JAZZ AT CHARLTON HOUSE TWO NIGHTS AGO...

A fascinating mix of martial arts, music and poetry...that was Friday night, 21st September, at Charlton House, Greenwich...

The bill was headlined by jazz singer Sarah Moule in her show : Femmes Fatales; the honey voice transported us through history by standards from different times. By her side was amazing pianist, composer and husband Simon Wallace, a man with a long successful history in show business...
Watch a minute and  half of their show here...

The gig began with a newly created jazz duet combo- with Andre Mathurin on bass and Robert Stekelenburg on piano...see a brief moment taken from their 15 minutes wonderful symbiosis here...

MUSIC MEMORIES: GIL SCOTT-HERON'S LONDON GIG TWELVE YEARS AGO...

Recalling Gil Scott-Heron's London gig in 1999...
Back then most of us weren't as active on the net as we are now. I have upgraded some of the info below:

Jazz Café, Camden Town, North West London, has been his favoured concert venue for years.
We have been told the event shall start 9 p.m. but 25 minutes are gone. To make things worse it is a “standing” gig. Half way through the concert some people (especially ladies)massage their lower backs. If you want to sit, you have to book a table upstairs “and eat” says the regulations. Many of us have come to see a great musician, not dine.

Gil Scott Heron (left) and the blogger after his gig at Jazz Cafe, 1999.
Photo by : Amita Tiwari Macha

Nobody announces him.
There is no hint, either. The funk music from more than four JBL speakers is still on. Sometimes James Brown; sometimes Chaka Khan…we are in African American territory here.
A man with a cotton hat slides quietly down the stairs- there are ropes – barriers …so he steps under like someone doing something forbidden. The “I don’t care vibe” is on- it will colour the gig from start to end.

Jazz Poetry Greenwich 19th November, 2010

Jazz horn player, Mark Nightinghale, are amongst featured performers.
PART OF THE ONGOING LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2010...
...promises to be a night with a variety of entertainers; ranging from South African jazz player, Claude Deppa to one of UK's leading Performance poets, Steve Tasane... and Congolese guitaristKawele Mutimanwa...
Free entry.
See You Tube Advert:

More details on the recently created Global Fusion blog

JAZZ POETRY NIGHTS NEW SITE

DO you love jazz music? Would you like to jam or play with some of the most creative, amazing musicians in town? Like to see brilliant and gifted spoken word performers and witty poets? Do you rap in style? Live in London? Are you visiting this interesting city?
For reviews, pictures and the latest Jazz Poetry Nights London info visit our new site, here.

JAZZ POETRY NIGHTS LONDON - St Patricks Day

Jazz Poetry Nights at the Pangea Project had an unusual edge to it. Plenty of intense surprises, wonderful performers and a loyal, sincere, attentive audience. The best thing about the Pangea Jazz Poetry Nights is the appreciative audience and a supportive club management.

Jonny Virgo raps and toasts backed by Ogmios (bells), Andre Mathurin (bass) and several other musicians, jamming and playing during this climaxing moment towards the end of the exciting night, Wednesday, 17th.
(Pic by Ursula T)



Ursula T the inicisive German poet, philosopher and writer works out one of her favourite pieces : "Sea Weed" backed by Stephano on guitar, host Freddy (piano) and Andre Mathurin (bass) not in picture.
(Pic by Antonio Mamede)

The evening began with an intro of Abiye biye (Supermodel) by Freddy and Andre on bass; then Ogmios whose deep poetry had the audience chuckling and cheering especially when he called out the most interesting point of the evening. An hour earlier an elderly Russian lady had walked into the club with two young friends and was especially attracted by the house piano.
"It is Russian and I am Russian," She said, proudly.
Her name was Elsa and we quickly found out she was an amazing pianist. Ogmios' lyrical wit, his hip hop delivery blended surrealistically with Elsa. It was even more interesting when she played these East European melodies to accompany Ogmios poem about Medieval times and modern specifics.
This is what Jazz is all about. Surprises and instant improvisation.


Tunes Under Fire.A powerful unusual duet: psychedelic jazz electric guitar by Doug Kinloch
and James Gilbert (Sax)....
Their set was assisted by house bassist, Andre Mathurin and Brother Niyi on percussion....
(Pic by David Green )

Brother Niyi, the local Stoke Newington writer, teacher and poet, is a veteran of the London performance poetry scene. He always brings something special to such occasions. On the said night he strolled in, huge heavy African drum on his shoulder and he did his many trademark things, one of which is that "wake up" call:
"Everybody say Yeah Yeah..."
Djembe beat, social, political, psychological lyrics and a reminder of the Nigerian, Afro cultural jazz background. He reminded us what
Afro Beat means ("go on google it...") by not forgetting to give tribute to one of his heroes the great Fela Anukulapo Kuti .