Undoubtedly the finest jazz musician in the UK as these people will testify. "I hear both Trane & Bird in his playing but he’s better than either of them" Gene Lees. 
"World’s great altoist – my man!" Nat Adderley. "A wonderful musician…master of his instrument" Elvin Jones. "One of the best musicians in the world" Lalo Schifrin. We would add: a world class musician
Peter King joined the Jazznights Roger Odell trio for a magical gig this month:
Roger Odell– drums
Roger was one of the founder members and drummer with the jazz-funk group Shakatak, Roger has toured internationally and recorded numerous CDs, which he continues to do on a regular basis to this day.
Simon Brown – piano
A very respected and popular jazz pianist who is equally known for his arranging skills. He is always in demand to play many gigs with other bands when he is not teaching jazz piano or playing with the Jazznights Trio
Dave Olney – bass
Apart from his superb jazz accompaniments he has been a resident musician on both Parkinson and Strictly Come Dancing. including Rod Stewart, Ronan Keating, Dionne Warwick, Elaine Page. Elton John as well as Sooty & Postman Pat
For the first set the trio were joined by the resident songbird Larraine Odell Larraine possesses a unique smouldering tonal quality and a subtle jazz phrasing style that has elicited great praise from two of her own vocal mentors, Mark Murphy and Sheila Jordan.
Larraine opened with I Didn’t Know What Time It Is was written by Richard Rodgers 
and the lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical Too Many Girls (1939) which included solos from Simon Brown & Dave Olney. The 1934 song You And The Night And The Music followed featuring a solo by Simon Brown. Larraine’s third number was an up-tempo All Of You which was a variation of the Miles Davis arrangement by Roger Odell. A very tender You’re My thrill was followed by Cole Porter’s Get Out Of Town in an up-tempo version which featured Roger on drums that finished Larraine’s set. A great feature of all these songs was the original arrangements by Roger Odell.
The Man In Black of the Alto, Peter King opened his first set with Kurt Weill’s Speak Low featuring trades with Roger – a superb up-tempo opening which had the packed house (plus those standing outside the door who couldn’t get in) roaring with approval. The ballad I Can’t Get Started – which certainly belied the title, featured Simon on piano and Dave Olney on the double bass which showcased his very rounded smooth sound. John Coltrane’s Impressions ended Peter’s first set with a superb opening solo – where did he get those upper register notes that you thought must have come from a soprano rather than an alto! 8 bar trades worked so well with Peter and Roger. This left us all so looking forward to the second set.
The traditional Jazznights sitting in spot (open to all musicians who have an opportunity to play with the Jazznights Trio) featured two numbers by Paul Oldfield on piano with Roger on drums and Dave Olney on bass. The audience certainly appreciated the performance if the reception he got was anything to go by.
Peter King opened his second set with Night And Day featuring trades with Simon, Dave and Roger – their smiles certainly showed their enjoyment of the whole number – although they had to work hard! A swinging version of Alone Together preceded Someday My Prince Will Come which included solos by Simon Brown and Roger Odell.
A medley of ballads followed which
included Peter’s own composition Lush Life featuring its fluttering high register patterns followed 
by Body & Souls, unfortunately the Lush Life solo was not as long as his magnificent solo on his Lush Life Peter King Quartet CD – time was running out – surely it couldn’t be 10.30 already. Time though did not stop a rousing finale with Cherokee, the fiery spirit was encompassed by the whole band.
See www.jazz-nights.com for further information and future gig
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