An Evening of Jazz
Music Arran have an exciting evening in store for jazz fans on Saturday 18th November – and not only for confirmed jazz fans, as the concert is sure to be a pleasure for all comers. New Focus, started by saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski and pianist Euan Stevenson, has been described as one of the most appealing, most beautifully realised projects to emerge on the Scottish jazz scene in recent years. On this occasion Konrad and Euan will be supported by Mario Caribe on bass and Alyn Cosker on drums. A special extra pleasure for Arran will be the participation of Joni Keen supplying vocals. Joni is of course well known on Arran, both as the host of the Arran Lodge (Altachorvie) and as a brilliant singer, but her fame in the latter capacity spreads way beyond the island: here is a chance to hear “the best female jazz voice in Scotland”, as she has been described. New Focus has also been widely hailed in Scotland and abroad, and both Konrad and Euan have received several awards. To sum up in the words of the Glasgow Herald: “There’s something truly special going on in the musical minds of saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski and arranger, composer and pianist, Euan Stevenson… Original music that exists virtually in a world of its own… aesthetically pleasing… just plain damned heart-lifting.” Those who come along on the 18th can enjoy all this.
Tickets will be available on the door, but to be sure of a seat they can be bought in advance, online from Arran Events (www.arranevents.com), or from Inspirations of Arran shop in Brodick. Under eighteens are admitted free.
The poster for this event can be downloaded here.
Music for a Winter’s Evening
Music Arran is presenting an extra concert this year to brighten the dark days of winter. At 7.30 on Friday 1st December (please note Friday, not our usual Saturday) in the Community Theatre at Arran High School, Music for a Winter’s Evening will feature distinguished musicians from home and abroad. Elisa Clegg is a celebrated viola player from the USA, growing up in Washington State where she studied with the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, and at Central Washington University in Seattle. She has travelled and performed in a wide variety of musical styles, in professional orchestras, rock bands and folk ensembles, both across America and in Europe, and currently lives in Hamburg, Germany, studying and sharing her music with the community, especially the young. She is joined by two talented pianists from this side of the Atlantic: Joana Gama is from Portugal, and studied in Braga, London and Lisbon, and is currently on the staff of the University of Minho, Braga. She has also studied ballet, and has been involved in projects that associate music to dance. She is especially devoted to the music of the French composer Erik Satie, and has performed works by him in various European countries. The other pianist, Gamal Khamis, is British and made his debut at the Wigmore Hall aged ten. He took a degree in mathematics at Imperial College, London, before going on to study at the Royal College of Music. He has performed widely in Britain and at international events in Europe and North America, including concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Grieg, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Finzi, He has also been the recipient of major prizes. These three musicians from off the island will be joined by local violinist Alice Maxwell and guitarist David Simpkin, who will play a gypsy piece together. Other works featured are by Erik Satie, Arvo Pärt, and John Cage, and there will also be some audience participation.
Tickets will be available on the door, but to be sure of a seat they can be bought in advance, online from Arran Events (www.arranevents.com), or from Inspirations of Arran shop in Brodick. Under eighteens are admitted free.
The poster for this event can be downloaded here.
The following day (Saturday December 2nd) Elisa and Gamal will be at a string workshop in Lamlash Hall. See the poster below.
