Jazz breaking news: Charlie Wood, Heidi Vogel and Brandon Allen for March at Spice Of Life
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Live music has been on the menu every night since the 1960s at Soho’s Spice of Life, a thriving hub of activity with a carefully scheduled week accommodating as much music with as diverse a selection as possible.
US singer-pianist Charlie Wood’s Trio, featuring bassist Alec Dankworth and drummer Ralph Salmins, provides a fitting end to this month on 23 February and sets precedence for the forthcoming month’s programme brimming with international names and new talent alike.
Wednesday nights at the Spice of Life are the domain of the jazz singer, with March welcoming Cinematic Orchestra vocalist Heidi Vogel’s jazz and samba re-stylings alongside pianist Barry Green’s Trio (2 Mar), and British jazz-soul singer Zena James singing from her new album Captivated with pianist Rob Taggart’s Trio (9 Mar).
Meanwhile saxophonist Brandon Allen provides a liberal dose of jazz-funk with his ‘Double Whiskey at Amnesia’ presenting guitarist Chris Allard, pianist Ross Stanley, bassist Tom Mason and drummer Tom Blease (17 Mar).
Saxophonist Matt Telfer hosts an exclusive jazz-dance jam session titled ‘Rico Reeds Jazz & Tap Jam Special’ on 3 March, featuring a rare London appearance from internationally acclaimed tap dancer Heather Cornell, mentored by legendary bassist Ray Brown, and actor-dancer Junior Laniyan. They perform alongside drummer Michele Drees’s Trio with pianist John Crawford and bassist Pat Bettison.
Denmark Street Big Band's Sunday afternoon sessions see the classic big band joined by jazz luminaries, which this month include saxophonists Willie Garnett (27 Feb), Ray Gelato (27 Mar) and a special mid-week performance with Snake Davis (30 Mar).
Wednesday and Thursday night jazz are presented by Paul Pace and Spicejazz and for full listings, line ups and tickets visit www.spicejazz.co.uk
- Himali Dave