Preview: Norwich Jazz Weekender

The Jazz Weekender brings two days of top quality jazz to the Fine City of Norwich, including sets from Claire Martin, Enrico Tomasso and Kit Downes' new project, The Enemy

Bruce Lindsay

The Jazz Weekender, organised by Simon Brown of Norwich Jazz Club, makes its second appearance this summer. The weekend in question, 29 and 30 August, will feature 14 shows, from big band swing to a Balkan-inspired piano trio, Cuban classics and songbook standards, a celebration of George Shearing and an innovative new band led by one of Norfolk's finest jazz exports. The Jazz Weekend will bring some fine music to this fine city.

Brown says "The term 'jazz' can mean different things to different people. I hope that from amongst the 14 shows we're staging at this year's event, music fans will find shows to enjoy that align with their sense of the genre - and maybe even discover something new." Twelve concerts will take place in the club room of OPEN, a city centre music venue. Two Sunday night shows, by vocalists Georgina Jackson and Gabrielle Ducomble (pictured right), will be hosted cabaret-style in the Redwell Bar of the Maddermarket Theatre, a five-minute walk from the main venue.


Local favourites DixieMix kick festivities off at midday on Saturday with their trademark mix of Dixieland and good humour. Bebop comes courtesy of the Damon Brown Quintet, with Leon Greening on piano and Matt Skelton on drums. Skelton also appears as part of the Dave Newton Trio with bassist Jeremy Brown, in the company of singer Claire Martin. Sarabanda, an Anglo Cuban sextet, close the Saturday programme with salsa and son. Partisans will bring their own brand of contemporary jazz with a rockier, experimental edge.

read more: http://www.jazzjournal.co.uk/jazz-latest-news/941/preview-norwich-jazz-weekender