Seonaid Aitken Quintet

Award-winning Scottish violinist, vocalist and BBC broadcaster Seonaid Aitken and her quintet celebrate two icons of jazz.

A Tribute to Stéphane Grappelli

In the first half of this double bill-style concert Seonaid will pay tribute to her French Jazz violin hero Stéphane Grappelli. Specialising in Gypsy Jazz, Seonaid has performed with some of the top musicians in the world in this style such as the Tim Kliphuis Sextet, Tokyo Django Collective, Sébastian Giniaux, Duved Dunayevsky, Scottish Jazz Award-winning band Rose Room and Jazz fingerstyle virtuoso - and former Grappelli guitarist - Martin Taylor MBE. She is also a regular tutor at the Grappelli-Django Camp in The Netherlands. The “sizzling violinist” and her piano quintet, made up of some of Scotland’s premier jazz musicians, will celebrate Grappelli’s 60+ year career with swingin’ tunes from his solo repertoire such as ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, ’Sweet Georgia Brown’ and ‘Ol’ Man River’ and will include material from his Quintette du Hot Club de France days with Django Reinhardt and his legendary duets with Classical violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin.

“Stupendous gypsy jazz player” THE SCOTSMAN

“As close to the sound of the great Stéphane Grappelli as I think you’re going to hear in Scotland” BBC RADIO SCOTLAND

Ella Fitzgerald Songbook

The second part of the concert will be dedicated to Seonaid’s favourite jazz vocalist - the ‘First Lady of Song’ - Ella Fitzgerald. The ensemble will pay homage to some of Ella’s iconic recordings from her Songbook series such as ‘Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye’ and ‘How High The Moon’ and hit singles for Decca Records like ‘A Tisket A Tasket’ and ‘Dream A Little Dream’ with Louis Armstrong. Following her highly acclaimed Ella Fitzgerald centenary big band show, Seonaid was awarded ‘Best Vocalist’ twice at the Scottish Jazz Awards and continues to celebrate one of the best singers in the history of jazz.

“a voice that ranges from crystal clear high notes to a low, silky purr” ACOUSTIC MAGAZINE

“Seonaid Aitken’s bright vocals and breezy virtuosity are simply a pleasure to behold” HERALD SCOTLAND

Programme Highlights

The programme will celebrate music associated with both Stéphane Grappelli and Ella Fitzgerald, including:

• Ain’t Misbehavin’
• Sweet Georgia Brown
• Ol’ Man River
• Music from the Quintette du Hot Club de France
• Music associated with Grappelli’s legendary duets with Yehudi Menuhin
• Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye
• How High The Moon
• A Tisket A Tasket
• Dream A Little Dream

Line-up

• Seonaid Aitken – violin & vocals
• Conor Smith – guitar
• Dan Brown – piano
• Andy Sharkey – double bass
• Max Popp – drums