Ravi Coltrane. Photo: Deborah Feingold
AS we all know, it isn’t always easy for the offspring of famous artists who follow in their mother or father’s footsteps. Just ask various Lennons and Marleys. Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane is the son of John and Alice and for many years he was admirably determined to forge his own path, while acknowledging and sometimes paying tribute to his heritage as the offspring of jazz royalty. However, on October 11 at the Barbican he is performing a full concert with his quartet dedicated solely to the “cosmic” music of his parents. This most likely will include selections from his dad’s devotional classic A Love Supreme and mom’s Journey in Satchidananda, a touchstone for the UK’s spiritual jazz movement. Having seen Ravi raise the roof of various venues on several occasions, all I can say is: I’m in. Tickets: www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2022/event/ravi-coltrane-cosmic-music
• Soulful alto saxophonist Camilla George has been called a rising star for quite several years now, but with the release of her third album Ibio-Ibio on Sept 30 it feels like that celestial body has well and truly risen. Although it takes inspiration and song titles from her Nigerian roots (the album’s title is a nickname for the costal people in the Southeast of the country), the soundscape is almost as much south London as West Africa, hardly surprising given the stellar line-up of capital stalwarts in bassist Daniel Casimir, trombonist Rosie Turton, guitarist Shirley Tetteh, pianist Sarah Tandy and trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey, all of whom make the most of their moments in the spotlight. Senegalese kora player Kadialy Kouyate appears on Journey Across the Sea and Birmingham rapper SANITY makes three effective appearances. The track Abasi Enyong might feel like a welcome late-night wind-down after a long evening, but the mood of this fine contemporary jazz album is mostly buoyant and uplifting – if you like Kokoroko, Nerija or SEED Ensemble (or seed. as they are called now), then Ibio-Ibio is definitely for you. The album has an official launch – with most of the personnel from the record on stage – at Camden’s Jazz Café (https://thejazzcafelondon.com/) on Nov 16 as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival (of which much more next time).
• For those who like their jazz in sumptuous surroundings, the plush Piano Bar Smithfield (https://www.pianosmithfield.com/) has launched an Autumn Jazz series. The estimable Liane Carroll, with her mix of originals and powerful reworkings of standards, is at the venue near the Barbican on Oct 20 and the force of nature that is Carol Grimes on the 21. Read her entertaining memoir The Singer’s Tale for fabulous stories from the blues, rock and counter-culture scene of the 60s and 70s.
• There is a new run of the Jazz in the House series at Highgate’s Lauderdale House underway, with Karen Sharp on sax accompanied by Nikki Iles on keys, the bass guv’nor Dave Green and Steve Brown on drums (Oct 20); fine guitarist Nigel Price is in the house with his organ trio plus guest sax man Vasilis Xenopoulos on Nov 3 and one of this country’s all-time greats, trumpeter Henry Lowther, again with Dave Green, brings his evocative Still Waters project on Nov 17. Tickets (just £12.50): https://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/whats-on/jazz-house.
• There is an interesting pairing in town exploring the intersections of jazz and R&B in the form of pianist Paul Edis (who, like Bill Evans, can summon the spirit of Debussy or swing like a demon) and Detroit’s Kathy Kosins, who is equally at home navigating The Great American Songbook or re-interpreting a soul classic. Three chances to catch them: at the Pizza Express Soho on Oct 17 and 18 (https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/kathy-kosins-with-the-paul-edis-trio#scr-booking) with Edis’s trio or at the Hampstead Jazz Club in an intimate duo setting on Oct 21 (https://hampsteadjazzclub.com/whats-on/kathy-kosins-and-paul-edis/). Singer Jo Harrop also gets in on the double act, with a show called Early Autumn, a series of duets featuring pianist Jason Rebello and her regular collaborator, guitarist Jamie McCredie. It’s on Nov 2, but this time the HJC is presenting the gig at Ronnie Scott’s in Soho (https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk).
