Summer Jazz Weekenders

About

Dates: 12- 13 and 19- 20 August

Venue: Peninsula Gardens, Greenwich Peninsula
Visit this new London jazz festival and discover top UK contemporary bands to excite and challenge your musical self. Summer Jazz Weekenders takes place in Greenwich Peninsula’s beautiful outdoor amphitheatre in Peninsula Gardens. Two bands a day for four days of music over two weekends.
Free of charge and open to all.
Summer Jazz Weekenders will feature MI-SOUL Radio DJs, live contemporary circus performances by Upswing, Ping Pong fun with Pongathon, an area of workshops, food and relaxation for families by MOTHERBRUNCH, artist workshops with Honeyscribe and street food by Craft London.
UK jazz today experiments and takes risks, drawing on an eclectic mix of musical influences from hiphop, folk, electronic music, rock, soul and music from all over the world. Experience the diversity of the modern UK jazz scene through a mixture of established and fresh musicians with a variety of musical and cultural influences.
The festival has been commissioned by Greenwich Peninsula with jazz impresario Harry Christelis.

Line up:
12th August 1pm-3pm
African Tree
A wonderful regional Brazilian project by Marcelo Andrade, an award winning UK-based Brazilian multi-instrumentalist. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo studied violin, piano and guitar as well as singing in the well-established choir "Canarinhos de Petrópolis" before moving to London in 1989 to continue his education. Since then he has established himself as one of the most creative and influential musicians on the UK/Brazilian scene, including work with numerous international artists, from Brazilian icon Milton Nascimento to Corinne Bailey Rae.
12th August 3pm-5pm
TwoSpeak
TwoSpeak is Ronan Perrett on Saxophone, Ben Lee on Guitar, Joseph Costi on Keys and Ben Brown on Drums. They are a London based band that has grown from exploring different ways of using rhythm in writing and playing music. The band's music draws inspiration from Cornish culture, from huge landscapes to historic events to its rich musical heritage, and the group’s sound is a groove centred blend of jazz, folk and world music.
13th August 1pm-3pm Machimbombo Sam Fusing west African rhythms with modern jazz sensibilities, Machimbombo (pronounced ‘Mah-shim-bombo’) delivers new music from guitarist, Pedro Velasco. These original compositions spring to life through infectiously fun grooves, east and south African infused harmony, and playful improvisation. Drawing on his family connections with Mozambique, his Portuguese roots, and the musical meditative-style of Frisell, all of Machimbombo’s material stems from Velasco’s original musings. But individuality and musical freedom are an integral part of it, too. Every song is developed in coffee-infused rehearsals, where new arrangements emerge as each player adds their own interpretive style and expression.
13th August 3pm-5pm
Ferg Ireland Trio
New contemporary jazz trio, featuring 3 of the most well-known and in demand UK jazz players on the scene. Although this new band is in its infancy, the players themselves (Ferg Ireland, Nathaniel Facey, & James Maddren) are very well established and have worked with many huge international artists.
19th August 1pm-3pm
Tom Barford Quartet
Featuring an outstanding range of talented, London based musicians this exciting group perform Tom's most recent set of emotive and imaginative compositions. Tom draws on compositional influences such as Joe Lovano, The Golden Age of Steam, Mark Lockheart, Brad Mehldau and Chris Potter to create a set of music unlike anything on the London Scene today.
19th August 3pm-5pm
James Allsopp Organ Trio
One of the most well established UK saxophonists, joined by two other big names from the scene Tim Giles and Ross Stanley. All three of these guys always create a stir around town when they're playing, with many people watching closely and following what they'll be doing next!
20th August 1pm-3pm
Escape Hatch
Escape Hatch is a new collaboration between MOBO-award winning pianist Ivo Neame, Italian double bass virtuoso Andrea di Biase and drummer of the moment Dave Hamblett.
The name of the group is a tribute to the power that music has to transport listeners and performers alike to the antipodes of the mind. The material is a mixture of di Biase and Neame's compositions, and the trio explores a hugevariety of musical landscapes with characteristic verve and integrity. There are influences from classical composers such as Ligeti and Messaien, which nestle alongside polyrhythmic structures that are reminiscent of Vijay Iyer and Steve Lehman. The group has also performed with the legendary Kenny Wheeler as a guest.
20th August 3pm-5pm
Bahla
Drawing on the broad spectrum of Jewish folk traditions, Bahla have found a space to create new music by bringing characteristics of Yiddish Art Songs, North African Rhythms and Liturgical Melodies into a melting pot along with influences such as Polar Bear, Shai Maestro and Radiohead. Following their debut gig at the BBC Proms Lates, they have kept a busy schedule including London Jazz Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival, Wigmore Hall as well as recording their debut album 'Imprints'.
MI-SOUL
13th and 20th August Until 9 pm
MI-Soul Radio DJs will play the best in classic to cutting edge, rare collector’s soul and uptempo.