| Strata | | Named as one of Jazzwise Magazine’s “One to Watch in 2019” and nominated for both “Best Band” and “Best EP/Album” at this year’s Scottish Jazz Awards, Graham Costello’s STRATA blend stylistic elements of jazz, minimalism, and celebrated progressive/noise bands together with a strong DIY ethic, winning over audiences with towering dynamics and a raw and genuine enthusiasm. The music explores polyrhythm, collective groove and, at it’s true core, improvisation. As well as sell-out concerts and standing ovations at Scotland’s top jazz festivals, STRATA have ran their own monthly residency at Glasgow’s renowned independent venue Bloc. Here, they’ve continued to craft their sound and bring improvised music to new audiences since February 2017, forging a strong and unique connection between the jazz and independent/underground communities. February 2019 will see the release of their full length debut album “OBELISK” Liam Shortall – trombone
Fergus McCreadie – piano
Joe Williamson – guitar
Mark Hendry – electric bass
Graham Costello – drums and composition | | 28sth February, 8pm at The Blue Lamp | | Admission: £12, concession £10, students £5 | |  | |
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| Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra | | It’s great to see the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra return to The Blue Lamp in a concert that features a fantastic line up of young musicians, each showing endless talent, improvisational skills, exuberance and verve. The future for jazz in Scotland is assured as these gifted players, under the direction of Scotland's distinguished jazz musician, Tommy Smith play a varied repertoire ranging from classic jazz to present day big band charts. Bring family and friends to enjoy a wonderful evening of sizzling jazz as the TSYJO bring alive this music and pay tribute to some great jazz legends. | | 7th March, 8pm at The Blue Lamp | | Admission: £12, concession £10, students £5 | | | |
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| Duncan Eagles Quartet | | Duncan Eagles is a London based saxophonist that is described by JazzWise as “as fast becoming one of the most exciting players emerging on the UK jazz scene”. Recognised internationally for his work with UK band Partikel as well as working extensively as a sideman, Duncan has performed at some of the most prestigious festivals and venues in the world including Love Supreme Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival (New York), Vancouver Jazz Festival, and Wuhan Jazz Festival (China). With years of touring with various bands behind him, Duncan presents his new group bringing together all of his experiences with a set of exciting, melodic and spontaneous music. “Saxophonist Duncan Eagles holds the stage with his attractively dry tone, sharpness and the urgent ferocity of his tenor improvising” John Fordham, The Guardian “Eagles’s tone on his various horns achieves an impressive blend of colours and dynamics. His compositions and arrangements, embracing sinuous, sinewy elegance, spiky funk and languid ballads, repay close attention.” BBC Music Magazine | | 14th March, 8pm at The Blue Lamp | | Admission: £12, concession £10, students £5 | | | |
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| New Focus Quartet | | Stan Getz made one of the greatest jazz recordings of all time when he teamed up with composer Eddie Sauter to improvise with a rhythm section and strings on the album “Focus”. Sauter’s rhythmically and harmonically exciting masterpiece is sometimes overlooked. The great sax player and Blue Lamp favourite Konrad Wiszniewski and pianist Euan Stevenson launched their New Focus group by recreating the original music, and then presenting their own take on the Saxophone and Strings format. Their first album, simply titled New Focus, was shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year award in 2012 and they have since released a follow-up, New Focus on Song, which reflected their engagement with both pop and folk music. As well as appearing at Glasgow and Edinburgh jazz festivals, they have also played at a number of other prestigious events, including BBC Radio 3’s 70th Birthday celebrations at the South Bank in London in 2016, in a concert that was broadcast live. Last summer they made their debut at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in Soho and in January they were invited to open a concert at Celtic Connections in Glasgow. At The Blue Lamp, the quartet of Euan Stevenson piano, Konrad Wiszniewski saxophones, Andrew Robb bass and Alyn Cosker on drums will present the most recent phase of the New Focus project with the music from their latest album “On Song”. | | 21st March, 8pm at The Blue Lamp | | Admission: £12, concession £10, students £5 | | | |
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| Jeff Herr Corporation | | From Luxembourg, the Jeff Herr’s Corporation is a classy European trio with Jeff on drums, Maxime Bender on saxophone and Laurent Payfert on bass, a new highly skilled and energetic trio which relies on compositional abilities from each of the 3 members. Well arranged and structured songs as well as wild and free improvisations cover the band’s large repertoire, filled with some surprising cover songs from well known Pop artists such as David Bowie or Jimi Hendrix. The strength and tightness of the band emerge with a strong rhythmical impact and the wonderful lyricism of Maxim held on beat by the fabulous Laurent on bass. | | 28th March, 8pm at The Blue Lamp | | Admission: £12, concession £10, students £5 | | | |
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