Sean Foran - Album Launch and UK Tour

Australian pianist Sean Foran is a familar name to many jazz listeners in the UK. Foran studied his Masters degree at Leeds College of Music and has toured many times in the UK as part of Trichotomy.

Sean's latest album, Frame of Reference, features a group of musicians he 'really admires' and the tracks on the album were written specifically with the players in mind. Foran describes the music as being different from his usual output, focusing on textures and coming more from a chamber music angle. The album features Julian Arguelles, Ben Davis, Stuart McCallum and Joost Hendrickx.

In October, Foran will tour the UK performing music from the album. For these dates, he will be joined by the band with one alternation; James Mainwaring takes the saxophone chair.

Frame of Reference is launched on September 2nd on Jazzhead.

For more information, visit Sean Foran's website.

Tour Dates - October 2016

3rd October - Pizza Express, London
4th October - Watermill, Dorking
5th October - Lakeside, Nottingham
6th October - Future Inns, Bristol
7th October - Turner Sims, Southampton
9th October - Newcastle Jazz Steps (Sean Foran/Stuart McCallum duo)
11th October - Capstone Theatre, Liverpool

Gig Preview: Krzysztof Urbanski's Urban Jazz Society in Leeds

Jazz at Heart Presents: Urban Jazz Society
Heart Arts Centre, Headingley
Saturday 28th March
7.30pm

Multi-award winning saxophonist Krzysztof Urbanski brings his newest project, Urban Jazz Society to Heart this Saturday (28th March).

Described as one of the best in his generation by the Thelonious Monk Jazz Institute, Urbanski has made the North of England his home recently and has teamed up with 4 UK musicians to perform his original music which pulls in elements from hip-hop, R&B and jazz.

Krzysztof is joined by Stuart McCallum on guitar, Ashley Henry on piano, Sam Gardner on drums and Sam Vicary on bass.

For more information and to hear tracks from their debut recording, see Krzysztof Urbanski's website.

Gig Preview: Stuart McCallum, Richard Iles and BlueJam in Penrith

Northern Jazz Triple Bill - Stuart McCallum Trio, Richard Iles Microscopic and BlueJam
UpFront Gallery, nr Penrith (venue website)
March 22nd
7.30pm 
Tickets - £10 (buy through venue or on door)

Jazz North are hosting a full day event in Penritgh on March 22nd including seminars, forums and networking opportunities for the jazz community in Cumbria. To end the day, a triple-bill concert will take place at UpFront Gallery featuring a showcase from local BlueJam jazz musicians, guitarist Stuart McCallum's trio and Richard Iles' Microscopic.

The concert will feature 45 minute sets by all three groups and tickets are priced at £10. People who attend the afternoon talks and forums can obtain £5 discounted tickets.

For full information on the event, see the Jazz North website.

UK Premiere for Stuart McCallum's Ballet Score

Guitarist Stuart McCallum will be at the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield this Saturday at 2pm for the UK premiere of his ballet score as part of artist Linder Sterling's new work, The Ultimate Form.

It was first premiered in Paris in January 2013, at the Musée d'Art Modern, as part of Linder's retrospective. As well as the work of Linder herself and Stuart McCallum, fashion designer Richard Nicoll and dancers from the Northern Ballet are also part of the work.

The piece, described as "a fusion of  dance, music, fashion, art, sculpture and landscape" will take place outdoors between 2pm and 4pm.

The Ultimate Form marks the next step in a successful partnership between artist Linder and musician Stuart McCallum. Amongst other works, Stuart collaborated on Linder's 13 hour performace piece The Darktown Cakewalk: Celebrated Live From The House of Fame, which also featured a number of jazz musicians from the North - Kim Macari, Katie Patterson, Peter Lee, Dave Walsh and Linder's son, Max Sterling.

Saturday's event is free to attend but booking is essential.

Book tickets for The Ultimate Form.