Jazz breaking news: Jesse Bannister with Rochford and Rahman and Trio AAB with Ganesh and Kumaresh for Alchemy Fest at QEH
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
London’s Southbank Centre hosts its annual Alchemy Festival throughout April, kicking off with widely acclaimed Anglo-Asian singer songwriter Susheela Rahman performing tomorrow (10 April) as part of a hugely diverse celebration of music, dance, literature, design and debate from India, the UK and South Asia.
Among the many musical highlights is an exciting Indo-jazz double bill on Wednesday 17 April featuring two intriguing line-ups. The night opens with a new band led by classical-jazz saxophonist Jesse Bannister (pictured left), featuring MOBO-winning pianist Zoe Rahman and double Mercury Prize nominated drummer Seb Rochford, with a headline performance from Scotland’s Trio AAB in collaboration with Indian violin duo Ganesh and Kumaresh.
Saxophonist Bannister debuts his new UK quartet which draws on a diverse mix of Indo-jazz themes and South Indian classical music, brought to life by Rahman’s impeccable playing that’s well known for blending her Jarrett-ish touch with her Bengali musical heritage, all given a rhythmic kick by Polar Bear bandleader Rochford’s razor sharp drumming. Completing the band is electric bassist Kenny Higgins, who is also a member of Mercury nominated soul-jazz singer Corinne Bailey Rae’s live band he brings a solid groove base to Bannister’s sophisticated rhythmic ideas. This concert the first chance for audiences to hear his music from Bannister’s debut Indo-jazz album, Play Out, which is due for release later this year.
Headlining the night will one of Scotland’s most celebrated contemporary jazz groups – drummer Tom Bancroft’s Trio AAB – who appear in a special collaboration with celebrated virtuoso violinists Ganesh and Kumaresh. The latter pair are known for their Carnatic music, and reprise their acclaimed debut performance with Trio AAB at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival in 2011. That year also saw Trio AAB perform a barnstorming headline concert to 10,000 people at the Delhi Jazz Festival.
For more info go to: www.southbankcentre.co.uk
– Mike Flynn