12-22 - Aberdeen Jazz Festival · 2020-02-11 · ABERDEEN JAZZ FESTIVAL 12-22 MARCH 2020 BOX OFFICE 01224 641122 Featuring The International School Aberdeen. Aberdeen Youth The Blue

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ABERDEEN JAZZ FESTIVAL 12-22 MARCH 2020 WWW.ABERDEENJAZZFESTIVAL.COM BOX OFFICE 01224 641122

Phone: 0131 467 3660Email [email protected]

We need you! We are looking for Festival and Jazz On the Green volunteers please contact [email protected] or look online.

In association with Aberdeen University, the Festival presents

Friday 20th March A workshop with Fergus McCreadie

For further details please contact: [email protected]

Ticket Information

Contact Us

Volunteers

Workshops

Online: www.aberdeenjazzfestival.comTicket hotline: 01224 641122 In Person: The Music Hall, The Lemon Tree, His Majesty’s TheatrePlease note all ticket prices stated include booking fees

Collections: Your tickets can be collected 30 minutes before the performance at the relevant venue, otherwise postage costs may be charged (15 minutes for late night concerts at The Blue Lamp).

Photography: Colin Black, Earthly Light, Brian Vass

Sponsored byPresented by

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Welcome! Aberdeen’s Jazz Festival is the city’s opportunity to celebrate all that’s great in Jazz in 2020. From classic to cool to contemporary. Over eleven days, the Festival presents over 50 bands and we travel far and wide across the styles – all around jazz – trad to swing to bop to cutting edge, and into related musics like blues, hip hop, afrobeat, soul, and funk. Music for head, heart, and soul. Our aim is to present the highest quality music we can, in the best Festival atmosphere. Every year, the Jazz Festival vibe in the city gets better. We hope 2020 will be the best yet, and we’re super-excited about the programme. So many exciting concerts in store.Thanks to Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Inspired and Creative Scotland for backing our vision again.We look forward to welcoming back our many old friends, and many new ones too.

Trumpet, saxophone, and guitar – and no rhythm section – playing jazz standards, beautiful ballads, Scottish melodies, original tunes, all with a spontaneous edge – it’s a magical formula for three Festival favourites in the intimate surrounds of Carmelite Library.

Carmelite Library, 8pm, £15Colin Steele/ Martin Kershaw/ Graeme Stephen


THUR 12

MAR

Extraordinary guitarist and vocalist Aki Remally and outstanding young pianist Fraser Urquhart join forces to pay homage to Gil Scott-Heron. Their band delves deep into the work of the revolutionary poet, jazz musician and rap pioneer whose lyrics expressed views on politics, culture and social injustice - expect a whole lotta funk, jazz and soul tunes from Gil Scott-Heron’s repertoire.

Presented by Jazz At The Blue Lamp

The Blue Lamp, 8pm, £15 + concessions

The Gil Scott-Heron Songbook


Aberdeen’s finest are joined by two rising Scottish vocal stars. Georgia Cecile has arrived as the major singer of the new Scottish jazz scene. She is a super-classy singer who hits the spot when it comes to Broadway songs, beautiful ballads, swinging jazz, and a host of

originals and modern pop tunes. Luca Manning is shaping up to be Scotland’s best ever male jazz singer. Light and airy, and full of passion, he makes an extraordinary impact.

A must for lovers of great songs and singers.

Queen’s Cross Church, 8pm, £12.50

Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra with special guests Georgia Cecile and Luca Manning


FRI 13 MAR


Featuring The International School Aberdeen.

The Blue Lamp, 12.30pm, FREEAberdeen Youth Jazz Showcase

Get ready to party with this ten-piece classic funk and R&B outfit. Covering music from the Jackson Five and James Brown to the Temptations, Sister Sledge and Chic.

The Blue Lamp, 11pm, £12.50, Standing, 18+ Funk Connection

A rare chance to hear the music of two of jazz’s great innovators. So exciting for listeners, but challenging for musicians, bebop fizzed with lightning fast rhythms and super musical technique. They set the musicianship bar as high as they possibly could, and hardly anyone has touched it since. Constant rhythmic and harmonic excitement, from fiery be-bop to Latin grooves with passionate soloing. Kershaw and Steele take the title roles alongside a crack rhythm section of Pete Johnstone (piano), Brian Shiels (bass) and Max Popp (drums).

The Blue Lamp, 7.30pm, £12.50

Colin Steele and Martin Kershaw Quinet play Bird and Diz


FREE EVENT


An Afrobeat-ElectroJazz -Funk-Fusion-HipHop collective inspired by Sun Ra, Flying Lotus, Jaga Jazzist and Outkast. Saxophonist, Harry Weir’s band combine turbo charged jazz excitement, with every contemporary black American influence they can find – and dancefloor beats! They’re at the cutting edge of the brilliant club jazz scene coming out of Glasgow.

The Blue Lamp, 11pm, £12.50, Standing, 18+

Hamlet

Petru Popa Trio feat. Nils Olav Johansen Plus Alan Benzie solo

Orion All Stars


SAT 14 MAR

The Blue Lamp, 7.30pm, £10

The Blue Lamp, 2.30pm, £10

They’re back. Hamlet are a young, high-energy, jazz fusion collective who mix classic modern jazz, from Herbie Hancock to Miles Davis with influences from Afro-beat, traditional Scottish music, rock and hip-hop into an exciting pulsing sound. Featuring Matthew Kilner (saxophones), Gavin Hunter (trumpet), Neil Kendal (guitar), Finley Campbell (bass) and Richard Glassby (drums).

Norway has been creating international jazz stars since the 1960s, and this afternoon’s gig features four leading musicians making their UK debut. Super versatile jazz pianist Petru Popa fronts a contemporary jazz group which features the extraordinary guitarist and vocalist, Nils Olav Johansen (renowned for his work with Farmers Market, Food etc.), and the powerhouse drummer, Stein Inge Braekhus. Opening the show, Benzie’s solo piano is luminously toned, atmospheric and often impressionistic. His music is rooted in European and American jazz, but is influenced by impressionist piano music and film music, and his love of Japanese animation

ABERDEEN JAZZ FESTIVAL 12-22 MARCH 2020 WWW.ABERDEENJAZZFESTIVAL.COM BOX OFFICE 01224 641122ABERDEEN JAZZ FESTIVAL 12-22 MARCH 2020 WWW.ABERDEENJAZZFESTIVAL.COM BOX OFFICE 01224 641122

The acclaimed trumpeter has been inspired by the quirky, romantic, disillusioned and joyful tunes written by one of the greatest songwriters of the past 50 years, Joni Mitchell. Steele’s approach is to savour the simplicity; not stray too far from the melody; look for beauty; and create tunes that glow and sparkle with warmth and affection. It’s a beautiful concept that not many musicians could pull off, but with David Milligan (piano), David Bowden (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums) he does it!

Queen’s Cross Church, 7.30pm, £15

Colin Steele Quartet play Joni Mitchell

Swinging powerhouse, trumpeter Enrico Tomasso was first spotted as a rare talent by none other than Louis Armstrong in the late 60s. Now he drops in to AJF20 to join Colin Black Trio for a night paying homage to the great trumpeters. Tomasso has had a highly varied career, which includes 12 years with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and stints with many high profile bands from Ray Gelato to Acker Bilk.

Carmelite, Balmoral, 9pm, £12.50Enrico Tomasso & Colin Black Trio

SUN 15 MAR

Leppard & the Big Cats Full Fat

Oceans 3Dopesick Fly

Aberdeen University Jazz Band

Guarana Street Drummers

...and more!

Aberdeen Art Gallery

CarmeliteDouglas HotelOutdoor Stage On The Green

The Roof Garden @ St Nicholas

The Tunnels

1PM-5PM SUNDAY 15 MARCH FREE

Presented by Aberdeen Jazz Festival Thanks to: Aberdeen Inspired, Carmelite Hotel, Cafe 52, Merchant Quarter www.merchantquarter-aberdeen.com

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JazzSoulRnBFunkBigBandBluesVocalsDrummers6 Stages 11 bands 4 hours


Dubbed the Queen of Cool, Peggy Lee’s bewitching vocal power, sultry swing, alluring tone and distinctive delivery, made her one of the most captivating artists of the vocal era. To mark the centenary of her birth, Marisha Addison fronts a crack band singing all Lee’s hits including “Why Don’t You Do Right, “Lover” and “Fever”.The ticket includes a two course dinner from the award winning Carmelite chefs.

Carmelite Balmoral, 7pm, £22.50

Marisha Addison Sings Peggy Lee

DINNER JAZZ

Enjoy two exciting community projects, bringing together people from all backgrounds in their love of performing jazz. The JATBL Community Jazz Big Band will join forces with the JATBL Youth Jazz Combo to showcase a range of standards and improvisational talent.

The Blue Lamp, 8pm, £10

Jazz at the Blue Lamp Community Jazz Big Band and Youth Jazz Combo

A sensational blues double bill. One of the greatest guitarists and vocalists in Chicago blues history, “Melvin Taylor’s arsenal consists of blinding speed, a feverish wah-wah pedal, a range of tones that leaps from groans to squeals, and notes bent so dramatically that his guitar sounds like it’s retching. Taylor succeeds because he’s a virtuoso who pushes the limits of his own skills.” (Living Blues Magazine). Opening the show, Stevie Nimmo combines Glaswegian grit with Louisiana Swamp, Memphis Soul and Tex Mex Grooves, as happy tearing things up on electric lead guitar as he is on down-home acoustic roots. “Stevie’s voice is at times gritty, other times emotional but all times perfection!” (Maverick Magazine).

Lemon Tree, 7.30-9.30pm, £15, Standing

Melvin Taylor Blues Band, Stevie Nimmo Trio


SUN 15 MAR

On a snowy night in February 1972, celebrated jazz musician Lee Morgan was shot dead by his wife, sending shockwaves through the jazz community. This documentary by Swedish filmmaker Kasper Collin (My Name Is Albert Ayler) is a love letter to two unique personalities and the music that brought them together.

Kasper Collin/Sweden/2017/89 mins Presented by Belmont Cinema

Tonight sees the start of the acclaimed pianist, Fergus McCreadie in residence until the end of the Festival. Tonight, he pays homage to the one of the giants of jazz: American pianist Bill Evans. Fergus is joined by Brodie Jarvie (bass) and Doug Hough (drums).

Belmont Cinema, 8.20pm, £10.50/9

Carmelite, Library, 8pm, £15. Limited Capacity

I Called Him Morgan

Fergus McCreadie plays Bill Evans


MON 16

MAR

WED 18

MAR

Journey to three acclaimed restaurants with one course in each and a different jazz session in each venue, with music from singers Melodie Fraser, Mary May and guitarist Colin Black.The dinner venues are:Carmelite: a creative menu prepared by award winning chefsMolly’s Bistro: features the best locally sourced ingredientsBistro Verdi: serves fresh contemporary dishes with a scottish twist

After making your booking you will be sent a schedule for the evening.

Carmelite, Molly’s Bistro, Bistro Verdi, 7pm, £30Dinner Jazz Safari

TUE 17 MAR

Tickets ONLY available from Carmelite 01224 589101

This is a Riot. The irrepressible singer, Ali Affleck and the acclaimed Copper Cats transport you to the prohibition era, delivering good time, swinging vintage jazz, with Alison’s deep love and knowledge of early jazz vocals to the fore in New Orleans classics and songs by Bessie Smith, Mildred Bailey, Louis Armstrong and Ma Rainey. For one night only, the Copper Cats band feature New Orleans pianist, Joplin Parnell, and multi-instumentalist, Ewan Bleach plus the all-girl band that’s taking the Scottish early jazz scene by storm, The Red Hot Rhythm Makers. “Music from another time and place, which puts smiles on the faces of the here and now” (The Herald).

Music Hall, 7.30pm, £16.50

New OrleansA Night in


THUR 19 MAR


A fierce, energetic and irresistibly danceable live show from afrobeat-inspired rock-funk-psych juggernaut. With an onslaught of horns, guitars, percussion and gutsy vocals, the eleven-strong outfit deliver powerful defiant songs packed with riffs, groove and lyrical prowess to move gig-goers, festival throngs and afro-funk afficionados alike. Their anthemic live shows have graced Festivals like Boomtown, Green Man, Soundwave, Wilderness, or Meadows in the Mountains. Fans of Fela Kuti, Ibibio Sound Machine and The Souljazz Orchestra, take note!

Lemon Tree, 8pm, £12.50 (£10 student concs). StandingAgbeko

Consummate singing, supreme musicianship and two natural onstage personalities combine in an evening of musical magic celebrating the greatest jazz singer of all time: Ella Fitzgerald. The UK’s leading jazz vocalist Tina May and

her world class accompanist, Scotland’s own pianist Brian Kellock revisit the classic meeting between Ella and piano giant Oscar Peterson.

Presented by Jazz At The Blue Lamp

The Blue Lamp, 8pm, £15 + concessionsTina May & Brian Kellock - Oscar & Ella


THUR 19 MAR

Featuring Aberdeen University Jazz Band.


FREE EVENT

Fresh from Celtic Connections comes a stellar duo featuring two of the most exiting young musicians in Scotland. Still in their early 20’s, their music reflects a shared love for both folk and jazz music, full of beautiful melodies and atmospheric landscapes combined with virtuosic improvisation.

Carmelite, Library, 8pm, £15. Limited Capacity

Fergus McCreadie and Matt Carmichael

Williams is the icon of film music scores today; well known for his signature tunes to many blockbusters. Katet are an 8-piece soul/jazz/funk band who deliver pounding grooves

and thick funky horn riffs, taking inspiration from the crowd pleasing scores of “Jurassic Park”, “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” funked-up by Kearney’s magical touch.

The Blue Lamp, 11pm, £12.50, 18+The Katet vs John Williams

Featuring ACMS Jazz Ensemble and South Aberdeenshire Music Centre Big Band.


FREE EVENT

FRI 20

MAR


The pianist is a star around the globe, renowned for his long term associations with such as Bill Bruford and Billy Cobham. He’s an astonishing technician, a beautiful melodist, and an exciting improviser. Here’s a very rare outing for his all star Scottish band with an extraordinary line up: Don Paterson and Graeme Stephen (guitar), and Paul Towndrow (saxophone). A really special event.

The Blue Lamp, 7.30pm, £12.50Steve Hamilton Quartet


The most exciting young Scottish jazz musician to emerge for decades, pianist Fergus McCreadie has established an enormous fan base in a very short timespan: the sensational pianist gets standing ovations and five star reviews everywhere he goes including last year’s amazing show at The Blue Lamp. Here he is for the first time in a concert setting in Aberdeen, a perfect place for McCreadie’s beautifully crafted music. The trio’s sets are

packed with emotional charge, effervescent, and often spiritually uplifting, with the leader’s compositions combining jazz sensibility with tunes rooted in traditional Scottish mode. David Bowden (bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums) match McCreadie’s verve, skill and sensitivity with precision and unerring empathy. “Prodigious cascading technique, communicating warmth and personality” (The Herald), “Simply outstanding” (Jazzwise).

Queen’s Cross Church, 8pm, £12.50Fergus McCreadie Trio

Two shows put together by drummer/producer, Tom Bancroft, offer stylistically different music for head, heart, and feet.

Tom Bancroft curates:SAT 21 MAR

American trumpeter, Jon Green’s music is a beguiling new sound on the Scottish scene, distinctively personal compositions, beautifully melodic, witty and often sublime, it’s very much of the moment – played by an all star group based around the award winning Playtime Collective : Martin Kershaw (saxes), Graeme Stephen (guitar), Brodie Jarvie (bass) and Tom Bancroft (drums). Join us for a journey into the extraordinary!

The Blue Lamp, 7.30pm, £12Jon Green Sextet

West African music with jazz crossover. Come to check out down downtown Accra, Lagos, and Kinshasa on a Saturday night, with Tom Bancroft and Thomas Annang’s 8 piece band and dancer, Adie Baako Elias. Music for drums, gutar and horns featuring Thomas Annang ( kpanlogo and djembe), Tom Bacroft’s Ghanaian Rhythms plus Claude Deppa, Martin Kershaw, Phil O’Malley - a mighty force which embraces Fela Kuti’s concepts, afrobeat grooves, and more traditional African drumming into the jazz world.

The Blue Lamp, 11pm, £12.50, Standing, 18+ African Groove Machine

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SUN 22

MAR

Top class blues, with a twist of jazz and soul will be all over The West End on the afternoon of Sunday 22 March. With a rover ticket you can roam from venue

to venue checking out the music and the atmosphere. Three hours of great blues with a host of great names playing informal sets in four intimate venues

for £12.50. Featuring driving electric blues from Gerry Jablonski and classic 50s and 60s American blues from Jed Potts and Hillman Hunters, plus much more.

Full line-up to be announced on www.aberdeenjazzfestival.comSponsored by Aberdeen Inspired

2.30-5.30pm, £12.50 - Rover Ticket

West

End

Blues

Trail

A rousing grand finale to Fergus McCreadie’s Aberdeen residency, as he joins the University Jazz Orchestra as featured soloist in a concert that shows off the best young talent in Aberdeen at the moment. Saxophonist Martin Kershaw also joins the orchestra as a special guest.

The Blue Lamp, 8pm, £10

The Vintage Girls

Aberdeen University Jazz Orchestra with special guests Fergus McCreadie and Martin Kershaw

Enjoy an indulgent high tea with retro class. Listen to classics songs from the 40s/50s/60sright up the present with a vintage twist. Delivered by a trio of close

harmony singers, this music-filled afternoon tea serves up treats including finger sandwiches, dainty desserts and a fine selection of teas or cocktails.

Carmelite, Balmoral, 2pm, £20, Seated, 18+

Intoxicating High Tea with


SUN 22 MAR

The original lead singer/guitarist with The Average White Band through all the classic 70s albums, Hamish has since worked with the likes of Diana Ross, George Benson, Chaka Khan, for six years, Paul McCartney. In addition to touring with Ringo Starr he leads his own “super-group”. Expect AWB hits and loads of great funk and soul classics

The Lemon Tree, 7.30pm, £20Hamish Stuart Band


SUN 22

MAR

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March Start Performance Name Event Venue

12th8.00pm The Gil Scott-Heron Songbook The Blue Lamp8.00pm Steele / Kershaw / Stephen Carmelite Library

13th

12.30pm Youth Jazz Showcase The Blue Lamp7.30pm Steele / Kershaw Quintet The Blue Lamp8.00pm AJO with Georgia Cecilie / Luca Manning Queen’s Cross Church

11.00pm Funk Connection The Blue Lamp

14th

2.30pm Petru Popa Trio The Blue Lamp7.30pm Hamlet The Blue Lamp7.30pm Colin Steele Joni Mitchell Queen’s Cross Church9.00pm Enrico Tomasso & Colin Black Trio Carmelite, Balmoral

11.00pm Orion All-Stars The Blue Lamp

15th

1.00pm Jazz On The Green City Centre 7.00pm Dinner Jazz Carmelite7.30pm Melvin Taylor & Stevie Nimmo The Lemon Tree8.00pm JatBL Community Big Bands The Blue Lamp

16th 8.20pm I Called Him Morgan Belmont Filmhouse17th 7.00pm Jazz Dinner Safari Carmelite, Molly's, Bistro Verdi18th 8.00pm Fergus McCreadie: Bill Evans Trio Carmelite

19th

12.30pm Youth Jazz Showcase The Blue Lamp7.30pm Alison Affleck Night in New Orleans The Music Hall8.00pm Tina May and Brian Kellock The Blue Lamp8.00pm Agbeko The Lemon Tree 8.00pm Fergus McCreadie / Matt Carmichael Carmelite

20th12.30pm Youth Jazz Showcase The Blue Lamp7.30pm Steve Hamilton Quartet The Blue Lamp

11.00pm The Katet The Blue Lamp

21st7.30pm Jon Green Quintet The Blue Lamp8.00pm Fergus McCreadie Trio Queen’s Cross Church

11.00pm Africa Groove Machine The Blue Lamp

22nd

2.00pm Afternoon Tea: Vintage Girls Carmelite2.30pm West End Blues Trail various venues7.30pm Hamish Stuart Band The Lemon Tree8 .00pm Aberdeen University Jazz Orchestra The Blue Lamp

Documents

12-22 - Aberdeen Jazz Festival · 2020-02-11 · ABERDEEN JAZZ FESTIVAL 12-22 MARCH 2020 BOX OFFICE 01224 641122 Featuring The International School Aberdeen. Aberdeen Youth The Blue