Adam Glasser – harmonica/piano, George Crowley – saxophone, Rob Luft – guitar, Steve Watts – bass, Corrie Dick – Drums
South African harmonica player/pianist Adam Glasser brings a great band of leading young British musicians to play his trademark township jazz. Adam’s unique harmonica sound combines his South African roots with many years immersed in the UK jazz scene as well as with SA legends such as Dudu Pukwana and Hugh Masekela, plus with Joe Zawinul, Martha Reeves, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sting and the Eurythmics. This concert series explores rarely heard township jazz standards across a range of great South African composers from Abdullah Ibrahim to Caiphus Semenya, Victor Ndlazilwana and Themba Mkhize.
Adam Glasser is a fluent and impressive jazz pianist leaning towards the “township” feel of his South African background. However, in more recent years, as well as continuing and developing his piano playing, he has reinvented himself as one of Europe’s leading jazz chromatic harmonica players. He has released two critically acclaimed recordings, winning the “Best Modern Jazz Album” award at the 2010 South African Music Awards with his wonderful album “Free at First” while the follow-up, “Mzansi” was also short listed by SAMA in 2012 for “Best Jazz Album”. Adam has performed or recorded with a wide range of artists including Sting, Joe Zawinul, the Eurythmics, Incognito and the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera. Strongly influenced by his SA roots, Adam is a founder member of the Township Comets and was for many years musical director of the legendary SA vocal group The Manhattan Brothers. In 2014 Adam had the honour of playing several piano dates with iconic SA musician Hugh Masekela (often referred to as the “Father of South African jazz”), which included the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
‘Free at First’, his debut album, won best Jazz album South African Music Awards 2010 and his follow up ‘Mzansi’ was nominated Best Jazz album South African Music Awards 2012. Due for release later this year is Adam’s third album ‘SA & Beyond’. The album is the extraordinary result of a London recording session as he brought together his long time guitarist – the rising UK Star Rob Luft – and one of South Africa’s most significant cutting edge pianists Bokani Dyer.
Accompanying Adam Glasser on harmonica and piano are UK jazz stalwart Steve Watts on bass, and three of the finest cutting edge young jazz virtuosos on the contemporary scene – all band leaders in their own right: Rob Luft – guitar, George Crowley – sax and Corrie Dick – drums.
“[Adam Glasser]… has brought a truly unique voice and idiom to the constantly evolving language of jazz”… All About Jazz
“the virtuosity and panache associated with practitioners on more conventional instruments… a wholly impressive evening’s music from a man in complete control of his considerable resources”… VortexJazz
“…a unique evening of township jazz and beyond. A joyous affair and resounding success.”…Blues & Soul Magazine
“A composer, keyboardist and harmonica player, Glasser is intense – his tunes are joyful, driving and danceable.”…Jazz Times Review
http://www.adamglassermusic.com
Support (8-8.30pm) is Jack Brazier Sextet – led by young Leeds trumpet player
Jack Brazier features the unorthodox line up of two trumpets and rhythm section. The group includes the talents of Sam Jackson on Bass, Tom Hawthorn on Drums, Vicente Magalhaes on Piano, Simon Dennis and Toby Brazier on Trumpets. Toby arranges classic tunes from Woody Shaw, Tom Harrell and Blue Mitchell as well as writing his own fusion inspired compositions. Our music features original fusion compositions from band leader Toby Brazier who takes inspiration from great jazz trumpeters such as Tom Harrell, Woody Shaw and Kenny Wheeler.
www.soundcloud.com/tobybraziersextet
Thursday 14 March Doors 7.30pm Music 8pm
Tickets in advance £16/14 concessions, 25’s and under £8 here:
www.ticketsource.co.uk/jazzleeds
