Events

PoVo are a band of experienced musicians drawn from a variety of other Lancaster based bands playing a blend of funky jazz tunes from the 70's onwards, which have a danceable groove together with plenty of funky jazz and improvisational vibes. Some of the jazz songs are faithful to the original, and others have been given the PoVo funky treatment!

PoVo are:-

Paul Froggatt - Saxophones big and small

Dave Shooter - Bass

Andy Smith - Funky drumming

Tim Hickman - Guitar

Paula Williams - Keyboards

Trio JDM

Depending on one’s level of interest in the horseless carriage, the initials JDM might well conjure images of a 1996 Toyota Supra RZ - made, of course, for the Japanese Domestic Market…

It’s therefore an appropriate name for a new trio led by Dave Walsh; someone whose love of a good automobile is well-known amongst the musical community. There are many more, however, who know him for his superlative drumming with countless jazz greats, award-winning singer-songwriters, and chart-topping pop acts alike.

Proceeding alphabetically, the J of the trio is guitarist Jamie Taylor - himself a seasoned player who has been heard with some of the finest jazz musicians from either side of the Atlantic. Though proudly Yorkshire based, Jamie’s bop-influenced guitar work is also heard on a regular basis at legendary London venues like Ronnie Scott’s and The Troubadour.

Finally, the fulcrum of any organ trio is the musician behind the console, which brings us to M: the wonderful Martin Longhawn. Martin, who is perhaps best known to jazz audiences for his work with the excellent Svarc/Hanley/Longhawn group, has been establishing himself as a much in-demand pianist and organist over the last ten years. His command of this most difficult instrument is certain to win him many more admirers in the years to come.

Musically, Trio JDM draws inspiration from the great legacy of Jimmy Smith and Larry Young, as extended today by artists like Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart. Nevertheless, this is no tribute act; expect to hear accessible original music alongside material from a wide range of composers and eras.

Trio JDM is:

Dave Walsh drums

Jamie Taylor guitar

Martin Longhawn organ

From jazz beginnings to alt-folk and electronica, Stuart McCallum is one of the most vital and creative musicians of his generation. An in-demand guitarist, composer, producer and educator.

Stuart’s current projects include:

• The Breath - signed to Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records, the duo of Stuart and vocalist Rioghnach Connolly was nominated for Best Act at the BBC Folk Awards.

• Solitude - a series of solo acoustic guitar albums released on renowned UK jazz label, Edition

Records.

• Music for Imaginary Film - a series of cinematic-inspired albums co-written with Mark Slater.

• Richard Spaven - co-writing and performing with the well known UK drummer

• Research - Stuart’s research interests are practice-based approaches to contemporary music performance, composition and production. He completed his musical composition doctorate,

‘Making Music in the Real World’, in 2020.

• Education - Stuart is Deputy Head of Popular Music at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Stuart rose to prominence writing for and playing with the Cinematic Orchestra, on their MaFleur and Live at the Royal Albert Hall albums, as well as on their award winning Disney soundtrack, The Crimson Wing.

Stuart’s varied career has involved collaborations with electronic artists such as Jordan Rakei, James Zoo, JP Cooper and Bjork percussionist Manu Delago; performances with UK jazz greats John Surman and Kenny Wheeler; recordings with American jazz stars Ari Hoenig, Ira Coleman and Dan Weisz; and performances with prominent folk artists, such as Danny Thompson and Michael McGoldrick.

Quotes

‘A one-man guitar orchestra’ - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

‘Master guitarist McCallum's music is heaven sent. Beautifully crafted, warm blooded, folk and jazz

inspired magical stuff....' WRITTEN IN MUSIC

Neil C. Young Trio
Repurposing existing hooks and established patterns, the Neil C. Young Trio 'Re- Works' project generates new
music and fresh lines of flight, aiming to draw out disparate angles hiding in the music. Lyrical content is present
and correct, but respectfully adjusted, re-sited and not forgotten. This is praxis-focussed Action Jazz, Grunge
Fusion, perhaps- and made with an resolutely open mind and a genuine sense of adventure’.
Musically praised for his cool, melodic and harmonic sophistication whilst maintaining a feel-good instrumental
format, Neil has worked with the likes of - Nick Blacka (Go Go Penguin), Nathan Bray (Guy Barker, Paloma Faith)
Anton Hunter (Sloth Racket, Ripshaw Catfish), Soweto Kinch; Wendy Kirkland
(Piano Divas) Gary Boyle (Isotope, Soft Machine); Steve Tromans (Indo Jazz Fusions, Howl)

‘full of life and soul'
Eric Elias (Just Jazz Guitar Magazine)
‘...brilliantly minded guitarist'
Carlos Juan (Carlos Juan Guitars, Ger.)
'Touches your heart and sets your hair on fire ! ‘
CriticalJazz.com

1. To book tickets please call 015394 33845
   

"In the old days, this band would have had the words “All-Stars” in their name. Every one of them is a leading figure in British contemporary jazz. Together, they create 10 evocative sound-pictures of places and times. It’s remarkable how just five instruments and voice can suggest space and depth as they do.” Dave Gelly, The Observer

The word supergroup is common currency, especially in the rock world. Jazz, of course, has its fair share of supergroups too. Sometimes, one supergroup comes along that really is very special indeed.

The Printmakers is such a group. The group formed at the instigation of Steve Mead at The Manchester Jazz Festival several years ago and since then has gone from strength to strength.

Award winning Nikki Iles is one of the heroines of British jazz. She has made an invaluable contribution to the jazz scene in this country and beyond, while also making a very personal musical statement in many groups, not least her own superb Anglo-American trio with Rufus Reid and Jeff Williams.

Grammy nominated and ECM recording artist Norma Winstone MBE, pioneering innovator of the voice, has been a leading light in European music for many years. She collaborated with Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor in Azimuth, described by Richard Williams as “one of the most imaginatively conceived and delicately balanced of all contemporary chamber jazz groups“. She has also worked with Fred Hersch, Steve Swallow, Jimmy Rowles, Mike Gibbs and Ralph Towner. She has had a resurgence recently, with three superb award winning ECM releases in collaboration with European musicians, Klaus Gesing and Glauco Venier.

Mike Walker is rightly regarded as one of Europe's most exciting guitarists. He has enthralled audiences for many years with his inspirational playing - always passionate, dangerous and highly inventive. He has worked with some of the most innovative musicians in the world including George Russell , Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Julian Arguelles, Bill Frisell, and Mark-Anthony Turnage. He is also a member of another jazz supergroup – The Impossible Gentlemen (with Gwilym Simcock, Steve Rodby and Adam Nussbaum).

Mark Lockheart came to prominence in the mid-1980s with the influential big band Loose Tubes. The collaborative band Perfect Houseplants (formed in 1992) proved to be one of Mark’s most important projects. In the mid-90s Mark toured with Django Bates’ Delightful Precipice and recorded with June Tabor, Anya Garbarek, Robert Wyatt and Radiohead. In 2003, he joined the ground breaking group Polar Bear (twice nominated for the Mercury Music Prize) and went on to collaborate with Mark Anthony Turnage, most recently in his opera, Anna Nicole. His most recent recording as leader is ‘Ellington in Anticipation’, a unique and original take on the music of Ellington.

Steve Watts has been the all important linchpin in many significant bands in British Jazz, not least Django Bates’ Human Chain, and with Kenny Wheeler and Stan Sulzmann. He has also worked with Iain Ballamy and Kirk Lightsey and Joe Lovano.

Drums to be confirmed...

'Right now, Norma is at the peak of her form... there is no jazz singer in the country to touch her'Alyn Shipton, The Times

'Iles is one of the most refreshing figures to have emerged in the UK in recent times, with a liquid sound and supple, obliquely resolved phrasing as an improviser"

John Fordham, The Guardian

'Not to put too fine a point on it, it’s pretty much the line-up of your dreams, and a band that sums up all that is finest in British jazz . A life-enriching album for sure, and an unmissable gig.'