Posted by Adrian Litvinoff on Nov 13, 2014
This week Radio 6 Music is celebrating libraries, while indie band Everything Everything is hosting an arts festival in Manchester’s newly-refurbished Central Library. So it seems the perfect time to say my piece about libraries and the debt I owe them. At primary school aged 9 or 10 we were walked down the hill some 30 strong every week to the branch library in Keats Grove, where a kindly lady made us welcome and talked about the books and how they were arranged. Coming from a bookish family I was already a reader, and so the thing that really excited me was the catalogue. It dominated the middle of the room; tier upon tier of wooden cabinets containing draw after draw of index cards, each pointing to a particular book, all in alphabetical order. As I knew my alphabet I realised with a thrill that I could use it to look anything up in the catalogue and find whatever I wanted! Not only that, I would always be able to do this, because (I thought) libraries would always be here. I knew I had found a ‘skill for life’. Saturdays became a regular day for visiting the library. On our little bikes my brother and I would peddle off to Arkwright Road, or to Swiss Cottage, to change our books and explore what was waiting for us on the shelves. It was a liberating and fulfilling experience. We each had our own library membership; my first autonomous official transactions were taking books out and returning them, occasionally paying a modest fine. Leaving secondary school under a cloud (don’t ask!) I was fortunate to get a job in the record library at Swiss Cottage. What treasures! The first LPs I borrowed, Shelly Manne and His Men Live at the Blackhawk Vols 1 & 2, thrilled me with their vibrant, direct sound and the intensity of the band’s performance. I felt as if I was right there in the club in San Francisco! These albums became my touchstone for live jazz recordings, and live for me still. I was able to explore everything from Duke Ellington to Cream, Albert Ayler to the Incredible String Band and more. The librarian there responded to my interest and we discussed music all the time. He even asked me to suggest what to buy for the collection, and for a while we were staunch supporters of the Impulse! label. I felt for once that my musical tastes...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Nov 3, 2014
We’re launching a new Blog page on this site, so that we can share things with you that arise through our involvement in music even though they may lie slightly outside the activities of the band. Its hard to predict exactly what the topics will be, but music is a field of endless fascination so there should be plenty to interest you as we develop this new thread. As ever, we will welcome your views and feedback, and hope that through this process we can get to know each other a little better. You’ll find the Blog under the ‘News’ tab on the main menu bar. Our first blog post will be with you...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Jun 13, 2014
Jazz critic Ian Mann has given a glowing report of Interplay’s recent performance at Warwick Arts Centre. He endorses the band’s musical approach and individual creativity. Read the whole review here. There aren’t many people writing about jazz like this, who invest time and effort in attending to local and regional artists as well as the big names. Those that do are much sought after, and we appreciate the care and attention of people like Ian in trying to evaluate and promote a wider interest in this great music at all levels. If you want to be sure of knowing about our future gigs please join our mailing list – just put your email address in the box at the bottom of this...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Jun 2, 2014
Tickets for our double-header with Sonrisa on 8th June are going, going… It looks as though the double bill is already a hit with audiences, so the night itself should be a scorcher! Don’t want to miss out? Hit the link now!
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on May 14, 2014
‘New Jazz Conceptions: History, Theory, Practice’ is the theme of a one day open conference at Warwick University Humanities Research Centre on Saturday 31st May. The brainchild of Roger Fagge and Nicholas Pillai, both lecturers at Warwick, the event reflects a move to place jazz more centrally within the cultural curriculum of the University. Arguably jazz is one of North America’s greatest contributions to global culture arising in the 20th Century, and by now we are familiar with its many offshoots and manifestations emanating from almost every continent. This one-day conference will bring together Warwick, Midlands and National speakers to discuss current research in jazz, share ideas about methodologies for future study, and explore the link between academics and the practice of jazz in the wider community. Speakers: Tony Whyton, Catherine Tackley, Andrew Hodgetts, Roger Magraw, Katherine Williams, Adrian Litvinoff, Simon Barber and Vic Hobson (National Jazz Archive) The Conference is open to everyone including musicians, promoters, jazz activists and enthusiasts, and booking is now open. For further details and to book your place just visit the conference page. Let’s...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on May 7, 2014
Lovers of globally-inspired world music and jazz are in for a special night at Warwick Arts Centre on June 8th, when two of the region’s best bands join forces. Sonrisa brings its joyous blend of mainly Latin rhythms while Interplay casts its net a little wider, taking in African and Indian sounds as well as expressive modern jazz. Despite their musical common ground this will be the first time the two bands have appeared together. Interplay and Sonrisa are both well established across the Midlands, playing to concert and festival audiences, in clubs and on rural touring circuits for several years. Each band released an album last year too. ‘Global’, on the part of Interplay, was hailed by Gilles Peterson as a ‘beautiful record’, while Sonrisa’s ‘Taste Of Latin’ has resulted in the band being taken up by Tom Robinson for BBC Introducing on 6Music. The gig is presented on the ‘Under The Radar’ strand, through which the Arts Centre gives exposure to artists thought deserving of a wider audience. The evening promises an uplifting musical journey infused with different cultures, with rhythmic excitement and instrumental creativity to the fore. Details and booking link here...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Apr 24, 2014
Can’t make it to Osaka for International Jazz Day? Don’t despair – IJD is also coming to Leamington Spa! Interplay Duo will be on hand at Wagamama on Wednesday evening with a special programme of jazz from around the world. Pianist Neil Hunter and bassist Adrian Litvinoff draw on a huge repertoire to ensure the evening has a genuinely global flavour. Get the details here. Meanwhile click ‘read more’ to see Herbie Hancock’s inspirational message on video, our very own UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Jazz!...
See MorePosted by Adrian Litvinoff on Apr 10, 2014
We are off to Market Harborough Jazz Club this Sunday for a lunch-time gig. Word has it the crowd there are a bit ‘serious’, but that’s not how I remember our last visit. I think we played plenty of Latin stuff and may even have equipped the audience with shakers and other things to hit! I do know that we sold more albums there than at any gig before or since. Roll on Sunday! Join us?...
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