Event details
Join us for a special Ad Lib evening; the John Stevens’ 30th Anniversary Celebration. For over 30 years John Stevens made a vital contribution to “free jazz”. This evening, you not only get to listen to talented musicians paying homage to his style, but also have the opportunity to participate in one of John’s ‘Search & Reflect’ workshops led by Maggie Nicols.
Saturday 25 May
‘Search & Reflect’ workshop : 5 – 6.30pm
Film : 7pm
Music : from 8pm
Tickets for the full experience : £18 (£10 Concession)
Tickets for film & concert only : £10 (£5 Concession)
Scroll down to book a seat at the John Stevens’ 30th Anniversary Celebration.
‘Search & Reflect’ workshop
5 – 6.30pm
John Stevens established a series of extremely popular workshops called ‘Search & Reflect’. This afternoon, Maggie Nicols offers creative souls the opportunity to come together and participate in one of these workshops. There’ll be musical activities based on some of the exercises and techniques John included in his workshops. During the session, we’ll explore concepts, exercises and games developed by John which give people the chance to ‘play’ with music.
The workshop is open to all ages and people with a wide range of abilities.
Maggie had led workshops and gatherings for decades. She is held in high regard for her work in this field.
Tickets £18/10 concession. The price includes entrance to film & concert
Film
7 – 7.30pm
We’ll show a film featuring live footage of John Stevens from the 1970s.
Music
From 8pm
Set 1
Maggie Nicols – voice
Ed Jones – saxophone
Emil Karlsen – drums
Set 2
KBD (1968) performed by
John Butcher – soprano saxophone
Jamie Coleman – trumpet
Dominic Lash – electric guitar
Ollie Bruce – double bass
Mark Wastell – drums
Concert only tickets £10/5
About John Stevens
“Over a period of 30 years, Stevens made a vital contribution to the evolution of what became known as ‘free jazz’: that genre of improvisation which was born of jazz but grew beyond a reliance on the conventional elements of melody, harmony and rhythm.
To Stevens, however, music was ‘free’ in a wider sense: free, that is to say, of hierarchy. While he admired the old masters almost immoderately, and believed wholeheartedly in the development and refinement of individual skills, he nevertheless shared with the musicians of non-Western cultures the knowledge that there is more than that to music. His truest gift was as an organiser of music, and many amateur musicians, as well his professional peers, will retain fond memories of making music with him, whether in community music workshops or on the concert stage. Few will have escaped without acquiring a deeper understanding of how such an experience could sharpen the senses and enrich the sensibility of the player.”
Read John’s obituary in The Independent
We look forward to seeing you.