EFG LONDON JAZZ FEST & BOPFEST: Leon Greening Sextet - The Music of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers

EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL & BOPFEST

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Leon Greening Sextet - The Music of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers

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RESTAURANT | 6 PM | FREE FOR DINERS

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Dave Warren – Guitar

Julian Bury – Double Bass

HEADLINE PERFORMANCE

JAZZ CLUB | 7 PM

Leon Greening Sextet - The Music of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers 

A celebration of the legacy of the Art Blakey Messengers Sextet

Rounding off BopFest 2018, renowned UK pianist Leon Greening leads a sextet dedicated to one of his musical heroes in a new project, celebrating the music of the great Art Blakey Sextet. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers were one of the most important and influential groups in the history of jazz. Spearheading the hard bop style in jazz from the early 1950's, Blakey lead various incarnations of the group from the drum set right up until his death in 1990. The group was a masterclass for brilliant young jazz talent and it was a true jazz honour to be and have been a 'Jazz Messenger'. Most of Blakey's proteges went on to establish very successful careers leading their own groups.

The idea for this project is to arrange and play some of the Jazz Messenger's lesser known tunes from the band's most important period from 1958 to 1964. This period was especially strong because Blakey had two superlative line ups that provided some of the most classic compositions and soloists. These included the quintet from 1958-1961 famous for 'Moanin' and 'Blues March' which featured Benny Golson on tenor sax, Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bobby Timmons on piano and Jymie Merritt on bass, and then the sextet from late 1961-1964 which featured Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Cedar Walton on piano, Reggie Workman on bass and of course Blakey driving it all from the drum kit. The music performed is taken from albums from that period including 'Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers', 'The Big Beat', 'The Freedom Rider', 'Roots and Herbs', 'The Witch Doctor', 'Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers on Impulse!', 'Mosaic', 'Buhaina's Delight', 'Three Blind Mice', 'Free For All' and 'Indestructible'.

Pianist Leon Greening's hard swinging style has made him a favourite on the jazz scene for over a decade, and he makes no apologies for his adoration of the great bebop pianists, with Wynton Kelly, Bobby Timmons and Bud Powell among his influences.

"Leon simply gathers you up in the energy and momentum of his playing and sweeps you up along with his endlessly inventive improvisations. And yet for all his speed of execution, each note is placed with exact precision, struck with the clarity of pure crystal and weighted with deep emotion. He is a consummate master of his art, using both hands to build cliff-hanging tension. Like a Formula 1 driver he anticipates the road ahead and knows exactly when to change gear and when to hit or ease off on the accelerator. Combining rhythmic subtlety with a fearsome directness of approach, Leon’s playing is spell-bindingly awesome. " 

Trevor Bannister (The Jazz Mann)

Steve Fishwick - Trumpet

Osian Roberts – Tenor Sax

Joe Fenning – Trombone 

Leon Greening – Piano

Connor Chaplin – Bass

Matt Home – Drums

OTHER INFORMATION

GENRES:  BEBOP JAZZ

TICKETS: £16 PER PERSON

STROLLER PASS: £120 PER PERSON

SEE ALL 9 SHOWS (EXCLUDES WORKSHOP)

SEATING IS UN-ALLOCATED AND IS SUBJECT TO 1ST COME, 1ST SERVED BASIS

ONLY BAR FOOD & DRINKS AVAILABLE IN JAZZ CLUB

À LA CARTE DINING AVAILABLE IN THE MAIN RESTAURANT PRIOR TO SHOW