Made in the UK - 2013 - Part One (by kp)

Made in the UK – 2013 – Part One (by kp)

We’re thrilled for the opportunity of revisiting the Made in the UK program for a second year. Last year’s series of UK concerts was a real treat and this year if anything, I think we’re bringing it even harder!

The four bands included in the festival this year are some of the top echelon talent in the UK today. Courtney Pine, Soweto Kinch, Phronesis and Julian Arguelles make up the program. This first blog post will cover Soweto Kinch and Phronesis.

June 22^nd – Downtown Jazz / Georgia Stage – 2:15pm (free)

Soweto Kinch

Recognized as one of the most talented young saxophonists on the UK scene over the past decade, Soweto Kinch has also established his reputation as a hard edge hip-hop MC and producer in the urban music milieu. His recent “The New Emancipation” draws upon work songs and early blues for inspiration in an updated format that merges his burning jazz ensemble with modern hip-hop production.

As a jazz & hip-hop artist Soweto Kinch is driven by art - not commercial conventions and he sees himself in the lineage not only of jazz legends such as John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Duke Ellington but also with artists such as The Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron and A Tribe Called Quest. Uniquely British, his approach to the music is influenced by peers such as Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson and Jason Yarde. He's also cited late Joe Harriott as an important forbearer on UK scene. His concerns with social issues faced by poor young people on UK council estates are consistently reflected in the musical projects he’s pursued throughout his career. 

This cat has definitely established some real street cred. Possessing an edgy, passionate saxophone style his hard swinging band can segue into hip-hop beats seamlessly in a completely natural manner that just sounds meant to be. Thinking this should result in a kick ass amazing live performance on the outdoor Downtown stage.

Check out his latest project “The Legend of Mike Smith”, a multi-platform performance that combines hip-hop, jazz, visual arts and dance into a narrative that explores the challenges of a young artist in modern life. http://www.soweto-kinch.com/projects/the-legend-of-mike-smith/

A People with No Past (excellent documentary with French subtitles): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VCpd5ooTl8

Good interview: http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/features/interviews/soweto_kinch_common_knowledge.html

Documentary – Jazz is Gangster (Flyover project – Birmingham): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yVTFHsd2O8

Website: http://www.soweto-kinch.com/

Twitter: @sowetokinch

Festival info: http://www.coastaljazz.ca/artist/soweto_kinch

 June 22^nd – The Ironworks – Innovation Series – 9pm

Phronesis

A Greek word for a type of wisdom or intelligence, Phronesis is also a pan European (Scandinavian / British) band that’s emerged to become one of the UK’s most highly regarded piano trios. The IJFO (along with Montreal, Vancouver is one of two Canadian members in the International Jazz Festival Organization) has chosen Phronesis as one of the six bands worldwide in their talent support program. We’re very proud to present this trio for the first time.

 Led by Danish bassist Jasper Hoiby (in London for 13 years) this trio (along with pianist Ivo Neame and drummer Anton Eger) has been described as the most exciting to emerge on the European scene since E.S.T. The music bares little resemblance to that Swedish trio, instead exhibiting a more propulsive hot-blooded rhythmic approach to the music that often grooves harder in unexpected ways. Rhythmically they are nimble, technically gifted with great virtuosity and the compositions possess enough complexity to keep everything interesting.

I read an interview with Jasper Hoiby some time ago where he cited Chick Corea’s late 60’s seminal “Now He Sings, Now He Sobs” as a watershed listening moment in his musical development that has ultimately been very influential in determining the Phronesis approach. In hindsight, it’s clear that “Now He Sings, Now He Sobs” (Chick’s second album) has been influential and along with Mr. Hoiby I believe it to be one of the great piano trio (with Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes) sessions in modern jazz history. Sounds like we both agree that this early Chick Corea album was never bettered in his next 40 odd years of recording. Have a listen to Now He Sings, Now He Sobs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytHCfy6a7jw

 As much as I’ve enjoyed the previous albums by Phronesis (especially Green Delay), when I first heard “Walking Dark” I was completely blown away. Much of what I want to hear in a modern jazz piano trio is contained in the vessel of Phronesis. I dig (and love) a variety of piano trios styles (and there’s plenty of them in this year’s festival), however Phronesis (along with Vijay Iyer’s Accelerando) has come out with an album that is riveting and among the most often played in our household. The music is extremely worthy of repeat listening, so I’ve done just that. The tunes are complex and nuanced – the band swings hard when the music calls for it and each listening reveals something new to the ear. Trust me, this band is not boring. One of the most sophisticated and exciting piano trios on today’s jazz scene is Phronesis. Not to be missed.

Listen to "The Economist" from "Walking Dark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctj_3ktcFEM

Guardian review: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/apr/08/phronesis-review

Website: http://www.phronesismusic.com/

Twitter: @jasphronesis

Festival info: http://www.coastaljazz.ca/artist/phronesis

Twitter follow for Made in the UK: @MadeintheUKjazz

THANKS TO: British Council & the Made in UK Team