Juliet Kelly's Jazz Kids and Songs From Life

Showtime for Juliet Kelly's Jazz Kids

It's been a while!  In my last blog at the end of last year I spoke about a reboot.  Be careful what you wish for! This year has been a reboot for the whole world.   Along with everyone else, I've had to put all my plans on pause but I was fortunate enough to be asked to take part in two shows for this year's EFG London Jazz Festival.  Both of them will be streamed live on 14 November.

First of all there's the follow up to Jazz for Toddlers called Juliet Kelly's Jazz Kids that will be live at 1pm.  It's an update of last year's show modified for an online audience.  

I was also invited to take part in a project aimed primarily at African and Caribbean older people with health conditions that affect memory.  My band and I performed Songs From Life - classic and familiar songs that could not only be enjoyed but that would also evoke precious memories.  Songs From Life will be streamed at 2pm.

As for what the rest of the year will bring - who knows?  But I hope you are all keeping safe and well and that better times are on their way for us all.  

Here's a link to the song Smile originally performed by Nat King Cole - part of Songs From Life.  It's particularly apt during these difficult times.  

Krooning at The Kremlin

Okay well it wasn't actually the Kremlin... It was a fabulous Moscow jazz club called Society of Composers but it was only about 5 mins walk from the Kremlin itself and so I got the chance to walk around Red Square before Friday's gig.  Absolutely stunning!  Below are some of the pics I took on my walk followed by pics of the gig itself taken by Russian photographer Владимир Коробицын (Vladimir Korobitsyn).  The band were fabulous and we had a full house with a great audience.  Hope it won't be too long before I get the chance to go back again.

Red Square!

Lovely Lexy in front of St Basil's Cathedral

Me in front of St Basil's Cathedral

St Basil's Cathedral - yes - I LOVE it!  Reminds me of a big cake. :-)

The Historical Museum - beautiful.

Couldn't resist buying a "Russian Doll" (with a twist!)

(c) Vladimir Korobitsyn

(c) Vladimir Korobitsyn

Lexy and me after the gig

Moscow Mule Cool or Russia Revisited

I've been booked to go back to Russia!  Really looking forward to performing in Moscow.  Although I've been to Russia several times - including Siberia! - I've only been to Moscow as a connecting point and have never played there.

But that's about to change as I've got 2 dates (27 & 28th October) in the diary at a couple of great clubs.

Jazz Club "Soyuz Kompozitorov" (or The Union of Composers) is widely known among musical circles in Moscow and has live music every evening.  Luminaries such as Joshua Redman and Diane Shuur have both performed there.

The second club is called "Cool Train" and lives within the B2 Club.  B2 is the biggest club in Moscow and one of the largest clubs in Europe. The five floors of the club house a restaurant, a sushi-bar, a billiard room, a jazz club, a modern concert stage, a dance floor, a chill-out, a cinécafé and 7 bars. UK Jazz musicians Peter King and Dick Pearce have both played here.  It looks amazing!

It may be pretty cold in Moscow by that time of the year but I'm sure I'll be offered plenty of vodka or perhaps even Moscow Mule cocktails to keep me warm! :-)