The award winning jazz venue of 2018 has yet another stellar line-up with an exciting and varied array of artists taking centre stage for the next few weeks up until the end of January. All events take place every Wednesday from 8pm ’til late.
5th December: Jiannis Pavlidis Trio
A return for a phenomenal Swedish-born guitarist Jiannis Pavlidis, with a brilliant trio which features Martin Longhawn on organ, and Luke Flowers (Cinematic Orchestra) on drums. Jiannis has performed around the world, touring and recording with some real legends, including the likes of David Liebman, Adam Nussbaum, and Greg Hutchinson. This is a classic line-up playing burning contemporary jazz, full of heavy grooves, funk, and harmonic sophistication.
12th December: Asaf Sirkis and Sylwia Bialas Duet
Something really different, atmospheric and incredibly beautiful; a brand new collaboration between drummer Asaf Sirkis, widely known for his work with Tim Garland, Jacob Collier, Gwilym Simcock, Larry Coryell (and many others), and extraordinary Polish singer, Sylwia Bialas. Bringing improvisation together with folk music, jazz, south Indian, and groove influences, and mixed with a wide pallet of different and rare instruments sounds, they’re set to record their debut album in 2019. With Sylwia Bialas – vocals, waterphone
Asaf Sirkis – drums, percussion, konnakol (south indian vocal percussion).
19th December: Vipertime
Emerging from the vibrant Leeds scene, Vipertime mix spiritual jazz and post punk to create energetic improvised music, combining inspiration in the music of 70s Addis Ababa and 60s Detroit, and the likes of Mulatu Astatke, Yusef Lateef, Polar Bear, The Stooges and Pharoah Sanders. With Ben Powling (Mansion of Snakes, World Service Project) – Saxophone, Matías Reed – Bass, Charlie Grimwood – Drums, Patrick Morgan – Drums. Vipertime featured recently on Gilles Peterson’s recent BBC Radio 6 UK jazz special, and look set to make a big impression in 2019.
9th January: Helena Kay’s KIM Trio
A really special start to 2019 with a tenor sax player that we’ve been looking forward to presenting for some time, a musician with an incredible sound and brimming with energy and rich melodic ideas, Helena Kay (winner Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year 2015, Peter Whittingham Award 2017), is joined by a great trio featuring Fergus Ireland (double bass) and David Ingamells (drums). They come to us following appearances at London Jazz Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival and on BBC Radio 3’s Jazz Now programme. Interactive, swinging, inventive and lyrical music inspired by the likes of Sonny Rollins, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Melissa Aldana and Larry Goldings, and playing original and classic tunes. Don’t miss this gig!
16th January: Thelonious Monk Tribute featuring Aaron Casserly Stewart
A great singer with a wonderful voice, Aaron Casserly Stewart. Originally from the US, and former singer with the three time Grammy Award-winning the Sounds of Blackness, Aaron has made Sheffield his home, and for this gig he will be paying a very personal tribute to the music of the great jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, using the incredible lyrics of legendary jazz vocalist Jon Hendricks, and Sally Swisher. Bringing this wonderful music to life, Aaron will be joined by a band of the finest Sheffield-based talents, featuring Errol Francis – piano, Kent Roach (Montuno) – sax, Johnny Wood – bass, Paul Lawson – drums.
23rd January: Johnny Hunter Quartet
A welcome return for an energetic and creative drummer with his delightfully explorative and always so musical quartet, featuring Graham South (Beats & Pieces) on trumpet, Mark Hanslip (Outhouse, Nostalgia 77, Steve Lacy, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Brookmeyer) on tenor sax, Seth Bennett (Sloth Racket, Metamorphic) on double bass. Johnny’s quartet have performed at Ronnie Scott’s, Kings Place, and at the London and Manchester Jazz Festivals. Expressive music simmering with adventure and freedom
30th January: Jon Shenoy and Sam Dunn
We bring together an intimate and swinging duet of two of the best players on their respective instruments in the UK; tenor sax and clarinet player Jon Shenoy, is joined by guitarist Sam Dunn, until recently based in Sheffield, and making a very welcome return. A lyrical and contemporary sax player with a warm tone, Jon’s playing has earned critical praise across the board, with appearances in the bands of Ivo Neame, Claire Martin, and Bad Ass Brass, as well as at the North Sea Jazz Festival, and Ronnie Scotts. He’s perfectly matched here with guitarist Sam Dunn (Perpetual Motion Machine, Judy Carmichael, Howard Alden), another really swinging musician. Both bring a genuine command of the history of the music, tied to a contemporary approach, and will surely create a really special vibe, tailor-made for our cosy backroom venue at The Lescar.
Head here for tickets to any of these events.
