Jazz breaking news: Jez Nelson To Host Monthly Cockpit Sessions
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Marylebone theatre The Cockpit is confirmed as the venue for a new monthly jazz night to be hosted by Jazz on 3 presenter Jez Nelson (left).
The sessions, which begin on Monday 30 January and continue on the last Monday of the following months, match Jazz on 3’s adventurous no-holds-barred vision, an overall viewpoint that parallels that of John Zorn, the iconic musician and composer who the programme has championed over the years. Nelson, in a nod to Zorn, says of his new venture: “Our only watchword is quality. We considered calling the night ‘Jazz Snobs Eat Shit’ but decided it might limit our PR. But you get the idea. The whole thing will happen in the round, so there’ll be a real intimacy between musicians and audience.”
Nelson, whose company Somethin’ Else is promoting the event in association with The Cockpit and Prodigal Jazz with sponsorship from Loudwater Partners, hosts the BBC Radio 3 late night Monday show which in May won a prestigious Sony Gold Radio Academy Award for specialist music programme of the year. As for The Cockpit, the venue chosen for Jazz In The Round, was itself used by legendary broadcaster Humphrey Burton for London Weekend Television’s Music In The Round series.
Jazz In The Round gigs will be recorded and tickets are priced at £7. Nelson in publicity material comments on the burgeoning UK jazz scene. “Jazz in the UK is in a really healthy state. We’re still lucky to be able to hear great legends of UK jazz who started out in the 60s onwards, as well as new artists just finding their feet. We want to reflect and mix all of this.”
The jazz night will be presented with the audience on four sides, with genre to take a backseat and new talent jostling alongside established artists. Each night will see three acts taking part with a headliner, brand new act, “and a one off solo spot”, Nelson says. He will also DJ at the end of each night. The Cockpit Jazz In The Round sessions will see Orphy Robinson with Steve Williamson and Pat Thomas; Shabaka Hutchings; Jason Yarde’s Wah Trio; and the Arun Ghosh Quartet topping the first four bills running through to April. The Cinematic Orchestra’s Stuart McCallum, Andrew McCormack (of MY Duo), Yazz Ahmed, Lewis Wright (Empirical) and Dave Mannington are also to gig at the sessions.
– Stephen Graham