According to Festival organiser, Ed Simpson, "Jazz has become such a broad church of late with the rise of the likes of Jamie Callum, Norah Jones and other mainstream artists that I felt it would be good to host a festival focusing on the other end of the jazz spectrum. Not the safe, structured jazz that has been going Top 10 of late. But more a celebration of artists taking jazz's age-old approach of exploration, risk-taking and integration of 'foreign' matter into a band's output.

Delays, loops, sampling, electronica, drum 'n' bass, inter-stellar sound sources feature in the London Jazz Fringe Festival

"Really it is a continuation of one side of the programme that I have strived to provide here at the Ritzy since Feb 2004. But by having 8 nights in a row, running parallel to the London Jazz Festival, we hope to draw attention to these artists operating at the sidelines of the jazz game."

Sat 13 Nov -- Manas
Sun 14 Nov -- Kevin G Davy
Mon 15 Nov -- Polaris
Tue 16 Nov -- Mahjoon
Wed 17 Nov -- Julia Biel
Thu 18 Nov -- Lautrec + Dahu Mumagi
Fri 19 Nov -- Beat Tree
Sat 20 Nov -- LJFF: KFD Project feat DJs Man vs Wife plus in the Cinema: LJFF: Mute Film presentsÖThe Virgin Prunes, The Residents, Laibach
Sun 21 Nov -- Joy

Sat 13 Nov -- Manas
Bringing to mind the likes of Murcof, Brian Eno and Aphex Twin, experimental 4 lap-top and percussion band Manas return to the Ritzy after their appearance at LatinAlternativa earlier this year. Building exquisitely structured pieces from glitches, clicks and processed drum tracks, their set is enlivened by the addition of the step-ladder banging percussionist.
8pm - 11pm FREE

Sun 14 Nov -- Kevin G Davy
Chances are you've heard Kevin Davy's distinctive trumpet playing somewhere along the lines. Whether on Lamb's early drum n'bass masterpieces or live at Notting Hill Arts Club, The Africa Centre, Cargo or the National Theatre, his presence has added an unpredictable element to many a performance. Both in England and overseas, he has recorded and played for Two Banks of Four (formerly Galliano), Tony Allen, Adamski, Penny Rimbaud and Crass Collective, Doudou Gouirand, Sangoma Everett and Pibo Marquez. His own set up includes experimentation with delays, loops and over-dubs with support from a host of guest musicians.
www.lostwishes.com/kevin/
7.30pm - 10.30pm FREE

Mon 15 Nov -- Polaris
After a great debut performance at the Ritzy in August, Italian bassist Mantovani returns with his exploration of jazz and electronica, pushing the boundaries with live on stage sampling, percussion, bass and violin. Bassist of choice for the likes of Monica Vasconcelos and Antonio Forcione amongst many others, Davide draws on his knowledge and feel for South American, Caribbean and Eastern European music.
8pm - 11pm FREE

Tue 16 Nov -- Mahjoon
Mahjoon play original music drawing on middle-eastern, gypsy and Indian influences. The latest addition to London¥s thriving global-electro scene, they combine oud / clarinet / bass clarinet / flute with percussion, samples and loops from DJ Ezhaan on laptop. Thievery Corporation with more roots, Anouar Brahem with more beats...souk sounds with soul. Led by Idris Rahman (whose main project is acclaimed Afro-beat outfit Soothsayers), Mahjoon sport tight interlocking melodies, fiery rhythmic interplay and floating improvisations. The evening includes a set by Mahjoon's DJ Ezhaan on the decks, spinning his mix of North African and Middle Eastern tracks, laced with jazz and breakbeat.
8pm - 11pm FREE

Wed 17 Nov -- Julia Biel
Acclaimed jazz singer Julia Biel (former winner of the Perrier Jazz Vocalist of the Year award) is joined by arranger / composer Jonny Philips and saxophonoist / clarinetist Idris. Presenting a mixture of standards and own compositions she has been heralded as one of the rising stars of the current London scene having performed all over the capital including as part of the F-ire collective. With an idiosyncratic touch, her approach brings to mind independent American singer-songwriters as much as it does jazz with a truly inventive approach to arrangements and rhythms (much aided by the presence of Polar Bear's Seb Rochford on drums).
7.30pm - 10.30pm FREE

Thu 18 Nov -- Lautrec + Dahu Mumagi
LAUTREC
Drums and Latin percussion combine with bass clarinet, samples and guest musicians to create a heady mix that has been likened to Cinematic Orchestra and Blue States. With snatches of Jeff Buckley, Qawwali devotional singers and Missy Elliott finding their space in the mix, Lautrec converge at the meeting points between sequencers, samplers and improvisation. 2004 has seen them play to a packed crowd at the OUT THERE Festival alongside Nitin Sawhney, Pest and Soweto Kinch, at the first Turaya Gathering in Dorset, at the Costa Urbana club night and for the launch of the Latin American Film Festival in Notting Hill Arts Club.
DAHU MUMAGI
Going back to basics after leading the collective that was Dahu Mumagi's DuKru, saxophonist, composer and conceptual artist Dahu presents his lap-top set that draws on techno, hip hop and cosmic jazz for inspiration and influence (his latest recording ìemploys a series of cosmic tones designed on a software wave creator based on the frequencies of rotating planets, stars, molecules and planetary orbitsî). Having previously worked with Rambert dancers, video artists and Afro-Indian soul vocalists, we don't quite know what to expect from Manchester based Dahu this time round. We urge you to leave your pre-conceptions about jazz at the doorÖ
www.mumagi.com
8pm - 11pm FREE

Fri 19 Nov-- Beat Tree
Having spent the best part of his twenties playing in bands all over the capital, drummer Brian Hedemann fuses his experience in hip hop, jazz, drum n'bass and garage to finally realise his own musical vision. With a touch of psychedelia thrown in for good measure, Beat Tree was formed in 2004 and features top players from the East London jazz scene and a host of samples and loops triggered in and amongst the poly-rhythms of Brian Hedemann.
8pm - 11pm FREE

Sat 20 Nov -- KFD Project feat. DJs Man vs Wife
Mixing live music with DJ sets, the duo that is K.F.D. bring sounds and rhythms from Brazil, the Middle-East and North Africa and beyond. Fusing samplers and keys with live percussion and guitar, the two DJs / musicians cover more miles than most in their quest for international beats and melodies. Think Thievery Corporation, Nitin Sawhney and elements of Cinematic Orchestra. The decks are graced with the presence of DJ team Man vs Wife who play a seamless mix of jazz, soul and broken-beats. Ones to watch, for sureÖ
www.kfdproject.com
7.30pm - 11pm FREE

Sun 21 Nov -- Joy
Veterans of the West-London jazz and soul scenes, the band Joy (named after their singer) marries together a studio producers' fine touch for atmosphere and song-writing with a voice that soothes and captivates in equal measures. Downbeat but never boring, their vibe touches on new soul and jazz with electronic textures providing the basis for Joy's striking vocal talents, whose approach brings to mind Cassandra Wilson's control of the lower registers.
www.joy.uk.com
8.30pm - 10.30pm FREE

Fly will be publishing interviews, features and reviews of the artists taking part.

RITZY CAFE
DJ sets, short films, live music and cabaret / mixed media events
in the heart of the Ritzy, in the heart of Brixton

UPSTAIRS AT THE RITZY CINEMA
RITZY CINEMA
Brixton Oval
Coldharbour Lane, SW2
020 7733 2229

www.ritzycinema.co.uk

For further details contact the festival programmer
Ed Simpson on 07764 852 730 or ritzy_bar_events@graffiti.net