2019 marks a whole host of important anniversaries in the world of jazz. Here's some of the celebrations during EFG London Jazz Festival this year
ECM
Since the earliest days of the Festival, we have been inspired by ECM Records and we're delighted to celebrate their 50th birthday with these shows
Marcin Wasilewski Trio + Fred Thomas | Friday 15 November | Cadogan Hall
The 25th anniversary of the Marcin Wasilewski Trio, the 50th birthday of ECM Records, 50 years after Krzysztof Komeda’s death and a year since Tomasz Stańko left us, this concert will offer a journey reflecting the emotions, the experience and the respect
Nik Bärtsch & Sophie Clements | Friday 15 November | Barbican
ECM artist Nik Bärtsch joins with visual artist Sophie Clements to fuse solo piano with sculpture, film and installation design
Julia Hülsmann Quartet | Sunday 17 November | Purcell Room, 2.30pm
Joined by long-time collaborators Marc Muellbauer (bass) and Heinrich Köbberling (drums), as well as tenor saxophonist Uli Kempendorff, Julia’s brings material from her seventh album on ECM
Jan Garbarek Group | Sunday 17 November | Royal Festival Hall
Celebrating his own 50 year career, ECM artist Jan Garbarek is joined by pianist and keyboarder Rainer Brüninghaus, the Brazilian bassist Yuri Daniel and the Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu
Grammy Award-winning composer, saxophonist, and producer Joe Lovano features in this special ECM evening with Trio Tapestry
Other connected shows include: Hermeto Hermeto Hermeto, Steve Swallow with Christian Muthspiel, Thelonious, and more
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BLUE NOTE
One of the most influential and style-defining jazz labels turns 80 this year and top jazz artists bring hits from its catalogue to the Festival
Total Refreshment Centre and Blue Note: Artists & Repertoire | Friday 15 November | Queen Elizabeth Hall
Lex Blondin unearths catchy yet overlooked Blue Note tunes, and enrolled the cream of the crop of the UK jazz renaissance to re-work them – including Emma-Jean Thackray, the Free Movement Ensemble, and a TRC Super Group made up of members of Maisha, the Rosie Turton Quartet, and more
Blue Note Special: "It Must Schwing!" | Monday 18 November | Cadogan Hall
Siggi Loch, founder of ACT label, invites Benny Golson, Axel Zwingenberger, Émile Parisien, Theo Croker, Glenn Harris, Yaron Herman, Joe Martin and Gerald Cleaver
Other shows include: Denys Baptiste celebrating Joe Henderson’s Blue Note albums, Way Out West present a double bill of Blue Note Legacy and Great British Jazz Composers, and more
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ART BLAKEY CENTENARY
As we celebrate the centenary of Art Blakey's birthday, the Festival has two special events at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 23 November, honouring his legacy
Jean Toussaint, 5pm
The Grammy-winning saxophonist, voted Instrumentalist of the Year in the 2019 Jazz FM awards, first came to prominence when he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1982. He performs with a cracking band featuring Byron Wallen on trumpet, Dennis Rollins trombone, pianist Andrew McCormack and a rhythm section of Daniel Casimir on bass and Shane Forbes on drums
Ralph Peterson - The Messenger Legacy, 8pm
Drummer Ralph Peterson Jr. assembles an all-star group to pay tribute to The Jazz Messengers, the prolific big band collective led by his mentor, the late Art Blakey. The band features Peterson on percussion, saxophonists Robin Eubanks and Bill Pierce, bassist Essiet Essiet, pianist Zaccai Curtis, and trumpeter Brian Lynch.
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RONNIE SCOTT'S
One of the oldest jazz clubs in the world celebrates 60 years of the best of jazz this year. Shows at EFG London Jazz Festival include jazz, funk, soul, R&B, and bluegrass with The Wooten Brothers, bassist and vocalist Tal Wilkenfeld, Soul Family vocalist Natalie Williams with the Amika String Quartet, Brazilian composer and bandleader Hermeto Pascoal in a rare club date, virtuosic pianist Harold López-Nussa, sought after trumpeter Keyon Harrold, and award-winning bassist Ben Williams. Click here for all Festival shows at Ronnie Scott's
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ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO
The champions of the Great Black Music celebrate their 50th anniversary with a tribute to Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman and Malachi Favors Maghostut on Saturday 23 November at Barbican
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BAUHAUS
Bauhaus 100th | Sunday 24 November | Barbican
2019 marks the 100th anniversary of a relvolution in the philosophy of aesthetics. Bauhaus, with its values of minimalism, functionality and liberal modernism, continues to be influential. Our celebration includes performances from pianist Micheal Wollny playing opposite the mechanics of the ‘phonola’, a music machine from 1920’s, Émile Parisien (saxophone), Leafcutter John (electronics) and Max Stadtfeld (drums) ‘playing’ the materials of the Bauhaus – wood, glass, metal, clay, stone and fabric – and the wild dance music of the legendary Bauhaus Orchestra, percussionist of Brandt Brauer Frick, Erased Tapes' Daniel Brandt balances modern classical and dance music with Eternal Something, and an special set from minimalist trio Dawn of Midi of technical virtuosity and the meticulous harmonic texture is an immaculate soundtrack to this Bauhaus cosmos
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CLEVELAND WATKISS & TREVOR WATTS BIRTHDAYS
Join a jazz legend for their birthday party - award-winning jazz vocalist Cleveland Watkiss is 60 this year, whilst saxophonist Trevor Watts turns 80.
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ROWLAND SUTHERLAND: Basket of Light
Pentangle's classic album Basket of Light turns 50 this year, which is lovingly re-imagined by jazz and classical flautist and arranger Rowland Sutherland at Purcell Room on Sunday 24 November
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SOWETO KINCH: The Black Peril
Soweto Kinch presents The Black Peril on Friday 22 November at EartH, 100 years on from the civil unrest following the Armistice Declaration of 1918. Inspired by ragtime, proto-jazz, West Indian folk music and classical black composers of the period, The Black Peril revisits this time of social change and its connection to modern forms of hip hop and trap. He'll be joined by members of London Symphony Orchestra, Chicago jazz giants Makaya McCraven and Junius Paul as well as dance choreographed by rising star Jade Hackett
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Other significant anniversaries include Get The Blessing 20th birthday, 90 years since Chet Baker's birth celebrated by Lorne Lofsky + Lauren Bush, Nick Tomalin & Allison Neale play Dave Brubeck's Time Out on its 60th anniversary year, and many more. Click here for the full EFG London Jazz Festival listing so far