Yoruba

Greg Nichols trumpet, Ben Lowman alto sax, John Waugh tenor saxophone, Aron Kyne piano, Sam Vicary bass guitar, Ali Mac percussion, Tim Carter drums

Photo: Tom Swire
 
Pianist/composer Aron Kyne was been awarded Jazz Futures funding by Jazz Yorkshire to help him develop as a jazz musician here in Yorkshire. Anyone who saw Yoruba at Seven in June last year will understand how well deserved that award was. The jazz/salsa/fusion band are back united by their love for high-energy Salsa and Jazz. Yoruba are a powerful 8-piece band intent on producing a tight driving sound. Led by Aron and comprising of some of the hottest young talent from around the Leeds area this band draws together a diverse mix of influences. They have created their own fusion of Jazz-Salsa-Samba, blending beautiful harmonies with syncopated rhythms, killer solos with a massive horn section sound.

See a video clip from last June's knockout Yoruba jazz gig at Seven here. Seven Jazz has a good vibe, friendly people and a fun raffle with (of course!) seven prizes. Families are very welcome.

 

Yoruba are at Seven on Sunday February 12 2012, 1-4pm £5/£4 concessions kids under 16 free. The doors open at 1pm, music 1.30-4pm

The Fruit Tree Band

Dave Evans piano, Colin Sutton bass Alex Wibrew drums

  
Fruit Tree are favourites of the Seven Jazz audience led by the skilled and energetic pianist (and Garforth Festival organiser) Dave Evans. They take on grooves and at times semi-free excitement equally to create a thrilling array of sounds. Tart and sweet by turn, but never syrupy, you’re enticed to taste and enjoy. Real jazz original - all their tunes are composed by Dave Evans and arranged with the band.

"Fruit Tree Project are an exciting, contemporary, creative, accessible  and innovative new band capable of exploring new terrain whilst, at the same time, taking audiences along with them!"  Colin Watson,

 

Website: http://www.myspace.com/fruittreeproject;See a clip from their previous seven gig here youtube

 

Fruit Tree Band are at Seven Arts on sunday lunchtime February 19 2012 1-4pm £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free

"Centre-Line" featuring Russell van den Berg

Darren Altman's Centreline with Russell van den Berg - sax, Jez Franks- guitar, John Harvey- electric basses -Sun 26 February -

 

Centre-Line are a fresh, vibrant and creative jazz group that prides itself on the spontaneity, creativity and empathy among its musicians.The group is directed by Darren Altman and features Leeds favourite and LCM tutor Russell van den Berg on sax. The individual members are busy gigging on the UK Jazz scene as well as playing internationally and have played with artists including Robin Eubanks, Trilok Gurtu, Jason Rebello, Michael Cain, Marty Ehrlich, Tim Garland, Gerard Presencer, Stan Sulzmann, Kenny Wheeler, Laydysmith Black Mambazo, BBC Radio Big Band, the Rob McConnell Big Band, Carla Bley, The London Jazz Orchestra, George Martin and many more recording artists.

 

Centre-Line's repertoire including original compositions shows an empathy among the musicians which is truly exciting. No two gigs are the same, as the musicians have a mutual understanding about the freedom, expression and spontaneity that jazz offers: the group simply open their ears and play! As a consequence, Centre-Line is a new, vibrant, fresh sounding contemporary jazz group that will deliver exciting, creative, organic music to audiences around the world.

 

Russell Van den Burgh is a an award winning composer and arranger and has received several commissions. Russell has acquired many accolades over the years from critics, as well as his peers he continues to look up to. (see review download at the top of the page) You can hear  samples of Russ at My Space and with his co-lead group Centre-Line at www.myspace.com/centrelinemusic

'Russell van den Berg has impressed everyone who has heard him over the last few years. You can hear just why so many people are talking about him, as he crafts every solo with his trademark combination of wonderful control and lively, angular melodic ideas.'
Jazz UK magazine

Centreline are at Seven Arts on Sunday afternoon 26 February 2012 doors open 1pm, music 1.30--4pm. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free

The Leeds Jazz Orchestra

We've had to make a change to the original programme - drummer Katie Patterson is stuck in Canada without a visa! Luckily however we have been able to bring forward to March another big band that we scheduled to put on later in the year - the Leeds Jazz Orchestra conducted by (another drummer) Colin Byrne. 

 

Leeds Jazz Orchestra has being in existence for many years in various guises.  The band was originally set up in 1990 as an adult evening class under the direction of bassist Barry Rickaby and in 1995 the orchestra migrated to Leeds College of Music’s Community Education Department .  In 2002 saxophonist Al Wood took over the leadership of the Jazz Orchestra and two years later in 2004, drummer Colin Byrne took the helm.  

 

In 2010 the Jazz Orchestra became a victim of the recession and was dropped from Leeds College of Music’s provision of service. However, through the efforts of Ruth Kerr (bass) Liz Fox (alto sax) and John Tattersall (tenor sax), the band was resurrected by January 2011 and Leeds Jazz Orchestra came into existence as an independent unit

 

More details see http://www.leedsjazzorchestra.com/index.htm 

The Leeds Jazz Orchestra is at Seven Arts on Sunday 4 March. £5/4 concessions, kids under 16 free, families welcome. Doors open 1pm music 1.30-4pm.