The City of London Festival runs this year from June 26th to August 12th. In the past couple of years we've been able to get our teeth into a substantial jazz-related event.
In 2009 it was Jan Garbarek resonating low B flats in a large practice room called St Pauls Cathedral. From last year I remember the Grand Union Orchestra's Sadjo Djolo entering the Great Hall in St Bartholomew's, his kora rising from his groin, making King Henry VIII who stares off the wall, look a bit, well, under-powered.
This year, scouring through the programme, the only substantial thing I can find to sink my teeth into is the didgeridoo of William Barton (above). The festival has an Australian and Oceania theme.
There are jazz events, but mostly free lunchtimes or 6pms.
SHABAKA HUTCHINGS
A really interesting (paid-for) gig will show the free jazz side of Shabaka Hutchings to good advantage in the company of Mark Sanders drums, John Edwards bass, Leafcutter John , electronics and Kit Downes piano (Hammond?) at St Sepulchre Newgate on July 14th at 6pm
FREE EVENTS
30 June Barts Courtyard 12.30pm Alexander Stewart
7 July Ian Shaw St Barts Hospital Cortyard 12 30pm
8 July Kai Hoffman Guildhal Yard 12 15pm
14 July St Bartholomew's Hospital Courtyard, Neon Quartet, 12 30pm
21 July Michael Janisch Quartet St Bartholomew's Hospital Courtyard 12.30pm
4 August Rhythmica New Street Square 6pm
5 August Andrea Quintarelli Broadgate noon
11 August : Kai's Kat's Paternoster Square 12 noon
12 August Rob Rickenberg's Swing Thing in Paternoster Square, noon
WILLIAM BARTON
But, with no big jazz-related event, I'm a bit disappointed this year. Please try harder.
But, yes, the COLF does have didgeridoo improviser William Barton (above).
He'll be up on Parliament Hill Fields on July 3rd, and doing concets with pianist Piers Lane and the Goldner String Quartet. But the pick has to be the a solo improvisation and the Peter Sculthorpe Requiem in Southwark Cathedral on July 6th.
