Adam Glasser When I first met Adam some years ago now, he was a fluent and impressive jazz pianist leaning towards the “township” feel of his South African background. However, in more recent years, as well as continuing and developing his piano playing, he has reinvented himself as one of Europe’s leading jazz chromatic harmonica players. And just in case you think of the harmonica as the thing that wild-eyed musicians beat into submission on blues gigs, then you must check out this gig, a virtuoso on the instrument Adam’s playing on harmonica is fluent, subtle and constantly inventive. He has released two critically acclaimed albums, winning the “Best Modern Jazz Album” award at the 2010 South African Music Awards with his wonderful album “Free at First” and his great, follow-up, album “Mzansi” was also short listed by SAMA in 2012 for “Best Jazz Album”. Adam has performed or recorded with a wide range of artists including Sting, Joe Zawinul, the Eurythmics, Incognito and most recently the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera. Strongly influenced by his SA roots, Adam is a founder member of the Township Comets and was for many years musical director of the legendary SA vocal group The Manhattan Brothers. In 2014 Adam had the honour of playing several piano dates with iconic SA musician Hugh Masekela, that included the opening of the Commonwealth Games. Tonight he presents a new cross-generational quintet that brings together bass legend Alec Dankworth and the blazing virtuosity of pianist Ross Stanley with up-and-coming talents Rob Luft on guitar and Corrie Dick on drums. Expect a set of really enjoyable, rarely played melodic South African jazz township standards and great grooves....
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Adam Glasser When I first met Adam some years ago now, he was a fluent and impressive jazz pianist leaning towards the “township” feel of his South African background. However, in more recent years, as well as continuing and developing his piano playing, he has reinvented himself as one of Europe’s leading jazz chromatic harmonica players. And just in case you think of the harmonica as the thing that wild-eyed musicians beat into submission on blues gigs, then you must check out this gig, a virtuoso on the instrument Adam’s playing on harmonica is fluent, subtle and constantly inventive. He has released two critically acclaimed albums, winning the “Best Modern Jazz Album” award at the 2010 South African Music Awards with his wonderful album “Free at First” and his great, follow-up, album “Mzansi” was also short listed by SAMA in 2012 for “Best Jazz Album”. Adam has performed or recorded with a wide range of artists including Sting, Joe Zawinul, the Eurythmics, Incognito and most recently the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera. Strongly influenced by his SA roots, Adam is a founder member of the Township Comets and was for many years musical director of the legendary SA vocal group The Manhattan Brothers. In 2014 Adam had the honour of playing several piano dates with iconic SA musician Hugh Masekela, that included the opening of the Commonwealth Games. Tonight he presents a new cross-generational quintet that brings together bass legend Alec Dankworth and the blazing virtuosity of pianist Ross Stanley with up-and-coming talents Rob Luft on guitar and Corrie Dick on drums. Expect a set of really enjoyable, rarely played melodic South African jazz township standards and great grooves.
"[Adam Glasser]... has brought a truly unique voice and idiom to the constantly evolving language of jazz.... a challenge to equal for sheer scope of virtuosity, musicality and surprise" AllAboutJazz;
"all the virtuosity and panache associated with practitioners on more conventional instruments.. a wholly impressive evening's music from a man in complete control of his considerable resources" VortexJazz
**CD PROMOTION** Don Laka Born in 1958 near Pretoria, South African pianist, composer, arranger and producer Don Laka formed his first band at the age of 14 and made his first recording at the age of 17. After taking formal music lessons he obtained his licentiate in high school music teaching in 1979 and would have pursued music further but apartheid laws prevented him from enrolling at the Pretoria Conservatoire. Not to be defeated, however, he continued to pursue music whilst working as a clerk in a grocery store. From 1980 to 1981 he joined the Afro-fusion group Sakhile that revolutionized South African music and set a trend for many groups to come. Don recorded his first big hit with the group ‘Oneness' before moving to form his own band, ‘Image', a band that lasted for 10 years and recorded 12 LP’s. In 1986 they were spotted by one of the top producers in the world, Tony Visconti, who produced one of their albums and at the same time passed on much of his knowledge to Don, allowing Don to explore new territory as a producer and arranger. During that period Don ventured into recording solo LPs, with his songs and piano playing proving to be so popular with other musicians that he was regularly asked to write, produce or perform on their records. He appeared on most of Sankomota’s albums as a string and keyboard arranger and in 1990 he started writing big orchestral arrangements for Sibongile Khumalo, who performed them with the National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa. In the late nineties Don’s solo career was given a substantial boost with the release of “Destiny”, a fusion of hip-hop, traditional African rhythms, classical music and pop that saw Don playing drums, bass, guitar, piano and soprano sax. His career blossomed further when he was asked to produce and perform with artists such as Ray Phiri, Brenda Fassie, Sipho Mabuse, Mango Groove, and Johnny Clegg. Now regarded as one of South Africa’s premier producers, Don worked on Hugh Masekela’s recent albums “Black to the Future” and “Sixty” with their latest CD “Jabulani” earning them a Grammy nomination in 2013 for "Best World Music CD" as well as garnering an FNB South African Music Award nomination as Best Producer for Don. His record company, Kalawa Records, has become the first successful black record company in South Africa, recording, producing and marketing their own product without the help of any major label while Don himself also has the rare distinction of achieving Triple and Double Platinum albums as well as three Gold albums. Tonight, with help of fellow SA musicians Ayo Solanke on sax, Oupa Makhubela on guitar and percussion, Pat Mokoka on bass, Walter Kutumela on drums and Special Guest Heidi Marie Ferren on vocals he will be promoting his latest album “Afro Chopin”, his most exciting and challenging album project to date. Don describes this as “a labour of love that promises to take jazz lovers on an exquisite musical journey celebrating the best of African and Classical music”. A rare appearance from this iconic SA musician in the UK and highly recommended.
"Don Laka...artistic brilliance and popularity....is widely acknowledged as the father of kwaai-jazz (the fusion of jazz and South African dance music)" Jazz Review;
"Don Laka’s visit to the Eastern Cape will remain a memorable experience that should be cherished for many years to come.... Laka proved why he is South Africa’s top jazz artist" ECT
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