Think you hate jazz? Guitarist Ant Law challenges you to think again PEOPLE who might not usually enjoy jazz are being urged to watch Ant Law at Baker Street this month.
The guitarist, who released his debut album in February, will be performing as part of the Ant Law Quartet at the bar in Old Town on January 21.
They will be performing their own songs and covers on the night.
“In the UK, people have a very specific idea of what jazz is but it is actually very broad,” he said.
“Our music is modern jazz drawing influences from rock and hip-hop. In keeping with the tradition of straight ahead jazz music there will be some standard tunes involved, but also a lot of new music,” he said.
“We are trying to keep within the tradition in some ways so we will smooth over the divide between classic tunes and our new tunes.
“What we are doing is accessible on a number of levels. If anyone hasn’t checked out a pure jazz gig before it could be a really good start because it is not all coming from a superior religious jazz background. We are trying to bring jazz to a younger generation.”
Guitarist Ant was a scholar at both Edinburgh University and Berklee College of Music until moving to London in 2008.
He then picked up work with artists such as Mica Paris, Leon Ware, Koby Israelite, Camille O’Sullivan, Britain’s Got Talent star Tony Laf, X-factor winner Steve Brookstein and Eileen Hunter, and members of Incognito and Level 42.
Recent gigs include Camden’s Roundhouse, The Vortex, The 606, Pizza Express Dean Street, Gent Jazz Festival, Islay Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Fettes Jazz Festival and Lockerbie Jazz Festival, The Edinburgh Festival, and even Wembley Stadium.
He can sometimes also be heard playing Beat It! or Can You Feel The Love Tonight in the theatres of London’s West End.
Ant’s debut album Entanglement was released on the 33Jazz record label in February 2013 to great critical acclaim. – EMMA DUNN Ant Law’s gig at Baker Street, Wood Street, Old Town, on January 21 is free. Doors open from 7pm.
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