28th March 2011 at the Forge, London NW1.

Country: Britain & Norway. Style: Jazz - Free & Ambient Soundscapes.

Lineup: Iain Ballamy (tenor sax/soprano sax/electronics), Thomas Strønen (percussion/electronics) and guests: Kit Downes (organ), Alex Munk (g).

The Anglo-Norwegian collaboration Food released its first album in 1999. The group was originally a quartet, but is now down to a duo with guest musicians. Iain Ballamy was in Loose Tubes, and as well as leading his own groups plays with Billy Jenkins and Django Bates amongst others. Thomas Strønen is also part of numerous other musical projects (with Bobo Stenson, Ståle Storløkken, etc.).

Tags:   Jazz Great Britain Food Iain Ballamy Tenor Sax Saxophone The Forge

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20th November 2019 at the 100 Club, London W1.

London Jazz Festival, www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk/.

Country: Britain. Style: Jazz - Modern / Township music.

Lineup: Frank Williams (tenor sax), Steve Williamson (alto sax), Robbie Juritz (tenor sax/bassoon), Julian Nicholas (tenor sax/soprano sax/clarinet), Dave Bitelli (baritone sax/flute), Claude Deppa (trumpet/flugelhorn), Chris Batchelor (trumpet/flugelhorn), David Defries (trumpet/flugelhorn/percussion), Paul Taylor (trombone), Annie Whitehead (trombone), Alastair Gavin (p), Michael Curtis Ruiz (bass g), Steve Argüelles (d), Kofi Adu (conga).

Brotherhood of Breath was formed in 1969 by South African pianist and composer Chris McGregor, evolving out of the Blue Notes, and continuing until his death in 1990. It has reformed from time to time since (e.g. 1993. 2004) to mark specific occasions These have become more frequently in the last year. The band here included five musicans from the late 1980s version of the band (Frank Williams, Robert Juritz, David Defries, Claude Deppa and Annie Whitehead), plus two more who were part of a 1993 tribute to McGregor (Steve Williamson and Paul Taylor). The music of the Brotherhood of Breath obviously owed a lot to the presence of South African exiles, but also to the British musicians who were always a significant part of the band. Those on stage here included no less than six musicians who played with Loose Tubes (Julian Nicholas, Dave Bitelli, Chris Batchelor, David Defries, Paul Taylor and Steve Argüelles). Many of tunes performed at this concert came from the last recording McGregor made with the Brotherhood of Breath, 1988’s "Country Cooking". I have taken photos before of several of the musicians (Williamson, Nicholas, Bitelli, Deppa, Batchelor, Taylor, Whitehead). To view click on the musician's name in my tags.

Tags:   Jazz Great Britain Brotherhood of Breath Dave Bitelli Baritone Sax Saxophone London Jazz Festival 100 Club

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27th December 2011 at the Royal Festival Hall (Clore Ballroom), London SE1.

Part of Winter Festival (free event).

Country: Britain. Style: “Yiddish Twist” (Mambo / Calypso / Twist / etc.).

Lineup: Natty Bo (Nathan Lerner) (v), Ben Mandelson (g/v), Robin Harris (keyboard/p), Chris Batchelor (trumpet), Paul Taylor (trombone), Dave Bitelli (alto sax), Paul Tkachenko (bass g), Guy Schalom (d).

I arrived late for Klezmer in the Park this year and so missed the Yiddish Twist Orchestra. Therefore was glad to get this opportunity to see them. One of the key movers behind the band is Ben Mandelson who helped bring the previously unknown music of the Mustapha clan of Szegerely in the Balkans to the world. This time the featured style is “Jewish Twist” which apparently flourished in Soho in the late 50s/early 60s. It combines Mambo, Calypso and the Twist (known as “der shvitz” before it crossed the Atlantic and became famous) with a Yiddish spin. The band also includes Natty Bo (Ska Cubano, Top Cats), Robin Harris (Les Effrontes, Manteca), Dave Bitelli (Onward Internationals, Loose Tubes) and Paul Taylor (Snowboy, Roberto Pla).
More information: www.yiddishtwist.com/.

Tags:   World Music Great Britain Mambo The Twist Yiddish Twist Orchestra Dave Bitelli Alto Sax Saxophone Winter Festival Southbank Centre

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24th July 2013 at the Gherkin, London EC3.

City of London Festival (free event), www.colf.org/

Country: Britain. Style: “Yiddish Twist” (Mambo / Twist / etc.).

Lineup: Natty Bo (Nathan Lerner) (v), Ben Mandelson (g), Robin Harris (keyboard), Colin Graham (trumpet), Paul Taylor (trombone), Dave Bitelli (alto sax), Simon Edwards (bass g), Roy Dodds (d).

According to Natty Bo in an interview the band plays a “mix of Twist, Soul, Mambo, Klezmer and Pop”. This is the third time I’ve seen them and taken photos (for the others see: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157628679705739/, www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157631626902082/), and this was the third different trumpet player.
More information: www.yiddishtwist.com/, www.facebook.com/yiddishtwist.

Tags:   World Music Great Britain Mambo The Twist Yiddish Twist Orchestra Dave Bitelli Alto Sax Saxophone City of London Festival The Gherkin

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17th August 2014 at Canada Square Park, London E14.

Canary Wharf Jazz Festival (free event), www.peterconwaymanagement.com/festivals/canary-wharf-jazz....

Country: Britain. Style: “Yiddish Twist” (Mambo / Twist / etc.).

Lineup: Natty Bo (Nathan Lerner) (v), Ben Mandelson (g), Robin Harris (keyboard), Simon Finch (trumpet), Paul Taylor (trombone), Dave Bitelli (alto sax/clarinet/baritone sax), Andres Lafone (bass g), Roy Dodds (d).

The Canary Wharf Festival’s organisers also acting as the Yiddish Twist Orchestra’s management must be helped ensure that they fitted into its definition of Jazz. They certainly went down well with the audience. This is the fourth time I’ve taken photos of the band. See: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157628679705739/, www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157631626902082/ and www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157635033301521/. With the exception of two or three spots the lineup has been fairly consistent. This was the fourth different trumpet player (and the first time I’ve seen the musician billed on the group’s website as the regular member), and the bass player was also new to me.
More information: www.facebook.com/yiddishtwist.

Tags:   World Music Great Britain Mambo The Twist Yiddish Twist Orchestra Dave Bitelli Alto Sax Saxophone Canary Wharf Jazz Festival Canada Square Park

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