Jazz, blues, jazz bands, jazz singers, bands

For jazz concerts and gigs see our events listing

New web site launched for Jazz in Leicester

The Y have just launched a new site which holds comprehensive jazz listings for the whole county and will be updated by us regularly.

Leicester Jazz

Here are some useful links:

Ben Holder - todays's Stephane Grapelli

Djangology combines youthful brilliance with mature seasoning in the shape of 19 year old violinist Ben Holder , guitarists Richard and John Smith and bassist Steve Peters. A review of one of their recent concerts said:

"Just occasionally.... we have a band who amaze the audience with their truly brilliant talent and tonight's visitors, Djangology did just that! Ben was an absolute revelation, not only for his sheer brilliance but also his enthusiasm for the music he was playing. The solos and driving rhythms of Richard, John and Steve were quite outstanding and contributed enormously to a truly memorable evening" - The Harp Hotel, Albrighton, Shropshire .

Details of Jazz concerts are given on our events listing

Jazz Venues in Leicester

Find out what's on at the Musician

The Musician Acoustic Cafe at the Pheonix, 12.30 to 2 p.m. "donations" and Jazz Sunday, from 12.30 to 2 p.m. £2 entry find more

Cafe Bruxelles. 90-92 High Street, Leicester. Tel: 0116 224 3013. Monday and Thursdays

Priory Jazzclub .

Nanpanton, Loughborough, LE11 3YD. Mainly Trad Jazz - every Thursday at 8.30 p.m. £6 admission. Food served until 9.00pm. Tel. 01509 216333 (pub) or Dave Harmer 01509 503745

Jazz at the Priory

If you know of any Jazz concerts taking place in Leicester or Leicestershire please let me know - go to our contact page

Experimental edge

Bands making their mark with experimental music

Black Carrot

Three ultra-talented musicians are demanding, intimidating, frenetic and mental. Frankly, you wouldn't dare make them up. A crisp and sharp trio, comprising drums, both double and electric bass, electric piano and tenor sax and assorted woodwind instruments. Dedicated to the virtues of improvisation, it is hard to actually categorise them easily - which is to the good. This is music that has the rigour of improvisation done well but also is accessible via the jazzy rhythms, at times they reminiscent of a New York-style band like Defunct or James Chance and the Contortions from the punk jazz/loft side of the no-wave days. Check out www.blackcarrot.net for more information, free music, gig news and a shop.

Alto Stratus

lto Stratus is the duo of Alan and Steve Freeman , from Leicester, spent much of our spare time during the early 1980's experimenting with synthesizers, sound collage, etc., and during that period we recorded some 30 odd cassettes as Alto Stratus (and under other guises: as Vrije, Q.S.O., Electric Junk), also as soloists, and the trio with sound artist Nigel Harris in ZBB (aka Zircon & The Burning Brains). After a lengthy hiatus, establishing the Ultima Thule shop, Alan got into playing music again becoming the synth effects and weird noise maker in Maureen Anderson's Shapeshifter. Later Alan and Jim Tetlow left Shapeshifter, joining up with Alan's brother Steve to form Endgame, an improvising trio, now with over 50 releases. Alto Stratus also continued as a duo, reissuing the classic "TACHYON" after which we named our home studio.