Tommaso Starace made fantastic return to Jazznights at The Cherry Tree, Belchamp St Paul on Sunday 28th April 2013 with the Roger Odell Trio

(Click on images for larger pictures)

Born in 1975 in Milano, Italy Tommaso started playing the saxophone and studying music at the age of 18. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1994 where he graduated at Birmingham

 

Conservatoire with a Bmus first class honours and later at the Guildhall School Of Music and Drama with a Postgraduate Degree in jazz studies

Tommaso’s star has truly risen over recent times with his tours of the UK and the rest of Europe with his own International Quartet. The latest CDs display the originality of his own compositions whilst his regular performances at The Bell show he is equally at home with the standard repertoire.

Tommaso Starace cites Cannonball Adderley and fellow Italian Rosario Giuliani as two of his favourite players, and the Charlie Parker legacy is also evident in his playing, but he has increasingly found his own melodically free-wheeling voice, which he applies to a range of impressive originals and lesser known tunes from such diverse composers as Michel Petrucciani, Ennio Morricone and Billy Strayhorn.

‘An exciting talent, Starace is developing a seriously impressive body of work’ – Bruce Lindsay – (www.allaboutjazz.com)

…The promising Starace seems to be revealing his most personal voice in the full-on music. John Fordham – The Guardian (April 2012)

Signor Starace is a shrewd operator. He plays alto and soprano sax with impressive post-Parkerian felicity and Italian flair.

‘Starace’s melodious originals offer good blowing potential for alto and soprano solos delivered in a cleanly articulate post-bop style reminiscent of Phil Woods’ – Jack Massarick, Jazzwise

It is interesting that not only is Tomasso a regular guest at Jazznights but after graduating his first professional gig was at Jazznights with Roger Odell some 10 years ago when it as at its original venue in Ridgewell.

Tonight Tommaso played with 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. Musically, his first love was always straight-ahead contemporary jazz, and in the past he has played with many of the great names on the UK scene including Don Rendell, Barbara Thompson, Dick Morrissey, Terry Smith, Joe Harriott and countless others. Roger is the author of three technical articles which appeared in the international magazine Modern Drummer.
Simon Brown – Piano
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. Since graduating from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in 1990, Simon has worked as a performer, teacher of piano and music arranger and regularly appears at the most popular jazz clubs in East Anglia. His involvement in Blues, Jazz and Jazz-Funk combos have led to appearances at many jazz festivals and has shared the billing with the likes of Jools Holland, The James Taylor Quartet, Stacey Kent and Bobby Wellins apart from his regular performances as a primary member of the Jazznights Roger Odell Trio.
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.
with a vocal set from:
Andi Hopgood – Vocals
UK based jazz vocalist Andi has always been surrounded by diverse selection of music. Her father being a musician and mother a dancer exposed her to all kinds of music form an early age. Jazz quickly became a favourite to listen to. Andi did a music degree at the Colchester institute with studies of classical saxophone and cello, but for fun played in the Jazz orchestra and went to the Jazz Singers group. The directors of these ensembles advised her to take a new direction and swap studies to Jazz voice and saxophone, so she began to study with Malcom Miles and Trudy Kerr.
She currently teaches woodwind and singing in schools and lectures at Suffolk New College. As well as this Andi also teaches privately. As part of her freelance work Andi has performed with many musicians and ensembles both locally and further afield. Performing at venues such as The 606, Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, The Vortex and The Barbican. Andi is a member of the London Vocal Project, a project based choir led by Pete Churchill.

All were introduced by our Master Of Ceremonies for the evening – our guest harmonica player – Geoff Harriman.

Andi Hopgood opened her set with with Frank Loesser and Paul Harris’s 1950 I’ve Never Been in Love Before, a lovely number sang at a medium tempo showing off Andi’s velvety tones.
Antonio Carlos’s 1967 Triste followed again at a medium tempo but with the full Bossa Nova accompanient powered by Roger Odell’s Latin drumming very ably supported with solos from Simon Brown and Bernie Hodgkins.
The Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart’s ballad, the 1940 It Never Entered My Mind  was a very contrasting number from Andi and was sang with great sensitivity.
Andi’s final song for the evening was a very up-tempo version of Bronislau Kaper and Ned Washington’s 1947 On Green Dolphin Street  which included her inimitable style of scat singing which the bands support very ably supported with great gusto.

Tommaso Starace then joined the trio for his first set which included the  following numbers:
1. Stefano Di Battista’s Nico’s Dream played at a cracking up-tempo rhythm which got Tommaso off to a great start playing with fife in his belly stet the place alight. A portent of what was to follow!
2. Don Raye’s 1941 You Don’t Know What Love Is (remarkably, this great jazz standard was originally written for a Bud Abbott and Lou Costello film). What a contrasting style from Tommaso with his rendition of the lovely ballad.
3. The final number of this first set was an very extended version of Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol’s Caravan. How did he get that Bedouin camel caravan sound out of that alto?  This was a masterpiece number that no one will forget and was still being talked about at the end of the gig.

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 our M.C Geoff Harriman with his harmonica and Brian Stapely (Brian hails from Enfield, North London, and has played with most bands on the London and Home Counties scene, he spent many years in the Memphis Jazz Band run by Mike Barry) on drums playing Irving Berlin’s Cheek to Cheek.

Tommaso Starace then returned with:
4. a great version of Antonio Carlos’s Wave at a medium tempo bossa nova which featured Simon Brown on the piano in top form.
5. Gene De Paul’s I’ll Remember April  (Published in 1941, it was recorded by Woody Herman and His Orchestra and entered the pop charts in March of 1942) was played at quite a speed with Roger’s power drumming driving it along. Another example of Tommaso combing a fine melody with that unique fir of his.
6. He then called Andi Hopgood back to the stage to join him in an appropriate A Beautiful Friendship by Stanley Styne, Donald Kahn.

7. A contrasting medium tempo number (what was the name of that song?) featuring the sublime 5 string double bass of Bernie Hodgkins
8. Beatrice is a tune written by the famous jazz musician and composer Sam Rivers and was played again at a medium tempo.

Duke Ellington’s 1935 In A Sentimental Mood very sadly this ended this evenings great gig – one to remember. Topmmaso introduced the number on the alto followed by Bernie and Simon before going back to the alto for the finale.

On Sunday 12th May Jazznights present CLARE FOSTER (voc) for a BBC LIVE RECORDING.
A jazz and Brazilian music specialist, Clare has performed at many festivals throughout the world including the London Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. “…the breath-taking Clare Foster…an amazing ability to turn a familiar tune into something new and exciting”. Metro.

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 and future gigs go to www.jazz-nights.com

---

Mick Hanson one of the UK’s leading exponents of jazz guitar returned to Jazznights at The Cherry Tree, Belchamp St Paul on Sunday 15th April 2013

(Click on images for larger pictures)

Formerly from the local area, Mick moved on to establish himself as one of the major players on the UK jazz guitar scene with his duo performances with Dave Newton and in the trio Organic Matters. His forte is hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz with a contemporary Blue Note school approach.

Mick Hanson is one of the UK’s leading exponents of jazz guitar. His unique style is a masterful fusion of his early blues roots with the honest swinging jazz of the 50’s and 60’s. Mick has worked and recorded with many of the worlds best known performers including Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis, Dick Morrissey, Brian Dee, Gordon Beck and Dave Newton, and recorded two critically acclaimed albums as a leader.

Mick was be accompanied by the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio. Larraine Odell opened the gig with her set of vocal standards.

The Jazznights Trio 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. Musically, his first love was always straight-ahead contemporary jazz, and in the past he has played with many of the great names on the UK scene including Don Rendell, Barbara Thompson, Dick Morrissey, Terry Smith, Joe Harriott and countless others. Roger is the author of three technical articles which appeared in the international magazine Modern Drummer.
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.
Simon Brown – Piano
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. Since graduating from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in 1990, Simon has worked as a performer, teacher of piano and music arranger and regularly appears at the most popular jazz clubs in East Anglia. His involvement in Blues, Jazz and Jazz-Funk combos have led to appearances at many jazz festivals and has shared the billing with the likes of Jools Holland, The James Taylor Quartet, Stacey Kent and Bobby Wellins apart from his regular performances as a primary member of the Jazznights Roger Odell Trio.
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.” She has since appeared at Ronnie Scott’s Club as a member of the group Jimpster, at the Boxford Fleece with pianist Steve Lodder, most of the other jazz clubs in the region, and at the Aldeburgh, Layer Marney and Southwold Jazz Festivals.

Larraine opened the her set with:

1. Alone Together (Music by Arthur Schwartz and Lyrics from Howard Dietz. First performed in the 1932 Broadway Musical, Flying Colours. Larraine sang this at a medium tempo with solos from Simon Brown and Steve Cook accompanied by the power drumming of Roger Odell.
2. The 1939 I Concentrate on You from Cole Porter followed at a slower speed and ended up as at a much slower speed due to mike and amp problems – immediately attended to be the acting sound engineers Simon Brown & Roger Odell!
3. Inspired by a visit last week to Cleo Laine’s concert at Bury St Edmunds, Larraine sang a beautiful ballad, the 1937 Easy Living which was  very sympathetically supported by the trio.
4. Due to the earlier ‘glitches’ Larraine’s  set was sadly cut short with an up tempo version of Old Devil Moon.

Mick Hanson then joined the band for his first set which included:
5. Rodgers & Hart’s I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (1939) was played at a medium tempo which allowed all the band t o truly ‘get involved’ with Mick.
6. An up-tempo version of the 1948 The Night Has a Thousand Eyes followed with Simon Brown on the Roland Keyboard. This was definitely not the Bobby Vee version! and was a wonderful example of the very unique qualities he uses in those very different styles of jazz guitar using the Latin rhythms. This was also a great opportunity to hear an extended solo from Roger Odell on the drums.
7. Body And Soul – (One well known jazz website ranks this tune at Number One and it is ranked highest because it has been included most often on currently issued CDs by the greatest number of jazz artists.) Despite all the times we have heard this being played the complex chord progressions never cease to delight when it is played by artistes such as Mick Hanson.
8. Cole Porter’s 1944 I Love You although at times it was difficult to remember that as it contained so many great quotes. (It has been said that “The song “I Love You” really hit its stride as a jazz vehicle in the 1950s with Bill Evans’ first recording of the song and John Coltrane’s powerhouse performance from 1957″)
Mick’s version was an up-tempo exercise in how to master the guitar and the resulting effect galvanised all the others with their solos and the 4 bar trades.

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 Geoff Harriman and his harmonica playing a medium tempo of All Of Me.

9. Jerome Kern’s 1933 Yesterdays (certainly not Yesterday by the Beatles) started the second set with Mick Hanson  at a medium tempo with opportunities for all the band to express their interpretations.

10. Jerome Kern’s 1933 Yesterdays came next at a medium tempo with opportunities for all the band to express their interpretations.
11. The American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger’s composition Big Blues with a superb and inventive solo from Mick carried us forward.
12. Next we had a guitar solo from Mick Hanson Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most – usually associated with Frances Landesman’s lyrics sung by many jazz singers but this was just the music by Thomas J Wolf Jr. A wonderful choice t showing Mick Hanson’s superb interpretations and unique jazz artistry. Including extended quotes from Henry Mancini’s Dreamsville.

14. Composer Ann Ronell dedicated “Willow Weep for Me” to George Gershwin, the composer who helped her get her start in the music industry which has now developed in to a jazz standard. A very different interpretation again from Mick Hanson which reminded the writer of music from a Western film  as they all rode away into the sunset!
15. Watch What Happens was written for the 1964  Les Parapluies De Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourgh) by Michael Legrand, and was played with a Bossa Nova rhythm in the style of Antônio Carlos Jobim an an up-tempo rate.
16. Freddie Hubbard’s Little Sunflower turned in to a really fun number with some incredible sounds from his Guild guitar by re-tuning the bass strings and turning the Amp up!. Quite a fantastic finale to this evening of great jazz guitar. An evening that a nother full house at Jazznights thoroughly enjoyed.

Sunday 28th Apr – Jazznights features TOMMASO STARACE (sax). With his latest CD “Celebrating The Music Of Michel Petrucciani” by his Italian Quartet Tommaso continues to enhance his reputation throughout Europe. ‘He soars assertively when needed, cajoles and caresses with ‘molto’ lyricism on the ballads and demonstrates unequivocally that it is possible for contemporary jazz to be accessible’. Lance Liddle – Bebop Spoken Here.

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 open at 7.30pm.       Music 8.00-10.30pm.

Reserve your table seating on 01787 237653 or email.  Pay on the night.

Excellent food available and can be served before or during the performance.

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

---