Jazz breaking news: Robert Mitchell launches Leftitude Festival
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Renowned virtuoso pianist Robert Mitchell (pictured), best known for his award-winning Trio and long running group Panacea, launches his Leftitude piano festival this week over two nights at The Forge, London.
The event celebrates the art of left hand-only piano which Mitchell has explored on his latest solo album, The Glimpse, released in February on Whirlwind Records. It shows the sheer variety of music capable of being produced by this singular approach to the piano.
The two nights feature four contrasting stylists from the worlds of jazz and classical music – with Mitchell performing on the second night. These include leading UK improv pianist Pat Thomas (who’s worked with luminaries such as Derek Bailey, Jim O’Rourke and the cream of the London improv scene); Belgian-born pianist Ivo De Greef, who’s a fast rising star of the international jazz scene; and top British contemporary classical pianist, Clare Hammond.
Mitchell aims to raise the profile of this approach to the piano, and is already planning subsequent editions of Leftitude. The inaugural festival will be hosted by one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy, who was born without a right hand but has risen to fame through his virtuosic left-hand only playing; in fact he’s the only graduate of the Royal College Of Music in its history for left hand only piano repertoire. He recently performing at the Paralympics closing ceremony and on the BBC Piano Season Gala Concert, and will interview Hammond and Mitchell on stage during the festival, while he plans to perform at next year’s event. The line up this week is Pat Thomas plus Ivo De Greef on Wednesday 20 March, followed by Claire Hammond plus Robert Mitchell on Thursday 21 March.
For more info go to leftitudefestival.com
– Mike Flynn