THE second Northern Edge Jazz Festival gets under way in Aberdeen tonight, with appearances from American jazz vocalist, saxophonist, guitarist, and songwriter Curtis Stigers and legendary British saxophonist and contemporary jazz pioneer Courtney Pine headlining the 10-day event.
Also in the line-up are Stan Tracey, Brass Jaw, Mike Maran’s A Funny Valentine, Garry Gibb Quartet, Aberdeen Jazz Orchestra and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
It is the second festival put on by Aberdeen Performing Arts and the performances will be staged largely in the Lemon Tree and the Music Hall, with some vocal workshops in the studio at HM Theatre.
The finale of the festival will be a magnificent concert at HM Theatre featuring one of the great musical masterpieces, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, performed by Tommy Smith’s Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.
Returning to the north-east is Niki King, who first brought The Billie Holiday Songbook to Aberdeen and Inverness last summer.
Edinburgh-based Niki, daughter of jazz great Freddie King and a former Perrier Jazz Vocalist of the Year, is taking the chance to perform the Songbook for the last time, before she jets off to New York to embark on the next stage of her musical journey.
“Coming back to Aberdeen with the Songbook is really special to me, and the fact that it’s our final performance of the Songbook will be even more emotional,” said Niki.
“I’ve been touring it for a long time now, we kept booking more and more shows, and now the set is so strong and tight. When you stop a run of a show, ironically it’s always at its strongest, and I’m quite attached to it, so it will be bittersweet to perform it for the last time.
“I’m really looking forward to the festival. The line-up is brilliant; there are some really fantastic musicians there. I really love Aberdeen. I’ve always loved playing the Lemon Tree, the audiences have always been amazing, so I’m looking forward to the gig.”
Niki put together the set to celebrate her idol, Billie Holiday, and her beautiful working of her songs is what led her to be noticed by a New York jazz saxophonist.
“My affection for Billie’s songs has grown and grown with the show. They’re technically quite challenging and I’m thrilled with how I’ve developed as a singer during the tour,” she said.
“For the last year, I’ve been back and forth between Scotland and New York, working on a variety of projects, and my next step is to join Frank Perowsky’s Big Band.”
Frank has been Liza Minnelli's sax player for 35 years and asked Niki to be his lead vocalist for his new big band in New York. He saw Billie Holiday play in Harlem and says that Niki's treatment of the Billie Holiday Songbook is fantastic. He said that very few singers can get away with singing Billie songs, but Niki can because she's “a world-class artist with integrity and soul – just like Billie”.
“It’s amazing knowing someone who actually witnessed her performing live, and who has been so positive and supportive of me. He knows his stuff,” said Niki.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Frank in New York; the big bands out there are at such a high level, it’s a dream come true for me.
“He worked with my dad, who is a jazz singer, too, so I met him when I was in New York visiting, and he just was excited by me as a singer, so it has been a really natural collaboration. He’s a such a great musician, but also a wonderful friend, too. It’s really exciting.”
From a young girl who would sit for hours listening to old jazz records to a world-class performer, Niki has come a long way. For anyone who plans on visiting the jazz festival, and dreams of a career like hers, Niki says the best thing to do is listen.
“You have to listen to as much music as possible: go and see bands or live performers, listen to classic records, whatever you can get your hands on,” she said.
“There’s such a wealth of live talent in Scotland, and there’s nothing better than seeing great performers live. It’s such a joy to listen to good jazz live. So my advice would be listen, study and be honest with your music. Be adventurous and brave, but be true to yourself. Jazz is a very expressive form of music and that’s what I love about it most.”
Tickets for the Northern Edge Jazz Festival, which is supported by Aberdeen City Council and EventScotland, are available online at www.boxofficeaberdeen.com, by phone at 01224 641122 and at Aberdeen Box Office at the Music Hall, HM Theatre and The Lemon Tree.