Platform for amazing talent

NOW in its eighth year, Platform Eastern Promise festival, set in the East End of the city, is set to offer a “thrilling mix of live music, performance and visual art” over two evenings on November 16 and 17.

Audiences can enjoy Friday performances by the likes of keyboard and accordion maestro Hailu Mergia. The Ethio-jazz funk pioneer recently released Lala Belu, his first full-length album in nearly two decades.

Turner prize-nominated Monster Chetwynd presents a screening of her subversive and magical short film, Face Cream, a “joyous, fun and surreal short film which reveals a magical Glasgow discovered through the natural power of face cream.”

On the Saturday, jazz mavericks, Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids return to Platform announcing their new album release, An Angel Fell (Strut) with it’s “intergalactic jazz funk, afro-beat grooves and hypnotic licks.”

And Michael Kasparis brings his solo electronic venture Apostille to Platform.

Happy Anniversary Theatre Royal.

TO mark the conclusion of Theatre Royal Glasgow’s 150th anniversary celebrations, a new sculpture by Scottish visual artist Fraser Taylor is being unveiled on November 28.

Commissioned by Theatre Royal Glasgow and Scottish Opera, and made in the latter’s workshop at Edington Street Production Studios, Fraser’s sculpture entitled Look and Look Again will be on public display in Theatre Royal’s balcony foyer.

The unveiling next month brings to a close a year of special events for the 150 year-old Theatre Royal, which first opened in 1867. Scottish Opera’s Community Choir, conducted by Katy Lavinia Cooper, will be performing in front of invited guests at the event.

Jones and Watson in harmony.

TWO of the world’s greatest classical voices, Aled Jones and Russell Watson, will be performing at Glasgow’s Royal Concert hall on October 8 next year.

The announcement comes as the duo prepare to release their debut album In Harmony.

The new album features well-loved hymns including Ave Maria and modern classic You Raise Me Up.

All That Jazz

Glasgow International Jazz Festival director Jill Rodger was awarded the Services to Jazz Award at the 14th annual Parliamentary Jazz Awards which took place in Westminster this week.

Rodger’s success, she says owes much to her “Blue Peter-ish” programming technique: “I actually programme quite visually. In front of me is a wall and I put colour photos of musicians on it. I make sure the pictures are of them with their instruments so I can say, ‘Oh no, I’ve programmed 20 guitarists, that’s not going to work.’”

The Glasgow International Jazz Festival was founded in 1987, when Glasgow was bidding to become the European City of Culture for 1990.

Since that time the Jazz Festival has brought some of the biggest names in jazz to the City –1987’s programme included singer Sarah Vaughan, Chick Corea, Taj Mahal, Benny Carter and Carol Kidd.