Fans of bassists in all their many forms are in for a groove-filled, bass-driven couple of months.
Following last year’s sold-out shows at Scala, Ronnie Scott’s and the Roundhouse, Snarky Puppy return to London for their biggest ever UK show featuring founder and bassist, Michael League. Hot on their heels is Marcus Miller with a UK-wide tour of his new album, Afrodeezia.
November begins with an Esperanza Spalding show unveiling her new project, Emily’s D+Evolution. This then leads into EFG London Jazz Festival which is a feast of all things bass.
Eddie Gomez joins the Britten Sinfonia to walk the fine, infinitely fascinating line between classical and jazz. Founder member of the hugely influential Weather Report Miroslav Vitous makes a long-awaited return to London with the award-winning pianist and composer Emil Viklický. Jasper Høiby’s Phronesis will be celebrating 10 years with a special concert with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band conducted by Julian Argüelles — all three of these bassists appear at Milton Court.
Dave Holland appears twice in the festival, in an extremely rare solo show at Wigmore Hall and as part of the Kenny Wheeler tribute at Cadogan Hall. Arild Andersen brings a new group packed with young talent to celebrate his 70th birthday and Shri Sriram melts Indian classical with the massive sound of a brass band.
A multitude of fabulous bassists appear across the festival from Gary Crosby in Lush Life to upcoming European talent Stéphane Kerecki — it even reaches into the cinema programme with a feature on Jaco Pastorius.
Bass is back.
