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Heavenly Halvorson ascends with Cloudward Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer, and MacArthur fellow Mary Halvorson will release the next album from her Amaryllis sextet, Cloudward, via Nonesuch on 19 January 2024. The adventurous improvisatory band were heard on the guitarist’s critically acclaimed 2022 dual releases, Amaryllis and Belladonna, and features Halvorson, vibist Patricia Brennan, bassist Nick Dunston, drummer Tomas Fujiwara, trombonist Jacob Garchik and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. The album also includes a guest appearance by labelmate Laurie Anderson on the track ‘Incarnadine’. With the music for the 2022 releases written in the depths of pandemic lockdowns, the eight originals on the new album were written during the winter last year, and were in part inspired by the ability to travel again, with the album’s title referencing this. As Halvorson explains: “Performances and tours and recordings were happening after a long hiatus and with a renewed sense of gratitude. This band, for me, was quite simply working, both musically and personally, and the main thing I felt while writing the music was optimism.” For more info visit www.nonesuch.com BACK IN THE DAY... Return with us 53 years ago to Ronnie Scott’s in December 1970 as the club lured the pre-Christmas crowds with the pickled promise of ‘3 floors of entertainment’, though whether the tiny basement bar could be classed as ‘entertainment’ back then depended on one’s capacity for the incessant moaning and seasonal vulgarities of offduty jazz musicians. In the club however, business was brisk with a cracking fortnight-long double bill of scat and vocalese master Jon Hendricks and the vibrant Afrobeat of Osibisa. Meanwhile Upstairs At Ronnie’s the progressive booking policy of Pete King and Ronnie featured funksters Gass, featuring future Jeff Beck singer Bobby Tench; Afro-rockers Demon Fuzz and the psychedelic blues of They Bite, the latter including this writer on drums making his first ever appe vent the c our and che wel appearance at the club. Ronnie ventured upstairs to greet us as the club opened and, witnessing our long hair, Marshall stacks and feedback-blasted sound check, delivered a cautionary welcome: “Behave yourself lads and bet and talk po exa Jon lads, keep the volume down and you can come downstairs between sets, stand at the back and watch some jazz, but no talking”. And, of course, being polite late teenagers, we did exactly as the Guvnor asked! Jon Newey 6 Jazzwise Dec23/Jan24 New Regency Orchestra announce dates ahead of 2024 debut album New Regency Orchestra (NRO), the UK-based 18-Piece Afro-Cuban jazz collective, head out on a four-date UK tour ahead of the release of their yet-to-be-titled debut album in 2024. Part of a growing UK Latin jazz scene, the group take inspiration from the New York melting pot of the 1950s and 70s, when the music of jazz luminaries Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker collided with the Cuban roots of Chano Pozo and Machito, to forge their own hard-blowing highly danceable sound. Their recent single is their take on the Tito Puente & Woody Herman’s ‘Mambo Herd’ and features authentic horn-heavy melodies and percolating percussion from the likes of trumpeter Nick Walters, percussionist Crispin 'Spry' Robinson and timbale player Ernesto Marichales. Dates are: Howard Assembly Room, Leeds (28 Oct); Brunel Goods Shed,™Stroud™(1 Dec); Bristol Beacon, Bristol (8 Dec) and Corn Exchange at Brighton Dome, Brighton™(1 March™2024). Linktr.ee/newregencyorchestra FUTURE MOVERS Highlighting serious talent bubbling under the radar…. NAME: Menelik Mulugeta Claffey INSTRUMENT: Bass EXPERIENCE AND INFLUENCES: Menelik Mulugeta Claffey is a bassist born and raised in London, who studied at Tomorrow’s Warriors, Julian Joseph’s Jazz Academy and Trinity Laban. When growing up, music around the house included dub, punk, soul, Ethiopian traditional music and jungle. He was then introduced to jazz through classic bebop recordings, with his key influences on the bass including Jimmy Garrison, Ray Brown and Ron Carter. Claffey can already be seen performing with some of the UK’s best, including Byron Wallen, Jay Phelps, Tony Kofi, muva of Earth and the Nu Civilization Orchestra. THIS FUTURE MOVER SAYS: “I’m grateful that I can call myself a musician, and to have a profession that allows me to spread joy to people.” See Menelik Mulugeta Claffey play Ronnie Scott’s Future Movers Late Shows on 1 and 2 December, led by Phil Meadows (alto sax) and featuring Flo Redmonds (tenor sax), Emile Hinton (piano/keys) and Jon Onabowu (drums). For more info visit www.ronniescotts.co.uk
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MACK AVENUE MUSIC GROUP PRESENTS “… AN EMBODIMENT OF JAZZ HISTORICISM AT ITS MOST EARNEST AND REFINED.” — THE NEW YORK TIMES JOEY ALEXANDER PHOTO: ROY COX Pianist/composer Joey Alexander’s seventh album, Continuance, is the story of a critically acclaimed artist at the peak of his creativity, not only as a bandleader but as a celebrated composer. At 20 years old, Alexander has gathered his touring band, consisting of Kris Funn (bass) and John Davis (drums), to translate their unique improvisation on the stage to the studio with the help of trumpeter Theo Croker. Featuring five newly written original compositions and breathtaking renditions of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (made famous by Bonnie Raitt) and the popular hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Alexander is bound to make new waves on a global level. “OSCAR PETERSON IS ONE OF THE RICHES OF JAZZ, AND HIS GENEROSITY, HIS TORRENTIAL CREATION HAS MADE IT INEXHAUSTIBLE FOR JAZZ LOVERS.” — JAZZ HOT OSCAR PETERSON PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE OSCAR PETERSON ESTATE Oscar Peterson’s trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen is widely regarded as Peterson’s “classic trio,” considered by fans as the most popular and in-demand of his long and storied career (featured on releases such as 1963’s Night Train and 1964’s We Get Requests). Recorded during their creative peak in 1964 (5 years into their collaboration), this previously unheard and unreleased live performance is destined to become a fan favorite from the Oscar Peterson vaults. “THE MASTERFUL CONTROL AND SEEMINGLY EFFORTLESS PRECISION WITH WHICH HE CRAFTS THIS LISTENING EXPERIENCE IS NOTHING SHORT OF UNBRIDLED TALENT.” — SMOOTHJAZZMAG STEVE COLE PHOTO: AARON RICE Having grown up digesting bebop blended with pop radio hits, critically acclaimed saxophonist Steve Cole has become one of the most celebrated and popular artists in contemporary jazz. With his new album, Without a Doubt, Cole partners with producer/ songwriter Adam Hawley for a collection of original burners that showcase the saxophonist’s signature high-energy punch and can easily stand alongside the likes of the Commodores and Earth, Wind & Fire. mackavenue.com | facebook.com/mackavenue | youtube.com/mackavenue | instagram.com/mackavenuerecords

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Heavenly Halvorson ascends with Cloudward Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer, and MacArthur fellow Mary Halvorson will release the next album from her Amaryllis sextet, Cloudward, via Nonesuch on 19 January 2024. The adventurous improvisatory band were heard on the guitarist’s critically acclaimed 2022 dual releases, Amaryllis and Belladonna, and features Halvorson, vibist Patricia Brennan, bassist Nick Dunston, drummer Tomas Fujiwara, trombonist Jacob Garchik and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. The album also includes a guest appearance by labelmate Laurie Anderson on the track ‘Incarnadine’.

With the music for the 2022 releases written in the depths of pandemic lockdowns, the eight originals on the new album were written during the winter last year, and were in part inspired by the ability to travel again, with the album’s title referencing this. As Halvorson explains: “Performances and tours and recordings were happening after a long hiatus and with a renewed sense of gratitude. This band, for me, was quite simply working, both musically and personally, and the main thing I felt while writing the music was optimism.”

For more info visit www.nonesuch.com

BACK IN THE DAY... Return with us 53 years ago to Ronnie Scott’s in December 1970 as the club lured the pre-Christmas crowds with the pickled promise of ‘3 floors of entertainment’, though whether the tiny basement bar could be classed as ‘entertainment’ back then depended on one’s capacity for the incessant moaning and seasonal vulgarities of offduty jazz musicians. In the club however, business was brisk with a cracking fortnight-long double bill of scat and vocalese master Jon Hendricks and the vibrant Afrobeat of Osibisa. Meanwhile Upstairs At Ronnie’s the progressive booking policy of Pete King and Ronnie featured funksters Gass, featuring future Jeff Beck singer Bobby Tench; Afro-rockers Demon Fuzz and the psychedelic blues of They Bite, the latter including this writer on drums making his first ever appe vent the c our and che wel appearance at the club. Ronnie ventured upstairs to greet us as the club opened and, witnessing our long hair, Marshall stacks and feedback-blasted sound check, delivered a cautionary welcome: “Behave yourself lads and bet and talk po exa Jon lads, keep the volume down and you can come downstairs between sets, stand at the back and watch some jazz, but no talking”. And, of course, being polite late teenagers, we did exactly as the Guvnor asked! Jon Newey

6 Jazzwise Dec23/Jan24

New Regency Orchestra announce dates ahead of 2024 debut album

New Regency Orchestra (NRO), the UK-based 18-Piece Afro-Cuban jazz collective, head out on a four-date UK tour ahead of the release of their yet-to-be-titled debut album in 2024. Part of a growing UK Latin jazz scene, the group take inspiration from the New York melting pot of the 1950s and 70s, when the music of jazz luminaries Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker collided with the Cuban roots of Chano Pozo and Machito, to forge their own hard-blowing highly danceable sound. Their recent single is their take on the Tito Puente & Woody Herman’s ‘Mambo Herd’ and features authentic horn-heavy melodies and percolating percussion from the likes of trumpeter Nick Walters, percussionist Crispin 'Spry' Robinson and timbale player Ernesto Marichales. Dates are: Howard Assembly Room, Leeds (28 Oct); Brunel Goods Shed,™Stroud™(1 Dec); Bristol Beacon, Bristol (8 Dec) and Corn Exchange at Brighton Dome, Brighton™(1 March™2024). Linktr.ee/newregencyorchestra

FUTURE MOVERS Highlighting serious talent bubbling under the radar…. NAME: Menelik Mulugeta Claffey INSTRUMENT: Bass EXPERIENCE AND INFLUENCES: Menelik Mulugeta Claffey is a bassist born and raised in London, who studied at Tomorrow’s Warriors, Julian Joseph’s Jazz Academy and Trinity Laban. When growing up, music around the house included dub, punk, soul, Ethiopian traditional music and jungle. He was then introduced to jazz through classic bebop recordings, with his key influences on the bass including Jimmy Garrison, Ray Brown and Ron Carter. Claffey can already be seen performing with some of the UK’s best, including Byron Wallen, Jay Phelps, Tony Kofi, muva of Earth and the Nu Civilization Orchestra. THIS FUTURE MOVER SAYS: “I’m grateful that I can call myself a musician, and to have a profession that allows me to spread joy to people.” See Menelik Mulugeta Claffey play Ronnie Scott’s Future Movers Late Shows on 1 and 2 December, led by Phil Meadows (alto sax) and featuring Flo Redmonds (tenor sax), Emile Hinton (piano/keys) and Jon Onabowu (drums). For more info visit www.ronniescotts.co.uk

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