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What a fantastic day for the 1st Jazznights Cherry Tree Jazz Festival. Great Jazz from 2.30pm until 11.30pm – what more could one want.all thanks to Roger and Larraine.
For the Runners and Riders – see below
All the artists were supported by the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio who 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 – 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 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.
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 Donald Muir.
The opening set was by Larraine Odell who gave us 5 lovely numbers including Gershwin’s 
Isn’t It a Pity?, You Stepped Out Of A Dream and Out Of This World
Nick Page who is without doubt the most underrated Jazz Guitarist in the UK – an undiscovered gem of the British Jazz scene. He is extremely talented, versatile and inspirational" – Alan Skidmore. "Kessel and Burrell would have relished his inventive lines" – Jazzwise. Nick could only play one set due to previous commitments but played some great numbers such as John Coltrane’s
Blue Trane, Rodgers and Hart’s Have You Met Miss Jones, Jimmy Van Heusen’s I Thought About You and Ira Gershwin’s I Loves You Porgy. Nick is a truly great guitarist and we look forward to seeing him again at Jazznights.
We then had a solo set by Young – 14 year old- Harry Greene on the alto sax. Harry is also a great blues guitarist. Harry recently won the West Suffolk Young Musician of the year at level II. Harry’s numbers included Charlie Parker’s Billie’s Bounce, the well 
known jazz standard Sugar and Summertime.
Art Themen, the tenor saxophone-playing orthopaedic surgeon who has been an appealing presence on the British jazz circuit for over 40 years gave us the first of his two sets by opening with Charles Floyd’s Forest Flower, Night and Day and Autumn In New York.
Following the first of the Jazznights raffle of 5 jazz CD’s and a bottle of wine Art opened with Annie Ross’s I Told Every Little Star. Other numbers included Sergio Mihanovich’s 1962 Sometime Ago 
and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Once I Loved. A break for dinner and liquid refreshment – there just happened to be a real ale Beer Festival at The Cherry Tree!
Larraine Odell opened her second set with Mitchell Parish’s lyrics of The Lamp Is Low. Other numbers included I Got Lost in His Arms and a Roger Odell arrangement of Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash’s Speak Low.
Colin Watling played next, Colin specialises in tenor sax and offers the full gamut of musical styles in his performances from soft and mellow, through to boppy and brassy….. and always in great humour. Colin included John Klenner’s 1931 Just Friends, On Green Dolphin Street, Oscar Pettiford’s Blues in the closet. 
Misty and Days Of Wine And Roses.
Jazz vocalist Anita Wardell then joined us two sets. Anita has been acclaimed for the unique artistry she brings to scat and be-bop singing. Raves from peers and critics alike have cemented her reputation as one of Britain ‘s finest vocalists and she proved that tonight. Songs for her first set included But Not For Me, In A Mellow Tone, With Every Breath That I Take and several songs from her forthcoming album including Stan Getz’s Don’t Get Scared and You And Me.
Following the second jazznights raffle of jazz CD’s and a bottle of wine Anita continued with Richard Rodger’s You Took Advantage Of Me, 
If I Should Lose You, I’m In The Mood For Love, Stevie Wonder’s Superwoman, Travels with lyrics by Anita to the Pat Metheney tune. and finished with a superb gospel rock version of East Of The Sun
A wonderful day of superb jazz from great musicians 
and even the total of 48 jazz numbers for the day was not enough!. We only hope that Roger and Larraine manage to put another festival on next year.
In the mean time, next Sunday – the 15th Jazznights has Laura Zakian. 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..
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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