A tribute to Ornette Coleman – by saxophonist Tony Kofi who met and played with Ornette in his New York loft appearing with him on Jamaaladeen Tacuma’s For The Love of Ornette performing in this instance in classic Atlantic Records period quartet guise with ex-Andrew Hill sideman Byron Wallen, the Jazz Jamaica drummer Rod Youngs and local scene free-jazz advocate bassist Alan Niblock – is a significant highlight of next month’s Brilliant Corners festival in Belfast. The gig takes place on Hill Street in the Cathedral Quarter at the Black Box during the evening of Tuesday 8 March. Niblock indicates, speaking to marlbank on the phone, that the band will be playing both well-known Ornette Coleman compositions, very likely to include ‘Peace’ and ‘Lonely Woman’ and a range of lesser known gems.
Swiss piano trio Vein, hot Irish band OKO appearing with US avant heavyweight Tim Berne as part of a north/south Irish tour making his first Belfast appearance; the acclaimed sax-piano Bézique duo of Scots Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock, British quartet Dinosaur led by BBC New Generation artist trumpeter Laura Jurd, and Irish progtronicists, the Tortoise-like, Alarmist, are among the mainly cutting edge bookings of the festival taking place from 5-12 March. Barry O’Halpin, a keyboardist and guitarist in the band says: “Neil [Crowley] has recently moved abroad so we are currently rebuilding a live set for a three-piece setup. It’s a challenge but a welcome one, and our set at Brilliant Corners is giving us an opportunity to play material that we haven’t done live before, as well as putting new spins on our older material. Though this song has a very prominent two-kit drum pattern so Osgar [Dukes on drums] will have his work cut out for him!” Shane Latimer, who plays guitar with OKO, says when asked about working with Tim Berne that he’s “looking forward to it, it’ll be a nice challenge for the band to focus on a melodicist, something we’ve only done on occasion.”
Artist in residence at the Northern Ireland festival, based at the MAC, drummer David Lyttle says: “I’m mentoring an ensemble of six young jazz musicians, all very good and from NI. They’ll be opening for Tommy Smith and Vein Trio.”
Venues are the Black Box in the Cathedral Quarter, a short walk from City Hall; Crescent Arts Centre in south Belfast on University Road in what’s now known as the Queen’s quarter; and Belfast Barge, that’s the converted Confiance ship moored on the Lagan over by the Waterfront Hall; with a selection of arthouse jazz films, including the new Robert Trujillo-produced Jaco screened at the BeanBag cinema on Donegall Street, close at hand to the Black Box and new to the festival this year, heralding the gigs.
For further details and booking information see the Brilliant Corners website
Tony Kofi clockwise (pictured) from above left, Byron Wallen, Rod Youngs and Alan Niblock pay tribute to Ornette Coleman