Ilkley Jazz Festival 2017

                                             Ian Shaw (Photo  Credit: Gerhard Richter)


Ilkley Jazz Festival will get underway again this August for the 4th time, run by the very hard-working Beverley Beirne and Mark Beirne-Smith. This year, it will take place between 16th and 20th August and is looking to be bigger and better than ever.

Renowned vocalist Ian Shaw will headline, with a special performance at the Winter Gardens on August 18th performing material from his latest album, Theory of Joy. Shaw is internationally regarded as one of the leading jazz voices and is also recognised for his humanitarian work supporting refugees.

Fans of vocal jazz won't just have Ian to keep them satisfied; Zoe Gilby opens the festival on 16th August Beverley Beirne sings Carmichael on 19th August and Julie Edwards performs on 17th.

There's a whole host of other performances including pop-up sets from Backchat Brass, the wonderfully inventive Treppenwitz at Friends of Ham, a new quartet led by James Mainwaring and the Jamie Brownfield Quintet plus lots more.

To find out more about the schedule as well as the educational events on offer, visit the Ilkley Jazz Festival website.

NJN Jazz Advent Calendar - Treppenwitz (Dec 9th)

Behind door number 9 is Treppenwitz, a trio compromised of three Leeds-based musicians - Matt Aplin on piano, Tom Riviere on double bass and Steve Hanley on drums.

Fortuitously, the band released their debut album only this week, so we're pleased to let you hear a snippet of their new release - https://treppenwitzmusic.bandcamp.com/album/short-and-long-ditties

Treppenwitz, n. – treppen (stairs) + witz (wit)
An event or fact that seems to contradict its background or context.

“…(t)he main character in Treppenwitz is a miniature spiral staircase model paralyzed by its future, enchained by its past. It resents everything about its existence including the fact that it was carved by a craftsman rather than having sprung from the womb of a Matryoshka doll. Nor was it conceived as the creation ladder of Ramon Llull’s 14th century eight-step ascension theory…”

Treppenwitz is a project dedicated to improvisation and the exploration of sounds within open structures. It was formed in January 2014 after (though not because) a Philadelphian drummer, Matthew McGraw, left the city of Leeds. The music they make can be seen as an indirect response to this.

Their debut album, Short and Long Ditties is part I of II: the partial documentation of a series of recordings made on 25-26th November 2015 in Leeds Fold.

http://newjazzrecords.co.uk/artists/treppenwitz/

Two new releases from New Jazz Records

It's been a busy time for Leeds-based record label New Jazz Records. Run by composer and trumpeter James Hamilton, the label recently released Jamil Sheriff's debut trio albums Places Like This. Now, they are gearing up to launch two more albums at a special launch gig at HEART in Headingley on December 6th.

March is the second album double bassist Sam Jackson has released on the label. His group Drawing Hands have released a suite of 12 new pieces and will perform some of this new material at the gig.

Treppenwitz is a trio formed by pianist Matt Aplin, double bassist Tom Riviere and drummer Steve Hanley. Their album, Short and Long Ditties, is the first in a two part release of material recorded at Leeds Fold last year.

The albums will both be launched with live performances at HEART on December 6th. Doors at 7.30 and there's music from 8pm. Tickets are an absolute steal at £5/3 for two great bands.

To find out about these releases and to keep up to date with future releases from the label, visit the New Jazz Records website.