First Anniversary of “Michael Janisch Presents”.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Bassist Michael Janisch is celebrating the first anniversary of his hugely successful monthly creative jazz residency at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London.

American born, London based bass player Michael Janisch is one of the UK jazz scene’s movers and shakers. For the past year he has been presenting a monthly creative jazz residency at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in London. Janisch has been given total artistic control over these events and has attracted top American and European musicians to appear in London.
London jazz audiences have responded enthusiastically and these evenings have been a huge success with Janisch able to break even financially on the project despite the considerable expenses of flights and hotel bills for the musicians concerned. Janisch has presented musicians and line-ups that are rarely seen in the UK and the jazz public have really got behind these events and made them a great success.
Michael celebrates this first anniversary with a special double bill on Friday October 15th 2010. he has forwarded details of this event as below, plus a resume of the events that have taken place in the previous twelve months.
The Jazzmann wishes Michael continued success with this enterprising venture which has greatly enhanced the London jazz scene. Not that Michael’s activities are confined to the capital, he is regularly to be seen touring the provinces both as a leader and a sideman. I’ve been lucky enough to see him in various Welsh venues over the course of the last year or so both with his own groups the Purpose Built Band, Transatlantic Collective and Saxophone Summit and as a sideman with saxophonist Jure Pukl’s Slavic Soul Trio.
This adopted son has become a force for good in British jazz. Long may he continue with the good work.

We have received the following from Michael covering both future and past events;

Celebrating the 1 Year Anniversary of
‘Michael Janisch Presents’
monthly creative jazz residency

at Pizza Express Jazz Club
Dean St. Soho

FRI. Oct 15, 2010
with a Special Double Bill Event

(both houses 90 minutes)
1st House:
Leon Parker Trio feat. Stan Sulzmann
Admission: 15 (10 students/musicians)
Doors 6 pm, Start time: 7:30pm

2nd House:
David Lyttle’s ‘Dark Tales’
feat. Tim Warfield & Robert Mitchell
Admission: 10 (5 students/musicians)
Doors 10 pm, Start time: 10:30 pm

Drummer Leon Parker featuring Stan Sulzmann (tenor sax):
For over twenty years, New York native drummer and percussionist Leon Parker has provided a unique foundation to some of the jazz world’s most esteemed improvisers, such as Kenny Barren, Dewey Redman, Tom Harrell, Jacky Terrasson, and Brad Mehldau. His eclectic approach to drumming is colourful and subtle, with a ‘less is more’ approach, and moves freely with ease from the language of jazz’s rich tradition to the avante garde. A highly regarded bandleader, Parker has headlined on numerous occasions at the Village Vanguard, and has released solo albums as a leader for such major labels as Columbia Records. Tonight, for his first headlining date in London, he is joined by one of the UKs most celebrated improvisers, Stan Sulzman, and bassist Michael Janisch, to present highly spirited music with focus on group improvisation and melody.
Stan Sulzmann is without question one of the most highly respected musicians in the UK today, admired by musicians and audiences for his instantly recognisable sound, and boundless creative imagination, and is a source of inspiration to many of Britain’s emerging young musicians. 

Drummer David Lyttle’s “Dark Tales”
Featuring Tenor Saxophonist Tim Warfield and Pianist Robert Mitchell
A new jazz suite inspired by the macabre writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson and Charles Dickens. Drummer/composer David Lyttle (from Northern Ireland) has been hailed as one of the most significant jazz performers to have emerged in Ireland in recent years, working with artists such as Dave Liebman, Greg Osby, Jean Toussaint, Soweto Kinch and Tommy Smith. His new Dark Tales suite was premiered to much acclaim at Belfast’s Ulster Hall last October, and heavily features BBC Jazz Award winning piano virtuoso and Steinway artist Robert Mitchell. The New York Times describes special guest American tenor giant Tim Warfield as “perhaps the most powerful tenor saxophonist of his generation”. Known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Isaac Hayes and Bill Cosby, he makes his first London appearance in many years. As a unit, they will present music that blends many genres, with a strong focus on group interaction and soulful interplay.

NOV 18th, 2010:  Mike Moreno Quartet
For his inaugural headlining performance at the London Jazz Festival at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, NYC based guitarist Mike Moreno presents material from his latest album “Between the Lines,” with Kristjan Randalu Piano, Paul Wiltgen Drums, and Michael Janisch bass.
A pre-eminent new voice in modern jazz, guitarist Mike Moreno has carved a distinctive musical persona, and has been picked by Pat Metheny as one of the major new voices of guitar. Moreno’s craft is immersed within the construction of budding themes via his fluidly articulated elegance, topped-off with raw firepower. A native of Houston, Texas, and NYC resident for over a decade he has performed with Joshua Redman, Lizz Wright Band, Nicholas Payton Quartet, Terence Blanchard Quintet, Jeff Tain Watts, Greg Osby 4, Wynton Marsalis.
“There are many other guitarists out there pushing towards a modern ideal, but none with the precise coordinates that Mike Moreno has charted.” Jazz Times
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In just over one year, these world class musicians have all taken part in the ‘MJP’ residency…...

2009:

SEPTEMBER: Inaugural MJ Presents Residency: Featured Michael Janisch’s CD launch Party of his debut album ‘Purpose Built’ and was joined onstage with Jason Palmer Trumpet (Boston), Paul Booth Tenor Saxophone (UK), Jim Hart Vibraphones (UK), and Jochen Rueckert Drums (NYC).

OCTOBER: Perico Sambeat Quartet: Perico Sambeat Alto Saxophone (Spain), Romain Pilon Guitar (France) and Colin Stranahan Drums (NYC)

NOVEMBER: The TransAtlantic Collective: Patrick Cornelius Alto Sax (NYC), Quentin Collins Trumpet (UK), Kristjan Randalu Piano (Estonia), Paul Wiltgen Drums (Luxembourg)

2010:

JANUARY: Alyn Cosker Trio: Alyn Cosker Drums (Scotland), David Dunsmuir Guitar (Scotland), Seamus Blake Tenor Sax (NYC).

FEBRUARY: Saxophonist GEORGE GARZONE (Boston) with Pete Zimmer Drums (NYC)

MARCH: JASON PALMER (Trumpet, Boston) Quartet Featuring Jeff Ballard (California) drums, Julian Siegel (London) Tenor Saxophone

APRIL: MJ’s Saxophone Summit Sexet, featuring Nigel Hitchcock (UK) Alto Saxophone, Joel Frahm (USA) Tenor Saxophone, Alex Garnett (UK) Tenor Saxophone, Ross Stanley (UK) Piano, Steve Brown (UK) Drums

MAY: Lee Konitz Quartet featuring Dan Tepfer (Paris/NYC) Piano, Jeff Williams (NYC/London) drums + Live Recording for Whirlwind Recordings Ltd.

JUNE: Graeme Blevins (Tenor Sax, Australia) Quintet featuring Till Bronner (Germany) Trumpet, Mike Outram (UK) Guitar, Paul Wiltgen (Lux) Drums

JULY: Jim Hart Trio (Vibraphones, UK), featuring Ralph Alessi (NYC) Trumpet, David Smith (UK) Drums.

AUGUST: Jure Pukl’s Slavic Soul Group: Jure Pukl (Saxophones, Slovenia), Klemens Marktl (Austria, Drums) + special guests Phil Robson (Guitars, UK) and Christine Tobin (Voice, Ireland)

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More information at http://www.michaeljanisch.com

Pizza Express Jazz Club
Dean St. Soho
http://www.pizzaexpresslive.co.uk