Alan Skidmore (Tenor Sax) at Jazznights with the Roger Odell Trio – The Bell, Clare Sunday 2nd Oct

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"This remarkable and exciting tenor player never fails to move and lift an audience."

“Skidmore’s performance can sometimes go a considerable way to recreating the atmosphere of the master’s (John Coltrane’s) gigs.” John Fordham, The Guardian.
"This remarkable and exciting tenor player never fails to move and lift an audience." Manchester Evening News.

Alan Skidmore is well known as an energetic tenor player of what is often described as the post-Coltrane school. However,  whilst these characteristics are evident in his playing, in the course of his distinguished career beginning in the late fifties he has played in many genres from swing and R &B, through film music and ballet scores to modern jazz in which he confidently combines bop and abstract stylings. His professional affiliations read like a jazzman?s `Debrett` having been associated with the likes of Chick Corea, Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Gil Evans, and Elvin Jones to name but a small selection. He has also worked with such groups as Georgie Fame?s Blue Flames, Weather Report and Ian Carr?s `Nucleus` as well as leading his own innovative combos such as S.O.S. with John Surman and Mike Osbourne.

Alan made a very welcome return to Jazznights playing with the Roger Odell Trio and this really was a great gig. Larraine Odell added the vocals and glamour to the to the evening. The band were:

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.
Bernie Hodgkins – 5 String Double Bass
Inspired by an uncle, who played and recorded with Django Reinhart and Stephane Grappelli in the legendary Quintet de Hot Club of France, Bernie grew up in a Jazz-oriented family. Their influence led him to become a respected bass player behindsuch people as Matt Munroe, Dickie Valentine and Dennis Lotus, in the early stages of his career. Bernie is particularly acknowledged as being one of the few players to bring an authentic, driving jazz feel to both the double bass and the bass-guitar, and for his fluent and creative soloing. Tonight Bernie was playing his his 5 string double  bass.
Simon Brown – Piano
A highly 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
Larraine Odell – Vocals
Beginning her professional singing career with the group CMU with whom she recorded two albums, Larraine performed at numerous venues throughout the UK and Europe, including the Purcell Room, RFH, Boxford Fleece & Ronnie Scott’s.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. “A sensitive singer who exudes a fine-honed jazz sensibility with every phrase”

Larraine’s set included:
1 Come Rain or Come Shine (1946) with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. (This was originally introduced by Ruby Hill and Harold Nicholas in the Broadway musical St. Louis Woman) in a great up-tempo version with arrangement by Roger Odell
2  Lonely Woman, a very mean and moody song which was sung in an extremely sensitive way by Larraine
3 Day In, Day Out with music by Rube Bloom and lyrics by Johnny Mercer was published in 1939. It has a lovely soaring melodic line but tonight it was given the Latin treatment and played in a very up-tempo way – a complete contrast from the last number. Both Simon and Bernie gave great solos and Roger had an extended solo showing his prowess with a powerful Latin rhythm.
4 I Got Lost in His Arms is a song from the 1946 musical Annie Get Your Gun, written by Irving Berlin. It was performed by Ethel Merman in the original production of the musical. This was a beautifully sung number by Larraine with a very slow gentle rhythm.

Alan Skidmore then opened his first set 
5 The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948) written by Jerry Brainin (In a rare recording by Ronnie Scott and Sonny Stitt the saxophonists jam for over 18 minutes on this number) Historical note: It is alleged that pianist Horace Silver’s 1956 recording of this tune is essentially the first jazz recording of it. This opened at a medium tempo but soon led into a storming up-tempo number with Alan giving all the trio a great “warm up”. What an opening number – superb.
6. Softly As in a Morning Sunrise (1928) The good old jazz standard by Sigmund Romberg played in the key of A Minor featuring all the band.
7 Say It (Over and Over Again) From the 1940 film "Buck Benny Rides Again" by Frank Loesser. A beautiful ballad which illustrated Alan’s tender side with great feeling

Following the raffle of 3 jazz CD’s  we had the traditional sitting in spot which is open to all musicians who have an  opportunity to play with the Jazznights Trio. 8 Tonight we had Will Jarmin on drums and a guest from Florida playing a very bluesy electric guitar – Robin Crandall. Will Jarmin was then joined by a favourite of ours at the club – 9. Geoff Harriman playing harmonica with a very soulful version of You Don’t Know Me.

10 Alan Skidmore then returned for his second set with a stunning version of Green Dolphin Street at a medium tempo which also featured Simon Brown, Bernie Hodgkins and Roger Odell and Alan trading 8 bars each.
11 Tadd Dameron’s 1944 Good Bait followed bringing in quotes from Thelonius Monk’s Nutty which has similar chord changes. It is thought that Tadd Dameron brought Good Bait with him when he joined the Basie band although Basie is usually credited as co-composer – perhaps erroneously. Another great number from Alan.
12 Victor Young’s A Weaver Of Dreams was played superbly at a slow, very swinging tempo. The Manchester Evening News quoted "This remarkable and exciting tenor player never fails to move and lift an audience." How true this was.
13 John Coltrane’s 1961 Impressions was sadly Alan’s last number for this evening and what a great up-tempo finale – no one wanted this to end (including Alan but tempus fugit etc.)

Another wonderful evening of the very best in jazz – many thanks to the promoters and organisers Roger and Larraine Odell

. For further details and future gigs go to www.jazz-nights.com

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Carlos Lopez-Real (sax) with the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio at Jazznights, The Bell, Clare on Sunday 18th Sept 2011

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Carlos Lopez-Real is an in-demand saxophonist, composer and educator based in London. His current bands are Mandorla, featuring guitarist Justin Quinn, a quartet with young singer Fini Bearman, and a new duo collaboration with singer Brigitte Beraha involving live looping and live sound processing. In addition to jazz, his writing is influenced by classical composers such as Steve Reich and John Adams, the singer Bjork and North Indian improvised music.

After Oxford University and the Guildhall School of Music, he then studied with David Liebman in New York. ‘Carlos plays with a sound that comes from his soul’ Dave Liebman

Carlos has over 15 years teaching experience in various settings. Currently he teaches contemporary jazz and rhythm studies at the Guildhall School of Music. In the past he has taught at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. He also teaches jazz saxophone at the Purcell school and is a regular tutor on various jazz summer schools. Tonight he makes welcome return to play with the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio

Our Masters of Ceremony were this evening the articulate and very jazz knowledgeable Donald Muir and Gareth Williams-James.

The Trio with Larraine Odell on vocals consist of:
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.
Gavin Scott – Double Bass
Gavin plays Electric and acoustic bass player Gavin Scott studied on a scholarship at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston MA, and became the first recipient of the Quincy Jones Award for Musicianship in 1992. Early in his career he was in the resident dance band at the Hammersmith Palais: This was followed by residencies on the QE2 and at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, working alongside names such as Earth Wind & Fire, Liza Minnelli, Rod Stewart and Elton John, playing for many of the crowned heads of Europe, as well as celebrities from Shirley Bassey to Roger Moore. He has toured Europe and the USA, performing at many major festivals, opening for James Brown at V’98 and playing to a crowd of 100,000 at Belfast’s Millennium celebrations. Apart from teaching he is a resident bass player with Geoff Eales band Manhattan Jazz and the quartet with Tony Hawkins:Jazz Sounds.
Simon Brown – Piano
A highly 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 Larraine Odell – Vocals
Beginning her professional singing career with the group CMU with whom she recorded two albums, Larraine performed at numerous venues throughout the UK and Europe, including the Purcell Room, RFH, Boxford Fleece & Ronnie Scott’s.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. “A sensitive singer who exudes a fine-honed jazz sensibility with every phrase”

Larraine Odell our lovely resident songbird opened the evening with her ½-hour set of great vocals all with new arrangements by Roger Odell:
1. The Brooks Bowman 1934 East of The Sun (And West Of The Moon). A lovely medium tempo number which featured a great bass solo from Gavin Scott
2. Dindi is a song composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Aloysio de Oliveria. English lyrics were added by Ray Gilbert. Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote this piece especially for Brazilian singer Sylvia Telles whose nickname was Dindi. In December 1966. One of my favourite songs by Larraine which she always sings so sensitively. This had a superb intro with just Larraine & Gavin on bass.

3. Lullaby of Birdland (1952) with Music by George Shearing and Lyrics by George Weiss. Birdland was of course the famous jazz club in New York City located at 1678 Broadway at 44th Street. It had previously been the Clique Club where pianist George Shearing, composer of “Lullaby of Birdland,” first played in 1949 with clarinettist Buddy De Franco. Later that year owner Morris Levy renamed the club Birdland in honour of Charlie “Bird” Parker. This was a very swinging medium tempo from Larraine and Roger.
4. If You Could See Me Now (1946) with Music by Tadd Dameron and Lyrics by    Carl Sigman. Tadd Dameron was a very influential composer/arrangers of the bebop era. It was written specifically for vocalist Sarah Vaughan, for whom Dameron had worked as an arranger. She introduced it in 1946 with lyrics by Carl Sigman, and it became one of her signature songs and Larraine’s version could easily make it one of hers with her beautifully slow tender version.
5. The 1932 Cole Porter’s Night and Day ended Larraine’s great set. All arrangements of Larraine’s number were by Roger Odell.

Carlos Lopez-Real opened his first set on alto with:
6. 1937 Have You Met Miss Jones by Rodgers and Hart which featured a great opening solo from Carlos in this medium to up-tempo number which introduced all members of the band including some very interesting 4 bar trades between Carlos and Roger.
7. The 1953 Secret Love followed which was played with an exciting samba rhythm accentuated by Rogers drums.
8. You Don’t Know What Love Is by Don Raye. Remarkably, This Is one of the top jazz standards and was written for a Bud Abbott and Lou Costello film and published in 1941. All gave very sensitive renditions with subtle accompaniment from Roger.

Following the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz CDs and a bottle of Pinot Grigio we had the traditional Jazznights sitting in spot which is open to all musicians who have an  opportunity to play with the band. Tonight this featured the popular Geoff Harriman on harmonica playing a very fine version of the 1954 Erroll Garner number Misty together with Will Jarmin on drums.
Carlos Lopez-Real continued with:
9.  Sam River’s Beatrice which has become quite an important standard, particularly for tenor saxophonists although Carlos played this on alto. It was nice to see that Carlos gave plenty of opportunity to let Will Jarmin (who was still sitting in on this number) shine with numerous trades.

10. The first of three Herbie Hancock numbers came next with the 1965 Maiden Voyage (The piece was used in a Fabergé commercial and was originally listed on the album’s master tape as "TV Jingle" until Hancock’s sister came up with the new name. In the liner notes for the Maiden Voyage album, Hancock states that the composition was an attempt to capture "the splendour of a sea-going vessel on its maiden voyage". Carlos played this on soprano with the true original spirit of the tune.
11.. The third Herbie Hancock tune: the 1981 Dolphin Dance followed  with Carlos changing back to alto.
12.  In contrast to finish this great evening of jazz at its best we had Softly As in a Morning Sunrise (1928) by Sigmund Romberg played as a very up-tempo number which include a very interesting interlude with just Carlos and Gavin Scott on the double bass.

A superb finale from a great sax player and one of the finest trios in East Anglia. A combination that knitted together so sympathetically. An evening to be trteasured.

For further information and future gigs go to http://www.jazz-nights.com

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