Terence Blanchard, Phronesis with Frankfurt Radio Big Band and Arild Andersen Sextet added to EFG London Jazz Festival
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Top US trumpeter Terence Blanchard, acclaimed piano trio Phronesis and bass boss Arild Andersen are all among the latest names added to this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival, which runs from 13 to 22 November at all major jazz venues and concert halls across the capital.
Trumpeter Blanchard, who cut his teeth with Art Blakey and has worked with Herbie Hancock as well as forging an acclaimed solo career as a bandleader and film composer, will appear with his new E Collective band who explore a vibrant mix of funk, soul and fusion jazz as heard on their new Blue Note album Breathless, headline the Barbican on 20 November. Norwegian bass virtuoso Arild Andersen celebrates his 70th birthday with a performance at Kings Place on 21 November, appearing with his top-notch sextet in a tribute to bass icon Charles Mingus who was a huge formative influence on Andersen. He joins a whole roster of top European jazz stars also appearing at Kings Place including tuba player, and fellow Norwegian, Daniel Herskedal, French bassist Stéphane Kerecki, Albanian singer Elina Duni with Colin Vallon, while the Polish Marcin Wasilewski Trio perform at Milton Court, Barbican.
Scandi-Brit trio Phronesis, who feature Danish bassist Jasper Høiby, Swedish drummer Anton Eger and English pianist Ivo Neame, make a welcome return to the Festival after their three-gig stand at the Cockpit Theatre in 2013 where they recorded their fourth album, Life To Everything. They are set to play the 600-seater Milton Court concert hall (22 November) that’s part of the revamped Guildhall School of Music in a special collaboration with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band performing new arrangements of their music scored by saxophonist/composer Julian Argüelles.
Further names added to the festival, for which Jazzwise is media partner, include a diverse selection of artists including the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (Rich Mix, 14 Nov), Courtney Pine and Zoe Rahman duo (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at The Globe, 15 Nov), singer Irene Serra’s -isq (at Hideaway), Neneh Cherry (Village Underground, 18 Nov), Grammy-nominated Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez (Wanamaker Playhouse, 15 Nov), plus ECM-signed pianist Julia Hülsmann with singer Theo Bleckmann (Milton Court, 22 Nov), and the Clark Tracey Quintet playing his father Stan’s Under Milk Wood Suite in its 50th anniversary year (check festival website for details). A special family show entitled Chapter 100 and a Dream (Wigmore Hall, 14 Nov), will feature rising star singer Emilia Mårtensson, accordionist Janez Dovč and percussionist Adriano Adewele.
These artists join those already announced including Cassandra Wilson; Kurt Elling; Jarrod Lawson; Melody Gardot; Cécile McLorin Salvant; Maria Schneider Orchestra; Nik Bärtsch; Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn; Andy Sheppard Quartet; Sons of Kemet; James Farm featuring Joshua Redman; Christian Scott and Derrick Hodge double bill; Average White Band and Kokomo double bill; the Britten Sinfonia with Eddie Gómez; Maceo Parker; Cuban pianist David Virelles; the Family Jazz All Stars with Juliet Kelly; trip hoppers Hidden Orchestra; Ibrahim Maalouf and Manu Katché double bill and a celebration of Paul Whiteman featuring Guy Barker, Keith Nichols and the Jazz Repertory Company.
– Mike Flynn
Full details and tickets at www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk