CONCERTS DURING THE LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2011

at

St James' Piccadilly
197 Piccadilly
London W1J 9LL
Underground: Piccadilly Circus

Wednesday 16th November 7.30 p.m.

1st set

Christoph Stiefel - solo piano.

Brilliant, exciting, rhythmic Swiss pianist explores isorhythms.

"The richness of variations of Stiefel’s music is immense and the rhythmical shifts that evolve like a kaleidoscope are never mechanical but rather like a breathing organism.” Jazzthing

2nd set

Pete Churchill's London Vocal Project

Kenny Wheeler (trumpet and flugelhorn), Norma Winstone (voice), Mark Lockheart (saxes) backed by  the Nikki Iles Trio
(Nikki Iles, piano, Steve Watts bass, James Maddren drums).

MIRRORS SUITE by Kenny Wheeler
plus the world premiere of a new commission for the choir by Gwilym Simcock featuring the stunning new vocal talent Kwabena Adjepong

A unique opportunity to hear Kenny Wheeler's extraordinary settings of poems by Stevie Smith, Lewis Carroll and W. B. Yeats. First commissioned for a performance in Italy over fifteen years ago, the 'Mirrors' suite was subsequently featured at the Berlin Jazz Festival in 1998.

 “Rooted in the gospel tradition, this is an outfit with exceptional potential — the hushed harmonizing was a delight… more please!” Clive Davis The Times ****
"Iles is one of the most refreshing and promising figures to have emerged in the UK in recent times, with a liquid sound and supple, obliquely resolved phrasing as an improviser" The Guardian

Directed by composer, arranger and educator Pete Churchill, the London Vocal Project is composed of students and alumni from the various jazz courses at London's Conservatoires.

From a solid foundation in Gospel and Groove music, the London Vocal Project has developed into an impressively versatile ensemble with a constantly expanding repertoire. Since its inception in January 2008 it has rapidly become recognised as the leading contemporary jazz-vocal ensemble in the country.

A unique and welcome addition to the Jazz scene, the London Vocal Project has not only a clear identity but the requisite vision and diversity to attract a new vocal repertoire from jazz composers. In addition to regular concerts in venues around London, recent highlights for the group include singing with Bobby McFerrin at the Barbican in 2010 at the British premier of his album, VOCAbuLarieS, Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir Johnny Dankworth at the London Jazz Festival in 2009

Tickets: £15/£12 (students)
Available from www.jazzcds.co.uk or 0207 724 2389

THREE FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS WITH AWARD WINNING ARTISTS

Monday 14th November- Kit Downes (piano and organ) James Allsopp (reeds) Tim Giles (drums) – The Golden Age of Steam
1.10 p.m. FREE ADMISSION (donations to the church welcome)
A combination of anarchic playfulness, the formal logics of Ligeti’s music, the joyous saxophone thunder of Coltrane and Ayler and the twisted lyricism of Captain Beefheart. Sometimes labyrinthine, sometimes eerily sparse, with seismic riffs, limping marches and intricately woven contrapuntal textures creating a multi coloured world of improvised sound.

Featuring 2010 Barclaycard Mercury Nominee Kit Downes
“Everyone's favourite young pianist… unpretentiously brilliant and full of subtle touches”. The Observer

Wednesday 16th November- Gwilym Simcock (solo piano)
1.10 p.m. FREE ADMISSION (donations to the church welcome)

One of UK's greatest pianists and improvisers will play work from his brilliant 2011 Barclaycard Mercury nominated album "Good Days at Schloss Elmau"

"Makes bebop sound like child’s play" Mojo

"the increasing richness and complexity of Simcock's compositional voice is a cause for huge celebration" Peter Quinn, Arts Desk

Friday 18th November Julian Siegel (sax) and Liam Noble (piano)
1.10 p.m. FREE ADMISSION (donations to the church welcome)

Performing work from Siegel's latest album "Urban Theme Park" long time collaborators Siegel and Noble offer an acoustic take on Siegel's music which can only come from the intuitive musical bond between the two players.  Eclectic, magnetic, fresh, joyful and infectious.

"there's not a moment that doesn't fizz with ingenuity and imagination" Mojo

More information: www.bashomusic.co.uk