Jazz breaking news: F-ire Festival Continues with Roller Trio, Sam Crowe Group and Emily Saunders
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
This year’s tenth annual F-ire Festival continues this week with performances at Pizza Express Jazz Club from a raft of names the label has helped to foster and establish over its decade-long existence, as well as gigs from ‘friends of F-ire’ on the Whirlwind Recordings and Edition labels.
The festival has already played host to gigs by emerging piano talent John Turville, M-Base influenced pianist Robert Mitchell’s award-winning band Panacea, tuba-maestro Oren Marshall’s groove-led Charming Transport Band, guitarist Jonny Phillips’ resurgent Oriole and on Monday this week rising star pianist Ivo Neame, of both Phronesis and MOBO-winning Kairos 4tet fame, who launched his ambitious new solo album, Yatra. Things continue apace tomorrow with pianist Sam Crowe performing melodically-rich new music from his forthcoming album alongside his fine band featuring bassist Jasper Høiby, saxophonist Adam Waldmann, guitarist Will Smith and drummer Dave Smith at the Forge, Camden (11 October).
Guitarist Nick Tyson brings his classical-meets-jazz project Chambr to Dean Street for two shows on Friday 19 October, with its alluring mix of violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar and percussion, on a double header featuring two leftfield groups – the early one featuring the African, folk and punk jazz sounds of Fly Agaric, and the late set with an opening appearance from Eyes Of A Blue Dog. The latter trio of trumpeter Rory Simmons, drummer/producer Terje Evensen and singer Elisabeth Nygård-Pearson explore electronic soundscapes and ethereal grooves to bewitching effect. Saturday 20 October features a double header from gnarly Leeds sax/guitar/drums three-piece Roller Trio (pictured above left) – nominated for both this year's Mercury Music Prize and a MOBO award – they play tunes from their scorching self-titled debut with support from up and coming group The Beguilers (early set) and Fly Agaric (late set).
The festival rounds up with fine vocalist Emily Saunders premiering new material from her new album, Outsiders Insiders, the follow up to her critically acclaimed debut Cotton Skies (Pizza Express 24 October), and final closing gigs from drummer Chris Higginbottom who appears with a great new band that includes guitarist Mike Outram and keyboardist Tom Cawley (29 October), and Burton Bradstock – the alter ego of singer/multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Cannon, who launches his new album All Upon A Lovely Summer’s Day (30 October).
For more info go to www.f‐ire.com
– Mike Flynn