The Countdown is On! Previewing next week’s 12 Points : Thursday

Next Thursday 16th February will be the first of four rollicking nights of Europe’s new jazz, with three fine acts to open festivities with aplomb. From Helsinki, Big Blue will continue the reputation of Finland offering high quality jazz sounds to 12 Points. Each of the four band members have made waves in their own right, before coming together to explore new directions with beautiful use of space over taut rhythmic structures, building to powerful conclusions.

Thought-Fox are led by Dublin vocalist Lauren Kinsella, who has an exhilarating way with words, squeezing the improvisational juice out of every syllable, with a highly unique yet warm voice that can easily swing like an old school chanteuse. She is complemented by the talents of a tight group of musicians in trombonist Colm O’Hara, bassist Michaal Coady along with London drummer Simon Roth and Glasgow pianist Tom Gibbs.

Our only piano trio at 12 Points 2012 hail from Ghent in Belgium. De Beren Gieren will wrap things up next Thursday night with a golden union of piano, bass and drums and a sound that moves from flowery romanticism to fractured pointillism as the mood dictates, often taking in some groovy urgency or old school stride along the way. This group relish the challenge of using the power of improvisation on the quest for a new form with results which are joyously infectious.

Thursday night is looking magic! It all kicks of at 9pm at the wonderful Casa Da Musica in Porto. In the meantime, please enjoy the music of these three great bands.

Book your Tickets here