International Jazz Day has been recognised as an official 'International Day' declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation since 2011. The aim of the day is “to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.” Liverpool's Capstone Theatre will celebrate International Jazz Day on Tuesday 30th April with a double bill of North West based female fronted groups, each presenting a 45 minute set of exciting and original music.

Performing at the acclaimed Liverpool Hope University venue later this month will be Moore & Fairhall and Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat. Moore & Fairhall are a folk-jazz accordion and violin duo, based in Manchester. They bring together Indian Ragas, American Folk and jazz from all eras, resulting in music that is lyrical, passionate and highly rhythmic. Adam and Olivia met when they were selected for Edition VI of Serious’ prestigious ‘Take Five’ Artist Development Scheme and this duo is the result of their shared interest in a jazz approach to folk and world traditions.

They have performed to enthusiastic audiences in Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle. Olivia Moore (violin) has studied in India with her guru Kala Ramnath, and is a long-established band leader, fusing her love for Indian music and Jazz in groups such as The Owl Ensemble and Unfurl. She has performed internationally with Elaha Soroor (Afghanistan), Mukesh Jhadav (India) and Alabaster De Plume. Much in demand for her intoxicating, microtonally-infected playing style, Olivia has recently worked with the Srishti Dance company and with Milapfest’s Indo Jazz Club band, with superstar Zoe Rahman.

Adam Fairhall (accordion) is best known as the pianist in Nat Birchall’s acclaimed Coltrane-inspired groups, and for his trademark ‘ragtime-to-free’ eclecticism as a jazz pianist. Over the past several years he has been working intensely on his accordion playing to get closer to the folk and roots music which has always informed his approach. The result is an accordion style that incorporates ostinato baselines, innovative rhythmic bellow techniques and free-flowing melodic improvisation.

Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat is a cinematic, melodic instrumental group based in Leeds, led by saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson. Since augmenting into a quintet in 2019, the band have gone from strength to strength - moving from touring as part of Jazz North's Northern Line Scheme that year, to being awarded the Peter Whittingham Development Award to record their first album, Worry Not in 2021.

In 2022, Johnson was commissioned by Lancaster Jazz Festival to write new work to be performed that year, and out of this, the group developed the music into Northern Flame, their second album release which 'confirms Johnson as a singular and exciting talent' according to All About Jazz. Their sound has been compared to a whole host of greats including Walter Smith III's In Common project and Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band.

As with most jazz acts, Gravy Boat really comes to life in the live setting, with freedom and interplay at the heart of their performances, punctuated by stories and inspirations behind the music from bandleader Johnson. Gravy Boat are Emma Johnson - Tenor Saxophone, Fergus Vickers - Electric Guitar, Richard Jones - Piano, Angus Milne - Double Bass and Steve Hanley - Drum Kit.

The Capstone's Theatre International Jazz Day double bill takes place on Tuesday 30th April and features performances from Moore & Fairhall and Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat. Tickets are available now via TicketQuarter.

Image above (c) John Collinson