SINGERS Beverlely Knight and Ms Dynamite will be leading a star-studded celebration of black British culture and history this month in a series of event to mark Black History Month.
In addition the Harder They Come, the groundbreaking Jamaican Reggae film that show cased the island’s burgeoning music scene and made an overnight star of Jimmy Cliff in the 1970s, is being shown next week at the Swiss Cottage library.
The month, which showcases black talent, started in 1987 – and has brought to the borough some of the most talented performers, writers, and thinkers Britain has produced.
There will also be a concert featuring the stars from the Weekend Arts College. Formerly based in Kentish Town and now running from the Interchange studios at Hampstead Town Hall, it has produced musician after musician - and some of it’s alumni are having a re-union at the Jazz Café in Parkway to show off what they have learnt.
Among them is jazz virtuoso pianist Julian Joseph.
Mr Joseph, who presents a weekly show on BBC Radio Three, will co-host the night on Tuesday 18th with saxophonist Tim Whitehead.
They are joined by trumpeter Byron Wallen, who saw the funk-jazz band weather Report aged 12 and set his sights on a career ever since, then picked up the trumpet.
Heavily influenced by Miles Davis, as a teenager he was a regular visitor to New York where his parents lived.
“I was influenced by musicians like Jimmy Owens, Donald Byrd and Jon Faddis, “he recalls. “I learned that they never took anything for granted. They want to understand the intricacies of what they’re playing, to get inside it. That’s the mind of a jazz musician. And this esoteric world has got a lot of answers...and questions.”
He studied Psychology, Philosophy and Maths at Sussex University – but continued to blow his horn.
Now the three maestros are set to welcome on stage the musicians of tomorrow – students from the Weekend Arts College’s jazz course will come and show the former pupils how well the college is progressing.
Other events include Sing Out Sista! – a night that showcases the best of Black female British talent.
Hosted by the Camden Black Workers’ Group – which boasts of being the first of it’s kind in britian since its formation in 1971 - the gig includes performances by Keisha White and ex-Massive Attack front lady, Nicolette Suwoton.
– full listings next week

MUSIC

Performing at the Camden Town Jazz Café on November 1 will be north London signer Keisha White (right) and Massive Attack’s front lady Nicolette Suwoton. Camden Black Workers Group presents a gala night of black British female talent.
White is identified by a string of music magazines as “one to watch”. Also performing is blues-based singer Suwoton who is regarded by many as the forerunners of the jungle and drum ‘n’ bass sound.
All proceeds from the night go to the Jamaican Lesbian and Gay Campaign J-Flag and the UK Breast Cancer Charity. The night will be broadcast live BBC’s 1xtraFM. The Jazz Café will also host Miss Dynamite, Omar and Beverly Knight will perform on November 15 in a tribute for Lynden David Hall, the Mobo winner who has been battling a rare form of cancer for the two years.

THEATRE HIGHLIGHTS

THEATRE group Talawa – which was due to create London’s first black theatre until the Arts Council withdrew £7 million of funding – presents new Black playwriting with the launch of a new play-reading series. Unzipped runs throughout the month.
The plays will be read by seven of the best emerging black, Asian and Chinese British cultural writers, whose themes of sex, race and revolution are set against a myriad of political backdrops. A panel – including Kwame Kwei-Armah (below), Karena Johnson and Tameka Empson – will discuss the plays at the Soho Theatre from October 13 to 15.

ISLINGTON’S Rosemary Branch Theatre celebrates the life and times of Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole caught up in the Crimean War. Seacole was an intrepid traveller and dedicated nurse. Unlike her contemporary Florence Nightingale, Mary used herbal remedies learnt from her upbringing. A one-woman show lasting under an hour with original music, performed by renowned actress Cleo Sylvestre, runs from October 8. Until November 13.