Jazz breaking news: Wynton Marsalis, Andy Sheppard’s Saxophone Massive and Arun Ghosh Help Put Jazz Centre Stage at BT River Of Music
Friday, July 20, 2012
Jazz will be a prominent feature among a vast pan-global of styles in what’s shaping up to be a marathon set of pre-Olympics concerts as part of the BT River of music festival this weekend.
With the weather now finally looking up the mainly outdoor events will take place from midday until dusk on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July. The first night sees Wynton Marsalis and his Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra performing at the Tower of London, on a bill with leading UK-based latin jazz percussionist Roberto Pla, and Naturally 7, the impressive male a capella group who explore an exciting mix of soul, jazz, gospel and hip hop styles. Trumpeter Byron Wallen will be at the new London Pleasure Gardens as a special guest with Nigerian vocal star King Sunny Ade and His African Beats.
On Sunday The Asia Stage in Battersea Park will host extraordinary tabla player Zakir Hussain, on a bill that also includes charismatic London-based clarinettist Arun Ghosh. The stunning location of Somerset House will be used to its fullest extent as Andy Sheppard’s 200-strong Saxophone Massive (pictured) fill the space on Sunday night. Conducted by Orphy Robinson and Chris Sharkey and including soloists Celine Bonacina, James Morton and Shabaka Hutchings, the concert will also feature the premiere of a site-specific electronic soundscape by Andy Sheppard.
Other strong performances are expected to come from Brazilian candomble superstar Carlinhos Brown for the Sunday show at Tower of London stage, joining Ondatrópica and star of the garifuna diaspora, Aurelio Martinez. Dazzling Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca – who recently toured the UK to great acclaim – will perform on Saturday night as will Soul Caribbean led by Jazz Jamaica trumpeter Kevin Robinson, on a bill topped by disco pop megastars Scissor Sisters.
Other notable performances an the Europe Stages, in Somerset House and Trafalga Square include the popular Penguin Café (Somerset House, 21 July), and Amira, Kathryn Tickell, Brazz Brother, Ludovico Einaudi and Matthew Herbert among others (Trafalgar Square, 22 July). The Oceania Stage at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich (22 July), features Arthur Jeffes and 9 Bach while the Africa Stage in the new Docklands London Pleasure Gardens (22 July), has Staff Benda Bilili, Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, Shingai Shoniwa, Muntu Valdo, Angélique Kidjo, Hugh Masekela among many more.
For tickets and more info on artists and line up visit www.btriverofmusic.com
– Lizy Exell