Category Archives: News

Things about BeJe and Chai for Two that are not events.

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BEJE performing at CICIC Taunton Feb 19th 2016

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CIC Taunton posterhttp://www.creativeinnovationcentre.co.uk/performances/the-bristol-european-jazz-ensemble-fri-19-feb-2016/

We’re looking forward to our first gig of the year at ‘the south west’s new leading jazz venue’. It’s what they say about themselves and having trawled around the region I believe it! There’s only St Ive’s Jazz Club, of long repute, to compare really. (Go on, tell me I’m wrong). There’ll be some new material, including a spiritual chant for the audience, but let that not put you off! The ever-elegant Anders Olinder on piano, the increasingly wonderful and powerful Paolo Adamo on drums, the passionate and risk taking Federico Leonori on bass and searing altoist Julien Alenda, who will bring his tenor sax as well and is studying Sony Rollins especially, will be the BEJE line up this time. We look forward to seeing our friends and fans and keep solos shorter than my sentences (maybe).

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review of BEJE with Anne Chris Nov 28 2015 Bristol

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“The Bristol European Jazz Ensemble with special guest Dutch singer Anne Chris, gave an evening of jazz (Nov 28 2015) which served to warm the slightly cold surroundings of St. Stephen’s Church.  The majority of the tunes were originals penned both by Anne Chris and the group’s trumpeter,
David Mowat.  These tunes were both funky, yet featured melodic turns and harmonic twists that were redolent of both the late, great figures
of pianist John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler. To afficiandos, Anne Chris’s mellow voice and inventive phrasing may well have brought to mind vocal associations of Norma Winstone, too. All the songs were charmingly introduced by both Anne and David and the ensemble provided
subtle and complementary support.” Richard Leigh Harris, classical and jazz pianist , visiting tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire, member of contemporary jazz/freeform ensemble ‘Oxjam’.Anne Chris with BEJE at Saint Stephen's Bristol
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BEJE PERSONNEL CHANGE

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Marco Anderson

Marco Anderson at the BEJE album launch

I have some sad news and some good news. Marco Anderson our drummer is leaving the band (sad). Paolo Adamo is arriving (good).

I’ve known and played with Marco over a long period. He’s very reliable, professional, always delivers the goods musically and often gets the best comments at gigs from the audience!

However we both felt there was not quite a gelling in the band sound. These things happen as bands get establish and settle down.

I still intend to work with Marco. I heard him in another guise recently, the Jazz Gnats Electronique, ambient Joe Zawinal-esque music in the live acoustics of Saint Stephen’s Church. Perfect context for etherial trumpet playing I thought. So watch this space for news.

I’ll save my next blog to tell you about Paolo. So for now, Marco thank you very much for getting BEJE off to a very fine start and I look forward to collaborating with you in other ways.