Information on the awards can be found on the following website, where you can also vote online (Please note that online voting closes at midnight on Tuesday 7th June) – http://www.scottishjazzfederation.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=132:scottish-jazz-awards-2011-voting-now-open&Itemid=1

Shetland Jazz Club have gone from strength to strength over the past two years during a Jazz Development project administered by Shetland Arts and with financial assistance from Creative Scotland.

Jeff said of the nomination, “This is not about me, it is about the spirit that has allowed us to bring well-known jazz musicians to these islands”

“All the musicians we have brought here in the last couple of years have gone back home and raved about the experience of playing in Shetland, their reception at gigs, the hospitality and the warmth of the people”

Bryan Peterson, Shetland Arts Music Development Officer said, “Interest in jazz has seen a real resurgence recently, in no small part due to the tuition provided in schools by brass instructors including Roy Hughson and Jane Morton.”

“Over the course of the two-year jazz development project, the Shetland Jazz Club membership has risen from only a handful in 2009 to over 30 at present, with concerts attendances regularly into the hundreds. It’s great to see the hard work and enthusiasm of Jeff being recognised through the award nomination.”

Several of the other award nominees have a Shetland connection – The Nova Scotia Jazz Band (Early Jazz – Band of the Year 2011 category) played in Shetland in May 2011, Havana Swing (also in the Early Jazz – Band of the Year 2011 category) played at the Peerie Willie Guitar Festival in 2009, Martin Taylor (Mainstream Jazz – Band of the Year 2011) has played in Shetland many times over the years and Tommy Smith (Jazz Educator of the Year 2011 category) will be playing in Shetland on 25th June.

Other notable acts who have visited Shetland over the course of the project have included leading lights such as drummer Alyn Cosker, saxophonist Derek Nash, guitarist John Etheridge and the Kirkwall Grammar School Big Band. Each visiting act has played concerts in Lerwick, rural venues and schools, and led a range of educational activities for local musicians and school children.

Read more about the Shetland Jazz Club / Shetland Arts’ promotions at http://www.shetlandarts.org/tag/jazz/

One of the big successes at the last Glasgow Jazz Festival was the performance of the Nova Scotia Jazz Band in the special showcase of Scottish bands. This is an exceptionally good band, primarily for the playing of cornet player Mike Daly, described as ‘the best kept secret in Scottish jazz’. I went to Glasgow, representing Shetland Jazz Club, and though my usual tastes are for a more modern form of jazz, Mike Daly just took my breath away. From the moment I heard him I was keen to book this excellent band for Shetland and now the jazz club have secured appearance on the weekend of 13-14 May.

- Nova Scotia Jazz Band

Mike Daly has echoes of Alex Welsh and Red Nichols in his playing, but most of all the name Bix Beiderbecke springs to mind when you hear him play and this is not some limp comparison, Mike Daly really does play with that amount of genius. Of all the things I might have gone to see at the Glasgow festival, I went to see the Nova Scotia band twice.

The band is firmly in the tradition of the groups led by Eddie Condon, Muggsy Spanier, Red Nichols, Alex Welsh.and the said Bix Beiderbecke. They were described by the Glasgow Herald as presenting music ‘with direct, bluesy concision and presented with humour and creativity’. As well as the world class cornet of Mike Daly, the Nova Scotia Jazz Band features three other world class players.

Duncan Findlay has also got that jazz star quality. He is one of the most sought after session guitar and banjo players in Scotland, having recorded on thousands of  radio and TV sessions and is  on more than 500 jazz and traditional albums. Duncan has also performed with a virtual ‘who’s who’ of the finest jazz talent including Oscar Peterson, Benny Carter, Kai Winding, Annie Ross and Carol Kidd. His extraordinary facility on banjo and his effortless and fluid guitar playing are always the highlights of a Nova Scotia set.

Ken MacDonald began playing double bass in Edinburgh in the mid 1970′s with the Climax Jazz Band the globe trotting Scottish Society Syncopators. His elegant, forceful and above all, swinging bass has made him a favourite for visiting musicians and over the years he has played with saxophone legends  James Moody, Buddy Tate and Benny Waters,  and with trumpeters Doc Cheatham and Joe Newman. Ken is in addition to being a wonderful bassist a highly regarded luthier who keeps most of the double basses in central Scotland in excellent repair.

John Burgess is an illustrious and highly regarded player of clarinet and saxophones. He has played with a virtual who’s who of the country’s top players at jazz clubs and festivals all over Europe, north Africa and the Middle East. He has six CD’s under his own name and has appeared on over 65 albums as a sideman with a diverse array of artists, but is now back doing what he has always loved most, playing clarinet in the classic jazz style.

This sweet and hot quartet are a fresh take on the classic jazz style and a welcome addition to the long list of excellent groups from Edinburgh, Scotland which includes bands of the quality of Sandy Brown, Alex Welsh, The Climax Jazz Band, Old Bailey’s Jazz Advocates and the Archie Semple Jazz Band. Some tradition, eh? I cannot recommend these gigs enough.

You can see the Nova Scotia Jazz Band at Bigton Hall on Friday 13 May and at the Islesburgh Centre on Saturday 14 May. Tickets as usual from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick – 01595 745 555

• Bigton – www.shetlandboxoffice.org/whats-on/the-nova-scotia-jazz-band-0
• Islesburgh – www.shetlandboxoffice.org/whats-on/the-nova-scotia-jazz-band

Stu Brown's Raymond Scott Project

A unique jazz and cartoon film project will take place in Shetalnd at the beginning of March. The Stu Brown Sextet from Glasgow have exclusive rights to play the music of Ray Simpson. Now, Cole Porter you may have heard of, Rogers and Hart you may have heard of, but Ray Simpson! Well, you may not have heard his name, but for sure you have heard his music, for his eyeball-popping, hyper-animated jazz has been used in cartoon films from Bugs Bunny to The Simpsons for decades.

Now young people in Shetland get the chance to make a cartoon film and have the frantic Looney Tunes music played as live accompaniment at a special concert by the Stu Brown Sextet.

Ray Simpson is the 1930s composer whose music became the Looney Tunes soundtrack to Daffy Duck, Road Runner and the “That’s All Folks” style of cartoon. To modern ears, the early Raymond Scott recordings sound like classic cartoon music. The producers of Ren & Stimpy felt so, and added Scott’s zany music to their anarchic creations, thereby introducing Scott to a new generation of cartoon lovers. The Simpsons, Animaniacs, The Oblongs, and Duckman and have also featured Scott melodies.

Ironically, Scott never wrote a note for cartoons. He had moved on to other projects by the time his early compositions acquired a new life through the craftsmanship of the music director for Warner Brothers, Carl Stalling, who adapted many familiar strains in his cartoon soundtracks, concocting a slice’n'dice approach of jazz, pop, classical, folk and country-western. He used operatic motifs, marches, anthems and an awful lot of Scott.

The actual Raymond Scott Quintet only recorded from 1937 to 1939. In 1943, Warner Bros. bought Scott’s publishing; thereafter, Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes rolled off the assembly line with liberal splashes of Scott. These cartoons, in effect, immortalized his early work, preserving it for future generations. The Stu Brown Sextet lovingly recreate it and produce a zany brand of classic Twisted Toons jazz, complete with woodblocks, car horns and whistles. Stu claims that his six-piece outfit ‘is currently the only band in the world playing a programme consisting exclusively of Raymond Scott’s music.’ The band made their debut in the Britannia Panopticon Theatre at the Glasgow Jazz Festival and has been a feature of many festivals since.

They come to Shetland with a project, where young people aged 8+ get the unique chance to make an animated cartoon film in the morning which will be shown on the day with a live Looney Toons soundtrack. The animation sessions will be led by experienced animators who have been associated with the Stu Brown Raymond Scott Project since its inception. There will probably be two films made, one with the younger participants the second with the older ones.

Participation in the morning workshop costs just £10.00 and that gives access to the evening gig also. A real bargain. There are only thirty places available – so book early.

An evening concert will feature a short documentary film, made by his son, about Raymond Scott and his unique music. The films made by Shetland Young People will also feature, as well as a whole evening of the zaniest music you ever heard. It all takes place on Saturday 5 March with the workshop at 10.30 in the morning and the Concert at 7.30pm – all in Lerwick Town Hall. Tickets for both events are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Centre, 01595 745555 or at online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org

And That’s All Folks!

Guest Blog by Jeff Merryfield of Shetland Jazz Club

These events are part funded by the Scottish Arts Council/Creative Scotland Jazz Development Fund.

Derek Nash

However, Derek Nash is coming to Shetland, at the beginning of February, in a superb coupling with the excellent David Newton on piano. Nash is at the top of his game and comes to our shores because a number of local musicians have requested it. A vibrant and charismatic performer, Derek Nash is equally at home in all manner of jazz ensembles. He has played alongside Eric Clapton, Tom Jones, Jamie Cullum and Ruby Turner, to name but a few.

David Newton is equally respected within the jazz fraternity. Growing up in Renfrewshire, he had a musical upbringing with the piano sounds of Peterson, Tatum or Garner an ever-present feature in the Newton household. His recording career begun in 1985 with Buddy De Franco and Martin Taylor and his first solo album was released in 1988. In the nineties, Newton’s reputation as an exquisite accompanist for a singer, spread rather rapidly and he was regularly working with Carol Kidd, Marion Montgomery, Tina May, Annie Ross, Claire Martin and of course Stacey Kent, with whom he spent the next ten years recording and travelling all over the world. His music is regularly a feature of many TV programmes here and in America. He has been voted best jazz pianist eight times in the British Jazz Awards and was made a Fellow of Leeds College of Music in 2003.

Shetland Jazz Club and Shetland Arts combine to bring this superb and much anticipated duo to perform in special concerts at Bigton Village Hall on Friday 4 February and Lerwick Town Hall the following evening. There is a unique opportunity for local musicians and jazz aficionados to attend a masterclass on the Saturday afternoon – again at the Town Hall.

Derek Nash

Tickets for all these events from the Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Centre,  01595 745555 – or online at Shetland Box Office

Guest post by Shetland Jazz Club secretary Jeff Merrifield

These events are part funded by the Scottish Arts Council/Creative Scotland Jazz Development Fund.

Michael Janisch

An eclectic mix of everything from Latin and swing to soul, groove and the avant garde can be expected from Janisch’s band at evening concerts in the Sandwick Social Club on Friday 17th and St Columba’s Church, Lerwick, on Saturday 18^th, followed by a session in the Lounge on Sunday 19th.

Not content with playing two concerts and the Lounge session, the band will also be holding a series of school workshops and an informal jam session with the public at the Sandwick Social Club before their concert on Friday. There will also be a masterclass at St Columba’s on Saturday afternoon.

Each concert will feature support from one of Shetland’s up and coming young bands, Norman and the Folding Deckchairs.

The visit marks the last of the Peerie Willie Guitar Season concerts, held in celebration of the late great Shetland guitarist Willie Johnson. Performances and educational events this year have featured Ian Bairnson, Jim Mullen, John Etheridge and the Lulo Reinhardt Latin Swing Project.

The group is led by electric and upright bassist Janisch. The name may be familiar to Shetland audiences as Janisch visited as a member of the Alyn Cosker Quartet earlier this year and has been keen to return since.

Mr Jansich said: “I’ve been all over the place and Shetland was still by far one of the most interesting, fun, and dare I say mystical places I’ve ever toured!”

Originally from Wisconsin, he is now based in London where he is an in demand session player, and hosts a regular night at the famous Ronnie Scott’s jazz club.

His virtuosity has resulted in numerous press accolades – The Times describe him as “always hip, melodic, and bouncy”, JazzWise Magazine observed he is a “brilliantly imaginative player, a force of nature”, The Guardian dubbed Janisch “One of the UK’s most exciting new Improvisers with percussive, Mingus-like power”, and the Telegraph noted “Seeing Michael Janisch play jazz bass is a tonic in itself. He doesn’t tickle or stroke the instrument, like so many European players, he masters it, the notes always dead centre in pitch, round in tone, and prefaced with a ’thunk’ that has the force of a drum-stroke.”

Michael Janisch Quintet poster

Shetland Arts’ music development officer Bryan Peterson said: “A group led by a bassist is a first for the Peerie Willie Festival. It is fitting as Willie himself was a great bassist as well as seminal guitar player.”

Janisch is joined by four brilliant musicians – guitarist Phil Robson, saxophonist Paul Booth, trumpeter Jay Phelps and drummer Andrew Bain, who have a host of awards and accolades between them.

Robson has won numerous awards for his playing including the has won numerous awards for his playing including the BT ‘Best Soloist of the Year’ award, Perrier Young Jazz award for the ‘Best Instrumentalist of the Year’ and the Parliamentary Jazz Awards ‘Best Jazz Musician of the year.’

His list of playing credits include recordings and performances with such luminaries as Barbra Streisand, Sir John Dankworth & Dame Cleo Laine, Wayne Krantz, Georgy Fame, Tommy Smith, Martin Taylor, Michael McDonald and Pee Wee Ellis.

Canadian Phelps is at the forefront of the young and creative generation of jazz musicians in the UK. Remarkably experienced for a musician in his 20s, he has played with the likes of Courtney Pine, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Brown, John Hendricks, George Benson, Jamie Cullum, Sir John Dankworth, Amy Winehouse, and Charlotte Church..

Saxophonist Booth is one of the most exciting and in demand musicians on the scene today. He has won many awards including the prestigious Clifford Brown/Stan Getz fellowship in Miami and the Best Modern Jazz Player category in the televised Young Jazz Player of the Year competition. Currently in the Steve Winwood band, he has performed worldwide with the likes of Eric Clapton, Snowboy, Tony Hadley and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Finally, drummer Bain is one of the leading performers and educators in the UK today. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Manhattan School of Music, and winner of the BBC Big Band Drummer award, he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman and Bob Mintzer. Bain is also co-director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland.

The band are currently on tour to support Janisch’s latest album ‘Purpose Built’ which has been receiving great critical acclaim – “well-crafted, polished writing and arranging, merging straightahead, latin, fusion styles for the contemporary jazz palette…”, (JazzWise), “exuberantly angular and rhythmic, can unexpectedly veer towards the tender…4 stars” (Telegraph), “infectiously vibrant debut” (Scotsman), “Janisch’s originals balance complexity and pulse – 4 Stars” (Financial Times), “one of the most inventive cross-border bandleaders to have recently arrived on the scene” — John Fordham, The Guardian

Mr Peterson added: “The group truly are some of the most prodigiously talented jazz musicians in the world. I urge everyone to take the opportunity to experience their music, and thoroughly recommend local musicians of all styles to come along to the masterclass on Saturday and session on Sunday to get an insight into their remarkable playing and compositional techniques.”

Tickets for the evening concerts, which start at 9pm at the Sandwick Social Club on Friday the 17^th and at 7.30pm at St Columba’s Church on Saturday the 18^th cost £12 (£8 concession) and are available at Shetland Box Office. Tickets for the Sandwick concert are also available on the door or at the Social Club.

Tickets for the masterclass at St Columba’s, from 2-4pm on Saturday the 18^th cost £5, also available from Shetland Box Office or at the door. Under 16s are free.

Entry to the jam session at the Lounge on Sunday 19^th is free, participants are welcome.

Itinerary

Friday 17th December

• 10am to 1pm – School workshops
• 7pm to 9pm – Sandwick Jazz Session @ Sandwick Social Club – Free jam session, all abilities welcome
• 9pm till late – Concert in Sandwick Social Club Function Room – £12/8 – Tickets from Shetland Box Office, Sandwick Social Club or on door

Saturday 18th December

• 2pm to 4pm – Masterclass at St. Columba’s Church, Lerwick – £5 (under 16s free) – Tickets from Shetland Box Office or on door
• 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm – Concert at St. Columba’s Church, Lerwick – £12/8 – Tickets from Shetland Box Office or on door

Sunday 19th December

• 2pm to 5 pm – Lounge Bar, Lerwick – Free jam session, all abilities welcome

The band

Michael Janisch – electric and upright bass

Since his arrival in London in 2005 (where he now resides), Michael has worked with many of the UK’s leading internationally renown jazz artists, “adding a little muscle” (JazzReview.com) to the bands of Jason Rebello, Gary Husband, Sir John Dankworth, Jean Toussaint, Phil Robson, Tim Garland, Julian Joseph, Martin Taylor, Tommy Smith, Julian Arguellis, Christine Tobin, Dennis Rollins, Nigel Hitchcock, Martin France, and Gerard Presencer, as well as rising stars Soweto Kinch, Jim Hart, Paul Towndrow, Alex Garnett, Robert Mitchell, Paul Booth and Gwilym Simcock. In addition to his work in the jazz world, Janisch has performed with such diverse stars from Annie Lennox to Kevin Spacey to Cat Stevens, and has appeared on the Michael Parkinson Show, MTV Europe, The Brit Awards, Strictly Come Dancing, and various BBC programs and documentaries. Moreover, he currently teaches at both the Royal Academy of Music and The Trinity College, two of Europe’s finest institutions of music.

Michael Janish on electric bass

But it is Michael’s rapidly blossoming career as a bandleader, however, that has garnered the young bassist the most international attention. He has established a strong reputation as a guiding light for creating world-class collaborations between musicians in the US and the UK. John Fordham, one of the UK’s leading jazz critics, affirms that “the London-based American bassist Michael Janisch, whose virtuosity has put him in the UK’s top jazz flight since his arrival in 2005, is having an impact beyond his hard-driving bass playing, with his high profile matching of American and British talent.” (Jazz UK).

His groups have headlined to sell-out crowds up and down the country, from Ronnie Scott’s in the heart of Soho to the Blue Lamp in Aberdeen, Scotland. In 2008, his critically acclaimed TransAtlantic Collective embarked on an extensive UK tour, performing in over 30 venues across England, Scotland, and Wales, and headlining London’s famous Southbank Centre Purcell Room as one of the London Jazz Festival’s featured acts. His groups perform regularly across Mainland Continental Europe and his native US as well.

In January 2009, he recorded a full program of mainly original music with 9 world-class American and British musicians at the renown Systems Two recording studio in Brooklyn, New York. These musicians are some of the guiding lights of their generation, including tenor saxophonists Walter Smith III and Paul Booth, vibraphonist Jim Hart, guitarists Mike Moreno and Phil Robson, alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius, trumpeter Jason Palmer, pianist Aaron Goldberg, and drummer Johnathan Blake. This project was released worldwide in mid October as Janisch’s debut album “Purpose Built” on his own newly minted “Whirlwind Recordings Ltd.” label. In celebration of the record’s launch, Janisch embarked on a tour the UK with an all-star quintet of international musicians performing the music from this exciting new release. This entire project is the bassist’s most creative and ambitious musical adventure to date, showcasing music that cuts a wide swath from the broad stylistic continuum of jazz history, and in addition representing the diverse range of the bassist’s musical influences outside the improvised realm. Highlight performances from the band’s itinerary included a headline berth at the Scarborough International Jazz Festival and 2 nights at the venerable Pizza Express Jazz Room in Soho, where Janisch also kicked off a new monthly residency to showcase his musical projects.

• www.michaeljanisch.com – Michael’s website

Phil Robson – guitar

Phil is internationally regarded as a highly versatile and creative player who appears in all kinds of diverse settings, as well as being a renowned bandleader & composer. It is difficult to categorise his style of playing & writing, as so many influences & experiences have gone into the melting pot.

Phil Robson

Earlier, prevailing influences such as Hendrix & Miles, Parker etc blend with many elements from the wider jazz world such as Ornette Coleman, Dave Holland, McCoy Tyner etc as well as with dimensions from African & Brazilian music, 20th century composers & contemporary musicians of all kinds as well as maintaining a respect for the entire jazz tradition. He has been commissioned several times to write music & put projects together by both Derby Jazz & Birmingham jazz.

In pure guitar terms, a large cross section (Wes, Martino, Hall, Eubanks, Frisell, Metheny etc, etc) are apparent in the mix, but the end result has created an individual way of playing that prompted US sax legend David Liebman to say “Phil is a wonderful guitarist and composer, definitely a unique player. We had a ball and hopefully I will be able to play with Phil again.”

Phil has won numerous awards for his playing including the BT ‘Best Soloist of the Year’ award (1997), Perrier Young Jazz award for the ‘Best Instrumentalist of the Year’ (1998) and the Parliamentary Jazz Awards ‘Best Jazz Musician of the year.’ (2009)

Phil’s list of playing credits include recordings and performances with such luminaries as Barbra Streisand, Sir John Dankworth & Dame Cleo Laine, Big Jon Patton, Georgy Fame, Martin Taylor, Michael McDonald, Pee Wee Ellis, Sammy Nestico & Bud Shank, Lalo Shiffron, Charles Earland, David Liebman, Horatio El Negro Hernandez, Steve Lacy, Mark Turner, Billy Hart, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Marc Copland, Wayne Krantz, Mike Gibbs, James Genus, Peter Herbert, Bob Brookmeyer, Tim Garland, Tommy Smith, Django Bates, Stan Sulzmann, Jeff Williams, John Hebert, Ben Street, Duane Eubanks, Bobby Wellins and Denys Baptiste.

• www.philrobson.net – Phil’s website
• Jazz Wise Magazine interview with Phil
• www.myspace.com/philrobson Phil’s MySpace

Jay Phelps – trumpet

Jay Phelps

Jay is at the forefront of the young and creative generation of jazz musicians in the UK, with an instantly recognizable warm and projecting tone. A Vancouver-born Canadian, Jay was tutored by the city’s top jazz and classical trumpeters and distinguished himself early on as the youngest band-leader in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival’s history.

At 17, Jay moved to London, determined to immerse himself in the jazz scene and immediately attracted the notice of Gary Crosby who offered him work with Jazz Jamaica, Nu Troop and, in 2002, the opportunity to be a Tomorrow’s Warrior. Citing Louis Armstrong, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown and Miles Davis as his main influences, Jay went on to create and co-lead the young and hip jazz sensation Empirical, where he spent two years touring major festivals and events, while garnishing worldwide media attention that UK jazz musicians haven’t enjoyed for years. Jay has performed and recorded with a veritable who’s who of both UK and international jazz artists such as Courtney Pine, Andrew Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Brown, John Hendricks, Nasheet Waits, George Benson, Jamie Cullum, Sir John Dankworth, Dennis Rollins, Guy Barker, Amy Winehouse, Charlotte Church, Hugh Masakela and Jazz Jamaica. Still only 28, Jay is determined to educate the next generation of jazz musicians with a local project entitled Jazz Youth.

In Jay Walkin’–his solo-debut–Jay departs from the current trend of experimental modernism, occasionally evoking the spirit of the 1940′s New York Birdland scene with playful vocals by showman-vocalist Michael Mwenso. Set out to honour the integrity and capture what is the traditional spirit of Jazz music, Phelps has composed and arranged songs with this in his vision.

• www.lineupmusic.co.uk/jp_site – Jay’s website
• myspace.com/jayphelpsjazz – Jay’s MySpace
• JazzWise Profile

Paul Booth – saxophones

Paul Boot

Paul Booth is one of the most exciting and in demand musicians on the scene today.

Although a very prominent figure on the jazz scene with an album released on the Jazzizit label and his latest album “No Looking Back” on the Basho label, his versatility has seen him play in many musical genres. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London from the age of 16 and graduated with honours at the age 20.

In his early years he won many awards including the prestigious Clifford Brown/Stan Getz fellowship held in Miami, “The Best Modern Jazz Player” category in the televised “Young Jazz Player of the Year” competition and many more.

Paul is currently in the Steve Winwood band has performed worldwide with the likes of Riverdance (for over two years), Eric Clapton, Matt Bianco, Basia, Tony Hadley, Eddie Henderson, Alex Wilson, Roberto Pla, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Snowboy, Ray Gelato, Jane Monheit.

He is a regular at Ronnie Scotts jazz club in London with his own band and others and has done several UK tours under his own name with the backing of Jazz Services and Jazz Action. Some other jazz groups he has been involved with include Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance, Sax Appeal, The New Couriers, Mike Garrick Big Band, Tim Garland’s Northern Underground Orchestra etc.

• www.paulboothsax.com – Paul’s website
• www.myspace.com/paulboothmusic – Paul’s MySpace

Andrew Bain – drums

Andy Bai

Andrew is one of the leading performers and educators in the UK. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and Winner of the BBC Big Band Drummer 2001, he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Iain Dixon, Mike Walker, Mike Janisch, Phil Robson, Jim Hart, Mark Lockheart, Chris Batchelor, Mark Hodgson, Jean Toussaint, Houston Pearson, John Parricelli, Steve Watts, Stan Sulzman, and was a member of Jacqui Dankworth’s band between 2007-8, recording with the late Sir John Dankworth in 2008. He has performed at London jazz clubs, Ronnie Scott’s, The 606, The Vortex; at the BBC Proms, at the Montreux Jazz Festival and with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Receiving his Masters from the Manhattan School of Music, he was resident in New York from 2001-07. During this time he performed extensively with Thelonious Monk Competition winner Jon Irabagon and singer Jason Liebman. He performed at many of New York’s famous clubs including Sin-E, CBGBs and the Mercury Lounge, and recorded at Sony Studios, NY. Andrew co-leads the NY-based group Confluence whose eponymous debut showcased original and highly inventive compositions. Their second record will be released on the record label Fresh Sound, New Talent later this year. Andrew is a faculty member at the Guildhall School of Music and the Birmingham Conservatoire. He is also a member of the National Youth Jazz Collective with Artistic Director Dave Holland and is co-Director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland.

• www.andrewbain.org – Andrew’s website
• www.andrewbain.org/mp3s – Free mp3s

Press Quotes

…about Michael

”a jazz bassist everyone with ears seems to want” – The Buffalo News

“powerful, Charles Mingus-informed playing” — All About Jazz

“Janisch is one of the few bass players out there who plays both electric and upright with equal facility, passion and musicality.” — Bass Musician Magazine

“Seeing Michael Janisch play jazz bass is a tonic in itself. He doesn’t tickle or stroke the instrument, like so many European players, he masters it, the notes always dead centre in pitch, round in tone, and prefaced with a ’thunk’ that has the force of a drum-stroke.” — The Telegraph

“brilliantly imaginative player, a force of nature” — JazzWise

“One of the UK’s most exciting new Improvisers with percussive, Mingus-like power” — The Guardian

“…Janisch seizes the instrument with a blend of speed and energy as if he wants to be melody, harmony and rhythm all at once.” — The Telegraph (UK)

“…the London-based American bassist Michael Janisch, whose virtuosity has put him in the UK’s top jazz flight since his arrival in 2005…is having an impact beyond his hard-driving bass-playing.” –John Fordham, Jazz UK

“always hip, melodic, and bouncy” –The Times of London

“Michael Janisch was a powerful, driving presence all night, but his speed, fluency, imagination and dextrous mastery of such a hulking instrument was really remarkable” — The Left Lion, Nottingham

….about the ‘Purpose Built’ album and tour

“Bass players, jazz lovers, music lovers… you all owe it to yourselves to check this album out! Janisch is one of the few bass players out there who plays both electric and upright with equal facility, passion and musicality. This being his debut as a leader, I can honestly say that this may be the best debut album I’ve heard yet.” — Damian Erskine, Bass Musician Magazine

“His music is quite capable of creating beauty with attendant amounts of melodic and rhythmic interest… [Purpose Built]…abounds with innovation, invention, and imagination” — The Musicians’ Ombudsman

“Clearly an auspicious debut, there’s not a wasted note on board and left leaning jazzbos will be feeling it. This kid has got it going on.” — Midwest Record

“Grabs your ears and won’t let go” — JazzWax

“If smart is sexy, then Purpose is an eminently sexy effort. The session has a staggering depth of thought, filled with content-rich pieces that routinely go beyond the genre’s well-worn performance framework. Hopefully there is more where Purpose Built came from, because intelligent, full-bodied music like this is what jazz needs to succeed in this new century.” — J Hunter, All About Jazz

“An estimable release from a talented and energetic young artist” — Jazz Chicago

“Purpose Built seamlessly marries the highest virtues of jazz – intricate yet purposeful rhythm, colourful harmonic language, compelling melody and high-level improvisation together with those often underused qualities of light and shade… a perfect blend of tradition and modernity” — Jazz Journal

“well-crafted, polished writing and arranging, merging straightahead, latin, fusion styles for the contemporary jazz palette…” JazzWise

“Janisch’s originals balance complexity and pulse” — 4 Stars, Financial Times

“one of the most inventive cross-border bandleaders to have recently arrived on the scene” — John Fordham, The Guardian

“infectiously vibrant debut” — The Scotsman

“exuberantly angular and rhythmic, can unexpectedly veer towards the tender” — 4 Stars Telegraph

“…originals are fresh and memorable while the mix of NY and UK musicians deliver faultless and inspired interpretations…” — 4 Stars, MOJO Magazine

“one of the most enjoyable albums of 2009″ — 4 Stars, JazzMann

“excellent” — 4 Stars, All Gig UK

“Impressive from beginning to end, Purpose Built goes a long way to building a sturdy foundation from which Janisch will undoubtedly carve out a long career in jazz. Excellent musicianship, intelligent compositions and an authoritative approach to the music, makes this recording an unquestionable success.” — Edward Blanco, All About Jazz

“driven by Janisch’s unflagging dynamism… this is full-throttle, straightforwardly enjoyable but consistently musicianly jazz…” — Vortex CD Review

“unique… satisfying… one of the best albums of the year” — Blues and Soul Magazine

“Janisch’s writing is an attractive mix of densely harmonised tunes and softer, more open pieces giving space for excellent improvisation” — The Oxford Times

“Purpose Built is a classy set of serious modern jazz with a dark edgy groove at its heart… [Janisch's] playing is full-bodied and warm sounding, much like a cross between Mingus and Dave Holland.” — Bass Guitar Magazine

“A good bass player builds and maintains a song’s structural integrity. That said, this album is indeed purpose built.” — The Valdosta Times

Lulo Reinhardt

The concert will take place at Lerwick Town Hall on Wednesday 24th November. Bar facilities are available.

Tickets are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick – 01595 745 555 – priced £12/10

Review

Lulo appeared in Shetland last year to great acclaim from audiences and reviewers alike:

“And what to say about Lulo Reinhardt – that his great uncles’ influence was apparent in every note? No, that would be too crass – he was simply stunning, his Brazilian works, his swing jazz pieces and his own new samba compositions, all performed with that Gypsy panache of the committed showman.” – Shetland News, 2009

Videos of Lulo jamming at the Peerie Willie Guitar Festival 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrtqy9h2X4w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AOwNL1gcaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt8dkmD7I2c

Lulo Reinhardt

Biography

Lulo Reinhardt is the grand-nephew of guitar playing jazz legend Django Reinhardt. But the family’s musical ties run deeper than that as he is also the nephew of the gypsy violin master Schnuckenack Reinhardt and comes from a lineage peppered with highly talented musicians.

Lulo represents one of the most unique voices in gypsy-jazz music today. His Latin-Swing Project (see http://www.myspace.com/luloreinhardt) fuses pure gypsy-swing music with elements of Latin music such as flamenco, tango, and bossanova.

The Latin-Swing Project band comprises:

• Lulo Reinhardt from Germany on guitar
• Daniel Weltlinger from Sydney, Australia on violin
• Harald Becher from Germany on bass
• Uli Kramer from Germany on drums
• Sean Mackenzie from Sydney, Australia on keyboards

Lulo Reinhardt is from an enormous clan of Reinhardts. Of this connection Lulo says, “The audience often expects me to play exclusively in the style of Django Reinhardt but, as well as being able to do this, I have found a style of my own.”

Lulo was taught guitar by his father since the age of five. At only twelve years old, he was playing with the Mike Reinhardt Sextet, a formation entirely dedicated to the gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt.

In 1991, Lulo moved on from the sextet to explore new musical experiences and founded, with his father Bawo and cousin Degé, “I Gitanos”, which toured throughout Europe. The first results of their exciting ‘new way’ gypsy music showed a strong Latin music influence in which the master timbalero and percussionist Nicky Marrero participated, and led to the release of the CD, “I suni” in 1994. Since then, there have been numerous successful tours throughout Europe and the release of the next CD, “AB I Reisa” (1998).

Lulo Reinhardt

Meanwhile, however, Lulo worked on various projects and established for himself an international reputation as an outstanding composer and guitarist.

Lulo has played in numerous major events as Rock Gegen Hass, International Cultural Festival Sahara en el Corazón (Algeria – with Brazilian guitarist Zezo Ribeiro), World Roma Festival Khamoro, Jazz Goes to Town (Czech Republic), Jazz and Blues Festival (Czech Republic), and many others.

The Lulo Reinhardt Project is the accomplishment of a maturing style and artistic creation, which defies classification. Swinging from tune to tune, Lulo Reinhardt injects into his music his gypsy roots as well as flamenco and Latin rhythms from Cuba to Brazil. After the success of his CD, “Project No 1″ (2002), Lulo Reinhardt released the eagerly awaited, “Project No 2″, (2005) to critical acclaim.

In 2008 Lulo delighted new audiences in Australia during a small but highly successful tour. From this tour, a live album and DVD were produced.

Then in 2009, Lulo toured successfully in the UK, Canada and the USA with the International Guitar Night show, in Europe, and then again in Australia.

Now, with a band of extremely carefully chosen musicians with whom he has worked previously joining him in his musical fantasia, Lulo Reinhardt has a world-class show with which to enchant any audience.

Peerie Willie Guitar Season

The Lulo Reinhardt Latin-Swing Project concert is part of the 2010 Peerie Willie Guitar Season, which has so far featured concerts by visiting guitarists including Jim Mullen, Ian Bairnson and John Etheridge. Upcoming concerts include the Michael Janisch Quintet on the 17^th and 18^th of December.

John Etheridge

Concert dates, all starting at 19.30

• Friday 22 October, Aith Hall – £10/8 – John Etheridge & Ben Ferguson
• Saturday 23 October, St Columba’s Church, Lerwick (da Big Kirk) – £12/10 – John Etheridge & Harris Playfair Big Band Project
• Sunday 24 October Busta House, Brae  – £10/8 – John Etheridge & Ben Ferguson

In a collaboration between Shetland Arts and Shetland Jazz Club as part of the Peerie Willie Guitar Season, Etheridge will perform a series of concerts in Aith, Lerwick and Brae. The concert season comprises a monthly visit by a world-class guitarist to celebrate the life and legacy of late local guitarist Peerie Willie Johnson. Last month saw performances by Ian Bairnson and Jim Mullen. Upcoming concerts include Lulo Reinhardt Quintet on Wednesday 24^th November and the Michael Janisch Quintet on 17^th December.

Next Saturday’s concert at St Columba’s Church in Lerwick will feature a special collaboration between the guitar legend Etheridge and The Harris Playfair Youth Big Band. The group comprise some of Shetland’s finest young musicians who fuse traditional Shetland, jazz and a range of eclectic influences under the guidance of Playfair to produce a unique and full sound. The group first played at this year’s Fiddle Frenzy with a line-up 23 musicians. This time, the group will be in a smaller format of around 12 performers including saxophone, piano, trumpet, fiddles, flute and drums. These events are part funded by the Scottish Arts Council/Creative Scotland Jazz Development Fund.

Friday’s concert at the Aith Hall and Sunday’s at Busta House, Brae, will feature a support slot by young guitarist Ben Ferguson from Walls.

It is fitting that Etheridge performs during the Peerie Willie Guitar Season since the two appeared together on the BBC1 documentary series “The Shetland Sessions” recorded during the 1991 Shetland Folk Festival. The pair played a rendition of “Honeysuckle Rose” when Willie performed alongside “Danny Thompson’s Whatever”, a group of whom Etheridge was a member.

Etheridge’s Shetland ties continued when his acclaimed 2004 solo album “I Didn’t Know” was produced by Shetland recording engineer and Filska guitarist Andrew Tulloch.

Guitar season poster

John Etheridge has been at the top of the jazz and contemporary guitar world for 25 years.  He was first touted by the music press in the early 70s while playing with a number of progressive rock and early fusion units (most notably Darryl Way’s Wolf – producing three albums for Decca). In 1975 he was offered the chance to replace Allan Holdsworth in the legendary jazz-fusion group Soft Machine. International touring and recording followed until the band’s demise at the end of the 70s. More or less simultaneously (starting in 1976) Etheridge joined the touring group of the celebrated jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli. For a number of years these two commitments ran parallel – revealing the broad range of his abilities. Etheridge left Grappelli’s quartet in 1981. For the last twenty years he has pursued a career involving associations with many of the great players of the jazz world. Either in single concerts, touring or recording he has appeared with – Barney Kessel, Didier Lockwood, Nils Pedersen, Gordon Beck, Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Vic Juris, Miroslav Vitous, Birelli Lagrene, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Williams, Yehudi Menuhin, Pat Metheny, Andy Summers, Nigel Kennedy (an association now in its seventh year), and is currently rehearsing a new group formed by the great classical guitarist, John Williams. In the late 80s, Etheridge started to lead his own bands and is currently fronting a quartet dedicated to Stephane Grappelli, as well as an eight-piece group, Zappatistas (performing the music of Frank Zappa) and also leads a trio with the legendary drummer John Marshall.

Peerie Willie Guitar Season is sponsored by Research Fishing Co and High Level Music.

Tickets for all concerts are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh, Lerwick – 01595 745 555. Tickets can be reserved on the phone for collection at the venue on the night.

Guitar Season 2010

Now in its seventh year, the festival pays homage to Shetland guitarist Peerie Willie Johnson, whose pioneering use of jazz styles are now widespread in Shetland music.

The full programme of events can be found here.

As well as the festival weekend, which runs from 17th to 20th September, this year there will be a whole season of concerts throughout the autumn, with a visiting guitarist making their way north each month.

This year’s festival weekend concerts are being held in Symbister, Sandwick and Lerwick, as well as educational workshops in schools, with music from some fantastic artists including another of Shetland’s world-renowned guitarists, Ian Bairnson.

Originally from Levenwick and now based in Spain, Ian grew up in Edinburgh before becoming probably Shetland’s most successful rock guitarist.

He is perhaps best known for being part of bands such as the Alan Parsons Project and 1970s hit makers Pilot, but throughout his career has played with a veritable who’s who of artists from a wide genre of music, including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush (he played the guitar solo on her number one hit ‘Wuthering Heights), Mick Fleetwood, Sting, Tom Jones and many others.

His innovative and fluid playing has been likened to that of guitar heavyweights Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and David Gilmour.

Ian, who has said his playing was definitely influenced by Peerie Willie, said he is looking forward to playing at the festival and that it will be “special.”

He said: “I can tell you that I always look forward to “comin’ hame”, but to play in front of my ain’ folk is special.

“I miss Willie because I always, always visited him – still, I have plenty stories about our early sessions and friendship.

“This will be the first time I will have played a set without a band, an acoustic set, and a lot of musical styles that I’m not generally associated with. In short, I have the typical Shetland appreciation of all kinds of good music.”

Ian Bairnson

Another visiting guitarist is jazz musician Jim Mullen. The Glasgow-born London based jazz guitarist is described as having a distinctive fusion style, and picks with the thumb rather than a plectrum.

Winner of awards including best guitar in the British Telecom Jazz Awards Best Guitar for 1994 and 1996, in the Post Office Jazz Awards 2000 and in the Hamlet Cigar British Jazz Awards 2002, he started his musical career aged 8, when he got his first guitar.

In 1975 he met sax player Dick Morrissey and began a 15-year association that produced seven albums and became one of Britain’s top club bands. After the demise of the Morrissey Mullen duo he worked with jazz vocalist Claire Martin and formed a series of quartets.

Now in his sixties, Jim has built up an impressive repertoire. As a sideman he is in demand by visiting U.S. stars like Gene Harris, Mose Allison, Jimmy Smith, Weldon Irvine, Percy Sledge, Teddy Edwards, Plas Johnson, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Terry Callier.

The festival weekend gets started on Friday night with a concert in Symbister Hall, Whalsay, where Jim Mullen will play, supported by local jazz guitarist Norman “Girsie” Goudie and his All Stars. The same night, Ian Bairnson will play a homecoming concert in Sandwick at the Social Club, with support from Hot Club de Fladdabister, a group that features well-known musicians Brian Nicholson and Maggie Adamson.

Saturday’s concert at the Town Hall will see both the visiting guitarists on the same concert bill, together with a solo spot from Brian Nicholson.

Bar facilities will be available at each of the concerts.

Jim Mullen

Sunday evening will round off the festival weekend with a chat show style “An Evening With…” event at the Garrison Theatre where the festival performers will share anecdotes, demonstrate playing techniques and share a tune or two on the stage.

All events start at 7.30 and tickets priced £10 (£8 concessions) are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick  – 01595 745 555

Shetland Arts music development officer Bryan Peterson said, “Each year we try something different to keep the format fresh, and Sunday’s  ‘An Evening With…’ will provide a chance for the performers to give an insight into their backgrounds and unique playing styles. There were so many guitarists who wanted to perform this year we decided to offer local audiences a whole season of top class guitar concerts”

Upcoming Peerie Willie Guitar Season concerts include John Etheridge (22 to 24 October), the Lulo Reinhardt Quintet (Wed 24th November) and the Michael Janisch Quintet (17 to 19 December).

Links

Ian Bairnson

http://www.ianbairnson.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Bairnson
http://www.theavenueonline.info/site1/bios/bairnson.htm
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ian+Bairnson
http://www.shetland-music.com/prominent_artists/artistes/ian_bairnson_%28pilot_and_alan_parsons_project%29/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/cd5a063f-2fd2-4271-956c-56678df04db5
http://shetlopedia.com/Ian_Bairnson

Jim Mullen

http://www.jimmullenjazz.co.uk/
http://www.jazzreview.com/articledetails.cfm?ID=1254
http://www.musicweb-international.com/jazz/2002/Aug02/Mullen_Burns.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Mullen
http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/the-player-mainmenu-131/4071-jim-mullen-guitar
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=11047
http://www.answers.com/topic/jim-mullen-1
http://www.jazzeddie.f2s.com/Jazz%20Guitar%20UK.htm
http://www.buymrbongo.com/terrycallier/the-band/jim-mullen/

The as yet unnamed group will feature around 25 musicians including Young Fiddler of the Year Liza Fullerton and jazz saxophonist Norman Willmore of Norman and the Folding Deckchairs fame.

The group will meet for the first time on Wednesday 4th August to take part in a series of five intensive daylong workshops to arrange and rehearse material composed by Playfair especially for the group before their debut performance at the opening concert of this year’s Fiddle Frenzy on Monday 9th August at Garrison Theatre.

Harris Playfair is one of Shetland’s most innovative musicians and musical directors and the driving force behind youth music ensembles such as the “Ceol Mor” Trad Big Band, part of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and the “Sunshine Coast Trad Band” in B.C., Canada. Calling on his previous experience, Playfair will guide all the elements of the creative process, direct the composition and selection of material, and have a principle role in shaping the groups’ development and future direction.

Playfair will be working alongside Margaret Scollay, one of Shetland’s most experienced traditional music teachers, and young tutors including Ryan Couper on guitar and Victoria Laurenson on accordion.

Bryan Peterson, Music Development Officer at Shetland Arts, who are organising the project said, “Harris has a proven track record of producing astonishing results with groups of young musicians. He has a deep understanding and appreciation of jazz and traditional Shetland styles, and the links between the two. It is a great opportunity for our young musicians to be part of an exciting and progressive ensemble, and for audiences to hear inventive new material and the results of Harris’ rigorous workshops.”

Playfair hopes the group will provide “a platform upon which the young musicians of Shetland can experience the kind of eclectic musical diversity which characterises the music of such groups as The Unusual Suspects, the True North Orchestra, the Treacherous Orchestra, and more locally connected groups such as Fiddlers Bid and Filska.”

“What the project hopes to achieve is to establish a collective of young musicians which pushes many musical boundaries and gives the participants an invaluable range of experiences, both collectively and individually, and also helps to make them aware of just how exciting the potential of being part of such a creative ensemble can be.”

The main source of the material used will be traditional and contemporary melodies, mainly from Shetland, Scotland, and Scandinavia, with multi textured arrangements influenced by the jazz big band idiom. There will be a strong emphasis on encouraging the young musicians to produce their own material, both melodically and through group arranging.

The project is part funded by the Scottish Arts Council’s Jazz Development Fund.

Tickets for the performance are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick – 01595 745 555

Notes to participants:

Workshops

Wednesday 4th to Sunday 8th August – 9am to 5pm at Bells Brae School. Wednesday’s workshop will start at 10am to allow for set-up time. Sunday’s workshop will be in the afternoon only, starting at 2pm.

The workshops will take place in the gym hall and/ or GP area. Entrance will be through the ASN Dept door at the top of Bell’s Road. There will be signs to direct you to the workshop. Access with a vehicle (to drop off instruments etc) can be arranged via the gates near the back door of the gym. Please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements with the janitors.

There will be an hour-long lunch break between 1pm and 2pm each day. Islesburgh, Clickimin Centre and the Toll Clock Centre are within easy walking distance but you may wish to consider taking a packed lunch.

Performance

Monday 9 August at Garrison Theatre. This is the Fiddle Frenzy opening concert. The venue will be available for rehearsals / soundcheck through the day. Details will be confirmed during the workshop sessions.

Instruments and equipment

A small PA, drumkit, piano, amps and music stands will be supplied. Please bring your instruments and all other equipment and accessories you need.

For more information, contact Shetland Arts’ 01595 743 843 or Music Development Officer Bryan Peterson bryan.peterson@shetlandarts.org – 07766 515 379

Saxophonist Rob Hall has carved out a notable niche in both per­formance and education since moving to Scotland a few years back, while pianist Chick Lyall, who also experiments with laptop electronics, has been a creative force on the Scottish jazz scene since the late 1980s.

The work they have been doing together over the past couple of years has been honed and refined and both players contributed compositions to their sessions, drawing on influences from their work in classical and celtic music contexts as well as jazz.

Rob Hall and Chick Lyall

This musical development has resulted in a series of beautifully constructed and cleanly articulated pieces that are notably atmospheric and evocative, even to the point of verging on being classed as tone poems at times.

These formal compositions are linked by occasional brief freely improvised interludes. Rob’s use of four different saxophones, including the unusual sopranino (a sort of bent over soprano) adds variety to the sonic palette, and both players are able to find their space in the music with impeccable taste and discrimination.

For their second release on Trevor Taylor’s Future Music Records, entitled Rhyme or Reason, Rob and Chick have drawn from an extensive range of sources to form an engaging and intimate musical dialogue.

From melody driven improvisation through post-bop to classical chamber music and the influence of celtic traditional music, the duo explore a variety of approaches and formats holding composition and improvisation in a delicate balance.

Rob Hall

New works from both musicians are interspersed with four freely-improvised interludes which stand as a connected suite in their own right. Two fully-composed movements from Hall’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano complete the programme.

Rob has performed/recorded with the likes of Mike Stern, Danny Gottlieb, Kenny Wheeler, Jim Mullen and many others. Festival appearances include Bath, Cheltenham, Glastonbury Jazz Stage, Celtic Connections, Liverpool and Edinburgh International Festival.

In 2001 the Highland Festival commissioned Rob to collaborate with two of Scotland’s leading visual artists to produce A Highland Canvas. He’s a visiting examiner/moderator for young jazz players here in Shetland and has run a wide range of music workshops.

Chick is a founder member of the acclaimed Green Room Trio and has recorded three albums under his own name, the most recent with Swedish saxophonist Joachim Milder. He has undertaken many commissions, which include works written for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Jazz Composers Orchestra and numerous small scale works, and in 2004 he was awarded the prestigious Creative Scotland Award to develop a work for two pianos.

Chick Lyall

He has also written scores for film, dance ensembles and has performed as solo harpsichordist in recitals of Bach, Handel and Scarlatti. The Penguin Guide to Jazz described him as “. . . the most adventurous Scottish pianist of the current generation”.

This exciting young jazz duo can be seen at Bixter Hall on Saturday 15th May (8pm), the Lounge Bar, Lerwick (free), on Sunday 16th May (2pm) and at Lerwick Town Hall the same evening (8pm). Tickets can be purchased from Shetland Box Office (01595) 745555

www.robhallchicklyall.com

Guest blog by Shetland Jazz Club secretary Jeff Merrifield