Jazz breaking news: Gwyneth Herbert, Jay Phelps and The Herbaliser For Canary Wharf
Thursday, June 23, 2011
London’s Docklands may not be the first district in London to spring to mind when it comes to putting on jazz.
But times change, and with the opening of the new Boisdale Canary Wharf jazz club bringing a much needed infusion of the music to the area there’s also the return of the free entry Canary Wharf Jazz Festival in August.
The festival has just announced its line-up for the annual affair that this year takes place from Friday 12- Sunday 14 August. Typically well programmed, the fest takes places at Canada Square Park in Canary Wharf and opens this year with an hour-long set from the guitarist best known for his work with Soweto Kinch, Femi Temowo. Femi is followed by the popular Ska Cubano.
Saturday starts at lunchtime with Cousin Alice and the Boisdale Blue Rhythm Band followed by the cutting edge sounds of new band Aquarium led by pianist Sam Leak. Later there’s Gwyneth Herbert, the quirky singer-songwriter whose style covers jazz and folk and who has become a popular draw at jazz festivals over the years. The evening programme features Cuban Combination with the acid jazz sounds of The Herbaliser bringing a busy day to a close.
Sunday begins with Mercury-nominated Kit Downes and his Sextet followed by Grupo X and the Sarah Gillespie Quartet featuring Gilad Atzmon. The festival comes to a conclusion this year with the Jay Phelps Big Band led by the ex-Empirical trumpeter and featuring singer Clare Teal. The festival will also present Jazz on the Screen, with free showings of Jazz on A Summer’s Day and two other films, Monk and Monk In Europe. – Stephen Graham