WELCOME TO | JAZZ AT THE BLUE LAMP

Arild Andersen – Rose Window Trio & Kirsten Bråten Berg

Arild Andersen is a renowned musician both in his homeland of Norway and internationally and is no stranger to the Blue Lamp where he has played with his trio including Tommy Smith and Paulo Vinaccia. This time he brings a completely different group which includes vocalist Kirsten Bråten Berg. Arild Andersen met Kirsten for the first time in 1989 to perform the commission work “Sagn” for Vossajazz in 1990. In the band was Nana Vasconcelos, perc; Bendik Hofseth, sax; Bugge Wesseltoft ,piano and Frode Alnæs, guitar. This band recorded two albums “Sagn” and “ Arv” The last one with Eivind Aarset on guitar and Paolo Vinaccia on additional percussion and played concerts in New York , Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and also around Europe and Scandinavia. Over the years Kirsten Bråten Berg and Arild kept contact and did several concerts with different settings and a lot of duo concerts and have now formed a new group which includes Arild’s trio Rose Window with Kirsten on vocals. The music is based on folk music from Setesdal and Telemark, and from the west coast of Norway. Songs that Eduard Grieg used in his compositions and arrangements.
26th October, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £15, concession £12
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Nautilus

Bassist Robert Lucaciu and drummer Philipp Scholz are from Leipzig and are long term collaborators on many projects. Recently they met Cologne based pianist Jürgen Friedrich and saxophonist Hayden Chisholm from New Zealand which resulted in the formation of the quartet Nautilus. All four have made a name for themselves in various jazz contexts and reach a whole new collective sensibility in Nautilus. As they search for sound together, the music they make is incredibly soft and organic. The care with which the band approaches not only their music, but also themselves is nearly unprecedented in contemporary jazz. Join them on their UK tour of select dates here at the Blue Lamp. Robert Lucaciu – bass Hayden Chisholm – sax Jürgen Friedrich – piano Philipp Scholz – drums
2th November, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £12, concession £10
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Jam Experiment

Jam Experiment are a young band based in London. They won the 2014 Jazz North Introduces Scheme, shortly after their debut gig supporting Liane Carroll and have played at leading jazz festivals across the UK, leaving audiences in awe. The line-up includes the winner of the inaugural BBC Young Musician Jazz Award, saxophonist Alexander Bone, trombonist Rorym Ingham, Toby Comeau on piano/keyoboard, Joe Lee on bass, and Jonny Mansfield on drums. Alexander Bone and trombonist Rory Ingham were both voted as runners-up in the best instrumentalist (respectively) of the year in the British Jazz Awards 2016, and both were nominated for “Rising Star” in the 2016 British Jazz Awards, with Alexander Bone crowned Rising Star. Jam Experiment display a fresh, energetic and honest approach of original compositions and arrangements. All band members write music for the band and contribute musical ideas equally, creating a beautifully varied set of music, and a very individual, cool and funky sound. “Jam Experiment is ‘feel good’, accessible, intelligently crafted… and irresistible.” London Jazz News “Their ability to connect with the audience was exceptional…this band are bound for great things. A joy!” Claire Martin “Jam Experiment is one of the best young bands I’ve ever heard. The instrumental playing is highly accomplished, but most impressively, this is a band that swings, has great arrangements and knows how to present itself. A really refreshing presence on the scene” Alan Barnes
9th November, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £12, concession £10
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Joy Ellis

Joy Ellis is a pianist, singer and composer based in London. Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, she has toured all over the world playing jazz. Past gig highlights include Ronnie Scott’s and the Barbican Pit Theatre in London, the London Jazz Festival, the Cork Jazz Festival and No Black Tie Jazz Club in Kuala Lumpur. She was recently selected as one of fourteen emerging artists to work with Mercury nominated singer ESKA on a composition residency in Manchester. Over the past year, Joy has been working on an original album entitled “Life On Land”. The album reflects her passion for jazz and improvisation, her love of groove and dance music, her classical roots as a pianist and the soulful, poetic aspects of being a singer songwriter. Accompanying Joy on her UK tour is award-winning musician Rob Luft who has been described as one of the UK’s most prominent and talented young guitarists. Rob was the recipient of the 2016 Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize and the 2nd Prize in the 2016 Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition. Double bassist Henrik Jensen has performed all over the world from the Blue Note in Toyko to concert halls in Moscow as well as keeping a busy gig schedule in London. A native of the USA, drummer Adam Osmianski has toured extensively around the USA, the UK and Asia.
16th November, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £12, concession £10
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Dave O’Higgins Quartet

Dave O’Higgins returns to the Blue Lamp for a performance as part of his 2017 tour. Dave is a saxophonist, composer, arranger, educator and latterly recording engineer and producer. He has been a popular figure on the UK and international jazz scene for 30 years now, with 19 albums as leader under his belt and in addition regularly plays with Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, the BBC Big Band and Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra. Dave’s tenor and soprano sax sounds are highly personal and recognisable, with a clear sense of melodic development and adventure. A popular performer with the public, with an excellent sense of pacing and presentation, he has a wide palette from Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson through to Stanley Turrentine and Michael Brecker. He has relentlessly pursued artistic and sonic exploration, and enjoys the learning process which is a constant advancing flow. The Dave O’Higgins Quartet has been together for 5 years now with Sebastiaan de Krom (drums), Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and Rob Barron (piano) – a band that is unashamed to swing and draw on blues and functional harmonies and the great tome of jazz vocabulary, eschewing fads and fusions.
23rd November, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £12, concession £10
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Cedric Hanriot

From France, we welcome Cédric Hanriot whose music is fed by the cross currents of jazz, pop and groove. To accompany he him is bassist Bertrand Beruard, and the prodigious drummer Elie Martin Charriere. The group playfully explores famous international themes taken from the pop of Katy Perry, the rock of Nirvana, the electronic music of Massive Attack as well as exploring Cedric’s original compositions in which groove and interaction are the main focus. The music is distinguished by the addition of electronic textures that interact with acoustic instruments (piano, drums and bass) bringing a cinematic dimension to the trio. “Cédric Hanriot have created an ‘improvisational concept’ that takes mainstream jazz styles for quintet and links them to literary and artistic archetype” Downbeat Magazine  “Hanriot, a swinging stylist who can keep several ideas afloat at once, make notable contributions as well, moving the hardbop ethos into present times” Tom Greenland, The New York City Jazz Record
30th November, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £12, concession £10
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Tomáš Liška

Tomáš Liška´s “Invisible World“ from The Czech Republic is a sophisticated blend of New and Old World influences, including Turkish violin, Balkan accordion and a pinch of tango nuevo. It is therefore as much world music as jazz but we are sure you will be delighted with it’s infectious grooves. “Invisible World” is the title of ’s Tomáš’s first CD and they have chosen to come to the Blue Lamp to let us into its secrets. What they have created with Invisible World is an intricate and intimate album. The studio-recorded tracks have a live feel about them, but it is the feel of a fireside or a chamber concert rather than one played in a large hall. It is mellow and poignant, blending jazz with touches of folk, country and tango. Each note is played to be heard, not lost in a solid structure of sound. It’s a contemplative album, with spacey arrangements that allow the music to breathe.
7th December, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £12, concession £10
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Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra

The North East of Scotland’s own big band plays tribute to the great sound of the bands of the 40s, 50s and 60s such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Stan Kenton. The AJO is an amalgamation of the cream of jazz musicians in the Aberdeen area and are renowned for their big sound and great arrangements. Come along and get back to the big band era with a festive twist.
14th December, 8pm at The Blue Lamp
Tickets £12, concession £10
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