London Jazz Festival
10 - 19 November 2006
Jazz From Scotland
The Graeme Stephen Quartet
Some of Scotland’s finest jazz musicians are appearing at the London Jazz Festival in November.
On Sunday 12 November, the London Jazz Festival’s Jazz For Free slot will feature a Jazz From Scotland programme. The Bill Wells Trio and Colin Steele Quintet will play between 4.00 and 7.00 pm in The Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
This will be followed by a reception hosted by Scottish Arts Council to celebrate and promote the country’s jazz talent. The event will be rounded off with a performance by the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra in the Purcell Room at 7.45 pm. The Orchestra will play Tommy Smith’s arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, with Brian Kellock on piano, as well as a tribute to Count Basie.
The new ‘King of Swing’, Todd Gordon, appears at the Royal Opera House’s Floral Hall on 19 November at 4.00 pm. Saxophonist Dave O’Higgins is the special guest at this performance. At 7.45 pm, Scottish musicians Aidan O’Rourke of Blazin’ Fiddles and Simon Thoumire (concertina), join forces with Andy Sheppard (saxophone), Sheema Mukherjee and Kuljit Bhamra in Cascade.
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Edinburgh-based guitarist and composer Graeme Stephen’s quartet was the recipient of a Jazz Services Promoters’ Choice Award this year. Part of this award is their appearance in the Front Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at 3.00 pm on Sunday 18 November as part of the London Jazz Festival. |
In addition to the London Jazz Festival appearance, the prize includes a grant of £2,500 from the Jazz Services’ National Touring Support Scheme for 2007. The Graeme Stephen Quartet includes Paul Harrison on keyboards, Alyn Cosker on drums and Martin Kershaw on saxophone.
Graeme also plays and writes with his own Trio and Sextet. The Graeme Stephen Trio, featuring New York bassist Eivind Opsvik and drummer Stuart Ritchie, released their first CD, Water Soluble, earlier this year. The Graeme Stephen Sextet will release an album in early 2007. The Sextet’s recording was funded by an Atom Award from the PRS Foundation, and Water Soluble by an award from the Scottish Arts Council’s Creative Development/Recording fund.
| For more information on programme, tickets and venues, visit the London Jazz Festival website. | |