Jazz Aberdeen

Chicago saxophonist Pete Carney succeeds in making music that has something serious to say but is also fun to listen to. The politically active Carney - he runs a music school for underprivileged children - got his first break with R&B legend Little Milton, who rated Carney the best sazophonist he'd hired since David Sanborn played with his band twenty years before. With the massively energetic Orange Alert, Carney draws on hip-hop, house and nu soul, sampling everything from ringing telephones to Arabic singing to create topical acid jazz with big, dancefloor-friendly grooves. visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com for tickets, or call 01224 619769

California-born, Norway based guitarist Wayne Brasel brings a wealth of experience, including recordings and gigs with Mike Stern, Peter Erskine and John Patitucci, to his music. Blending elements of jazz, blues, soul and rock, his band is exciting, spontaneous and classy. Per Mathisen on bass, Tor Yttredal on saxophone and Stein Inge Braekhus on drums. visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com for tickets, or call 01224 619769

Aberdeen-born guitarist Graeme Stephen is winning admirers internationally for his engagingly personal playing and a musical style which blends jazz and world music strains with a Scottish brogue. His award winning group features leading Scottish traditional jazz musicions playing with passion and class including Shetland fiddler Chris Stout, Martin Kershaw on saxophone and Fraser Fifield on small pipes and low whistle. The band won the Jazz Services' "Promoter's Choice" award for 2006. visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com for tickets, or call 01224 619769

Pianist Neil Cowley's trio blazed onto the UK jazz scene with one of 2006's top CDs, Displaced. Rated alongside Sweden's hugely popular E.S.T. and New Yorkers The Bad Plus, Cowley's group presents a freshly individual, ultra dynamic take on the piano trio tradition. Cowley began his music career as a child prodigy. By the age of ten he was playing Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall. Later he discovered funk and played with pop/funksters the Pasadenas and the Brand New Heavies before distilling all his experience and a love of jazz from the fullo-on to the fragile into his own personal style. visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com for tickets, or call 01224 619769

Cuddly but dangerous is how drummer Sebastian Rochford sums up his award-winning band, Polar Bear. A big hit at Aberdeen Jazz Festival 2005 and 2006, the London-based band returns with its mesmerising twin tenor saxophone attack and rugged bass grooves, Rochford's own crisply executed drumming and its secret weapon, Leafcutter John's amazing laptop creativity. As audiences and critics all over Europe have been confirming since their first visirt, this is jazz at its most vital and fresh, blending computer technology with creative blowing in the acoustic jazz tradition. visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com for tickets, or call 01224 619769

Wednesday 7th March - Aberdeen International School Big Band / Westhill Academy Big Band Thursday 8th March - Aberdeen Youth Big Band / Inverurie Academy Big Band Friday 9th March - Harlaw Academy Big Band / Kemnay Academy Big Band

The Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra have earned their place as one of the best big bands in Scotland. They open the festival with an evening of big, bold, brassy energy to celebrate the music of Canadian trumpet icon Maynard Ferguson. Ferguson was revered not just for his own stratospheric trumpet playing but also for his contemporary big band arrangements of hit tunes. The orchestra's special guest soloist for this concert is Ryan Quigley, Scotland's top young trumpeter, who is relishing the challenge of this tribute to Maynard;s music and performing with Aberdeen's finest jazz musicians. visit www.aberdeenjazzfestival.com for tickets, or call 01224 619769

Why thank you! Just to say, check out Aberdeen Jazz Festival - Home too for details! Thanks Steve

The Dave Patrick Trio plus Martin Kershaw on sax provide their own music plus provide the backing for the best vocal talent from the North-East. This show is now an annual feature providing a feast of vocal jazz.

Tommy Smith, Scotland's own jazz giant with one of the world's great bass players put together an astounding show. Using just two instruments, they produce an exhilirating contemporary musical journey.

Bobby Wellins is one of Scotlands great jazz exports and he is back in Aberdeen after 20 years with the great Brian Kellock Trio as his rythmn section

Gilad Atzmon is an Israeli sax player who plays at festivals and venues around the world. He includes his pro-Palestinian politics in his work so expect a different side to jazz.

Tom Arthurs is a trumpeter making a big name in London and is joined by two great contemporary jazz musicians including Aberdeen's own Stu Ritchie

Hear the best contemporary jazz in Scotland plus the great Graeme Stephen

Unique jazz and contemporary music with Scotland's four finest guitarists, Nigel Clarke, Malcolm McFarlane, Ged Brockie and Kevin McKenzie. More info at www.jazzaberdeen.com