Gary Burton's Quartets of the early 60s and 70s are still spoken about with the sort of reverence reserved for a true maestro. Renowned for hot-housing guitar talents such as Pat Metheny and John Scofield, and most recently seen in London with Chick Corea and Metheny, he plays here with his stellar new quartet that features guitarist Julian Lage, drummer Antonio Sanchez and bassist Scott Colley.
This historic meeting brings the warmth and optimism of South African jazz to the London Jazz Festival, in a year when all eyes will be focused on the nation hosting the World Cup.
“A gruff smoker’s voice, a piano style that wanders from honky-tonk to tango palace, and a weathered romantic’s world view have made Paolo Conte who he is.” The New York Times
A complete musician, a technically brilliant pianist and a veteran of over sixty years of music making that’s seen him work with such giants of European and US jazz as Django Reinhardt and Johnny Griffin, 82-year old Martial Solal has an encyclopedic knowledge of style and form. He is probably most widely known for the music he wrote for Jean-Luc Godard’s debut feature film À Bout de Souffle.
The two musicians come to this collaboration from contrasting but complementary perspectives – Murcof as a highly influential electronic producer who releases on The Leaf Label and has drawn inspiration from baroque and 20th century art music; Francesco is a pianist who has repeatedly sought encounters outside the concert hall, performing with dance legends Carl Craig and Moritz von Oswald, and forming his band Aufgang.
Ask anyone: John Scofield is one of the most influential and inspiring guitarists working today. An essential component of Miles Davis’ groups in the 80s, the musical partner to both Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell as well as a recording artist in his own right, Scofield has inspired legions with his wholly distinctive style.
Get on the Festival trail with this feisty four piece who are making serious waves with their unconventional and energeticapproach. Describing themselves as “a cappella horns”, Brass Jaw is comprised of four of Scotland’s most exciting young players – Ryan Quigley (trumpet) and the three saxophones of Paul Towndrow, Konrad Wiszniewski and Allon Beauvoisin.
“This is brass with class.” The Evening Standard
Trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and percussionist Marilyn Mazur are Danish music legends. Since working with Miles Davis on the Grammy-winning Aura, Mikkelborg has toured and recorded with the likes of Gil Evans and Terje Rypdal. Marilyn Mazur, who brought a charismatic presence to the bands of Miles Davis and Jan Garbarek, and has just received the first International EuroCore Award for jazz, brings her distinctive and penetrating percussion to the group that also features harpist Helen Davies and guitarist Mikkel Nordsoe.
** On sale tomorrow **
Raul Malo’s voice embodies the very heart and soul of American roots music yet also references his Cuban heritage. Having enjoyed global success as a member of multi-platinum selling band The Mavericks, he’s now a solo artist exploring a heady blend of authentic Country music with a rock and roll swagger, a dash of Tex-Mex twang and vibrant Latin jazz rhythms.
Part of the London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3
Well-known for his Grammy-nominated film scores for Spike Lee, Terence Blanchard, alongside Wynton Marsalis, is one of the few contemporary horn players who can truly claim to inherit the legacy of jazz trumpet giants Miles Davis, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard. The acclaimed jazz trumpet virtuoso and composer returns with his band to play in a special Festival double bill with pianist Robert Glasper.