Following the success of the 1st Shetland Jazz Festival in June, Shetland Jazz Club has been making plans for the coming year. There will be an exciting programme of jazz concerts leading up to and beyond the second jazz festival which will take place in February next year. And there is a new membership scheme in place that will furnish all sorts of advantages and advance notice to those who join.
First off, jazz moves into the Mareel at long last. The first jazz club gig of the new season will now be in the Mareel on 22 September and will feature an electrifying new quintet of all-star jazz performers. The group is lead by guitarist and composer Phil Robson, a highly acclaimed leader, teacher and composer. Dave Lieberman, the revolutionary sax player who prominently featured in the later Miles Davis electronics bands, is wholesome in his praise: "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. The group Robson brings to Shetland as part of a Jazz Services UK tour is based on a concept of "The Immeasurable Code" and features music specially composed for the album of that name. It was regarded as one of the major jazz albums of 2012 and was nominated for two prestigious jazz awards. The group also consists of Julian Arguelles on saxes, virtuoso flautist Gareth Lockrane, incredible bass player Michael Janisch and outstanding drummer Ernesto Simpson.
This is a really great band which has been getting rave reviews wherever they have played. This talented group of marvellous musicians will deliver a masterclass workshop in the afternoon, organised by Shetland Arts, and a hum-dinger of a concert in the evening. Tickets available now from Shetland Box Office.
Upcoming events include a return visit by the excellent Tommy Smith group Karma, which features Steve Hamilton on keyboards, who has fallen in love with Shetland; another Christmas Jazz Dinner in December at the Town Hall, featuring the wonderful Brass Jaw who were so brilliant in opening our jazz festival; the February Festival will have the theme of Jazz Legends and already pencilled in are Carol Kidd with Nigel Clark, Fionna Duncan with Ronnie Rae and Brian Kellock, and Tom Bancroft's Trio Red; with feelers also out for Martin Taylor and the Jack Bruce Band; in March we have Gilad Atzmon back, this time with his celebrated group the Orient House Ensemble, with a gig, a masterclass and a book signing of his best-selling work "The Wandering Who".
There are many reason to be a cheerful member of Shetland Jazz Club. “To become a member of Shetland Jazz Club could not be simpler”, says membership secretary Chris Horrix. “ Just go to the website www.shetlandjazzclub.org and in a few minutes you will be eligible for advance information on all gigs and early booking opportunities, discount off tickets and lots of other goodies, plus information and developments about jazz in Shetland. “