Band name: Partisans

Gig date	Friday January 22, 2010
Box	01223 511511     Buy online
Description	Since 1996 Partisans has been thrilling audiences with its energetic performances of tightly knit themes and groove-based sound, bridging the gap between New York swing, European improv and UK jam band. Partisans are a real band where the combination of each member's influences feeds a genuine creative spark generating huge excitement and energy. In summer '09 Partisans released 'By Proxy', their 4th album and a testament to their maturity and continuing inventiveness as composers and musicians. A great set of original tunes is caught live and at full throttle in the studio, beautifully engineered by Philip Bagenal at London's Eastcote Studios. Partisans cook up a trademark shot of gritty be-bop and hard bop, early electric Miles, ballads with sustained delicacy, rock riffs mixed with P-Funk grooves and with fresh departures into electronica notably on Thad Kelly's distinctive remix of Duke Ellington's 'Prelude to a Kiss'. The richly lyrical and strongly melodic compositions written by Robson and Siegel provide the framework and starting point, underpinned by the rock solid, freewheeling and supercharged rhythm section of Kelly and Calderazzo. “Partisans’ long expected masterpiece, ‘By Proxy’ is one of the most exciting albums to be released on either side of the Atlantic in 2009” Allaboutjazz, June 09 http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=33153 “punchy as hell…Thoroughly original, thoroughly of its time and … with all the time changes and timbral excitement, it has some real beauty to it too.” The Jazz Breakfast http://thejazzbreakfast.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/disc-of-the-day-04-07-09/ "By Proxy has all the power and personality needed to keep you coming back, the playing is superb… This is totally a group sound and identity… Words and phrases such as 'hard edged' and 'high energy' are often bandied around but here they apply, and the sheer power and joyous swing that the rhythm section sustain throughout these nine tracks give the record much of its fire and edge" Jazzwise June 2009
Gig time	7:30 pm
Band_name	Partisans
Artist website	http://www.partisans.org.uk
Artists	Phil Robson guitar/Julian Siegel reeds/Thaddeus Kelly bass/Gene Calderazzo drums
Venue	Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB4 0AQ
Price (non-members)	£ 16.00
Price (members/concessions)	£ 12.00

Band name: Mick Hutton Group

Gig date	Friday December 4, 2009
Box	01223 511511     Buy online
Description	"Mick Hutton is one of Europe's finest bass players" Steve Rubie 606 Club. He has worked with Bill Bruford, Django Bates and Humphrey Lyttelton. After a hand injury that prevented him from playing double bass, he emerged as a composer and band-leader with the all star band Boat Rockers. The Mick Hutton Group is a continuation of this, with Mick showing his multi-instrumental talents on Steel Pan and Cuatro as well as electric bass. Pianist Mark Edwards has had a diverse career working with Carleen Anderson, Bryan Spring, Bobby Wellins, Paul Weller, Andy Panayi is one of the most popular saxophonists in the UK. He has appeared with many great artists: John Dankworth, Abdullah Ibrahim, Louis Bellson Freddie Hubbard, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Sting etc. Jazz pianist Barry Green has had a diverse career working with Martin Speake and leads his own trio. Drummer Paul Robinson has had a glttering career, with stars such as Van Morrison and jazz luminary Jan Hammer. For 19 years he toured with Nina Simone, he has also recorded with Paul McCartney, The Art of Noise with Rod Stewart. "Not only is Hutton a versatile writer, but he's a fine steel-pan player who takes the instrument away from its usual Caribbean comfort zone into a multifaceted context that combines elements of swing, funk and free improvisation with, at times, electrionic textures to broaden the aural landscape" John Kelman Arts Picture House members £15. Student standby £8
Gig time	7:30 pm
Band_name	Mick Hutton Group
Artist website	http://www.myspace.com/mickhutton
Artists	Mick Hutton fretless bass guitar, steel pan, cuatro/Andy Panayi sax,flute/Barry Green piano and Paul Robinson drums
Venue	Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB4 0AQ
Price (non-members)	£ 16.00
Price (members/concessions)	£ 12.00

Band name: Amina Figarova

Gig date	Friday November 13, 2009
Box	01223 511511     Buy online
Description	Amina Figarova is without doubt one of the most productive jazz composers and talented jazz piano players from Europe. Now living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Amina started playing piano and composing at a very early age. She studied as a classical concert pianist at the Baku Conservatory, jazz performance at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Amina Figarova performs with her own group at many jazz festivals and jazz clubs around the world, such as The North Sea Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Capetown International Jazzfestival, Salvador Bahia Jazz Festival, Brasil, JakArt Festival, Indonesia, Yoshi´s in Oakland, CA, Blue Note jazz club New York, and has given concerts in Israel, Europe, United Arabs Emirates, Mexico, USA, Azerbaijan, and many others. Recorded her first CD 'Attraction' in 1994, a start of a wonderful career as pianist and composer, a CD with all compositions and arrangements of Amina, almost all the music on her CDs are composed by herself. In 1998 she was invited to study at the Thelonious Monk Jazz Colony in Aspen, Colorado. A summer camp for the most talented young musicians. That same year she released her second album "Another Me", a mix of funk, fusion and R&B, influenced by jazz, reggae and latin music, again with all original compositions. In March 2000 she was invited as artist in residence for the Dmitri Matheny Home Season in the San Fransisco Bay Area. That is how the Amina Figarova International Band got started, now released two live recorded CDs. Also the colobaration with Kim Prevost and Bill Solley from New Orleans resulted in the recording "On Canal Street". Amina is touring and performing often with Denise Jannah. Amina performed with the American All Stars Band with James Moody, Nathan Davis, Claudio Roditi, Larry Corryell, and Wynard Harper. At the moment Amina tours with two different groups. Her septet features other wonderful musicians from The Netherlands and Belgium, and her Amina Figarova International Quintet. "Come escape with me" is recorded in the Netherlands with Marcel Reijs on trumpet, Kurt van Herck on tenor sax, Tom Beek on alto sax, Wiro Mahieu on bass, Chris Strik on drums and Amina's husband Bart Platteau on a whole scala of flutes. The music on this Munich Records CD is a great example of Amina´s musical and compositional talents. She takes you to unknown areas to let you taste a different atmosphere, always with her own style and magical swing. "Come escape with me" is allready for three weeks in the Top 10 of the Jazzweek airplay chart with # 7 as highest ranking! Arts Picture House members £15 and Students £12 - Student standby £8
Gig time	7:30 pm
Band_name	Amina Figarova
Artist website	http://www.aminafigarova.com
Artists	Amina Figarova piano/Bart Platteau flutes/Ernie Hammes trumpet/Jeroen bass/Chris Strik drums
Venue	Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB4 0AQ
Price (non-members)	£ 16.00
Price (members/concessions)	£ 12.00

Band name: Keith Tippett/Julie Tippett - Couple in Spirit

Gig date	Friday October 16, 2009
Box	01223 511511     Buy online
Description	Presented with distinctive warmth, Tippett’s wholly improvised duo performances with vocalist wife Julie Tippetts (who is likely to play thumb piano, wind chimes, recorder, poetry, etc., as the mood suits) bear evidence of how a longstanding artistic chemistry can create a special musical magic. We never rehearse together or talk about what we’re going to do. You’re living on your nerve ends. It’s like being in a dream and yet awake at the same time because you have to respond as well as to instigate and your whole body is tuned to going for the magic – Julie Tippett. For over thirty years Keith Tippett has been at the forefront of contemporary European jazz and new music — as a pianist, composer, bandleader, band member and musical educator. Tippett’s work ranges from his unique free improvisation as a solo pianist and with duos and small groups such as the quartet Mujician, to compositions for, and performances with, contemporary classical groups (including the Composers’ Ensemble, Kokoro and the Kreutzer and Elysian String Quartets). Keith continues to perform in many ensembles as well as solo and in duo with Julie Tippett throughout the World. Arts Picture House members £15. Student standby £8
Gig time	7:30 pm
Band_name	Keith Tippett/Julie Tippett - Couple in Spirit
Artist website	http://www.mindyourownmusic.co.uk
Artists	Keith Tippett piano, woodblocks, music boxes/Julie Tippett voice, percussion
Venue	Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB4 0AQ
Price (non-members)	£ 16.00
Price (members/concessions)	£ 12.00

Band name: Mike Westbrook Band 'Off Abbey Road'

Gig date	Wednesday October 7, 2009
Box	01223 511511     Buy online
Description	The Re-Surfacing of Off Abbey Road Mike Westbrook's 'OFF ABBEY ROAD' project is based on the Beatles' 'ABBEY ROAD' album -- a re-creation by contemporary musicians of one of the master works of pop music. Premiered in Reggio Emilia, Italy in December 1988 as part of a Festival celebrating The Beatles, 'OFF ABBEY ROAD' was an instant success with audiences and critics. From 1989-91 the Westbrook Band toured 'OFF ABBEY ROAD' throughout France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, appearing in many of the major European jazz festivals. A particular highlight was the 1990 Montreal Festival where the Band played an open-air concert to an audience of 30,000.'OFF ABBEY ROAD' made its UK debut with two performances at the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road, London, which were filmed for German TV, Recorded 'live' at the 1989 Willisau Jazz Festival, the 'OFF ABBEY ROAD' album was released in 1990 on ENJA Record's new TipToe label. In 1995 'OFF ABBEY ROAD' was revived for a Beatles Festival in Trento, Italy. During '96 there were performances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, France and the UK. The Mike Westbrook Band, specially formed for 'OFF ABBEY ROAD', brings together some of the outstanding jazz performers associated with Westbrook's music in recent years. The current re-surfacing of Mike Westbrook's OFF ABBEY ROAD coincides with the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' ABBEY ROAD album." Arts Picture House members £15. Student standby £8
Gig time	8:00 pm
Band_name	Mike Westbrook Band 'Off Abbey Road'
Artist website	http://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk
Artists	Kate Westbrook voice, tenor horn/John Winfield voice/Pete Whyman, Alan Wakeman saxophones/Brian Godding guitar/Andy Grappy tuba/Richard Newby drums and Mike Westbrook piano
Venue	The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge CB1 7GX
Price (non-members)	£ 16.00
Price (members/concessions)	£ 12.00

Band name: John Taylor solo piano

Gig date	Friday June 12, 2009
Box	01223 511511     Buy online
Description	Multi-award winning pianist John Taylor is widely regarded as the finest of his UK generation. A subtle pianist with brilliant technical command John has been at the forefront of the Contemporary European Jazz scene for almost four decades. He first came to prominence in the late 60’s working with two iconic saxophonists, Alan Skidmore and John Surman, before moving on to become Cleo Lane’s pianist. At this time, during the 1970’s, John was not only establishing his own working bands but also worked regularly at Ronnie Scott’s Club which culminating in him joining Ronnie’s Quintet, with whom he worked through to the late 70’s. It was in 1977 that John formed the trio 'Azimuth' with two of the finest contemporary jazz musicians in Europe at the time, singer Norma Winstone and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. With their classic recordings on ECM the group rapidly established an International reputation and through the 80’s John’s burgeoning International career saw him perform with the likes of Jan Garbarek, Enrico Rava, Gil Evans, Lee Konitz and Charlie Mariano. Not only was his remarkable piano playing earning him respect World wide amongst audiences and musicians alike but by the 90’s he was also establishing himself as a composer and arranger of note. He continued his International career with recordings on ECM with, amongst many others, Peter Erskin and Palle Danielsson as well as ongoing projects with John Surman, with whom he still works on a regular basis. In July 2002 John received the BBC Jazz Award for 'Best New Work' for his 'The Green Man Suite' that he toured with US bassist and drummer Marc Johnson and Joey Baron along with the Creative Jazz Orchestra. Appearing on over 80 CD’s as well as regular Club and Festival performances John has continued to perform at the highest level. He has been Professor of Jazz Piano at the Cologne College of Music since 1993 and became a Lecturer in Jazz at York University in 2005. Arts PicturHouse members £16, Student standby £8
Gig time	7:30 pm
Band_name	John Taylor solo piano
Artist website	http://www.johntaylorjazz.com
Artists	John Taylor
Venue	Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB4 0AQ
Price (non-members)	£ 17.00
Price (members/concessions)	£ 13.00