Column

The Snowboy Jazz and Funk Column

Festival time is about over (as you can see by the measly list later on). All we have to look forward to next month, infact, is London's pathetic two week Jazz Festival. We are one of the world's leading exponents of Jazz and yet our capitol just strings all the clubs together that are already putting Jazz on anyway, with a few additional concerts at South Bank, and calls it the grandiose 'London Jazz Festival'. Come on, we can do better than this surely? Where is our 'Montreux Jazz Festival'; where is our 'North Sea Jazz Festival'. Montreux is a small town but has the best jazz festival in the world. Think about it.

RUSSIAN FUNK... RICHARD'S PARTIES &
LISA STANSFIELD NEWS

Well, I've got a very busy month ahead. I'm off to St. Petersburg in Russia to DJ at a club called Shingaling. As I reported earlier on this year, there is a big up and coming Funk scene there. The main DJ is called Misha Chak and it is he that has invited me over to play. I'm at the strangely named 30th anniversary of Richard's Parties in Lowestoft. These huge events have been an absolute institution on the UK Soul, Funk and Jazz map. It's at The Zoo, Lowestoft on October the 13th. I believe the event has already sold-out. The promoter, Richard Routledge, is also a new convert into the vintage world and is holding amazing 40's events up there too. I'll keep you informed of any of his future events. I've just played on a great session for Mica Paris. It's a project written and arranged by none other than Rod Temperton! The production is by the legendary Danny Saxon. I have another nice session for (hold your breath) George Benson next week too, and I'm waiting for rehearsals to start for a string of low-key dates with Lisa Stansfield. These are ahead of her album and huge tour next year. The first in five years.

WHAT'S COOKIN'

I have to disagree with a fellow Blues & Soul writer and say that I believe Kurt Elling's new CD 1619 Broadway (Concord Jazz) is incredible. It's a terrible crime but I'd never taken much notice of his voice before, despite every single one of his 9 albums being Grammy nominated. I'm a convert. His voice is a great as anyone who has sung Jazz on a world stage. Jazz Dancers will love the accessible mid-pace Cu-Bop version of I'm Satisfied. By accident I discovered a fantastic Latin Jazz group from Japan called Rhythmatrix. Their version of Airto's Tombo In 7/4 is an outrageous future Jazz Dance classic. It's at a rapid tempo, full of Brazilian Carnival Batucada percussion. Very unexpected on the Retro Soul and Funk label, Daptone, is the new 45 by Soul duo Bob and Gene. It's actually a stone 100% authentic 1969-sounding Reggae winner called I Can't Stand These Lonely Nights. Absolutely spectacular in ever way. I've been playing the b-side instrumental called Rub The Lamp. Tough stuff. I've never known a year for so much authentic 60's/70's sounding Funk and a lot will be missed. Do NOT miss the new album by Cactus Channel' called Haptics on Hope Street Records from Melbourne, Australia. In my estimation there's at least 5 potential dance floor fillers. The Queen of Aussie Soul, Kylie Audlist, guests on the new CD by Cornwalls own Aldo Vanucci. The track You're All Show, is a scorcher and must not be missed either. Although out on a 45 earlier this year Go Go Soul by the French Rongetz Foundation appears on their new album Brooklyn Butterfly Session. Go Go Soul features man of the moment, Gregory Porter, on vocals, and this Cold Sweat type Funky Jazzer is probably the best thing he's ever done. Lastly: at last, after 50 years, we have the debut album by Martha High on Freestyle Records. It's called Soul Overdue and she's backed by the UK's top Funk group Speedometer. The CD is produced by the bands leader, Leigh Gracie, and he really pulls out the best performance's by this former James Brown backing vocalist (and member of The Jewels and The Brownettes'). There are too many tracks to highlight but when an album is this strong why bother?

DATES/EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY

Snowboy plays 'The Hideaway'

Saturday October the 6th I will be performing with my group, Snowboy & The Latin Section, at one of my all-time favourite Jazz Clubs – The Hideaway in Streatham. It's rapid-fire contemporary Afro Cuban Jazz all the way.
hideawaylive.co.uk

The Good Foot

October line-up...

My weekly residency at Madame Jo Jo's 'The Good Foot' seems to be going from strength to strength. It's every Friday night from 10 til 3am. We play 60's & 70's R&B, Funk, Soul, Boogaloo and Rare Groove with the very best vintage DJ's guesting. Just incase you couldn't guess, my big surprise guest last month was none other than Martin Freeman! He just got back from filming The Hobbit in New Zealand for a year and a half and couldn't wait to DJ some 60's Soul music. He'll be back to the club early next year.

October 5th – EDDIE PILLER
October 12th – JO WALLACE
October 19th – ADRIAN GIBSON
October 26th – DEAN RUDLAND
madamejojos.com

MARSDEN JAZZ FESTIVAL

Musicians Award Nominations

Throughout the second weekend of October every year the sleepy Pennine village of Marsden, in West Yorkshire plays host to one of the country's best loved Jazz Festivals. This year the festival will be held from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th October and features a whole host of jazz musicians, playing every type of jazz imaginable.

One of the draws is the festival's New Stream, a series of five one-hour concerts on the Saturday. The New Stream programme is carefully put together by John Quail, who spends all year listening to new bands and seeing them live. The New Stream showcases some of the brightest and best new talent on the Jazz Scene; featuring new and up-and-coming bands as well as new projects by more established musicians.

The idea behind the New Stream is explained by John, "We aim to do two things, firstly to support and nurture new talent, and secondly to encourage people to take a gamble and try out something new - something they might not otherwise go and see". This is achieved by heavily subsidising tickets and keeping the price low, just £6 this year. And it seems to be a recipe that has proved itself, with a majority of concerts selling out each year. The hot ticket this year is likely to be Leeds based band Roller Trio, having recently been nominated for a Mercury Prize in the category “Album of the Year”, they have also just found themselves nominated as “Best Jazz Act” at the MOBO awards.

Booking bands for the Marsden Jazz Festival’s New Stream who then go on to be nominated (and even win) awards is no new thing, Kit Downes being another recent Mercury nominee, and the festival itself was the proud recipient of a “Best Festival” award at the Jazz Yorkshire awards in 2010. John Quail is quite rightly proud of his track record in selecting the rising stars of the future, “We’re really pleased to be in tune with what’s happening and to be able to offer audiences the best of the current scene. I also consider us lucky to be so well connected with the Leeds scene and all that is happen with the young players there.”

Marsden audiences were lucky enough to see the 2010 premiere of The Green Seagull a piece commissioned by Marsden Jazz Festival, and composed by Tommy Evans (another New Stream alumni). The piece went on to tour nationally to high acclaim and then win Tommy Evans the much-coveted British Composers Award in 2011

Marsden Jazz Festival will host almost 80 events in 48 hours and, as well as the New Stream, there will be Jazz to suit every taste, every age and every budget.

Tickets are available from the box office – 0845 519 4415
marsdenjazzfestival.com

LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL

International Jazz Heavyweights line-up

Despite my criticisms of the London Jazz Festival, this is the upside, with spectacular artists in town. I must get along to the Kurt Elling, Chick Corea and Esperanza Spalding myself.

AirMTM is representing some incredible artists performing at this year’s London Jazz Festival in November. The 2012 festival welcomes internationally acclaimed American stars Esperanza Spalding, Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Chick Corea, alongside rising Armenian-American star Tigran Hamasyan. This year also plays host to a series of concerts celebrating 20 years of legendary German label ACT, with star pianists Michael Wollny, Iiro Rantala, Leszek Mozdzer and last year’s Mercury nominee Gwilym Simcock performing at St James’ Piccadilly across three nights.

9th November - Tigran Hamasyan – Wigmore Hall
12th November - Michael Wollny, Iiro Rantala & Adam Baldych – St James Piccadilly
14th November - Kurt Elling (with Sheila Jordan) – Southbank Centre – Queen Elizabeth Hall
15th November - Esperanza Spalding – Southbank Centre – Royal Festival Hall
15th, 16th & 17th November - Dee Dee Bridgewater – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
16th November - Gwilym Simcock (with City of London Sinfonia)
17th November - Leszek Możdżer & Radio String Quartet Vienna
17th November - Chick Corea (with Christian McBride) – Barbican Centre

JAZZ FESTIVAL'S THIS MONTH

October 12–14 - Marsden Jazz Festival
October 26–28 - Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party

LISTINGS

RONNIE SCOTT’S

47 Frith St,
London,
W1D 4HT
ronniescotts.co.uk

Monday 1st October - TERRY REID
Tuesday 2nd October – Wednesday 3rd October - VAN MORRISON
Thursday 4th October – Saturday 6th October - HIROMI
Sunday 7th October - RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Sunday 7th October Lunch - KING CANDY & THE SUGAR PUSH
Monday 8th October – Wednesday 10th October - ALISON MOYET: RARE & OBSCURED
Thursday 11th October – Saturday 13th October - SOULIVE
Sunday 14th October - NATALIE WILLIAMS SOUL FAMILY
Monday 15th October –Wednesday 17th October - AVISHAI COHEN ‘SEVEN SEAS’
Thursday 18th October – Friday 19th October - JOE LOVANO/DAVE DOUGLAS QUINTET SOUND PRINTS
Saturday 20th October - JOE STILGOE AND FRIENDS
Sunday 21st October - NATHAN HAINES
Monday 22nd October - NATHAN HAINES
Tuesday 23rd October –Wednesday 24th October - THE BAD PLUS
Thursday 25h October – Friday 26th October - STEVE SMITH AND VITAL INFORMATION
Saturday 27th October - JEFF LORBER FUSION
Sunday 28th October - THE RONNIE SCOTT’S BLUES EXPLOSION
Sunday 28th October Lunch - LANCE ELLINGTON AND ALISON JIEAR
Monday 29th October – Friday 2nd November - STACEY KENT

THE 606 CLUB

90 Lots Road,
London
SW10 0QD
jazz@606club.co.uk

Monday 1st - Latin Underground
Tuesday 2nd - Gary Boyle Band
Wednesday 3rd - The John East Project / Steve Melling Trio
Thursday 4th - Luca Boscagin’s Radio Londra feat. Jim Mullen
Friday 5th - Roland Perrin’s “Limited Edition”
Saturday 6th - Nigel Hitchcock
Sunday 7th - Closed for a private party
Monday 8th - John Crawford
Tuesday 9th - Emma Smith / Adam Glasser
Wednesday 10th - Greg Heath / Richard Fairhurst
Thursday 11th - Benet Mclean Band
Friday 12th - The Sugar Kings.
Saturday 13th
Sunday 14th sunday afternoon gospel brunch
Sunday 14th - liane carroll
Monday 15th - jandira silva
Tuesday 16th - dan reinstein / dill katz
Wednesday 17th closed for a private party
Thursday 18th closed for a private party
Friday 19th - protect the beat
Saturday 20th -
Sunday 21st Sunday Lunch - Shireen Francis
Sunday 21st - Ian Shaw
Monday 22nd
Tuesday 23rd - Kai Hoffman.
Wednesday 24th
Thursday 25th - Nina Ferro & Niamh Mcnally
Friday 26th - Samara feat. Jandira Silva
Saturday 27th - Peter King Quintet with special guest Mornington Lockett
Sunday 28th lunch – The Dave O’Higgins Two Minds Big Band
Sunday 28th - Dana Gillespie and The London Blues Band
Monday 29th - phd
Tuesday 30th - John Law Trio
Wednesday 31st - *cd launch* Josh Kemp / Alan Rushton

THE HIDEAWAY

2 Empire Mews,
Streatham,
London,
SW16 2ED
hideawaylive.co.uk

WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT - Jam Session and Jazz Workshop (In the Back Room)
WEEKLY MONDAY NIGHT - Cuban Hideaway feat. DJ Rich (In the Main Room)
Thur 5th October - Soul Street
Friday 5th October - Soul Street
Saturday 6th October - Snowboy and the Latin Section
Sunday 7th October - Speakeasy Sunday presents Big Easy Funk
Thursday 11th October - Robert Castelli’s Boom Quartet
Friday 12th October - Renato D’Aiello’s Tribute to Stevie Wonder
Saturday 13th October - Sarah Jane Morris & Antonio Forcione
Sunday 14th October (Lunchtime show) - King Candy & The Sugar Push
Thursday 18th October - Nigel Price Organ Trio
Friday 19th October - The Quentin Collins/Brandon Allen Quartet Featuring Special Guest Joe Cang
Saturday 20th October - Bali Hai Reunion
Sunday 21st October - Speakeasy Sunday presents The John O’Leary–Alan Glen All Stars
Thursday 25th October - Voice
Friday 26th October - Imaani
Saturday 27th October - Gill Manly

SNOWBOY