25th August 2011: Gear up for Irish Guitarist’s Mark McKnight’s ‘Do or Die’ album launch tour!!
Northern Ireland native Mark McKnight is about to embark on an extensive Ireland/UK tour next month, with over a dozen events in support of his forthcoming WWR release, ‘Do or Die’ featuring his unique organ quartet with one of the most valued and accomplished saxophonists of the last 20 years, Seamus Blake. The touring band will also feature from the album, Ross Stanley on organ and James Maddren on drums. Don’t miss these dates if they are in your area! McKnights album is beaming with lush harmonies, beautifully unfolding contemporary compositions, and world class improvisations by all on board. And, if you’re a guitarist, then you have to hear this band and pick up a copy of the album, because there is no doubt that McKnight will firmly place himself on the international map as one of jazz’s premier young guitarists, who showcases a ridiculous (in a good way!) sound and tone, clean and precise chops, and an overall output as a musician and bandleader that is hardly matched by any of his generation, anywhere– This guy is really on the money! The album launches officially on Sept 26; however, advance copies will be available on tour.
JazzWise Magazine has done a preview, which is copied below, followed by the touring dates, or the touring dates can be viewed in the Events section, or on Mark’s own website which can be viewed by clicking HERE.
JAZZWISE PREVIEW:
Guitarist Mark McKnight releases his Organ Quartet’s first album, Do or Die, on Monday 26 September which will be backed up by a nationwide tour. Alongside the guitarist the new record features saxophonist Seamus Blake, organist Ross Stanley and drummer James Madden, who will play the launch gig at Ronnie Scott’s on Thursday 29 September.
McKnight’s profile as a significant figure on the European jazz scene has been steadily rising over recent years. He has appeared at major jazz festivals including London and Montreux, and won the Best Young Irish Musician Award at the Cork Jazz Festival. He has also been chosen to represent Ireland in the 12 Points Festival (Norway) and the UK in the European Jazz Orchestra.
Since the release of his debut album, Overnight, in 2009, McKnight has focused on developing this UK-based organ band who have been met with critical acclaim when touring. Blake, who has worked with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter and is a long-standing member of the Mingus Big Band, joined the group for its 2010 tour, which took the musicians to sell out performances at the Belfast Festival and the Cork Jazz Festival. McKnight has described the band as ‘the perfect combination of musicians’, and the energetic album reinforces the guitarist’s improvisation and composition skills as well as the musicians’ considerable empathy, reminding us that he is certainly one to watch.
The September tour begins in Bristol (venue TBA) on Sunday 18 September and the rest is as follows: The 606 Club, London (19th), Dempsey’s, Cardiff (20th), The Griffin, Glasgow (21st), Seven Arts, Leeds (22nd), Millennium Hall, Polish Centre, Sheffield (23rd), The Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Dublin (24th), Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast (25th), The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen (26th), The Cluny, Newcastle (27th), Swansea Jazzland (28th), Ronnie Scott’s, London (29th), The Spice of Life, London (29th), Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough (30th).
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18.9.11: Future Inns/ **Venue Subject to Change** Bristol, UK
19.9.11: The 606 Club, Chelsea, London, England, www.606club.co.uk
20.9.11: Dempsey’s, Cardiff, Wales, UK, homepage.ntlworld.com/brenda.obrien1/
21.09.11: The Griffin, Glasgow Scotland, UK
22.09.11: Seven Arts, Leeds, England, www.sevenjazz.co.uk
23.09.11: Millennium Hall, Sheffield, England www.sheffieldjazz.org.uk
24.09.11: The Seamus Ennis Cultural Center, Naul, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland www.seamusenniscentre.com
25.09.11: Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, Norther Ireland www.movingonmusic.co.uk
26.09.11: The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, Scotland
27.09.11: The Cluny, Newcastle, England www.jazznortheast.com
28.09.11: Swansea Jazzland, Swansea, Wales www.swanseajazzland.co.uk
CD LAUNCH EVENT!!!!!!!! 29.09.11: Time – 7.15pm (opening set) Ronnie Scott’s, Soho, London www.ronniescotts.co.uk
29.09.11: 9 pm. The Spice of Life, London, England, www.spicejazz.co.uk
30.09.11: The Great Northern Hotel, Petersborough, England, www.peterboroughjazzclub.co.uk