On Saturday November 5th we welcome a much loved and highly respected figure on the UK jazz scene.
Scottish jazz vocalist Louise Dodds has performed at London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival, as well as in Europe and the Middle East – and in November makes her Linlithgow Jazz debut!
Louise sings a mixture of self-penned songs, jazz standards, and always in the company of excellent musicians. She has recently released her first all-original album, ‘The Story Needs An Ending’ which is gathering rave reviews from all directions. And just prior to Lockdown, she had the honour of opening for Norma Winstone MBE as part of the Scottish Jazz Weekend in Edinburgh.
Joining Louise will be four of Scotland’s finest young jazz musicians – Graeme Stephen on guitar, Tom Gibbs on piano, Andrew Robb on double bass and Max Popp on drums. We’ve added some info on the band below.
For more information on Louise’s career, visit www.louisedodds.co.uk – there is way too much to mention here!
Tickets are available now on Eventbrite.
“strongly cathartic” – Jazzwise
“Depth and warmth in spadefuls” – Linley Hamilton
“A magical charm” – London Jazz News
The Queen Margaret Hall is on Blackness Road (EH49 7JA) – 7pm doors for a 7.30pm start, running til 10. BYOB, and drinks & nibbles (please do bring your own your glasses and plates, although the tea bar should now be operational again).
Tom Gibbs – piano
One of Jazzwise’s ‘One to Watch 2011’ Tom Gibbs was first drawn to jazz by the musicians in his family, his father and grandfather both being keen amateurs. The first CD he owned was a Horace Silver compilation gifted by his cornet-playing godfather, and it was a trip to Smalls Paradise in New York that really pushed him in a jazz direction. Tom gained a Masters with distinction at York University, a forward-thinking department where we was mentored by John Taylor and Julian Arguelles, both key influences. He also studied in New York with Jason Moran and Oslo with Ralph Alessi. Gibbs has been based in Glasgow since 2007, securing gigs with amongst others, Ulf Wakenius, Konrad Wisniewski, Paul Towndrow, Graeme Stephen, Phil Bancroft and Martin Kershaw. He plays at ‘the best jazz night in Scotland’ (BBC) every Sunday at The 78, Glasgow.
Graeme Stephen – guitar
Born in Aberdeen, Graeme Stephen has been playing guitar since the age of 9. Today he leads and contributes to a multitude of musical projects in Scotland and overseas, playing a wide array of styles from free improvised jazz to Scottish folk and is a much sought after composer and arranger. Stephen’s peerless improvisational skills and talent for composition make him one of Scotland’s most exciting and prodigious musical talents. He is a very unusual jazz guitarist in that he is as skilled and comfortable playing in a virtuoso way over standards and chord changes, as he is heading into completely free improvised soundscapes.
Andrew Robb – double bass
Since winning 1st Prize at the European Society of Bassists Jazz Competition in 2018, Andrew Robb is beginning to establish himself as one of the most versatile and talented young double bassists in Europe. Growing up in Edinburgh, Scotland, he started learning double bass at the age of seven and became immersed in classical and jazz music. Equally versatile in both styles, his musical talents have been widely recognised and was recently named as the only representative for the arts in Scottish Review’s 20/20 Vision Young Scots of The Year in December 2019.
He graduated with BMus Jazz at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama 2012. During his time there he led the double bass section of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and won the BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 2009. This led to his music being featured on BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 3 as well as performing at the Edinburgh, Glasgow and London Jazz festivals.
Andrew is a sought-after educator of Jazz, Improvisation, and Double Bass. He has worked with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The National Youth Jazz Collective, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and The National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland. He was appointed Head of Jazz at St Mary’s Specialist Music School, Edinburgh in 2018 and Lecturer of Jazz Bass at Leeds Conservatoire in 2019. He is a guest instrumental tutor at Edinburgh University and a Remic Microphone Endorsing Artist.
Max Popp – drums
Chicago drummer Max Popp is the current ‘go to’ drummer for many of Scotland’s band leaders and has toured and recorded with the Brian Kellock Trio, Mario Caribe’s Boteco Trio, Fraser Urquhart, Alison Affleck and the Georgia Cecile Group – including her recent appearance at the Albert Hall, supporting Gregory Porter!