THE JAZZ JUNCTION CHRISTMAS 2020 MUSICAL HAMPER!

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We’ve selected 9 musical treats to fill up a 2020 virtual Christmas jazz hamper.

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3 albums, 3 singles, 3 online performances.

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Ringing with creativity and musicality, the selection delights and excites the ears of the Watford Jazz Junction! 

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Whether you're alone during this festive period or with others, we know there’s some wonderful entertainment in our hamper that will connect you with something new. 😊

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ALBUMS

Shri “The Letter” Released just before lockdown, our 2021 Watford Jazz Junction headliner takes us on a spiritual jazz journey. This is a beautiful and stirring mixture that must be played loudly

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Chris Potter “There is a Tide” One man’s 6-week lockdown project. Show off! He plays all instruments himself, but what a story it tells and is full of rich solos on saxes, flutes and bass clarinet

 

Khruangbin “Mordechai” Houston alternative, psychedelic beats. The whole album oozes with an escapism where you get to bathe in a global blend of musical influences

 

SINGLES

Rufus Wainwright “Damsel in Distress” Beautiful, gently absorbing, quasi-operatic, genre-busting, fully groovy song of the year for us. Download the whole lovely album, “Unfollow the Rules”

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Thunder Cat, Ariana Grande, JD Beck and DOMi, “Them Changes: live” Awesome pop-up track from November’s Swim Festival on YouTube. So lovely to see Ariana Grande being a proper jazz cat

 

Samuel Sharp “Catching Leaves”  An amazing, pacey and punchy standalone woodwind and electronica track. Get excited about his plans for release of a whole album next year

 

PERFORMANCES

Abel Selaocoe, “Jazz Takeover with Chesaba and the BBC Concert Orchestra” Free on BBC iPlayer for 10 months. It is wonderful from note one to the end. Abel is very special. We’ll watch again & again

 

Renell Shaw, “Echo in the Bones” Bass player Renell’s composition unpacks across 40 minutes with awesome musicians, expressive tap, crafted solos and oral reflections. Powerful and absorbing stuff

 

Harold López-Nussa, “Te Lo Dije” For the sheer unbridled Afro-Cuban jazz joy. The quartet doesn’t let up throughout this punchy and fun 50-minute studio set. Dance, dance, wherever you may be

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And because no hamper is complete without a Christmas Cracker don't forget to download Watford's mighty Electric Umbrella's AWESOME 2020 charity single: “The Best Christmas”!

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Happy Hanukkahs, Happy Christmases, Happy New Years.