Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival presents the Scottish Jazz Weekend this December
Mike Flynn
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
A diverse selection of Scottish rising stars and some international names gather for a weekend of jazz in all its forms
Scottish Jazz Weekend presents a programme that runs from the early days of jazz in New Orleans to modern jazz and music created in recent months. With seven concerts running from 10 -12 December 2021 live and online at Assembly Roxy. The Scottish Jazz Weekend is just one of the events Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (EJBF) runs out with the main festival in July, thanks to funding from PLaCE.
The weekend starts with the Criss Cross Europe project that brings together the hottest young European jazz musicians to form a brand-new band, which will be led by acclaimed American drummer Jim Black. Flying the flag for Scotland is bass player and leader of Mezcla, David Bowden, with Edinburgh is the final leg of the European tour.
Vivacious singer Ali Affleck and her band perform their take on hot early jazz and feisty pre-war blues as they take a musical jaunt through the heat of the southern US states with a little New York ‘tin pan alley’ thrown in for good measure.
Renowned Scottish jazz musicians Colin Steele and Martin Kershaw and their talented band pay tribute to the Adderly brothers with their show Mercy, Mercy, Mercy while fans of funk and soul will enjoy Aki Remally’s stellar band featuring long time collaborators for an unmissable concert.
The new wave of exciting Scottish jazz musicians is well represented by superb guitarist Nathan Somevi, who takes inspiration from Charlie Hunter by combining bass and guitar parts on one instrument with funky, bluesy, jazzy results – see the video below to see and hear Somevi with his talented trio.
There’s also a world premiere from fellow guitarist Joe Williamson, known for his work with Animal society and Strata, he debuts his brand-new quartet featuring Alan Benzie on piano, Brodie Jarvie on bass and Stephen Henderson on drums.
Audiences can attend in-person but they can also buy a Digital Weekend Pass for £10 that gives access to online streams of all concerts with the exception of Criss Cross.
More info and tickets here www.edinburghjazzfestival.com/whats-on