‘Jazz at the Mount’ a hot topic this June at MLH

Jazz cannot wait for concert halls. It cannot be heard everywhere in the streets. I will not only talk about the bands and celebrations that regularly take place in at MLH but especially about the syncopated rhythms of Jazz that will highlight MLH next week and beyond.

Starting with the popular Governors Jazz Sunday Brunch at MLH getting jazzier on Sunday, 27 May 2012 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Terrace with the upbeat Asia Pacific Jazz ensemble, professionals performing in true spirit.

Popular Pianist Eshantha Peiris will top a notch higher with his Jazz grooves. Drummer Dr. Sumudi Suraweera aka Sum has been a performing jazz musician in New Zealand for 10 years where he collaborated with various Lankan and Kiwi groups and artists and performed in his own ensembles including the Serendib Sextet and Baliphonics.

Double Bassist Isaac Smith: New Zealand born musician and composer with a passion for improvised and creative music who states that the double bass owns him. All three are highly qualified musicians and teachers from Musicmatters in Colombo and dedicated to music of the most sublime and sensitive nature.

Then June MLH will present Carte blanche au Jazz, with le Olivier Franc Quintet from 16 to 18 June 2012. Reputed to be “the greatest soloist and creator of the history of Jazz,” Sidney Bechet will be best interpreted by Olivier Franc. Recreating the same passion through the compositions as the master himself, ‘Olivier Franc’s Jazz Quintet’ will begin a diffusion of French culture at MLH.

The Quintet will perform on:

• 16 June – Jazz on the Paradise Beach with tickets at Rs. 1,500
• 17 June – Dinner and Jazz in the Empire Ballroom with tickets at Rs. 6,000 nett
• 18 June – Jazz on the Terrace – Rs. 3,500

Then Sintonia, an acoustic jazz quartet defines contemporary funk and jazz with its blend of sophisticated original compositions and a unique treatment of the classics adding a vivacious sound to the local jazz repertoire, will surface on 24 June 2012 at the Sunday Jazz Brunch. The working ensemble approaches a regular quartet format from a new perspective creating a unique ensemble sound. The foursome reflects the true heart of Funky Jazz and its sound is based in part on compositions of the Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Randy Crawford and the contemporary favourites including Michael Buble, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Taio Cruz.

The Quartet consisting of Monique Wille on vocals, Greg Pallegama on drums, Ashane Bernard on keyboards and Suren De Kauwe on bass guitar produces music that makes the most of the intriguing sound potential of a contemporary jazz outfit, fitting in ideally for corporate launches, cocktails, lounge and relaxing atmospheres.