Theo May's Odd Unit - Bull's Head Barnes

Theo May

Theo May: Violins, Composition & Bandleader
Gustavo Clayton-Marucci: Clarinets
Lukasz Niemancewicz: Piano
Ali Watson: Bass
Alex Temple-Heald: Drums

8th October 2019

Ali Watson

Theo May brought his Odd Unit to the legendary Jazz venue at the Bull's Head in Barnes. His Unit are a youthful variation on the Dirty Dozen, about half the size and certainly much cleaner. Playing the Lee Marvin role is Theo May, a firecracker of a violinist, who explodes in fits and bursts of excitement and zeal. His odd-ish unit pass wry smiles between themselves as their leader tilts his bow in a see-saw of musical gallops. Idiosyncratic and effervescent.

Gustavo Clayton-Marucci

Theo May’s original music for Odd Unit is rich weave of Jazz, Folk and Classical music – difficult to pigeon-hole into any one genre, but immediately recognisable and striking in its energy and originality. High octane and fiercely frenetic folk-like dances contrast with dark and mysterious soundscapes and painfully melancholic and lyrical pieces.

Alex Temple-Heald

Brought to life by a fantastic line-up of young players from the London Jazz scene, and led by Theo’s highly individual violin playing, this music is sure to excite and thrill listeners from all musical backgrounds. They have been played on BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction, and will release their first album next year.

Lukasz Niemancewicz

Helen Anahita Wilson - Bhooma

Helen Anahita Wilson

Helen Anahita Wilson
presented by 7 Star Arts

Date: 10th April 2018
Venue: The Jazz Room at The Bull's Head, Barnes, UK

Forthcoming 7 Star Arts events
20th May 2018 - Lost in Love with Natasha Hardy at The Jazz Room, The Bull's Head, Barnes
2nd June 2018 - Chekhov's Grand Piano at Craxton Studios NW3
26th June 2018 - Liam Stevens Trio at The Jazz Room, The Bull's Head, Barnes

Helen Anahita Wilson flooded The Bull's Head, Barnes with music that softened every fibre of the legendary jazz venue. A world of hard bop and bold brass was swept away in a night of candlelit discoveries. Flickering smiles danced across the faces in the crowd for it was a performance of sensitivity that encouraged a sense of beauty and reflection. Wilson repertoire included music by Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Stephen Montague, Peter Feuchtwanger and Helen Anahita herself.

"I make late night, low light music....music that is rich and sensual....intimate and tender also."

Helen Anahita Wilson

Helen Anahita Wilson is a pianist, composer, multi-instrumentalist and musical explorer based in Brighton, UK and performing multi-sensory, post-genre concerts across the world. She likes to build and sculpt sonic space. And I like to colour it, be it by flooding space with sound and resonance or just by hearing one tiny drop of the most delicate beauty being suspended.

In exploring music from across the world Wilson draws inspiration from many Asian traditions, from jazz and from her own background as a Western classical musician. She have performed at major venues and festivals across the world and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. She studied performance and composition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Guildhall School of Music and Drama London, the University of Sussex and SOAS, University of London. 

My debut solo album 'BHOOMA' is due for release in 2018.

Liam Stevens Trio with Aydenne Simone

Liam Stevens

Liam Stevens - piano
Aydenne Simone - vocals
JJ Stillwell - bass
Joe Dessauer - drums

Date - 5th January 2017
Venue - The Bull's Head, Barnes, UK

Future Performance
14 February 2017, 8:30 pm, The Bull's Head, Barnes - Valentine’s Extravaganza with Liam Stevens & friends
14 March 2017, 8pm, The Bull's Head, Barnes - Liam Stevens Trio album launch
9th May 2017, 8pm, The Bull's Head, Barnes - Aydenne Simone sings Sarah Vaughan

JJ Stillwell

An evening of swinging standards to dispel the January blues. Aydenne Simone and Liam Stevens make the archetypal odd couple, Simone is exuberant and overflowing while Stevens cuts a pensive and intense figure at the piano. The rhythm section of Stilwell and Dessauer cast lithe shadows against the red velvet curtain of the new Jazz Room at the Bull's Head. The event promoter Seven Star Arts is pulling up the socks of this once iconic venue by swelling audiences and indulging in classic repertoires.

The Liam Stevens Trio is one of the most exciting young groups on the jazz scene today. Led by the dextrous piano playing of Liam who displays a deep understanding and passion for music, gaining plaudits from audiences and respected veteran musicians alike.

Joe Dessauer

With drummer Joe Dessauer and bassist Jj Stillwell, they produce a swinging sound and an electrifying visual performance, thrilling audiences of all ages and musical tastes.
They frequently perform with Ellie Bignall (Vocals) with recent gigs at Glentham Gardens, Kew’s Musical Museum and the Hamstock Orpheus and Equus Gala.

Aydenne Simone

Aydenne Simone has wowed audiences with her deep, powerful vocal tones, taking her career to countless prestigious milestone performances including; Lead role in “Break Away Angel” musical Theatre Royal, a Royal Performance, Jazz Cafe, Ronnie's, Cambridge University, ‘Jazz in The Park’, Pizza Express  (Olympia, Kensington, Beckenham), International Isle of Wight Jazz Diva Festival,  to name just a few.