Thursday 5th March - BEJE - £10/5 students

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BEJE's musical message is of strength in diversity from the outward-looking city of Bristol. Formed in 2013 it began as the Bristol European Jazz Ensemble but is becoming increasingly international with collaborations last year with Palestinian Zaid Hilal and South Koreans Yunmi Kang and Sangyeon Park. This concert features the regular combo of Len Aruliah (Hackney Colliery Band) on alto from Sri Lanka Canada and England, trumpeter/flugelist David Mowat from Switzerland and Britain (Bollywood Brass Band), bassist Federico Leonori and drummer Paolo Adamo (John Law) from Rome and Swede-Syrian Anders Olinder (Tony Remy) on piano.

For Future Inn their set will feature Aruliah's 'Jaffna Blues', an exploration in word and tonality of his multiple identity, Mowat's spoken word Palestinian piece 'I am Mazin' and an eclectic array of Milesian grooves, Latin, ambient and other self-penned numbers. 

​‘Ear-twisting incisive soloing atop the dynamic group playing of David’s exceptional tunes’ Keith Ames MU Magazine

‘The energy of the collective, the fluency of the players are all immediately evident and it’s hard not to grin at the irrepressible optimism of Dave Mowat’s writing and playing.’  Mike  Collins review of ‘Live At The Fringe’ cd.

‘…flawless precision and absolute passion.’ Prema Arts Centre

‘tunes were…funky, yet featured melodic turns and harmonic twists that were redolent of both the late, great figures of pianist John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler.’ Richard Leigh Harris, Birmingham Conservatoire tutor

‘A vibrant contemporary jazz argument for international cultural exchange’ Tony Benjamin

‘BEJE tap a rich vein of global sources and infuse it with an inspired freshness’ Philip Clouts Bridport Arts Centre

‘…this exhilarating evening of playing, which was both sensitively  lyrical and full of zest.’ Bristol Music Club
‘The blend with Mowat’s clear-toned trumpet gave the whole thing something of the air of the great Azimuth, with Norma Winstone and Kenny Wheeler’ Jon Turney

‘…eclectic, experimental and sophisticated, influenced by the jazz greats. The music is original, creating a fascinating combination of melody, harmony and rhythm.’ Vanessa Garside President WAG UK at Taunton CIC

‘Bristol’s very own Liberation  Orchestra’ audience member Bridport Arts Centre
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BEJE has gigged across the UK since inception, particularly  the South West, highlights being Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival (twice) and Jazzlines at Brimingham's Symphony Hall. Twice attending Jazzahead in Germany where David Mowat met and subsequently collaborated with Dutch singer Anne  Chris, BEJE are now planning an album launch (their 3rd) July 9th at St George's Bristol follwed by a short tour with Yunmi Kang and Sangyeon Park. BEJEs 1st 2 albums will be for sale at the gig.

Mowat is the main composer. His influences include Mike Westbrook, Keith Tippett, Sun Ra, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Don Cherry and Miles Davis. He has been playing professionally and leading bands for 30 years and is seen as a 'stalwart of the Bristol jazz scene' (Mike Collins) where he co-founded the East Bristol Jazz Club 21 years ago. Apart from playing and running bands he promotes music weekly at Saint Stephen's Church and is heavily involved in Green and social justice issues, around which he increasingly uses the spoken word.