In Sadness: Geri Allen (1957 - 2017)

The jazz world suffered a huge loss this week after the passing of renowned pianist and innovator Geri Allen. She was 60.

Her career is an exceptional record of an artist deeply rooted in her culture, heritage and the power of music to make powerful statements. Moving to NYC in the 80s, she worked with Charlie Haden, Ron Carter and Tony, as well as being one of the first pianists since the 50s to record with Ornette Coleman.

A celebrated educator and academic, she worked for a decade at the University of Michigan and was director of the Jazz programme at the University of Pittsburgh. She also set up an All Female Jazz Residency designed to support young musicians in their teens grow and push their music forward.

For more information, read the New York Times' obituary.

Seven Jazz raise funds for new piano at Inkwell - Sponsor a key!

In recent years, Seven Jazz in Leeds have been programming some of their events at Inkwell, a artspace run by a Mental Health organisation.

They are now working hard to obtain a piano for permanent use at Inkwell and are inviting the jazz community to be involved by sponsoring a key. For only £5, you can support the space and Seven Jazz and ensure that Inkwell remains a go-to place for acoustic jazz.

More information can be found on twitter by following @InkwellArts and @sevenjazzleeds or you can head to Seven Jazz website to get in touch about sponsoring a key.

Enrico Pieranunzi comes to the North

Piano heavyweight Enrico Pieranunzi is to play in the North this week, with performances and workshops scheduled in Leeds and Sheffield.

Italian pianist Pieranunzi has an impressive CV including recordings and performances with Chris Potter, Joey Baron, Chet Baker and Lee Konitz amongst many others. His compositional talents have been showcased by the inclusion of his work in Real Books as part of the jazz canon and he remains one of the most highly regarded pianists in jazz today.

Leeds College of Music will host a masterclass led by Enrico (alongside a trio including drummer Steve Hanley and bassist Angus Milne) on Thursday 16th October between 2pm and 4pm. Later that evening, Enrico will perform at Seven Arts in Leeds with drummer Dave Walsh and bassist Pete Turner. On Friday October 17th, the trio will perform at The Crucible (Sheffield Jazz).

For more information, visit The Seven Jazz website, Sheffield Jazz website and Enrico Pieranunzi website.

Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition, 3-5th October

The semi-finals and grand final of the Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition take place this weekend featuring pianists from across Europe and the USA.

Semi-finals will take place on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th at the Arkwright Building (Nottingham Trent University) and the Grand Final will be held at the Nottingham Albert Hall on Sunday 5th October.

Piano Lessons with a difference in Leeds...

LCoM jazz graduate and pianist Will Talbot is offering piano tuition in Leeds City Centre, returning to live in Leeds after 2 years living in Cheltenham. Nothing too remarkable about that, you say? Well, the venue for these piano lessons is a 60 foot narrow boat, built by Will himself.

Will has spent the last month travelling from Cheltenham to Leeds with Zoe (pictured above) and is now open for business as a piano tutor.

The boat was especially designed to house an upright piano and is moored at Clarence Docks in Leeds.

Full information on lessons can be found on the Dockside Piano Lessons page, where Will can be contacted directly. For more information on Will, see his website.

Music, cyclists and a travelling piano at The Grand Departs (April 5th)

                                Cyclists prepare for Saturday's challenge (from The Grand Departs)

Cyclists, pianists and audiences are preparing for a very unusual gig tomorrow as part of the Yorkshire Festival; pulling a grand piano uphill from Mytholmroyd to Blackstone Edge.

A team of Calderdale’s most determined cyclists will pull a grand piano, on a PianoPorté designed and engineered by sculptor Andy Plant, up the longest continuous ascent in England. While it climbs the six miles up Cragg Vale, local amateur and professional pianists, including star performers from Hebden Bridge Piano Festival, will play a specially commissioned musical cycle, live and in transit. 

Music played on the route (selected as part of the Tour De France route as a particularly gruelling stretch) has been written by pianist Dave Nelson, the director of the Hebden Bridge Piano Festival and former promoter of HX7 Jazz club and will be played on a piano donated by The Piano Man.

Spectators are invited to attend this free outdoor event both at the send-off from Mytholmroyd and along the route itself.

Read more about sculptor Andy Plant.

Read more about Dave Nelson and the Hebden Bridge Piano Festival.

Farewell to Two Jazz Giants

It's been a sad week as we say goodbye to not one but two well-loved jazz pianists.

Cedar Walton passed away on August 19th, aged 79. Walton was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and had an impressive discography, appearing on around 70 albums through his work with Prestige, Blue Note and Riverside record labels. He also released 40 albums under his own name. His time with Art Blakey is widely thought of as the finest incarnation of the band, featuring Freddie Hubbard and Wayne Shorter alongside Walton. He is survived by his wife, Martha.

Marian McPartland passed away on August 20th, aged 95. Born in England, Marian studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama before marrying Jim McPartland moving to Chicago in 1946. An accomplished composer and pianist, Marian is possibly best known for her radio work. She started work with NPR in 1978, and began hosting 'Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz', a show which lasted for over 30 years and featured over 500 interviews and guests, many of whom Marian dueted with on air. She was honoured with an OBE, a Lifetime Grammy and a Peabody Award for her work.
Cedar Walton on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz (NPR Radio Show)

The Friday Interview: Laura Cole

                                Laura with band Metamorphic (photo by Alex Bonney)

A graduate of Middlesex University's jazz degree, pianist and composer Laura Cole is now based in the North. Her work with Metamorphic is recognised nationally, with the group releasing albums on F-IRE label and touring throughout the UK. As well as Metamorphic, Laura also co-leads a large ensemble with bassist Seth Bennett and is the pianist with Martin Archer's Engine Room Favourites, one of the 12 bands selected to take part in Jazz North's Northern Line scheme.