Seamus Blake, Michael Janisch and others to London’s 100 Club: Video

David Lyttle’s Miscellany brings Seamus Blake, Michael Janisch and others to London’s 100 Club in a fundraiser for Help Musicians UK.

Jazz drummer, composer and producer David Lyttle (pictured right by Rhea Lyttle) has been unveiled as the inaugural host of Miscellany – a new series of multi-genre performances in support of Help Musicians UK. The MOBO-nominated musician, who’s been called “Ireland’s most celebrated jazz musician of today”, will bring a personally selected group of artists to London’s 100 Club on 5 February.

The international line-up will include New York-based tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake (born in England and brought up in Vancouver), London-based American bassist Michael Janisch, and the Meilana Gillard Trio, led by the American saxophonist who’s now resident near Belfast. More guests will be announced.

Help Musicians UK (HMUK), the leading independent music charity, has devised the Miscellany format and will soon announce a string of one-off ensemble shows featuring players from across the musical spectrum.

David Lyttle said: “It’s a really exciting thing for me to curate the very first Miscellany for Help Musicians and bring this truly world-class celebration of jazz to London’s 100 Club… Help Musicians UK is spearheading so many vital initiatives for the music industry – from its flagship Music Minds Matter mental health service, to bringing much-needed hearing protection to thousands of artists. I know many of my peers are keen to show their appreciation for HMUK and curating Miscellany is an amazing opportunity for me to do just that”.

Chairman of Help Musicians UK, Graham Sheffield, added: “HMUK is heading towards its 100 years and I’m proud that it is hitting its creative peak over recent years. The Miscellany series is the latest innovation from the charity in combining unique, curated performances with a string of the hottest names in music with a strong fundraising message. It is a real coup to have David Lyttle as our inaugural curator for Miscellany. Not only has David been a fantastic advocate for our work – he has also been a champion for Help Musicians Northern Ireland”.