Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (Upstairs),
47 Frith Street,
London
W1D 4HT
Tube: Tottenham Court Road or Leicester Square
Email: JazzVerseJukebox@me.com
It’s back to school as Jazz Verse Jukebox resumes with some very special guests – acclaimed playwright and author Courttia Newland; vocalist extraordinaire Randolph Matthews; jazz poet Sh'Maya; African storyteller Usifu Jalloh plus music from emerging singer Jennifer Moore.
Join us for what promises to be a thrilling night of diverse spoken word & jazz from some of the freshest exponents on the scene. Plus live jazz trio and open mic. With cushions to lunge on, cocktails to imbibe & surprises, this diverse night is one night not to miss!
PLUS Jukebox Open Mic:
Come & sing with our amazing house band (Simon Wallace-Piano/ Davide Mantovani-Bass/ Winston Clifford-Drums) or perform some poetry.
Compered by and with music from Jumoké Fashola
(www.jumokefashola.com)
Courttia Newland’s first novel, The Scholar, was published in 1997. Further critically acclaimed work includes Society Within (1999) and Snakeskin (2002), The Dying Wish (2006), Music for the Off-Key (2006), and A Book of Blues (2011). He is co-editor of IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain (2000) and has short stories featured in many anthologies. His career has encompassed both screen and playwriting; plays include B is for Black, and an adaptation of Euripedes Women of Troy. He was nominated for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, the Alfred Fagon Award, the Frank O’ Conner Award and The Edge Hill Prize 2012. His latest anthology, co-edited with Monique Roffey, is Tell Tales 4: The Global Village (2009). A forthcoming novel, The Gospel According to Cane, will be published by Akashic Books (US) and Telegram (UK) in February 2013. www.courttianewland.com/
With music from
Randolph Matthews
- forget the usual tags – ‘singer-songwriter’, ‘folk-soul’, and ‘troubadour’. If you’ve caught Randolph Matthews live, either solo or collaborating, you’ll understand Randolph Matthews operates in his own parallel world, well away from traditional mainstream record label marketing formulae. His music is an evolving journey, rooted in purity and unshackled expression, drawing on the greats of yesteryear in soul, Neo African rhythms and conscious words. As a percussionist he has played sessions for the likes of US soul / boogie legend Don Blackman, recording with Julie Dexter for her J-Life project and working with Arthur Baker on tracks for Brooklyn soul legend, Will Downing. He even voiced a high profile ad for Twix chocolate – remember the Twix ‘In The Mix’ campaign? With a voice that has echoes of Marvin Gaye, Jon Lucien and Bobby McFerrin, he has an open-minded approach to his music borne from years performing live and collaborating with a wide variety of groundbreaking London and international artists.
"This man's is not just original, he's out there! Blues and Soul Magazine www.randolphmatthews.net/
Usifu Jalloh is a professional actor, dancer, percussionist and storyteller, whose unique skills introduce audiences and participants to West African traditions and cultures. A well-known face on the culturally diverse arts scene, Usifu has made two short films on the subject of refugees. The most recent was Journey Man (sponsored by the Arts Council, Wales), which starred Usifu alongside Ruth Madoc. The film has been shown at several international festivals and has won five awards to date. Usifu also made Lion Mountain in collaboration with BBC2, about two Sierra Leone refugee youngsters in England. He is the founder & director of the African dance outfit - Maambena Cultural Dance Company
Sh'maya plugs the depths. His spoken word explores rhythm and jazz, the spiritual, the city, vibe vibe vibe and the great beyond. He performs lyrical pieces, tells stories, asks questions in beats and visions. A regular on the London poetry circuit, Sh'maya brings his inimitable style to the stage; one of passion and sucker-punch-to-the-gut yesses. Sh'maya is based in Brixton town and is also known for having a great beard. Yes.
www.myspace.com/shmayapoetics
with music from Jennifer Moore - a London based singer-songwriter, cultured through the classic sounds of the Jazz songbooks but grown beyond their boundaries. Her influences are broad and many and her sound unique, but, as an overview, her debut record ‘Step Into My Song’ would sit happily in your CD collection on the same rack as a span of artists from Michael Buble, to Alicia Keys, and Sade. Jennifer Moore’s first album has production by Juan Luis Ayala, David Grant and Sam Grimley, - bringing a mix of experience and hot new production talent. Musicians on the album are world-class and have collaborated with Amy Winehouse, Annie Lennox, Dizzie Rascal, Jamiroquai, Jamie Cullum, Leona Lewis and Mark Ronson. Jennifer’s lyrics are poetic, even majestic, but also a true musician, she has the melodies and composition to match. Her colourful and expressive voice has that rarely found special ‘something’ in those smooth and earthy tones that raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
www.jennifermooremusic.com/
