Posted by Adrian Litvinoff on Sep 2, 2022
Our event ‘Jazz Meets Dancehall’ on August 6th was a really roller-coaster! Just two days earlier Claude Deppa had phoned with the dreaded news that he had Covid. What’s to be done? After a frantic day of ringing round we were extremely fortunate that none other than Byron Wallen was free and ready to step into the breach! ‘Free’, yes, but teaching on a summer-school in Cardiff right up to the end of Friday. Heroically he trained it up to London just in time to connect with our other guest Annie Whitehead and make it to the venue on time! It was worth it anyway because Byron took to the programme beautifully and the whole thing went really well. You can see how well from the following review in the Leamington Courier by their esteemed veteran music critic Clive Peacock. Thanks to In The Moment for helping to organise and Warwick Town Council for financial...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Aug 5, 2022
Our collaboration with In The Moment, ‘Musical Exchanges’, is under way. We are exploring links between Jazz and several other cultural traditions from South Africa, Jamaica and North India. This ties in with the Commonwealth Games currently in progress. ‘Jazz Meets Dancehall’, (August 6th) features Annie Whitehead, trombone, and Byron Wallen trumpet, a late substitute for COVID-struck Claude Deppa. The set will feature South African tunes and Jamaican classics in the Ska and Reggae traditions, all with an Interplay twist. ‘Indian Jazz Fusion’ (August 10th) will feature Kathak (Classical Indian) singer and dancer Awantika Dubey in a programme of cross-fertilisation between the traditional virtuosic and sacred Indian material and Interplay’s rhythmically flexible approach to Jazz. The approach is well summed up in the Leamington Courier and tickets are on sale now! Hit these links for tickets ‘Jazz Meets Dancehall’ ‘Indian Jazz Fusion’ And to have a go yourself, why not join our Music Improvisation workshop with Alan Wakeman and Adrian Litvinoff, or try the Bollywood Dance Taster with Awantika Dubey and Dave Balen? No experience necessary and fun...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Mar 14, 2022
Alan Wakeman is so unassuming that one can lose sight of what a creative presence he is and has been for many years on the British jazz scene. Fortunately other people have contrived to bring him into the spotlight where he richly deserves to be. In this ‘tribute to himself’, his groundbreaking recordings for BBC Jazz Workshop (1969) and Jazz In Britain (1979) are the focus. They were re-issued in 2020 on Gearbox Records and have won a fistful of encomiums, not least featuring in the Critics’ Polls of New York City Jazz Record and Jazzwise magazines. Chaturanga Suite Now Alan has assembled a high-powered band to take this music out on the road. The band comprises some of the original performers and others of the calibre required to do the music justice. Henry Lowther (trumpet) and Art Themen (saxophone), John Horler (piano) and Paul Nieman (trombone) are the veterans. Asif Sirkis (drums), Arnie Somogyi (bass), Peter Whyman (clarinet) and Miguel Gorodi (trumpet) complete the ensemble, billed as Alan Wakeman’s Octet. Dates so far include Ronnie Scott’s (May 8th), Exeter Phoenix (May 10th), Birmingham Jazz Festival (May 13th) and Dorking Watermill (May 17th). We at Interplay wish Alan the very best for the tour and are booking our seats right now to experience this unique and very British jazz live in person....
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Sep 24, 2021
Jazz Journal, eminent British Jazz periodical, has published a review of our gig at Kenilworth Arts Festival. You can read Matthew Wright’s...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Sep 21, 2021
Kenilworth got on its feet on Saturday night when Interplay appeared in party mood. With balmy temperatures, the rain mercifully scarce and a comfortably relaxed crowd in Talisman Square we were all of one mind – to groove!Venezuelan pianist Edgar Macias, sitting in for Neil Hunter, brought a truly authentic touch to our Latin set. Not only that, his vocal rendition of ‘Chan Chan’ was really romantic, according to at least one female audience member! As the gig coincided with the 25th anniversary of the great Buena Vista Social Club recordings this was very timely indeed.Our other guest was trumpeter Carol Whitworth, standing in for trombonist Richard Baker, and herself from Kenilworth. Carol’s initially cool playing got hotter and hotter as the night went on, especially on funkier numbers like ‘Memphis Shout’.Interplay stalwarts Alan Wakeman (saxes and flute) and Dave Balen (drums and percussion) were in fine form too, whether on the Latin repertoire or some of the band’s more off-the-wall numbers like ‘Norbert Dentressangle’ and ‘No Trouble’. Thanks very much to Kenilworth Arts Festival for having us, and we look forward to making the Square move again at a future festival!Bohemia After Dark? No its...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Sep 4, 2021
Interplay will be appearing at Kenilworth Arts Festival on Saturday 18th September at 7.30pm. This is an outdoor gig so the emphasis is very much on lively, groove-filled music to get you moving – in your seat or on your feet! After our long lay-off we are delighted to be appearing in the Warwick district again. This follows our highly enjoyable outing at All Saints Church Leamington in August.Check out the gig details here.Information about Kenilworth Arts Festival is here.Dress warmly...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Jul 20, 2020
Are you looking forward to live music again? Who isn’t!Please take this very short survey to help us plan for returning to live music. It will take less than 5 minutes, and there’s a free prize draw too…https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PBMQQBV
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Oct 8, 2019
Our new video – ‘Pearly Light’ – is now up to watch! It’s been a while since we videoed ourselves. This track is a lucky combination of some super shots by photographer Mark Ludbrook (@sportsshots) and some live recording, both caught while we were at Chesterfield Jazz Club in March 2019....
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