Michael Horovitz has long been a champion of jazz and poetry (see the London Jazz review of an early live LP from an early New Departures jazz event he organised in 1962 ). 

To celebrate his 80th birthday, the Pheasantry is hosting three Jazz Poetry Superjams over the Easter weekend, the first of which reunites him with Pete Brown and Bobby Wellins from those early New Departures groups. Other guests include Steven Berkoff, Gwyneth Herbert, Alec Dankworth, Molly Parkin, Clark Tracey, Peter Lemer, Alexander Hawkins, John Hegley, Annie Whitehead, Jennifer Maidman, Vanessa Vie and Adam Horovitz.

Saturday 4th April 2015 – Jazz Poetry Superjam #1 

MICHAEL HOROVITZ with Special Guests GWYNETH HERBERT, CLARK TRACEY, ALEC DANKWORTH, BOBBY WELLINS, PETER LEMER, ADAM HOROVITZ and VANESSA VIE

Sunday 5th April 2015 – Jazz Poetry Superjam #2

MICHAEL HOROVITZ with Special Guests JOHN HEGLEY, PETE BROWN, THE WILLIAM BLAKE KLEZMATRIX BAND featuring ANNIE WHITEHEAD, PETE LEMER and JENNIFER MAIDMAN, plus ADAM HOROVITZ and VANESSA VIE

Monday 6th April 2015 – Jazz Poetry Superjam #3

MICHAEL HOROVITZ with Special Guests ROGER McGOUGH, STEVEN BERKOFF, MOLLY PARKIN, ALEXANDER HAWKINS, ADAM HOROVITZ and VANESSA VIE

“In the words of William Blake “Art Is Religion, Religion Is Politics, Politics Is Brotherhood”. Join Britain’s pre-eminent Beat poet, Michael Horovitz, and a host of special guests, in a celebration of everything worth celebrating at Easter and Passover, plus his own 80th birthday. Tonight’s guests are celebrated poet Roger McGough (Liverpool Poets, The Scaffold); leading actor, playwright, theatre director (and film villain) Steven Berkoff; novelist, painter and poet Molly Parkin; cirtically acclaimed pianist/composer Alexander Hawkins, poet Adam Horovitz, and singer-songwriter Vanessa Vie.”