Firmly established as a major event in the UK’s cultural calendar, the London Jazz Festival, in association with BBC Radio 3, continues to push the envelope. The 2006 programme does, like last year, include several Norwegian names.
Wibutee are Norway's number one electro-jazz outfitits individual members working with everyone from Pat Metheny to John Scofield. "The music reaches beyond dancing, beyond listening and becomes, in the richest sense of the word, an experience", AllaboutJazz.
Wibutee
11 November, 8pm
ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH
Box Office: 020 7930 3647
www.ica.org.uk
The best Norway has to offer in futuristic jazz, Supersilent gather threads from progressive rock, improvised jazz and electronica, moving effortlessly between moments of almost ferocious noise and moments of austere beauty. Recommended to anyone with a curious ear.
In the Country are a startling new piano trio led by Morten Qvenild (of Susanna and the Magical Orchestra fame) whose subtlety and touch recall Tord Gustavsen and Abdullah Ibrahim. “This is epic on the sly; forceful, serious stuff concealed by restraint and simplicity,” Straight No Chaser. Wibutee's new album 'Sweet Mental' is released 13 November on Discovery/Sonnedisk.
Supersilent + In The Country + Susanna and The Magical Orchestra
15 November, 9.30pm
Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY
Box Office: 020 7739 3440
www.cargo-london.com
A double bill of Nordic bands who reflect the next generation’s take on acoustic jazz. Solveig is a bewitching Norwegian singer whose soulful voice is characterised by a playful love of words, ‘simultaneously moving and unsettling…..a profound experience.’ Observer Music Monthly. The Finnish quintet Ilmiliekki’s thoroughly absorbing writing and playing is informed by jazz masters such as Ornette Coleman alongside today’s rock icons Björk and Radiohead.
Solveig Slettahjell + Ilmiliekki
17 November, 9pm
PizzaExpress Jazz Club, 10 Dean Street, London W1
Box Office: 020 7439 8722
www.pizzaexpress.com/jazz
In addition to the tree Norwegian gigs, venues across the capital will welcome a host of major international stars including Wayne Shorter who returns with his all-star quartet. One of the giants of Latin jazz, pianist Michel Camilo joins flamenco guitar virtuoso Tomatito to play their first London concert. Iconic South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahimwill play a solo acoustic concert while Randy Weston teams up with the BBC Big Band to premier special arrangements of his music. Oregon return to play their first London concert in many years, with Ralph Towner, Glen Moore, Paul McCandless and Mark Walker. Vocal stars Take 6 fuse gospel and jazz and e.s.tlaunch their brand new album Tuesday Wonderland with a one-off concert for the Festival, in a double bill with Polar Bear.
Whilst the live events take place across London, BBC Radio 3‘s involvement has enabled the Festival to become a truly international event, with a vast amount of the music presented reaching audiences in the UK and worldwide through broadcasts on the radio and online.