his House of Legends.

 17th April: Polar Bear

Seb Rochford brings his award-winning group to RNCM. The band have received a second Merucry Prize nomination and go from strength to strength, attracting audiences wherever they go.

For full information on all of the concerts, visit the RNCM website.

Go-Go Penguin shortlisted for Mercury Prize 2014

Manchester trio Go-Go Penguin have been announced as one of the shortlisted groups for this year's Mercury Prize for their album v2.0.

The shortlist is significant this year for the world of improvised music as it contains not only Go-Go Penguin but also Polar Bear's In Each and Every One. (And Nick Mulvey's First Mind, which is not a jazz/improvisation based album in itself but Nick was previously shortlisted for the prize with Portico Quartet.)

The winner will receive a £20,000 prize.

For more information on the other nominees, see the Mercury Prize website.

Gig Review: Polar Bear and Shiver at The Wardrobe, Leeds.

On Friday 21^st March, Polar Bear played The Wardrobe in Leeds as part of a tour to promote their new album In Each And Every One. The long wait for this new release meant that there was anticipation of a change in the band’s direction and this was delivered without losing the recognisable sound that has won the band so many fans over the last ten years.