Ollie Howell, Yazz Ahmed and Daniel Casimir for late nights at Elgar Room
Friday, July 21, 2017
The autumn line-up of the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room Late Night Jazz series has been announced and includes a brace of rising jazz stars among the highlights.
Kicking things off on 28 September is Quincy Jones' mentored drummer Ollie Howell with music from his richly melodic second album, Self Identity, with his band featuring trumpeter Henry Spencer and saxophonist Duncan Eagles.
Further stand-out gigs include trumpeter Yazz Ahmed who made a dramatic this year return with her widely praised album La Saboteuse, but here will make a rare appearance with her Electric Dreams Quartet – specially convened for this performance – featuring vocal sculptor Jason Singh, drummer Rod Youngs and Swedish guitarist Samuel Hällkvist on 12 October, while in-demand bassist and emergent solo artist Daniel Casimir plays music from his debut album Escapee on 15 November.
The eclectic programme also includes top Gambian kora master Jally Kebba Susso (5 Oct), Afrobeat-inspired jazzers Kokoroko (26 Oct); the dazzling Michelle Drees Jazz Tap Project (part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, 14 Nov); legendary British beat poet Michael Horovitz and his William Blake Klezmatrix Band (16 Nov); the Blues & Roots Ensemble and their tribute to the Music of Charles Mingus (23 Nov) and a final seasonal offering from the Chris Ingham Quartet with singer Joanna Eden and their Jazz At The Movies: A Swinging Christmas! (14 Dec). Jazzwise is media partner for this concert series.
– Mike Flynn
For full listings and tickets visit www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/series/late-night-jazz/