What live music are you going to see tonight?

[A Lark Ascending]

Went along to the South Bank in London yesterday for some marvellous music:

Stonephace Stabbins - a Larry Stabbins group including Zoe Rahman playing Pharaoh Sander-ish jazz. A free foyer event.

The John Law Trio - excellent UK trio. A little on the sweet side with (to my mind) some unnecessary electronics - they weren't obtrusive but you wondered why they were there.

Egberto Gismonti - absolutely breathtaking. He played a good 90 minutes totally solo, half guitar (which seemed to have 3445 strings!), half piano. The guitar playing was mesmerising - I've heard some some technically impressive guitarists in my time but what he did with just about every possibility (incredible use of harmonics, tremendous percussive drive [at one stage sustained with one hand on the body of the guitar whilst his other hand played the strings]) was astounding. Tremendous piano player to boot - some familiar tunes played but virtually every phrase was followed by some sort of variation with little sense of straight repeating of melodies.

What is it with London audiences, though? I don't see this anywhere else - yet again lots of people leaving after two or three numbers. Too indulged? Too rich? Too many other things to do the moment your attention wanders?

[BillF]

What is it with London audiences, though? I don't see this anywhere else - yet again lots of people leaving after two or three numbers. Too indulged? Too rich? Too many other things to do the moment your attention wanders?

Music not what they expected? Very difficult to predict what you're going to hear in a jazz festival today.

[A Lark Ascending]

Music not what they expected? Very difficult to predict what you're going to hear in a jazz festival today.

Of course.

But I seem to see it every time I go to London for a concert. In Sheffield or Nottingham people usually don't give up the ghost until half time.

Festivals are a bit different - the all-in-one cards tend to encourage dipping in and out.

Edited November 18, 2012 by A Lark Ascending

[BillF]

Music not what they expected? Very difficult to predict what you're going to hear in a jazz festival today.

Of course.

But I seem to see it every time I go to London for a concert. In Sheffield or Nottingham people usually don't give up the ghost until half time.

Festivals are a bit different - the all-in-one cards tend to encourage dipping in and out.

Yes, I've seen people with that sort of card at week-long or weekend-long festivals in Wigan and Southport sitting on the front row reading newspapers while the musicians are playing!

[paul secor]

Heard Eddie Diehl and bassist Lou Pappas play at a jazz brunch this afternoon. Ed played some excellent solos. He's at his best playing at live gigs.

[sidewinder]

What is it with London audiences, though? I don't see this anywhere else - yet again lots of people leaving after two or three numbers. Too indulged? Too rich? Too many other things to do the moment your attention wanders?

Spoilt SOBs who know the price of everything and the value of nothing ! ( gets flamed..)

Sounds like a great afternoon. I wanted to see the Michael Garrick and Joe Harriott tributes on Saturday but sadly, couldn't make it in to London.

Edited November 19, 2012 by sidewinder

[king ubu]

Elina Duni and her great little band (Colin Vallon, Patrice Moret and Norbert Pfammatter) - wonderful concert!

[king ubu]

Posted a little review (in german) of the great Elina Duni concert here:

http://ubus-notizen.blogspot.ch/2012/11/elina-duni-im-moods-zurich-20-november.html

[relyles]

It was a few weeks ago, but I was blown away by the J. D. Allen Trio when they played in Seattle. Allen sounds good as a sideman but he is awesome when playing his own music. He sounds a little like Trane in the Atlantic period, with some Rollins. His most recent album, "Victory!," is also excellent.

Small correction - his most recent recording is actually The Matador And The Bull, which is also very good.

[A Lark Ascending]

Just back from Neon Quartet.- veteran Brit Stan Sulzmann with three of the best from the younger generation - Kit Downes, Jim Hart and Tim Giles.

Marvellous evening - good compositions plus a standard and two Monks. Really exciting music.

Edited November 24, 2012 by A Lark Ascending

[BillF]

Good session at the Wigan Jazz club this afternoon: Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra followed by Greg Abate with a swinging local trio.

This was Greg's final gig in his 3-week visit to the U.K.- he flies back to the U.S. tomorrow.

[king ubu]

Grigori Sokolov at the Luxembourg Philharmonic, playing Rameau (Suite in D from the second book of the "pièces de clavecin"), Mozart (K 310) and Beethoven ("Hammerklavier"):

http://www.philharmonie.lu/en/programm/events.php?seite=event_details&id=2363

[sidewinder]

This was Greg's final gig in his 3-week visit to the U.K.- he flies back to the U.S. tomorrow.

He must be due a dual citizenship by now ! (ditto - Scott Hamilton)

[BillF]

This was Greg's final gig in his 3-week visit to the U.K.- he flies back to the U.S. tomorrow.

He must be due a dual citizenship by now ! (ditto - Scott Hamilton)

I'd heard Scotty'd moved to Italy - but I might be wrong.

[PHILLYQ]

On Saturday I went to see Henry Threadgill at Roulette in Brooklyn, which seems to be his go-to venue in NYC with the demise of the Jazz Gallery. I have no idea if they played new music, but it was beautifully played and had passages of ferocious intensity. He had a larger band this time around, two trumpets, two trombones, acoustic guitar, cello, tuba, drums and even an acoustic bass! Threadgill played his usual flutes and alto. At times everyone dropped out but the guitar,cello and bass and we had a forward-looking string trio. Pretty well attended from what I could see, and I saw Bruce from Downtown Music Gallery sitting in front of me. A great night of music for $25.

[B. Goren.]

Anita King was great yesterday night in Tel-Aviv.

[king ubu]

Went to catch another great solo concert by Matana Roberts - will post a (german) review tomorrow, on my blog.

That weirdo on the left is me

[kh1958]

Went to catch another great solo concert by Matana Roberts - will post a (german) review tomorrow, on my blog.

That weirdo on the left is me

And you brought a box of chocolates.

[king ubu]

a father christmas style thingie in chocolate (santa claus, celebrated on december 6 here) -- a little apology ... and since she was in Switzerland, what else

[kh1958]

a father christmas style thingie in chocolate (santa claus, celebrated on december 6 here) -- a little apology ... and since she was in Switzerland, what else

She posted your photo on twitter and said nice things about you. In addition to being a fantastic musician, she's rather entertaining on twitter. I like her, without actually having met her.

[king ubu]

a father christmas style thingie in chocolate (santa claus, celebrated on december 6 here) -- a little apology ... and since she was in Switzerland, what else

She posted your photo on twitter and said nice things about you. In addition to being a fantastic musician, she's rather entertaining on twitter. I like her, without actually having met her.

twitter or tumblr? I saw the later and was of course flattered by her comments ... I tend to forget to open her tumblr regularly, but I love it as well! (I don't do twitter at all.)

[kh1958]

a father christmas style thingie in chocolate (santa claus, celebrated on december 6 here) -- a little apology ... and since she was in Switzerland, what else

She posted your photo on twitter and said nice things about you. In addition to being a fantastic musician, she's rather entertaining on twitter. I like her, without actually having met her.

twitter or tumblr? I saw the later and was of course flattered by her comments ... I tend to forget to open her tumblr regularly, but I love it as well! (I don't do twitter at all.)

Twitter on my iPhone, but probably the same content. Edited December 5, 2012 by kh1958

[king ubu]

okay, thanks!

[jlhoots]

David Hidalgo / Alejandro Escovedo

[jeffcrom]

My favorite Atlanta saxophonist, my friend and colleague Ben Davis, also plays guitar with the math rock trio Purkinje Shift. They have a CD release party tonight, and I'm about to leave to catch them. (The club is about 10 minutes from my house, and they'll start in about an hour.) Their music, not what I usually listen to at all, is fascinating.