New efpi release: Friendly Ghosts by Adam Fairhall

Manchester based label efpi have announced their latest release, a solo album by Adam Fairhall.

Friendly Ghosts was officially released on August 11th and is Adam's first solo offering. The material was recorded during two concerts as part of Jazz North's Northern Line scheme in Newcastle and Manchester.

A little information about Adam Fairhall -

Over the past decade, Adam Fairhall has forged an international reputation as a jazz pianist and improviser of exceptional versatility. Named as a nod to the ever-present influence of long-gone pianists on his playing, Friendly Ghosts represents Adam’s recorded debut as a solo pianist and continues the synthesis of styles that has long been a feature of his work. 

The album is available to purchase on bandcamp; the physical CD is priced at £11 but those who pay above that also receive an efpi neon badge. There is also the option to download the album at a cost of £7.

To find out more, visit Adam Fairhall's website.

NJ Advent Calendar - Jazz Christmas Single! (December 15th)

Behind door number 15th is something we are certain is unique to the Northern Jazz scene - a Christmas single! Recorded at Leeds Fold as part of their opening celebrations, The Honeybirds wrote and recorded an original christmas song with help from a handbell orchestra.

On the 29th October 2015, Leeds Fold, a newly established recording/rehearsal studio, workshop and gig spaceopened up its’ doors to the public in the first of a series of monthly live jazz events. The celebrations kicked off with a house band made up of some of Leeds finest jazz musicians, a mountain of fresh samosas, homemade sweet chill jazz jam, and beer from Leeds brewery.
As if that wasn’t enough merriment for one night, Leeds’ vintage vocal songstress' “The Honeybirds” recorded their Christmas single live in front of an audience armed with handbells and well oiled vocal chords. This little piece of Christmas cheer can be yours to take home for whatever price you like. Proceeds will go towards helping The Honeybirds, Leeds Fold and New Jazz Records do what they do.
 
Vocals: Daisy Thurkettle, Jenny Smith, Tessa Smith
Trumpet: Kim Macari
Tenor Saxophone: Will Howard
Guitar: Kathy Dyson
Piano: Jamil Sheriff
Double Bass: Sam Quintana
Drums: Jordan Dinsdale
Crowd of handbells conducted by James Hamilton

Click here to buy the single - pay what you feel.

Family Band Album Launch in Leeds, November 1st

Family Band, a chord-less quartet led by bassist Tom Riviere and featuring Riley Stone-Lonergan, Kim Macari and Steve Hanley, will release their first album at a launch concert at Seven Jazz on Sunday November 1st.

The album features predominantly original material and will be available through Bandcamp on a Pay-What-You-Feel basis.

Tom says...

In short, I want to stop thinking when I improvise. Sometimes when I’m on stage I experience moments in which it is as if I’m an outside observer listening to myself and the band play. This is a very satisfying feeling – much more enjoyable than the analytical state of mind I often fall into whilst performing – and I’d like to experience it more often. To that end, it made sense to me to put together a project loosely inspired by the aforementioned groups (Ornette Coleman and Coltrane) as the more open structures that they often favour lend themselves to what it is that I seek: music that I can feel – rather than think – my way through.

The launch gig will be part of Seven's Unplugged series which allows audiences and musicians to connect by using the 'in the round' format. Family Band will also premiere a whole set of newly written music at the gig.

Follow this link to hear a track from the release, Bring Lulu.