Matthew Wright writes about a ‘one year on’ memorial gig for Abram Wilson in Oxford.
Ten months after trumpeter Abram Wilson’s tragically early death, his rhythm section – Reuben James, Alex Davis and Dave Hamblett – will perform again at a memorial gig on 5th April. The performance is one of the first times they have appeared together since then, and marks a year since Wilson’s quartet appeared at the 2012 Oxford Jazz Festival – the festival is taking a break this year. The gig will raise funds for the Abram Wilson Foundation, and is also the prelude to a November tour.
We spoke to Jennie Cashman Wilson who has set up the foundation in Abram’s honour. “One of the aims of the foundation, she told us, is to focus on emerging talent, and an obvious place to start is with Abram’s rhythm section who will be touring in November with Jean Toussaint and Keith Loftis. I was delighted to receive the invitation from Max Mason to present the foundation and to showcase the trio, and we’re delighted to be in Oxford, a year after the quartet’s Oxford Jazz Festival appearance.”
The £10 entrance includes a £5 ticket for a prize draw. All funds collected from the raffle tickets will go directly to the Abram Wilson Foundation. The winner will receive a photograph of Wilson performing at last year’s Oxford Jazz Festival (above, taken by music photographer, Edu Hawkins – brother, incidentally, of risen star pianist Alexander).
The event takes place in Max Mason’s The Big Bang Restaurant, 42 Oxford Castle Quarter, Oxford, OX1 1AY, on Friday 5 April, doors 7pm.
Ten months after trumpeter Abram Wilson’s tragically early death, his rhythm section – Reuben James, Alex Davis and Dave Hamblett – will perform again at a memorial gig on 5th April. The performance is one of the first times they have appeared together since then, and marks a year since Wilson’s quartet appeared at the 2012 Oxford Jazz Festival – the festival is taking a break this year. The gig will raise funds for the Abram Wilson Foundation, and is also the prelude to a November tour.
We spoke to Jennie Cashman Wilson who has set up the foundation in Abram’s honour. “One of the aims of the foundation, she told us, is to focus on emerging talent, and an obvious place to start is with Abram’s rhythm section who will be touring in November with Jean Toussaint and Keith Loftis. I was delighted to receive the invitation from Max Mason to present the foundation and to showcase the trio, and we’re delighted to be in Oxford, a year after the quartet’s Oxford Jazz Festival appearance.”
The £10 entrance includes a £5 ticket for a prize draw. All funds collected from the raffle tickets will go directly to the Abram Wilson Foundation. The winner will receive a photograph of Wilson performing at last year’s Oxford Jazz Festival (above, taken by music photographer, Edu Hawkins – brother, incidentally, of risen star pianist Alexander).
The event takes place in Max Mason’s The Big Bang Restaurant, 42 Oxford Castle Quarter, Oxford, OX1 1AY, on Friday 5 April, doors 7pm.
Categories: miscellaneous
The Abram Wilson performance at the 2012 Oxford Jazz Festival was an amazing performance – A young artist, a great story to tell, a performance buzzing with energy and a packed house, where you could hear a pin drop.
His tragic death so soon after was a truly sad moment for jazz, just to see Abram's enthusiasm for teaching the younger generation was enough to excite. To see his work continued through the foundation is worth celebrating – we hope for another full house this time round, and that Abram is watching from afar and that he approves.