SNAKE DAVIS (sax’s) at Jazznights, The Cherry Tree, Belchamps St Paul on Sunday 1st Apr at 8.00pm

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Snake Davis has played with some of the worlds biggest artists. He has played on the records of the following artists and many others notably the M People, as well as Lisa Stansfield, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Culture Club, Hamish Stuart, George Michael, Tina Turner, Paul Hardcastle, Take That, Cher, China Crisis, Beyoncé Knowles, N-Trance, Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Swing Out Sister, Dave Stewart, Paul Young, Mark Morrison, Pet Shop Boys, Soul II Soul, Robert Palmer, Tanita Tikaram, Acoustic Alchemy, Motörhead, Primal Scream, Calvin Harris, Spice Girls & Boy George, and he has also worked on numerous television adverts in the UK and abroad.

"Snake Davis has one of the most passionate Sax styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn heard in these Isles for a while." TIME OUT

"A virtuoso saxophonist" DAILY TELEGRAPH

"The saxophone cannot have been this prominent on a Wembley stage in years" THE TIMES

"Snake is a joy to work alongside. His musical skills have no limit – in fact he’s as free as a bird" DAVE STEWART

Tonight Snake made a very welcome return to Jazznights with The Roger Odell Jazznights Trio and vocals from our resident song bird Larraine Odell

The band were:
Roger Odell – Drums
Roger was one of the founder members and drummer with the jazz-funk group Shakatak and the forerunner band Tracks. Roger has toured internationally and recorded numerous CDs, which he continues to do on a regular basis to this day. Apart from a great power drummer he is also a prestigious arranger.
Steve Cook – Double Bass
Steve has a wonderful rounded tone with great clarity. He has played with Mike Westbrook, Mike Kilpatrick’s Duke Ellington Orchestra, Barbara Thompson, Soft Machine, Seventh Wave and Gil Evans big band at Ronnie Scotts.
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 playing with jazznights or his own trio, quartet and his Beyond Cantaloupe quintet at ‘Jazz at the Green Man’ in Rackheath, Norwich.
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 opened the first set singing:
1. The Lamp Is Low (1939) is a song based on Ravel’s Pavanne (Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) written for solo piano by the French composer Maurice Ravel in 1899 when he was studying composition at the Conservatoire de Paris). Consequently the credits include music by Peter De Rose, Maurice Joseph Ravel and Bert A Shefter with lyrics from Mitchell Parish. Larraine sang this notable version at a medium tempo with solo from Simon Brown.
2. I Got Lost In His Arms from Annie Get Your Gun by Irving Berlin – a lovely slow number showing Larraine’s sensitivity and her unique individuality
3. I Only Have Eyes for You (1934)  was Larraine’s next number (Music by Harry Warren and Lyrics by Al Dubin). Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Hank Mobley, Grant Green, the Four Freshmen and many others have all recorded this song but Roger still provided another very different and exciting arrangement with at an up-tempo version.
4. Speak Low the 1943 song with Music by Kurt Weill an Lyrics from Ogden Nash followed as a ballad which was a beautiful example of Larraine’s sensitivity and understanding of lyrics which was augmented vby another unique Roger Odell arrangement.

Snake Davis opened his first set on tenor sax with an un-named tune which was an improvisation on the works of the American pianist and composer Keith Jarrett with a solo intro from Snake before the trio joined in. A classic example of the master musician working with a consummate professional trio who gelled immediately producing a number which one could have thought they had played many times before.
Snake then moved on to the alto sax for the ballad – the Rodgers and Hammerstein 1945 It Might As Well Be Spring played with a wonderful smoothness of tone. This carried on to a contrasting up-tempo number which involved solos from Simon, Steve and 4 bar trades between them all.

Snake then took up the flute for a great Take Five . Often attributed to Dave Brubeck but was written by Paul Desmond, Brubeck’s alto saxophonist and who also played on that famous recording.
Snake concluded his first set on Flute with the guitarist and composer Luiz Floriano Bonfá’s (often written as Luis Bonfá) Bossa Nova The Gentle Rain. All gave great contributions to this number including Roger Odell with his driving Brazilian beat.

Following the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s and a bottle of wine we had the traditional Jazznights sitting in spot which is open to all musicians who have an  opportunity to play with the band. Tonight we had three local musicians. Terry Reed on keyboards gave us lovely version of Antonio Carlos Jobim;s The Girl from Ipanema while Geoff Harriman on Harmonica played a superb version of the 1981 Lately –a song by Stevie Wonder.

Snake Davis opened his second set with a blinding Dizzy Gillespie number on alto accentuated by a driving beat from Roger Odell on the drums. Snake then took up the ‘Penny Whistle for an unusual version of  St. Thomas in the key of D which is perhaps one of the most recognizable instrumental tunes in the repertoire of American jazz tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who is usually credited as its composer. (However, it is actually based on the traditional English song The Lincolnshire Poacher, which in turn, by way of the Folk process, evolved into a nursery song in the Virgin Islands, which Rollins’ mother sang to him when he was a child.

Snake then moved back to the alto for a 12/8 shuffley/blues number by King Curtis (born Curtis Ousley who performed under the stage name King Curtis, he was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz.) – one of his best known numbers Soul Serenade. A great version very different from the original. In contrast, Snake then played returned to the tenor for a smoochy ballad version of Thelonius Monk’s Round Midnight (although it was actually written by Cootie Williams as well as Thelonius).The intro was from Simon Brown leading to Snake Davis and Steve Cook on that smooth bass of his.

As a finale Snake took up his ‘baby’ curved soprano sax (some say the tone is different due to the more forward projection from the bell but…………….) to play Limelight. Another confirmation that this multi instrumentalist is a master musician in his own right,

"A virtuoso saxophonist" DAILY TELEGRAPH
"One of the most passionate styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn" TIME OUT. He is indeed and the way Snake and the Trio gelled together, we are in no doubt he will back to play for us again – just don;t make it too long.

Do not forget the The Cherry Tree Jazz Festival on Sunday 8th April with ANITA WARDELL, ART THEMEN, NICK PAGE, COLIN WATLING, LARRAINE ODELL and the ROGER ODELL JAZZNIGHTS TRIO

AFTERNOON SESSION 2.00 to 6.00pm £10
EVENING SESSION 7.00 to 10.30pm £10

This is part of the cherry tree festival of Britain Easter
Weekend from Friday to Monday and features a real ale
Festival, vintage car shows, live bands, farmer’s market,
Oyster & seafood marquee, craft fayre, opening of
Adventure playground, piglet racing, motorbike show,
Morris men & tons of other stuff!

On Sunday 15th Apr – LAURA ZAKIAN (voc) Completing her degree at Middlesex University and studying in New York with Nancy Marano from the Manhattan School of Music, Laura launched her career in Italy, performing with leading jazz musicians in Rome and appearing at the Umbria Jazz Festival. New CD "About Love" – "a hypnotic, incantatory quality" Jazzwise.

Reservations strongly advised on 01787 237653  Your booking is held until 8pm on the night. Doors open 7.30pm.
Food is available in the bars before performances or can be served at your table during the gig.
"Brilliant atmosphere – the Village Vanguard of the Essex/Suffolk border!"

For details of future gigs go to http://www.jazz-nights.com

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Maciek Pysz (gtr) at Jazznights on Sunday 18th March with the Jazznights trio & Larraine Odell

(Click on images for larger pictures)

Maciek Pysz is originally from Poland and currently based in London. He has been playing guitar for over 16 years and has studied jazz, Latin and classical music. Arriving in the UK in 2003 he quickly established himself as an up-and-coming young guitarist and has toured round Europe.

“Incredibly talented” Jazz Forum.
“…combination of enormous talent, virtuosity and passion as well as a deep sensitivity” Rich Rainlore (Rainlore’s World Of Music)
“Incredibly talented young guitarist” Jazz Forum
“Acoustic guitar/Percussion/Bass-led world roots and modern jazz sounds from this EST/Avishai Cohen-sounding trio…Recommended!” Time Out
“Maciek…shows in his playing an unusual combination of passion and virtuosity which easily grabs the audience” Nowy Czas
“Mesmerising, magical music!” Torfaen Jazz Club
“…combination of enormous talent, virtuosity and passion as well as a deep sensitivity” Rich Rainlore (Rainlore’s World Of Music) 
“Incredibly talented young guitarist” Jazz Forum
“Acoustic guitar/Percussion/Bass-led world roots and modern jazz sounds from this EST/Avishai Cohen-sounding trio…Recommended!” Time Out
“Maciek…shows in his playing an unusual combination of passion and virtuosity which easily grabs the audience” Nowy Czas
“Mesmerising, magical music!” Torfaen Jazz Club
“Your tone is beautiful and there is some real sensitivity in your music which is what the world needs” Kai Eckhardt (bass player: John McLaughlin, Steve Smith)
“You sound great!” Mike Walker (Guitarist)
Maciek’s improvisational and accompanying style is quite unique as it’s a combination of many influences coming from the jazz, Spanish, classical and Brazilian guitar traditions. He is able to improvise using chords and melody and sometimes detunes the sixth string of his guitar both to accompany himself while playing solo and to accompany others He mostly plays using a pick and alternate picking style but also by finger picking, on both nylon and steel string guitars. Very often he uses both techniques on the same tune. He has never used many digital effects and produces all the sounds by himself using guitar’s natural palette of sounds.

In 2011 Maciek began to make frequent visits to Paris, where he jammed with up-and-coming bass star Hadrien Feraud and other established French musicians. He fell in love with the city. More recently, Maciek has found inspiration in the long solo improvisations of Keith Jarrett and French guitar virtuoso Sylvain Luc. Other people who have influenced him greatly are guitarists Pat Metheny and Paco De Lucia as well as South American masters of music Astor Piazzolla, Egberto Gismonti, the incredible John McLaughlin, Ralph Towner and the group Oregon, bassist Jaco Pastoriun, Turkish pianist Aydin Esen, Cameroonian bass player Richard Bona, Isreali bassist and composer Avishai Cohen, the jazz greats Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis, and gypsy jazz guitarist Bireli Lagrene.

Following his gig last Friday at the Royal Albert Hall Maciek came to Jazznights wto play with the Roger Odell Trio

Following the review2s above we were looking to a great night – that is a litotes – it was outstanding – please come back soon

The gig opened with a great set from our resident songbird, Larraine Odell and the Jazznights Trio.

The band were:
Roger Odell – Drums
Roger was one of the founder members and drummer with the jazz-funk group Shakatak and the forerunner band Tracks. Roger has toured internationally and recorded numerous CDs, which he continues to do on a regular basis to this day. Apart from a great power drummer he is also a prestigious arranger.
Bernie Hodgkins – Electric 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 behind such 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 electric  bass. guitar.
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 playing with jazznights or his own trio, quartet and his Beyond Cantaloupe quintet at ‘Jazz at the Green Man’ in Rackheath, Norwich.
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”

Our Master of Ceremony this evening was the articulate and very jazz knowledgeable Gareth Williams-James.

Larraine opened with
1. I Could Write a Book (1940 with Music    by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics by Lorenz Hart). This sung at a medium tempo with solos from Roger, Bernie and Simon as well as 4 bar trades between Roger & Bernie.
2. Out Of This World with Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics from Johnny Mercer. (It was introduced in the film Out of This World (1945) by Bing Crosby dubbing in for the voice of the main character played by Eddie Bracken.) This was played at a slow tempo and showed off Larraine’s lovely, and mellow mellifluous style for this type of song.
3. A Time For Love. Composer Johnny Mandel and lyricist Paul Francis Webster were nominated for a Best Song Oscar for “A Time for Love” from the 1966 film An American Dream. While the Oscar eluded them the song won the Golden Laurel Award in 1967. This was beautifully sung as a slow ballad with great sensitivity.
4. Speak Low the 1943 song with Music by Kurt Weill an Lyrics from Ogden Nash followed at a medium tempo with sympathetic accompaniment from Simon and Bernie.
5. The 1932 Cole Porter’s Night and Day ended Larraine’s great set at a medium to fast tempo as superb finale to Larraine’s set. All arrangements of Larraine’s numbers were by Roger Odell.

Maciek Pysz’s first set left us gasping for more and he opened with a solo performance of a (not named) improvisation based on the music of Keith Jarrett. “Manhã de Carnaval” (“Morning of Carnival”) which is also known as Black Orpheus from the Portuguese-language film Orfeu Negro. This was played with the trio and was played at a medium tempo with up-tempo interludes followed. Maciek’s first set ended with Nardis written by Miles Davis although it is more well known from the Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley recordings. This was a great medium to up tempo finale with fine solos from Simon, Bernie and and extended solo from Roger.

Following the Jazznights raffle of 4 jazz cd’s and a bottle of wine we had the traditional Jazznights sitting in spot which is open to all musicians who have an  opportunity to play with the band. Tonight we had three local musicians. Terry Reed on keyboards gave us lovely version of Satin Doll while Geoff Harriman on Harmonica played a very sensitive You Don’t Know Me (although this was written . Young Harry Greene followed playing by Cindy Walker with Eddy Arnold, it came to fame with Ray Charles recording). Young Harry Greene came next playing Limelight on his alto sax.

Maciek Psyz returned with a wonderful final set which included Estate – French for Summer, composed by Bruno Martino with words by Joel Siegel at a slow to medium tempo which really worked for the whole band. Continuing the Latin theme A very different and exciting and rousing version of Chick Corea’s instrumental jazz fusion composition Spain. This was not just an up-tempo number but was Presto or even Prestissimo!  The evening finished continuing the this Latin theme. Maciek using his two acoustic guitars with pick ups as well as a a solid bodied electric guitar.

He played with a pick as well as combining a finger picking style which both seamed endlessly together. He has a true clear tone which is summed up by a previous quote: “Your tone is beautiful and there is some real sensitivity in your music which is what the world needs”

Jazznights on Sunday 1st Apr il- SNAKE DAVIS (sax)
Well established as one of the UK’s leading Saxophonists, Snake is in demand from the biggest names on the UK music scene, as well as visiting artists from overseas. As resident saxophonist on “Tonight With Jonathon Ross” he played with James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan and many more. “One of the most passionate styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn” Time Out.

Another Jazznights gig not to miss. 8.00 – 10.30pm   Admission £8
at The Cherry Tree, Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul, CO10 7BY
Reservations strongly advised on 01787 237653  Your booking is held until 8pm on the night. Doors open 7.30pm.
Food is available in the bars before performances or can be served at your table during the gig.
“Brilliant atmosphere – the Village Vanguard of the Essex/Suffolk border!”

For details of future gigs go to http://www.jazz-nights.com

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