- Nubiyan Twist @ OuternetOuternet London, London
Been curious about them for a while. End of their tour, by which time I predict a big buzz. Played on Jamie Cullum's R2 show on Feb 20.
About Nubiyan Twist
Nubiyan Twist is a blend of virtuosic players, skilled producers and inspired composers who have joined forces under the leadership of multi-instrumentalist & producer Tom Excell. Drawing upon jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin, soul, reggae and dance music, expect ultra-tight musicianship and an infectious and powerful 10-piece big band sound.Gig details are here. Tickets are from £22.50 (general admission ticket).
I will provide details nearer the time of when and where members can meetup to enjoy the gig together.
Please only RSVP yes when you have a ticket.
- Pizza Express Soho Presents: Charlotte Glasson Band COSMO'S COSMO Album LaunchPizza Express, LondonGBP 20.00
" Versatile contemporary jazz and fusion saxophonist / multi-instrumentalist / composer plays diverse originals all laced with her own bluesy, expressive sax work." Time Out
Band Line Up
Charlotte Glasson (saxes, flutes, violin)
Mark Bassey (trombone)
Chris Spedding (guitar)C
Chris Kibble (piano0
Lloyd Coote (bass and sousaphone)
Sam Glasson (drums and percussion)Saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, Charlotte Glasson brings a huge bag of tricks to play with her, and this evening will be no exception. Woodwinds, and strings, along with the Guitar of Chris Spedding, Mark Bassey on Trombone, Chris Kibble on Piano, Lloyd Coote on bass and sousaphone, and Sam Glasson on Drums. Theirs is a contemporary jazz, free of anxiety, yet full of grace and fun, bringing to mind the endless skies of a summer morning, or the hot buzz of a glorious seaside sunset. This is music for a positive frame of mind. Fresh from touring with the Waevend Stornoway, this show see’s Charlotte play back to her roots and her eclectic musical tastes! Cosmo’s Cosmo is her ‘eighth album, mining a rich seam of Latin and world music influences, this is sunshine music, woven with smiles.
BOOKING £18
* Note: To guarantee reserved London Jazz Meet Up seating bookings must be confirmed in advance.
- Pizza Express Holborn Presents: 'AYRA' feat Juliet Roberts & Janette MasonPizza Express Live Holborn, LondonGBP 25.00
This brand new project is brought to you by Janette Mason (keys) and Juliet Roberts (vocals), two incredible musicians who have come together to create a body of work that amplifies what it is to be a woman in the 21st Century.
They will be joined by a fantastic trio of world class musicians:
Yolanda Charles – Bass (Hans Zimmer, Paul Weller, Laura Mvula)
Nicolas Py - Drums (Gia Ford, Tony Momrelle)
Shanti – Trumpet, cello and percussion (Courtney Pine, Brand New Heavies)From diverse cultural and musical backgrounds with careers that span the world of pop, jazz, dance and soul, they have written an inspiring set of songs that are emotional, inspiring and uplifting – Nu Soul with a jazz edge and thought provoking lyrics.
AYRA’S Buddhist meaning is spiritual warrior and these two have definitely been musical warriors in their respective fields.
Janette Mason – Keyboards – Composer
Janette is a pianist, composer, arranger, producer and performer.
She toured extensively throughout the 90s with artists such as Oasis, Pulp and Robert Wyatt and was musical director for Jonathan Ross.
She is a sought after arranger and producer and has contributed tracks to Ian Shaw’s Drawn To All Things, and Lea DeLaria’s, The Live Smoke Sessions, which reached the Grammy Ballot.Juliet Roberts - Vocals – Composer
Blessed with a beautiful and powerful voice, Juliet Roberts is undoubtedly one of the world’s most highly regarded R’n’B and jazz singer songwriters. Widely remembered for her work in the late 80s as lead vocalist with the hugely successful soul-jazz band Working Week, she has been a radio and TV presenter, had a string of top ten hits and has toured worldwide with award winning Denys Baptists and Jazz Jamaica All Stars.Yolanda Charles - Bass
Yolanda started her career playing for Jimmy Sommerville (The Communards) and quickly became the bass foundation of various groups in the burgeoning ‘acid’ jazz scene of the early 90s including Raw Stylus and Urban Species, swiftly securing her reputation as the ‘ go to’ bass player resulting in a remarkable career as a session musician for the next 30 year.Nicolas Py – Drums
Hailing from a remote town in northeast France, Nicolas Py began drumming professionally from age 14. Nicolas drums for indie-rock band Spector, pop angel Gia Ford, bass legend Yolanda Charles, soul singer Tony Momrelle and blues musicians Lachy Doley and Felix Rabin. He is also an original member of funk-rock band Second Brain.Shanti – Trumpet, cello and percussion
Shanti is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and composer.
His professional career took off whilst attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama when he was the featured soloist with Kenny Wheeler on the CD ‘Walk Softly’. He has played for such bands as Alex Wilson, Tim Garland, Monica Vasconcelos, Snowboy, John Etheridge’s Zappatistas, the Brand New Heavies, Friendly Fires, Courtney Pine and Salsa Celtica.BOOKING £25
* Note: To guarantee reserved London Jazz Meet Up seating bookings must be confirmed in advance.
- Hiatus Kaiyote @ London Eventim ApolloEventim Apollo, London
This is a good six months away, but worth planning ahead.
Ticket information is available here (other vendors may be available). Tickets cost £44.75 for stalls standing, which should allow members to enjoy the gig together as a group.
I've ordered a standing "presale" ticket in the stalls.
I will provide more details nearer the time about where and when the group will meet up.
About Hiatus Kaiyote
Join me for what should be an interesting gig with an unusual band. They are an Australian four-piece jazz funk band, that have been going since 2011. This gig is promoting their new album, Love Heart Cheat Code. They are all about the groove. The Guardian described them as "a band that have been long lauded for their inventive, chameleon-like R&B, rather than radio bait." Sounds like fun.You can find out more about them on their website.
Please only RSVP yes if you have a ticket, so I have a clear picture of numbers ahead of time.
- [EDF LJF] Neil Cowley Trio @ Earth, Stoke NewingtonEartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), London
After seven years - and some solo albums - the mighty Neil Cowley Trio is back at the London Jazz Festival - members are invited to join me.
Sure, it's a good number of months away, but I suspect this will be a sellout gig, so if you leave it to the last minute, I suspect you won't get a ticket.
We did a good number of years back, maybe even ten, a great meetup to see the trio live at KoKo in Camden (and later, one at the Union Chapel); but here, with a new album 'Entity' to play, this power jazz/rock piano trio - who have to be heard to be believed - are playing at a venue I've not been too, as part of the festival.
They're not a standard jazz trio - Cowley's all about layering and finessing slabs of piano riffs rather than exploring John Coltrane levels of complexity - although he can - and most of the existing hits they've had on multiple albums are catchy as hell, or mournful and thought provoking. Performances are usually pretty dazzling and 'event like', certainly for a jazz piano trio, and much of that is down to Cowley's personality and playing.
Ticket information is here. General admission tickets (so, I'm assuming, it's standing) are £27 all in, which for a festival gig, is reasonable enough I think. Please only RSVP is you have purchased, or are in the process of purchasing, a ticket.
I'll post up more information nearer the time of where and when we can meet.