St. James Studio Sets EFG London Jazz Festival Events

The St. James Studio is delighted to announce 16 events taking place over ten days in November as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2015. The St. James has been involved with the festival every year since the studio opened in October 2012, each year presenting more events than the last. Collaborating with established producers JBGB Events, Fane Management and Word Theatre, the St. James is proud to present a broad programme of lunchtime, evening and late night performances, catering for all tastes and bringing the finest artists to the St. James Studio stage.

INTERNATIONAL SINGING STAR CLAIRE MARTIN

Friday 13 November at 8pm

£18/£22

Claire Martin OBE will launch the London Jazz Festival at the St. James Studio, accompanied by Gareth Williams on piano, Martin Sjostedt on double bass and Daniel Fredricksson on drums.

Growing up in a musical family Claire quickly embraced the music of Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald, developing her unique style that has won BBC Jazz Awards' Best Vocalist and a 6-times winner of best singer at the British Jazz Awards. Her performing credits span Europe, Asia and USA appearing at New York's Lincoln Centre. Her 17 albums, especially those with Martin Taylor, Stephane Grappelli and Richard Rodney Bennett are must haves in any collection.

In association with JBGB Events.

THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF CLIFFORD BROWN, FEATURING FREDDIE GAVITA

Saturday 14 November at 8pm

£18/£22

Clifford Brown's ability to blend technique with emotion and create a rich, full sound, earned him praise as the 'preeminent trumpeter'. Whilst idolising Dizzy Gillespie, Brown was discovered by Charlie Parker, whose bebop sound morphed with Clifford Brown's style of attacking every note, and came to be called 'hard bop'.

Starting in 1952, Brown's short 4 years of jazz recordings began with the Art Blakey band and reached the high spots with the famous quintet featuring Sonny Rollins & Max Roach. Brown's many compositions, including Daahoud, Sandu and Joyspring live as standards in the jazz repertoire.

Freddie Gavita is a versatile young musician ranging from searing trumpet with Paloma Faith to heartfelt ballads with the Ronnie Scott's Club quintet. He will lead a star line up at the St. James to play the music of Clifford Brown.

"Freddie solos with fluent authority, his tone ranging from the warmly conversational to the eloquently strident." Ian Mann

In association with JBGB Events.

EMBRACEABLE ELLA FEATURING JOANNA EDEN

Sunday 15 November at 7pm

£18/£22

With Julian Landymore on tenor saxophone and flute, Steve Waterman on trumpet, Chris Ingham on piano and guitar, Dave Olney on double bass and George Double on drums.

Ella Fitzgerald was discovered in an amateur contest in 1934 and went on to become one of the most famous jazz artists in history. Thanks to her vocal quality, with lucid intonation and a broad range, Ella was the first African American to win a Grammy award, winning 13 in total and selling for than 40 million albums.

Joanna Eden "The UK's answer to Diana Krall and Norah Jones" (Time Out) returns to St. James Studio following her previous sell out shows Jazz at The Movies and The Magical Music of Joni Mitchell.

In association with JBGB Events.

THE TOM GREEN SEPTET

Monday 16 November at 8pm

£18/£22

With Tom Green on trombone, James Davison on trumpet, Tommy Andrews on alto /soprano saxophone, Sam Miles on tenor saxophone, Sam James on piano, Misha Mullov-Abbado on double bass and Scott Chapman on drums.

Cambridge born musician Tom Green, who won the 2013 Dankworth prize for jazz composition, and who is the first trombonist to get a post grad place at The Royal Academy of Music, fronts this assured septet of young British musicians. For their first appearance in the London Jazz Festival, the Tom Green Septet present an evening of original compositions, compelling arrangements, "that make this medium-sized band sound like a big one" John Fordham -Guardian,

"The Tom Green Septet is something very special". Ivan Hewitt, Daily Telegraph

In association with JBGB Events.

MASTERS OF MAINSTREAM, FEATURING DEREK NASH, MARTIN SHAW AND DAVID NEWTON

Tuesday 17 November at 8pm

£18/£22

Featuring Derek Nash on saxophone, Martin Shaw on trumpet, David Newton on piano, Geoff Gascoyne on double bass and Sebastian de Krom on drums.

The all-star quintet will play classic jazz compositions from the great American Song Book as well as Derek's original compositions from Joyriding, which was named 2012 Best Jazz CD of the Year at the British Jazz Awards.

"Derek Nash is one of the most versatile saxophonists". The Guardian

In association with JBGB Events.

AND ALL THAT JAZZ...

Wednesday 18 November at 8pm

£15/ £25

The Spoken Word with music: An evening of jazz music, poetry and prose directed by Cedering Fox, with an original score by James Pearson. Cast includes Jack Shepherd, Joseph Marcell, Miles Jupp, Rhashan Stone and Sam Spruell

WordTheatre, 'the short story performance specialists' (Sunday Times), presents And All That Jazz..., an evening of jazz themed stories, poetry and music celebrating that great big bopping American fusion of African and European rhythms that moved at lightning speed from New Orleans through Chicago and New York, over the ocean to Paris and then the world. An array of acclaimed actors will bring to life the dark smoky rooms, the snare drums, the sequined dresses and bootleg booze, while pianist James Pearson of Ronnie Scott's, in true jazz style, improvises an entirely new score to accompany the oration.

In association with Word Theatre.

SOLO SEGUNDO

Wednesday 18 - Saturday 21 November at 1pm

Friday 20 November at 7pm

Lunchtime performances £10/£12

Evening performance £17.50/£20

The St. James Studio is delighted to welcome the return of Pedro Segundo as he launches his first solo project, Solo Segundo. Following a first show on 25 September, Pedro will play four lunchtime shows, each of which will be followed by a workshop, and an evening show as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Pedro Segundo, house drummer at Ronnie Scott's, is one of the most in-demand percussionists and drummers on the international circuit. His show will pay respect to traditional and world music drumming styles as well as introducing audiences to the world of contemporary solo percussion music; from traditional Indian and African drumming through to Xenakis, improvisatory jazz, John Cage and newly commissioned works from Goncalo Gato and Steve Mauric.

In association with Fane Management.

THE MUSIC OF HORACE SILVER - WITH CHRIS INGHAM'S REBOP BAND

Thursday 19 November at 8pm

£18/£22

Featuring Paul Higgs on trumpet, Colin Watling on tenor saxophone, Chris Ingham on piano, Arnie Somogyi on double bass and George Double on drums.

Horace Silver was one of the all-time jazz greats. He described his hard driving piano style and original composition approach as "meaningful simplicity." After featuring with Lou Donaldson and then with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Silver formed his own quintet, writing some of the most enduring tunes in jazz such as "The Preacher" "Blowin' the Blues Away", "Señor Blues" and "Song for my Father" and many others, while performing them in his distinctively personal "hard bop" blues and gospel style.

No stranger to the St. James, Chris Ingham brings his hard driving REBOP ensemble, evoking the style of Horace Silver's music, adding their own imaginative creativity and improvisations.

In association with JBGB Events.

GABRIELLE DUCOMBLE

Friday 20 November at 9pm

£18/£22

With Dan Teper on accordion and piano, Richard Jones on violin, Nicolas Meier on guitar, Nick Kacal on bass and Saleem Raman on drums.

Following her sell out show as part of the Jazz Divas series in 2014, Gabrielle makes a welcome return to the St. James Studio. She brings a blend of Gallic charm and sophistication to her performances of Parisian style jazz and tango. Ranging from contemporary jazz to French popular song, Gabrielle puts a fresh jazz spin on iconic chansons by Edith Piaf, Michel Legrand, Serge Gainsbourg and Astor Piazzolla.

"Gabrielle makes a unique contribution to the jazz scene, haunting the listener's imagination". London Jazz News

In association with JBGB Events.

THE WONDERFUL MUSIC OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Saturday 21 November at 8pm

£18 / £22

Featuring Simon Nelson's DixieMix, with Simon Nelson on trumpet, Pete Oxborough on clarinet, Chris Wigley on trombone, John Benson on bass and Tony Wilkins on drums.

Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo", came to prominence in the 1920s, influencing countless musicians with his daring trumpet style and unique vocals. His charismatic stage presence impressed not only the jazz world but also that of popular music. Armstrong made more than 60 records with the Hot Five and, later, the Hot Seven. Today, these are generally regarded as the most important and influential recordings in jazz history; on these records, Armstrong's virtuoso brilliance, which he developed further with the All Stars 1946-1956, helped transform jazz from an ensemble music to a soloist's art.

Simon Nelson and his DixieMix band, fresh from their UK tour as support band for Rod Stewart, make their debut at the St. James Studio playing the wonderful music of Louis Armstrong along with their own improvisations and creative sensitivities

"Wonderful foot tapping entertainment from a superb band". The Hoste of Jazz

In association with JBGB Events.

World Premiere

TO THE SURFACE. TIM MAGUIRE: DORIAN FORD

Sunday 22 November at 3pm

£17.50 / £20

Visual artist Tim Maguire and improvising pianist Dorian Ford come to the St. James Studio to launch their DVD, To The Surface, the result of a long association between the two artists. The evening will feature melodic improvisations to moving image and a copy of the DVD is included with every ticket.

PEPI LEMER'S BACK2FRONT

Sunday 22 November 7:30pm

£20/ £25

With Peter Lemer on piano, Chris Laurence on bass, Paul Robinson on drums, Gary Hammond on percussion, Richard Edwards on trombone and Derek Nash on the tenor sax.

British Jazz artist Pepi Lemer performs songs from her album, Back2Front. An explosive mix of Latin percussion, jazz improvisation and songs from around the world including compositions from the great Pat Metheny, with lyrics written by Pepi.

As a backing singer in the late 60s and 70s, Pepi worked with and alongside The Beatles, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and Duanne Eddy with Art of Noise. Along with the bassist Jeff Clyne, Pepi created the legendary jazz fusion group Turning Point, with her unique vocalese style of singing. The band became Britain's No. 1 jazz fusion group and released two acclaimed albums, and toured with many jazz artists including Chick Corea and Horace Silver.

Pepi went on to work with jazz artists including Kenny Wheeler, John Dankworth, John Surman, Stan Tracy, Mike Gibbs, Arturo Sandeval, Barbara Thompson, Ian Carr and Gary Husband.

Parallel to her work in jazz, Pepi has had a successful career as a vocal coach and has taught the Spice Girls as well as other well-known groups and personalities from actress Jennifer Saunders to presenter Graham Norton.