Music fans are in for a double treat when two of the great jazz saxophonists play York within weeks of one another.
Both Jean Toussaint and Andy Sheppard perform at the National Centre For Early Music in separate concerts.
And if you book tickets for both gigs at the same time, you will get a £5 discount.
Jean Toussaint
Since Toussaint left Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in the mid eighties, He hasn’t looked back. Nor has he spent a career trying to repeat the past.
- Sun Nov 18 @ 7.30pm
- NCEM, Walmgate, York
- £18, concs £16, under 35s £5
- More details and book
The experiences gained in that world-class hothouse have enabled him to push forward and embrace challenging, and often high profile, musical collaborations in many different jazz styles.
He makes his long-awaited debut at the NCEM with his most ambitious and exciting work to date.
Building on the success of his 2015 Roots and Herbs project, Toussaint and his all-star band have recorded a daring suite of original compositions and arrangements, building on the legacy of the late, great Art Blakey.
The players
Jean Toussaint – tenor sax
Percy Pursglove – trumpet
Jonathan Gee – piano
Alec Dankworth – bass
Shane Forbes – drums
Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard is one of Europe’s leading saxophonists and one of a very few British musicians to have made a significant impact on the international jazz scene, playing and writing for settings from solo to big band and chamber orchestra.
- Tues Dec 4 @ 7.30pm
- NCEM, Walmgate, York
- £18, concs £16, under 35s £5
- More details and book
Sheppard has been described as a serial collaborator, playing recording and developing new music with artists as varied as Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, Indian violinist L Shankar and English folk musician Kathryn Tickell.
In December he comes to York with Swiss based trio Vein.
This collaboration sees the virtuoso saxman join the group to play the glorious and ever compelling tunes of Maurice Ravel.
The players
Michael Arbenz – piano
Thomas Lahans – bass
Florian Arbenz – drums
With Andy Shepperd – saxophones
To find out more details about the concerts, and to get the £5 double booking discount, head to the NCEM website.