THE HANDSTAND

JANUARY 2006
MAIL FROM GILAD ATZMON

Hi everybody and Happy new Year

In a week time we will play in the vortex (http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/current_prog.html)  for 2 nights.

January 14th will be the last UK show from Gilad's legendary Orient House
Ensemble, one of British jazz's most popular ensembles. They'll be performing
material from Gilad's Exile and muziK albums.

On Janaury 15th he will unveil his new look quartet playing all new music.

Gilad Atzmon, saxophones
Frank Harrison electric piano and electronics
Yaron Stavi double bass
John Blease drums

 The Vortex Jazz Club
11 Gillett Street, London N16 8JH

http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/location.html

Hope to see you there

Gilad

14.1.06 Gilad Atzmon and The Orient House Ensemble

Gilad Atzmon (saxophone and clarinet) is not only a master musician, but also a great showman and humorist with a penchant for punchy political satire. Orient House Ensemble play a rich blend of music from the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe. All the faves from 'musiK' and 'Exile' as well as a preview of new material. 'Atzmon plays his saxophones and clarinet with controlled aggression, each phrase and passage the product of deep thought. A big man, he has a formidable stage presence.' (The Jazz Review.). With Frank Harrison (piano), Yaron Stavi (bass), Asaf Sirkis (drums), Romano Viazzani (accordion), Dumitru Ovidu Fratila (violin), Guillermo Rosenthaler (vocals).

To Book on line:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/8053

15.1.05 The New Gilad Atzmon Quartet

'...a master of dynamics and the slow-build, mixing lyricism with hoarse, Coltranesque squalls, a combination for which he would have a formidable international reputation as a soloist alone. But his self-appointed mission to restore to jazz a cultural-political clout it had in the first bop era and in the free-jazz of the 1960s makes him something considerably bigger.' (The Guardian.) With Frank Harrison, Yaron Stavi and John Blease.

To Book on line:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/8052

A Letter from Eamonn Dowd

  The Racketeers wish you a Happy New Year!
Another year over.
All in all, a good one . Beyond our expectations, we continued getting radio airplay for Exit Hellsville. Not bad for a two year old LP.
We got to play a ton of shows in Ireland (where we live) and a week of gigs in Switzerland. As ambassador for the band I played solo/acoustic shows both at home and in Sweden, USA, Netherlands and Spain. The highlight had to be the German tour. I had a wonderful time, got to meet some great people and was privileged to be invited back for two and three encores a night. What more could you ask for ?

If you were at a gig in 2005, thanks for coming down, for buying a CD..... for getting into the vibe. See you out there in 2006....the road is long......eamonn


  2006

Thur  Jan   5     Belvedere Bar, Denmark St. DUBLIN   (eamonn solo)

Sat    Jan   7    Whoopsi Daisy,Wieselgrensplatsen 11 GÖTEBORG (Sweden) 11pm + Christoffer Mattsson

Thur  Jan  12   Bloomsday Bar  COPENHAGEN (Denmark) 

Thur  Jan  19   Belvedere Bar, Denmark St.  DUBLIN   (eamonn solo)

Fri    Jan   27   The Mezz, Eustace St, Temple Bar DUBLIN (9pm)

Wed Feb   8    Sidewalk Cafe, Avenue A + 6th St NEW YORK (USA) eamonn solo 7.30pm

Wed  Mar 15   St. Urs Haupstrasse 2 BIBERIST  (Switzerland)

Thur  Mar 16   St. Urs, Dicey Reilly's (near Solothurn) BIBERIST  (Switzerland)

Fri     Mar 17   St. Urs Haupstrasse 2 BIBERIST  (Switzerland)

Sat    Mar 18   St. Urs. phone +3206723737 BIBERIST  (Switzerland)

Wed  Mar 22  Chanderner Bahnofle KANDERN (Germany) eamonn solo

Thur  Mar 23   Humpen  DENZLINGEN (Germany) eamonn solo


MORE DATES TO BE ADDED - VISIT http://theracketeers.com FOR UPDATES Exit Hellsville is now available for sale on CD -Baby for $11.99