JOSH KEMP made a welcome return to Jazznights at The Cherry Tree Belchamp St Paul with the Jazznights Trio on Sunday 3rd Mar 2013

(Click on pictures for larger images)

As part of a UK tour by the Josh Kemp Quartet to launch their new album “Tone Poetry” Josh appeared with the Jazznights Trio to preview some of the numbers as well his more standard material. After winning the Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Band of the Year he played with NYJO before recording a number of CDs with the Quartet. “…a lovely round sound…a player to watch” Alan Barnes.After reading Philosophy at University College Oxford, Josh won scholarships to study jazz at London´s Guildhall and Trinity College of music. He has performed widely at jazz venues around the UK, he has worked with NYJO and was chosen for the Arts Council Developing Young Artists Programme in 2006. He is active in jazz education directing the Cambridge Youth Jazz Orchestra and coaching at workshops and courses. Josh came to jazz at the early age of nine. In his teens his quartet ‘Bop Art’ won the Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Band of the Year. After reading Philosophy at University College, Oxford, Josh won scholarships to study jazz at London’s Guildhall and Trinity College of Music.

Josh was playing with the Jazznights Trio who were
Simon Brown – Piano who is a highly respected and popular jazz pianist who is equally known for his arranging skills. He is always in demand to play many gigs throughout East Anglia when he is not playing at Jazznights or with his own trio, quartet and quintet.
Simon’s piano playing has long been the sound accompaniment of first choice for nationally and internationally known jazz stars appearing at Jazznights as well as Norfolk’s two leading jazz venues.  He is also an accomplished soloist in his own right, blending vivacity and creative attack with often gentle lyricism. His influences are Oscar Peterson, Nat “King” Cole and Bill Evans.
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. Tonight Bernie was playing his 5 string double bass with the extra C string.
George Double PGCE, BA (Hons) – Drums
A national finalist in the Daily Telegraph’s Young Jazz 1989, George read Music at the University of Nottingham. West End and touring credits include Guys and Dolls, Avenue Q, Sinatra, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Anything Goes, Chicago Annie Get Your Gun, La Cage aux Folles, Chasing Fate and Godspell. Freelance credits include work for EMI, Polygram, London and Talkin’ Loud records, Kym Mazelle, Claire Sweeney, Matthew Herbert, The Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra, British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, The Beauty Room and Herbie Flowers. He has also appeared at both Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals and on radio sessions for John Peel and Gilles Peterson on Radio 1, Sean Hughes, Robert Elms, Gideon Coe and the Drivetime Show on BBC London, XFM and local stations. George has contributed articles to the New Grove Dictionary of Music, including the entry of drummer Billy Cobham and four of his compositions are in the lists of the current Trinity Guildhall drum kit syllabus. He is on the Instrumental staff at the Colchester Institute.

Josh Kemp opened his first set with:
1. Herbie Hancock’s 1995 Drifting played at a medium tempo which was a fine lyrical opening to the evening.All the band were introduced via solos including 4 bar trades with George Double.
2. The ballad My One and Only Love was beautiful melodic version showing off Josh’s flexible range 0f interpretations.
3. Moving on to a Bossa Nova, Josh then played Antonio Carlos Jobim’s 1967 Triste at a medium tempo very ably supported by George Double on the drums providing that Brazilian rhythm.
4. Mercer Ellington’s 1942 Things Ain’t What They Used to Be (Although Mercer Ellington is credited as composer of this 12-bar blues, it is thought that Johnny Hodges came up with the melody and Duke arranged it for the big band). The title was relevant as Josh was playing his newly acquired 78 year old tenor saxophone which provided a great rounded sound.
5. Cole Porter’s 1954 All Of You from Porter’s last original Broadway production, Silk Stockings which of course now has become a popular jazz standard. This was a preview of one of the numbers on Josh’s forthcoming album “Tone Poetry” with Tim Lapthorn and Mick Hutton. This rich toned medium fast version was full of swing and a superb ending to the first set.

Following the interval and 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 a version of My Blue Heaven with Terry Reed on piano and Colin Whyles on drums with Bernie returning on bass.

This was followed by Geoff Harriman with his harmonica playing Autumn Leaves.

 

Josh Kemp the returned to play John Klenner’s 1931 Just Friends (We owe Charlie Parker a great debt for bringing this tune into the jazz Repertoire after years of being treated as a sentimental ballad. Although in this instance Josh treated us to a medium tempo samba.
Solipcism was a new composition by  Josh which will also be featured on his forthcoming album. Wikipedia states that Solipcism is the philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist. As an epistemological position, solipsism holds that knowledge of anything outside one’s own mind is unsure. The external world and other minds cannot be known, and might not exist outside the mind! After listening to the playing and without knowing the definition at the time – it certainly was a very thought provoking tune which we look forward to hearing again when the album comes out.

We came next which was played with a great swinging Latin rhythm, a cross between St Thomas and I Got Rhythm and was punctuated by quotes from Simon Brown. It Very sadly  brought the evening to an end. It has been said that Josh is known for his melodic inventiveness, warm sound and grooving swing – this we can only echo and we look forward to seeing him again in the future.

On Sunday 17th Mar Jazznights presents KAREN SHARP (sax). With the release of her most recent CD “Spirit” Karen is now firmly established on the UK scene with her own quartet and her performances as part of “The Tokyo Trio” with Tina May & Nikki Iles. “Her sound is warm and full, her improvised lines bold and clear” Dave Gelly – The Observer. “An extraordinary talent” Phil Collins – BBC Radio 2.

Jazznights presents the best in modern jazz at:
The Function Suite, The Cherry Tree, Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul, Suffolk, CO10 7BY.
Tel: 01787 237263       Admission £8.         Doors 7.30pm.       Music 8.00-10.30pm.

Reserve your table seating on 01787 237653 or email.  Pay on the night.
Food available and can be served before or during the performance.

For further information go to www.jazz-nights.com

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NIGEL PRICE made a welcome return to Jazznights on Sunday 17th Feb 2013. Play list and pictures.

“Clear, clean and concise coupled with a towering technique. This guy’s got the lot!” “Blues & Soul. “Bluesy lyricism and breezy swing” John Fordham.

“Nigel Price is a blazing guitar player.  He has serious chops and is able to demonstrate them wonderfully in the context of the standard repertoire.  His arrangements and new melodies are creative and expressive,”

We could not have put it any better! He was support of true master of his instrument.

Sadly Simon Brown reported in with Flu at the last moment so we had a great guitar trio for the evening with:
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 Scott’s.
The opening set started with the “Larraine Odell Trio” with Roger and Steve.
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:
Comes Love (1939) by Composer Sam H. Stept with lyrics from Lew Brown & Charles Tobias. A great slow introduction with just the vocals and the bass from Steve Cook. The two were a great combination for this lovely version.
Another 1939 song I Thought About You from Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer followed and was a slow to a medium tempo with Steve Cook opening followed by Larraine and then Roger Odell. The arrangement really suited this soaring melody.
Composer Jule Styne and lyricist Sammy Cahn wrote I Fall in Love Too Easily for the 1945 film Anchors Aweigh. Co-star Frank Sinatra, who had enjoyed several hits with Styne/Cahn songs, requested that they write the songs for the film in which he introduced the Oscar-nominated song “I Fall in Love Too Easily.” Larraine sang this at a very very slow tempo – possibly Larghissimo! An unusual version which really worked.
Bye, Bye, Blackbird is a song published in 1926 by the American composer Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon and has become one of the best known jazz standards. This was sadly Larraine’s last number which was sung and played at a medium to up-tempo speed.

The special guest  for the evening Nigel Price then joined Roger and Steve for his first set which included:
A medium tempo version of Tenderly which was featured by the Barney Kessel trio with  Shelly Manne & Ray Brown. Nigel included a solo by Steve Cook and 4 bar trades with Roger.
Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Bossa Nova Wave followed with echoes of Charlie Byrd the American guitarist who was well known for his association with Brazilian music. Played superbly at a medium tempo.
Jerome Kern’s 1942 I’m Old Fashioned was played as a 6/8 number at a very up-tempo rate with a solo introduction from Nigel. This had also been featured on Martin Taylor’s album – The Best Of….
Detour Ahead  written by the American guitarist Herb Ellis when he was with the Soft Winds Trio in 1947. So many of these tunes are associated with other great guitarists but through out this must not detract from Nigel’s own individuality and interpretation of these tunes.
A powerful driving version of Cole Porter’s 1944 I Love You ended Nigel’s first set of the evening. This was in the style of Joe Pass the Italian-American jazz guitarist who many considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century and who featured this tune.

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 Geoff Harriman playing Autumn Leaves on his chromatic harmonica and Simon Hurley on guitar playing Just Friends.

Nigel Price then returned for his second Set and invited Simon Hurley (Simon divides his times between teaching, recording, accompanying and performing in and around the Essex area with his trio or quartet) back to join him for Victor Young’s Stella By Starlight .
Nigel then played Duke Ellington’s In A Sentimental Mood (AKA In A Semi Mental Mood) as a lovely slow ballad.
Chitlins con Carne came next which is a jazz blues instrumental composed by American guitarist Kenny Burrell and first released on his 1963 album Midnight Blue. Kenny’s playing is grounded in bebop and blues. This was played as a Blues but in a Bossa Nova Style.
Moon River was played as a Bossa Nova rather than the conventional waltz style. Nigel borrowed the arrangement from Sylvain Luc the French Basque Guitar Phenomenon. This was therefore a very different and exciting version of this well known standard and was a superb performance.
All the Things You Are (1939) by Jerome Kern followed at a very up-tempo number with support from Roger Odell in his Shakatak power drumming mode. This seemed a great climax to Nigel’s set but we all wanted more so Nigel asked Simon Hurley back to join him for the last number which was a fantastic Blues and a very suitable conclusion to Nigel’s visit to Jazznights – which we are sure will not be his last.

On Sunday 3rd Mar – JOSH KEMP (sax). As part of a UK tour by the Josh Kemp Quartet to launch their new album “Tone Poetry” Josh appears with the Jazznights Trio to present his more standard material. After winning the Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Band of the Year he played with NYJO before recording a number of CDs with the Quartet. “…a lovely round sound…a player to watch” Alan Barnes.

Jazznights presents the best in modern jazz at:
The Function Suite, The Cherry Tree, Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul, Suffolk, CO10 7BY.
Tel: 01787 237263       Admission £8.         Doors 7.30pm.       Music 8.00-10.30pm.

Reserve your table seating on 01787 237653 or email.  Pay on the night.
Food available and can be served before or during the performance.

For further information go to www.jazz-nights.com

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Shakatak at High Barn 16th February 2013

Not a Jazznights event but it did highlight Roger Odell with Bill Sharp, George Anderson, Jill Sayward, the four founder members with Jacqui Hicks (flute, tenor sax and backing vocals) and Alan Wormald (lead guitar and backing vocals).

A few pictures from this sensational gig at High Barn in Essex which happily seems to have become a two gig annual event. A fantastic evening which just shows how they all love playing together (well it has been for 30 years or so) and we all love listening to them.

Click on the images for larger pictures

NIGEL PRICE (gtr) will make a welcome return to Jazznights with the Roger Odell Trio and Larraine Odell on Sunday 17th Feb 2013

“Clear, clean and concise coupled with a towering technique. This guy’s got the lot!” “Blues & Soul. “Bluesy lyricism and breezy swing” John Fordham.

“Nigel Price is a blazing guitar player.  He has serious chops and is able to demonstrate them wonderfully in the context of the standard repertoire.  His arrangements and new melodies are creative and expressive,”

Nigel’s playing is remarkable.  His solos play off the previously recorded rhythm beautifully.  It sounds as though there are two players playing live, listening to each other.  Chops are abundant and rhythm playing is creative and fresh.  Nigel Price is a guitarist we’ll hear more from, for sure.  Check him out when you have a chance. (Jazz Guitar)

Hard swinging, bluesy, melodic, inventive and virtuosic are just some of the ways in which Nigel Price’s world class guitar playing comes across. He also plays chords and harmonies exquisitely

Nigel is one of the top UK jazz guitar players. He’s a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s where he has racked up over 150 performances, spent three years with the James Taylor Quartet, has performed with the BBC big band, the legendary David Axelrod and led his organ trio to first place in the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) awards for “best jazz ensemble” in 2010.

Nigel was born and raised in Surrey. He began playing guitar aged eleven and spent the next seven years messing around in school bands/rock bands etc. Latterly he moved to Brighton where he discovered fusion and jazz and trained as a sound engineer. Inevitably the days by the seaside had to come to an end and he moved back to Surrey, forming more adventurous funk and fusion outfits, touring Europe and eventually becoming immersed in modern jazz. A chance meeting with Acid Jazz guru Chris Bangs led to a busy recording schedule and a long term partnership spawning many funk and jazz recordings.

Nigel is now a well established member of the jazz community and is an in demand sideman as well as leading his own groups, preferring the organ, drums, guitar combo but versatile enough to feel comfortable in a variety of musical scenarios. He has encountered many different musicians along the way and is pleased to have played with (amongst others): Pee Wee Ellis, Alex Garnett, Matt Wates, Bobby Wellins, Alec Dankworth, Alan Barnes, Martin Drew, Ben Clatworthy, Dave O’Higgins, Mark Ramsden, Julian Siegel, Mike Gorman, Mike Outram, Pete Long, Frank Griffith, Dave Cliff, Steve Waterman, Laurence Cottle, Anthony Kerr, Mornington Lockett, Steve Watts, Mike Janisch, Jim Watson, Graham Fox, Nick France, Sir Brian Iddendon, Geoff Gascoyne, Martin Shaw, James Pearson, Sam Burgess, Chris Dagley, Matt Home, Pete Whittaker, Sam Gambarini, Simon Spillet, Dave Newton, Spike Wells, Peter King.

Direct from Ronnie Scott’s house band, Nigel has rightly earned a reputation as one of  Britain’s finest players on the six strings. Many of the audience leaving at the end last night would ask if that description was too narrow – perhaps one of the finest players in the World would be more accurate. He does things that are so technically difficult and yet makes it seem all so easy, so flowing. Chords spread across 6 frets, harmonics, octaves, rake picking, finger style chord melody and lightening, lightening speed all these things just appear in the course of a solo. It makes for a tremendous exciting sound

Come along to this great gig with Nigel and the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio.
Jazznights presents the best in modern jazz at:
The Function Suite, The Cherry Tree, Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul, Suffolk, CO10 7BY.
Tel: 01787 237263       Admission £8.         Doors 7.30pm.       Music 8.00-10.30pm.

Reserve your table seating on 01787 237653 or email.  Pay on the night.
Food available and can be served before or during the performance.

For further information go to www.jazz-nights.com

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