BopFest is a jazz festival run by jazz musicians Nat Steele and Allison Neale, running from Monday November 18th to Sunday 24th 2019 during the EFG London Jazz Festival. It features a week of the best bebop and straight ahead jazz Britain has to offer, with a host of visiting US and European artists complementing the lineups. Hosted at the award winning Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club in central London.
STROLLER TICKET
STROLLER TICKET - SEE ALL GIGS!
If you're a diehard bebopper and want to come to every gig in the BopFest festival, we offer a stroller ticket that grants access to all events (excluding the workshops) for £130, giving an overall discount of £13 on buying the tickets individually.
MONDAY NOV 18
8 PM: Luigi Grasso quartet - uk debut
Luigi Grasso - alto sax
Pasquale Grasso - guitar
Dario di Lecce - bass
Steve Brown - drums
Making their UK debut for the opening night of the BopFest '19 series, alto saxophonist Luigi and guitarist Pasquale Grasso, based in Paris and New York respectively, present an exciting evening of dynamic and swinging music influenced by Charlie Parker and Bud Powell in a quartet format.
The Grasso brothers originally caught the attention of American musicians passing through their native Italy, including the great pianist and educator Barry Harris, and have gone on to develop international recognition for their virtuosity and devotion to further advancing the art and language of bebop. Based in Paris since 2010 and now Hamburg, Luigi has led his transatlantic quartet since 2013. His debut album, ‘Ça Marche’ and its extensive accompanying tour received widespread critical claim. He recorded with his NYC Octet in 2014, leading to the founding of his long-running Greenwich Session large ensemble and its Paris residency.
Based in New York since 2012, Pasquale has been making waves with his translation of the language of Bud Powell and Art Tatum to the guitar, picking up awards and plaudits along the way. Now signed to Sony Masterworks, Pasquale’s profile is set to rise even further with the release of a series of stunning solo EPs through 2019 and beyond.
TUESDSAY NOV 19 (afternoon)
4 PM: Pasquale Grasso - guitar masterclass
On his first ever visit to the UK from New York City, virtuoso guitarist Pasquale Grasso will lead a 2 hour interactive masterclass at BopFest, covering guitar technique, improvisation, solo playing, group playing, and much more.
"The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso. This guy is doing something so amazingly musical and so difficult… his model – which is an incredible model to have – is Bud Powell. He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years. That’s exciting for me.” – Pat Metheny
On his first ever visit to the UK to perform and teach, Pasquale leads a 2 hour masterclass, covering guitar technique, improvisation, solo playing, group playing, and more.
Based in New York City, the 30-year-old guitarist has developed an astounding technique and concept informed by piano and horn pioneers like Powell, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and the classical-guitar tradition. Barry Harris, the world-renowned jazz educator and bebop piano master, became a significant influence when he first met an 8 year old Pasquale in 1998. Harris took Pasquale and his brother, Luigi, under his wing. Over the span of the next 5 years, the Grasso brothers became pillars of Harris’ international workshops and were quickly promoted from mere attendees to instructors for the other students. Pasquale was named Harris' guitar teaching assistant and for the last ten years he has conducted workshops all over the world.
TuesDAY NOV 19 (evening)
8 PM: Pasquale grasso solo / trio
Pasquale Grasso - guitar
Jeremy Brown - bass
Matt Home - drums
Virtuoso bebop guitarist Pasquale Grasso, on his first visit from NYC to the UK to perform, will present a concert of two halves; the 1st, showcasing his prowess as a solo guitarist, as featured on his recent series of EP releases for Sony Masterworks
WedneSDAY NOV 20
8 PM: Mátyás Gayer Piano Trio
Mátyás Gayer - piano
Mátyás Hoefecker - bass
Steve Brown - drums
For the first in a series of 3 gigs during BopFest to feature the classic piano trio format, the young award-winning Hungarian pianist Mátyás Gayer brings his new trio to the UK featuring straight ahead and swinging music from his debut CD Never Ending Story on Fresh Sound New Talent Records.
Stylistically informed by Sonny Clark and Wynton Kelly, his trio will play a selection of his own swinging, straight-ahead arrangements of jazz standards and bebop tunes, along with several compositions by his musical influences, which also include Tommy Flanagan, Cedar Walton and Mulgrew Miller. Mátyás will be joined by another newcomer to the UK jazz scene, fellow Hungarian Mátyás Hofecker on bass.
Winner of the Gramofon Award and twice a Montreux Jazz Piano Competition finalist, Gayer is a regular performer on the European jazz scene. He studied with Louis Hayes and Peter Washington, and was a member of Jim Rotundi's quartet for 2 years. He moved to London in 2018 and has rapidly established himself as a first call sideman and leader.
thursday NOV 21
8 PM: Dave Brubeck's "Time Out" - Nick Tomalin Quartet
Allison Neale - alto sax
Nick Tomalin - piano
Dom Howels - bass
Matt Fishwick - drums
Marking the 60th anniversary of its release, this concert is a reimagining of one of the most iconic jazz albums of all time, Dave Brubeck’s “Time Out”
Released in 1959, Time Out was the first jazz album to sell a million copies. Its exploration of unusual time signatures began a trend which continues to this day.
It featured the hit single 'Take Five', written by Paul Desmond, as well as other Brubeck classics such as "Blue Rondo A La Turk" and the ethereal "Strange Meadow Lark", creating a sound that defined the era.
Pianist Nick Tomalin has performed at many prestigious jazz venues in the UK, both with his own bands and as sideman for some of the country’s leading jazz musicians including Jim Mullen, Don Weller and Alan Barnes. Taking the role of Paul Desmond, Seattle born Allison Neale is unique on the UK jazz scene, widely regarded as one of the foremost exponents of the West Coast style today.
“Allison Neale plays the alto saxophone with a tone so light and airy it positively melts at the edges” Dave Gelly, Observer
friDAY NOV 22
8 PM: michael weiss piano trio
Michael Weiss - piano
Adam King - bass
Mark Taylor - drums
With his first appearance in concert in London since 1995, world-class New York pianist Michael Weiss, known for his 15 year association with jazz legend Johnny Griffin, takes prime spot at BopFest for this concert featuring swinging arrangements of jazz standards, bebop and his own original tunes.
Since arriving in New York from his hometown of Dallas in 1982, Weiss has forged a formidable career working in the bands of jazz legends Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Benny Golson and the Jazztet, Slide Hampton, the Heath Brothers, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Jon Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, as well as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Mingus Epitaph Orchestra.
Weiss’ association with Griffin yielded four recordings and annual tours in the USA and around the world. He has also worked with Joe Henderson, George Coleman, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, Clifford Jordan, Gary Bartz, Phil Woods, Pepper Adams, Joe Lovano, Ron Carter, David Newman, Gerry Mulligan, Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, and other high profile jazz recording artists.
“Warmth, integrity and above all, originality.” JazzTimes
SATURDAY NOV 23 (AFTERNOON)
2 PM: Nat Steele quintet ft michael weiss
Nat Steele - vibraphone
Colin Oxley - guitar
Michael Weiss - piano
Adam King - bass
Mark Taylor - drums
For this special one-off, UK vibraphonist Nat Steele takes inspiration from guitar/vibes records. It will feature tunes by Wes Montgomery, Buddy Montgomery, Cedar Walton, Charlie Parker, and those by guest NYC pianist Michael Weiss.
Joining Nat in his quintet are guest NYC pianist Michael Weiss, who worked extensively with vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery, and Colin Oxley on guitar. Michael Weiss is a world renowned American pianist who has worked with absolutely everyone on the New York scene since he moved there in 1982, including a 15 year association with tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, and much work alongside musicians such as George Coleman, Art Farmer, Slide Hampton, Tom Harrell, Jimmy Heath, Charles McPherson, and Gerry Mulligan.
"One of the best gigs of the EFG London Jazz Festival [2018]." Joanne Shurville (Forbes)
SATURDAY NOV 23 (EVENING)
8 PM: steve fishwick nonet ft michael weiss
Steve Fishwick - trumpet, composer
Paul Booth - tenor sax, flute
Sammy Mayne - alto sax, flute
Anna Drysdale - French horn
Trevor Mires - trombone
Callum Au - tuba
Michael Weiss - piano
Jeremy Brown - bass
Matt Fishwick - drums
This concert features music from the classic 1967 McCoy Tyner Blue Note album "Tender Moments", and marks the premiere of new work by Steve Fishwick specially commissioned by BopFest for this year's EFG LJF, as a reflection on the original album, featuring NYC pianist Michael Weiss in the role of Tyner.
Tyner recorded this album soon after leaving the John Coltrane group and embarking on a solo career. The music is influenced by Coltrane, but the sound and style is unmistakably Tyner's, forging a music heavily modal but with a hard bop aesthetic, a style that Coltrane had long since abandoned. This music is rarely performed live and the wide range in timbre and colours available from the instrumentation (similar to Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool band) combined with the energy and excellent musicianship of this stellar ensemble promises this to be a memorable concert.
Steve Fishwick is widely considered to be one of the best jazz trumpet players ever to come from the UK, and is rapidly gaining a global reputation thanks to his flawless technique and his beautifully flowing, harmonically rich improvisations.
Steve has released seven albums and worked with many of the greats from the USA such as Cedar Walton, Peter Washington and Anita O' Day. In 2014 he performed in NYC as part of Dave Douglas' Festival of New Trumpet, the first band to appear at the festival that was led by a British musician.
"Steve has his own style. He plays from the bottom to the top of the horn whilst maintaining the integrity of the chords. I can't think of another trumpet player that can do what he does." Wynton Marsalis
SUNDAY NOV 24 (LUNCHTIME)
1 PM: Alex Bryson - the art of the piano trio
Alex Bryson - piano
Jeremy Brown - bass
Matt Fishwick - drums
Bryson is a dynamic young pianist & rising star in the UK, until recently based in NY. He is establishing himself as one of the leading lights of his generation, attracting attention for his interest in the 1950s school of swinging bop, and is particularly noted for his block-chord style of playing.
Rounding off the piano trio thread running through BopFest, Alex Bryson is a dynamic young pianist and rising star on the UK jazz scene who has spent several years living in NYC and thriving as a musician on the scene there. He has recently returned to his native UK to establish himself as one of the leading lights of his generation, attracting attention for his uncompromising approach, creating fresh interest in the 1950s school of swinging bop piano, and becoming particularly noted for his command of the block-chord style of playing.
His trio is rooted in the tradition, playing Bryson's own originals, arrangements of standards and reviving compositions from the books of Tommy Flanagan, Walter Davis, and Ray Bryant. They have recently recorded their first album, which is due to be released later this year.
The lineup features renowned UK bassist Jeremy Brown ( Stacey Kent ) and the highly acclaimed Matt Fishwick on drums whose credits include recording dates with the great Cedar Walton and bassist George Mraz.
Alex has a strong background as a classical pianist, studying with Yonty Solomon and Philip Fowke. While living in New York he attended Mannes College, The New School (Nina Svetlanova), the Aaron Copeland School of Music (Mory Ritt), and studied with Barry Harris, Jeb Patton, Michael Weiss, Antonio Hart and Dennis Mackrel. He worked with Grant Stewart and Chris Cheek, and as a member of the Marie-Claire Giraud Quintet alongside Dwayne Clemons, Murray Wall and Luke Decker.
SUNDAY NOV 24 (afternoon)
4 PM: michael weiss - piano and improvisation masterclass
Giving his first ever masterclass in the UK, New York pianist Michael Weiss will lead a workshop aimed at all levels from beginner to professional and covering all aspects of comping, soloing and improvisation techniques, arranging, trio playing, and much more. This is aimed at both pianists and other instrumentalists, as well as vocalists. Michael's commitment to jazz education is extensive. In addition to faculty positions at Queens College, Juilliard and the Hartt School of Music, Weiss' educational activities include serving as artist in residence in universities and secondary schools, presenting jazz workshops and master classes, at Jamey Aebersold and as an invited artist at IAJE conferences.
SUNDAY NOV 25 (EVENING)
8 PM: Matt Skelton - Shelly Manne's "Live At the blackhawk"
James Davidson - trumpet
Mark Crooks - tenor sax
Leon Greening - piano
Conor Chaplin - bass
Matt Skelton - drums
Bringing BopFest '19 to a swinging conclusion, UK drummer Matt Skelton's latest ensemble brings together a dynamic quintet of leading London jazz instrumentalists, energised by the inspiration of master jazz drummer Shelly Manne's quintet recordings from the 1950s and 60s.
Skelton's project celebrates in particular the 5 volumes of “Live At The Blackhawk” recorded in San Francisco in 1959. Leading from the drums, Shelly's stellar quintet originally featured Richie Kamuca, Joe Gordon, Victor Feldman and Monty Budwig. Often touring, recording and appearing on televised concerts, this group helped to ensure that the West Coast jazz scene retained a strong post-bop identity strongly linked to the East Coast quintets of yore led by Parker and Gillespie in Shelly's hometown of New York.
A truly original musician and drummer, Shelly Manne's mastery of his craft are immediately recognisable.
In bringing together this new group, the objective is to share the legacy of these remarkable live recordings with fresh energy; each of the players here are chosen not for the purpose of emulation but to express their own identities as informed by the original recordings.
Matt Skelton has long been known as one of the foremost drummers on the UK jazz scene, having accompanied many leading internationally known figures such as Harry ''Sweets'' Edison, Conte Candoli, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Warren Vache and Scott Hamilton. Most recently he has appeared with Steve Grossman, John Hendricks, Curtis Stigers and with Kurt Elling as part of Guy Barker's latest large scale commission for the BBC.
