Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea
Sat 6 Oct
Jean Toussaint started his career as a Jazz Messenger, under the leadership of Art Blakey. This tour sees Toussaint carrying on the legacy of that influential drummer and bandleader in nurturing emerging talent alongside established greats of the jazz world. To mark the 25th year since Blakey’s death, Toussaint has embarked on a three-stage project. Firstly, he put around 50 ‘Young Lions’ through their paces in teaching them classic Jazz Messenger arrangements, such as the now obligatory standard Moanin’. Now he sets off on tour with the standout players from that first stage in an ever-changing lineup of musicians to promote his latest release, Brother Raymond.
In keeping with Blakey’s classic Blue Note label style, Toussaint’s jazz is tuneful, engaging and, of course, virtuosic. The standard of the players in this project is very high, with Toussaint’s tenor and soprano sax work setting the bar. The third stage will see Toussaint team up with Jazz Messenger alumni in a further celebration of the band’s legacy: another set of dates not to be missed.
As Toussaint has taught at Birmingham Conservatoire and London’s Guildhall and Trinity Laban schools of music, his development into a herald of new talent is no surprise. It’s good to see that 30 years after leaving Blakey’s band, Toussaint is still on message.
Tickets: £16/£14. Info: 01792 602060 / taliesinartscentre.co.uk