London Jazz Festival

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

John Fordham's Heads Up

what do you fancy?

is any one going?

i'm not .... five hours travelling and at least £50 before the ticket and a late night home ... this is why Jazz on the wireless is important innit

if you look carefully you will find that Jon3 opens the festival for us tonight on R3

festival website

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks Calum for posting the festival link.

Anyone else going? As usual I've earmarked any number of freebies - the fine young trumpeter Nick Smart's band Trogon, on in a couple of hours, being one. Some of the more obvious offerings have been sold out for some time already, but it is gratifying (albeit frustrating for some I guess) to see Phronesis, one of "our" younger bands, in this category, with all 3 of their gigs fully booked. It should be mentioned that not all the stuff associated, or self-associating with the LJF is on the official programme: Helen Petts' fillum about Lol Coxhill at Cafe Oto in Dalston being one example. Then there are the inevitable clashes: the F-Ire Collective groupings in the S Bank Foyer, or Jez Nelson's improvising sessions simultaneously taking place at the Oto. (I shall be going to the former). For the Calums, Tim Whitehead is doing two presentations of his Turner-inspired project "Colour Beginnings" on the 23rd - at the National Maritime Museum at 1 pm and in the Clore Ballroom at the Festival Hall at 6 pm, both freebies, and legendary Ronnies Old Place promoter and Cadillac label owner John Jack gives a talk about his involvements for 40+ years at 6 pm at the Vortex on Sunday 24th, titled, ahem, "From Soho to Dalston", which sounds like downhill all the way. For anyone with free travel cards and 15 minutes journeying time to spare from the West End, my local venue the Amersham Arms (opposite New Cross station) is putting on proven quality bands for 3 nights running, the 19th, 20th and 21st for the entry fee of a paltry fiver.

[Tenor Freak]

Nah, not going, and it's not because I don't want to, but the usual reason: sordid economics. Wayne's gig obviously but also the ACS trio, not to mention the gratis stuff. I wish I could get to the Amersham but New Cross may as well be on Mars.

[MarkG]

Alex von Schlippenbach is at the Purcell Room tonight (unfortunately I am otherwise engaged).


Mark

[Dave2002]

There was a chance to get to Ronnie Scotts, but didn't start until 11pm, and apart from the dangers of falling asleep anytime after 9pm, getting back would have presented a challenge.

However, I could look at the schedule again, and see what's on - I might have some time next week.

[Serial_Apologist]

There's a personnel-packed Tribute to (the great Stan) Tracey at the 100 Club on Monday coming, beginning at 6 pm and finishing at 11; it is £25/20 concessions entry though.

[Quarky]

Re: Wayne's gig last night at the Barbican:

http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/wayne-shorter-quartet-bbc-symphony-orchestra-barbican

http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/wayne-shorter-barbican-hall--music-review-8946354.html

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/18/wayne-shorter-acs-review

Did anyone who attended have a view on the gig - positive/ negative?

[muzzer]

I thought it was great. I've seen him with that quartet maybe 6 times in the last decade and whilst as the reviews say this was a different sort of gig it was all the more triumphant for it. How many jazzers have ever really pulled off playing with an orchestra? And given his late period free form stuff it's an even bigger ask, imho. I hope he does it again, as I'm sure he will refine the arrangements. I was chuffed to bits for him.

[Quarky]

I gather it will be repeated both on 28th December and 30th December on Radio 3. I will have to listen carefully when "in the mood".

[Alyn_Shipton]

I could have done without the two dimensional orchestral stuff, which was unadulterated tosh. The first (very brief) set from the quartet was magical.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well Wayne is knocking on innit .... just like St Sonny

[Serial_Apologist]

Last night I saw this lot on at my nearest jass tavern, seond of the 3-nighter part of the LJF, and was tbf so knocked out by their originality I had to make a dash for my last train home and forgot to buy their CD, which is on the Babel label, and advertised by such a long URL I can't read it on my computer's display. There are 3 utube links, all under the same URL, and you'll find the Babel link there, and downloadable tracks of the CD therefrom. Don't know how that works, so best I just post the one link and people can click on the other two to be found down the right-hand side:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye1b7RJau74

This ain't romantic or particularly sensual; some may find it a bit cerebral, but do stick with it. Tom Challenger seems to use a more abstractified Zoot Sims sound and phrasing as a launch pad, which is interesting, as Warne Marsh might have said in the unlikely event of agreeing...

Once more young jazzers are making more interesting stuff than most of the contemporary classical stuff on Hear and Now these days - a bad source of info on what's representive of current, as Mr GG and Richard Barrett will remind us.

PS Dick Pearce's book is now out; in the copy he signed for me Dick wrote "Hope you like it", and it's certainly an amusing read... haven't got to the serious bits yet, mind...

[Serial_Apologist]

As Calum da Jazzbo has been mentioned elsewhere, I thought in tribute to draw attention here to this year's forthcoming London Jazz Festival, featuring as it does a number of acts people here might well be interested in. I have yet to go through the, as usual, long roster.

http://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk

[Ein Heldenleben]

Listening to a feature on the LJF on Music Matters now.I also listened to the opening concert on R3 last night. I honestly don’t think anything I heard in the first hall was jazz . It was largely singer plus big band - detailed arrangements and syrupy strings. Although the orchestrations employed jazz harmonic substitutions in places , there was little improvisation. There was however a lot of over the top singing and a lesson in just why Ella, Sarah et al were so good.

[Serial_Apologist]

Listening to a feature on the LJF on Music Matters now.I also listened to the opening concert on R3 last night. I honestly don’t think anything I heard in the first hall was jazz . It was largely singer plus big band - detailed arrangements and syrupy strings. Although the orchestrations employed jazz harmonic substitutions in places , there was little improvisation. There was however a lot of over the top singing and a lesson in just why Ella, Sarah et al were so good.

I must admit most of the programme escaped my focus as I was engaged on here, but what I heard of it attempted to make up for middling content by means of the host's enthusiasm! The current J to Z is really good so far, I have to say. Really good to learn that Jason Yarde is home and apparently on the mend following his recent stroke.