Award Winning virtuoso harmonica player and pianist Adam Glasser brings a leading band of contemporary jazz musicians to play his trademark township jazz and the classic repertoire of the great harmonica player Toots Thielemans!
Adam’s unique harmonica sound combines his South African roots with many years immersed in the UK jazz scene as well as with SA legends such as Dudu Pukwana and Hugh Masekela, plus with Joe Zawinul, Martha Reeves, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sting and the Eurythmics. This concert series explores rarely heard township jazz standards across a range of great South African composers from Abdullah Ibrahim to Caiphus Semenya, Victor Ndlazilwana and Themba Mkhize.
“…a unique evening of township jazz and beyond. A joyous affair and resounding success.”…Blues & Soul Magazine
With Adam Glasser - harmonica & piano , George Crowley - saxophone, Ant Law - guitar, Steve Watts - bass, Corrie Dick - drums
++ Pre gig “Labour Day Loves menu from Mandira’s Kitchen:
Poppadums, salad & chutneys (The perfect crunch and fresh vegetables)
Kaju Dhania Murgh(Boneless chicken with coriander, cashews and spices)
Or Navratan Korma (Vg) (Nine ‘jewels’ or vegetables cooked in a delicate spiced sauce)
Both served with Basmati Rice
EVENT INFO
The performance is upstairs in Guildford Pavilion, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP
Please note there are no physical tickets, just give your name on the door when you arrive. There’ll be seating reserved for you.
Doors open from 7pm, supper served from 7.15pm, and the performance starts at 8pm. There will be an interval and there is a licensed bar. Seating is cabaret style and there is a lift for disabled access.
Pre-gig Menu from Mandira’s Kitchen -
Poppadums, salad & chutneys (The perfect crunch and fresh vegetables)
Kaju Dhania Murgh(Boneless chicken with coriander, cashews and spices)
Or Navratan Korma (Vg) (Nine ‘jewels’ or vegetables cooked in a delicate spiced sauce)
Both served with Basmati Rice!
If you have any questions please contact us by emailing info@guildfordjazz.org.uk
TICKETS
Full Price £20 /Guildford Jazz members £18
Students £7 / Student Members £5
Meals £13
WHO'S PLAYING?
South African harmonica player/pianist Adam Glasser brings a great band of leading young British musicians to play his trademark township jazz. Adam’s unique harmonica sound combines his South African roots with many years immersed in the UK jazz scene as well as with SA legends such as Dudu Pukwana and Hugh Masekela, plus with Joe Zawinul, Martha Reeves, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sting and the Eurythmics. This concert series explores rarely heard township jazz standards across a range of great South African composers from Abdullah Ibrahim to Caiphus Semenya, Victor Ndlazilwana and Themba Mkhize.
Adam Glasser is a fluent and impressive jazz pianist leaning towards the “township” feel of his South African background. However, in more recent years, as well as continuing and developing his piano playing, he has reinvented himself as one of Europe’s leading jazz chromatic harmonica players. He has released two critically acclaimed recordings, winning the “Best Modern Jazz Album” award at the 2010 South African Music Awards with his wonderful album “Free at First” while the follow-up, “Mzansi” was also short listed by SAMA in 2012 for “Best Jazz Album”. Adam has performed or recorded with a wide range of artists including Sting, Joe Zawinul, the Eurythmics, Incognito and the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera. Strongly influenced by his SA roots, Adam is a founder member of the Township Comets and was for many years musical director of the legendary SA vocal group The Manhattan Brothers. In 2014 Adam had the honour of playing several piano dates with iconic SA musician Hugh Masekela (often referred to as the “Father of South African jazz”), which included the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
‘Free at First’, his debut album, won best Jazz album South African Music Awards 2010 and his follow up ‘Mzansi’ was nominated Best Jazz album South African Music Awards 2012. Due for release later this year is Adam’s third album ‘SA & Beyond’. The album is the extraordinary result of a London recording session as he brought together his long time guitarist – the rising UK Star Rob Luft – and one of South Africa’s most significant cutting edge pianists Bokani Dyer.
Accompanying Adam Glasser on harmonica and piano are George Crowley on sax, UK jazz stalwart Steve Watts on bass, and three of the finest cutting edge young jazz virtuosos on the contemporary scene – Ant Law – guitar, George Crowley – sax and Corrie Dick – drums.
“[Adam Glasser]… has brought a truly unique voice and idiom to the constantly evolving language of jazz”… All About Jazz
“the virtuosity and panache associated with practitioners on more conventional instruments… a wholly impressive evening’s music from a man in complete control of his considerable resources”… VortexJazz
“…a unique evening of township jazz and beyond. A joyous affair and resounding success.”…Blues & Soul Magazine
“A composer, keyboardist and harmonica player, Glasser is intense – his tunes are joyful, driving and danceable.”…Jazz Times Review
DIRECTIONS
The performance is upstairs in the Pavilion building at the Guildford County Cricket Club, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP
For sat navs please check the postcode takes you to Wharf Road. There’s a car park alongside, entry from Wharf Road. If you’re approaching from Guildford town centre, Wharf Road is on the left just before the Sports Ground. If you’re approaching from the A3/Ladymead there’s no right turn into Wharf Road, but continue to the next roundabout to double back.
The car park next to the Pavilion holds about 40 cars (to enable emergency access, cars can only park in the marked bays). Unless it’s very wet, the overflow car park at the far end of the Cricket ground will be open.
To access the overflow car park, turn left as you come out of Wharf Road and carry on along Woodbridge Road towards the railway bridge, and the entrance to the ground is just before the end of the green fence that runs along the perimeter of the ground, next to the Woodbridge Café.
You might prefer to use one of the larger public car parks which are just a few minutes walk away: the open air Mary Road Car Park (GU1 4QU) or multi-storey Bedford Road Car Park (GU1 4SJ)
SEATING
Seating is either in front row settees/armchairs, central round tables, or rear high chairs/tables. Seats will be reserved for you when you book. If you’re a Guildford Jazz member, please let us know if you have a seating preference in on the booking form. Notes on the layout:
Front row: Seats 1 to 5 are sofas or armchairs
Middle tables: Tables 6 to 23 and 32 are small tables , each seating 4 (for bookings of 1 or 2 seats, we’ll seat you at a table with others, please let us know if you have friends coming who you’d like to sit with!).
Rear tables: Tables 24 to 29 are tall tables suitable for 2 people, with high stools.
Groups: Table 31 and 32 are suitable for larger group of 6 or more
High stools : 30 and 34 are single high stools (no table) , suitable for 1 to 3 people