Jazz festival line up takes shape
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The first five acts for Aberdeen Jazz Festival have been unveiled this week.
Leading the quintet is Alison Affleck who presents A Night In New Orleans at the Music Hall.
A stellar blues double bill from Melvin Taylor and Stevie Nimmo, the Colin Steele Quartet play the music of Joni Mitchell, Afrobeat-inspired rock-funk-psych juggernaut Agbeko and acclaimed piano wunderkind the Fergus McCreadie Trio complete the line up.
The Aberdeen Jazz Festival will take place from Thursday March 11 to Sunday 22 with tickets for the five concerts now on sale online at www.aberdeenjazzfetival.com
The full programme is set to include a host of exciting Festival firsts and one-off specials and the iconic Jazz On the Green.
Leading the fabulous five is the irrepressible singer, Ali Affleck and the acclaimed Copper Cats who will transport the audience to the prohibition era, delivering good time, swinging vintage jazz, with Alison’s deep love and knowledge of early jazz vocals to the fore in New Orleans classics and sings by Bessie Smith, Mildred Bailey, Louis Armstrong and Ma Rainey.
For one night only, the Copper Cats band feature New Orleans pianist, Joplin Parnell, and multi-instumentalist, Ewan Bleach plus the all-girl band that’s taking the Scottish early jazz scene by storm, The Red Hot Rhythm Makers.
A Night In New Orleans features over 14 musicians on stage for a vibrant celebration of the city and it music.
The play Aberdeen Music Hall on Thursday, March 19.
On Sunday, March 15, Melvin Taylor Blues Band and Stevie Nimmo Trio present a sensational blues double bill at the Lemon Tree.
One of the greatest guitarists and vocalists in Chicago blues history, Melvin Taylor’s arsenal consists of blinding speed, a feverish wah-wah pedal, a range of tones that leaps from groans to squeals, and notes bent so dramatically that his guitar sounds like it’s retching.
Opening the show, Stevie Nimmo combines Glaswegian grit with Louisiana Swamp, Memphis Soul and Tex Mex Grooves, as happy tearing things up on electric lead guitar as he is on down-home acoustic roots.
Acclaimed Scottish trumpeter, Colin Steele debuts his latest project in Aberdeen at Queen’s Cross Church on Saturday, March 14.
He has been inspired by the quirky, romantic, disillusioned and joyful tunes written by one of the greatest songwriters of the past 50 years, Joni Mitchell.
Steele’s approach is to savour the simplicity; not stray too far from the melody; look for beauty; and create tunes that glow and sparkle with warmth and affection.
It’s a beautiful concept that not many musicians could pull off, but with David Milligan (piano), David Bowden (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums) he does it!
A fierce, energetic and irresistibly danceable live show from afrobeat-inspired rock-funk-psych juggernaut, Agbeko.
With an onslaught of horns, guitars, percussion and gutsy vocals, the eleven-strong outfit deliver powerful defiant songs packed with riffs, groove and lyrical prowess to move gig-goers, festival throngs and afro-funk afficionados alike.
Their anthemic live shows have graced Festivals like Boomtown, Green Man, Soundwave, Wilderness, or Meadows in the Mountains. Fans of Fela Kuti, Ibibio Sound Machine and The Souljazz Orchestra, take note!
They play the Lemon Tree on Thursday, March 19.
The most exciting young Scottish jazz musician to emerge for decades, pianist Fergus McCreadie has established an enormous fan base in a very short timespan: the sensational pianist gets standing ovations and five star reviews everywhere he goes including last year’s amazing show at The Blue Lamp.
Here he is for the first time in a concert setting in Aberdeen, a perfect place for McCreadie’s beautifully crafted music.
The trio’s sets are packed with emotional charge, effervescent, and often spiritually uplifting, with the leader’s compositions combining jazz sensibility with tunes rooted in traditional Scottish mode.
David Bowden (bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums) match McCreadie’s verve, skill and sensitivity with precision and unerring empathy.
The Fergus McCreadie Trio play Queen’s Cross Church on Saturday, March 21.
Amongst the packed programme of top-quality acts coming to Aberdeen in March are concerts by Brian Kellock and Tina May and Gil Scott Heron Songbook presented by Jazz At The Blue Lamp. Whilst Aberdeen’s biggest street music party, Jazz On The Green returns on Sunday, March 15.
Chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired Adrian Watson said “Aberdeen Inspired is delighted to once again support the return of the ever-growing Aberdeen Jazz Festival to Aberdeen.
"We were delighted when organisers took the opportunity to broaden its offering across the city centre and bring some of the very best local, national and international musicians to our many fine hotels, pubs, restaurants and public buildings.
“The feedback from those that attend is very positive indeed and we urge those from the city, north-east and further afield to book early where needed and consider making a night or a weekend of it in our fine city centre.”
