JAZZNIGHTS @ THE BURES FESTIVAL Thursday 4th July 2013 – A few pictures from this superb evening

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Jazznights presents a special jazz evening taking the form of a “Cherry Tree” presentation as part of the Bures Festival. Larraine Odell & the Jazznights Trio will get things moving in the time-honoured fashion followed by a set from the Simon Hurley Quartet. The amazing saxophonist Snake Davis will headlined the evening with the Jazznights Trio.

SNAKE DAVIS
Snake Davis
is a session musician (saxophonist) who has played with some of the worlds biggest artists. In the 1980s he fronted York band Zoot and the Roots
Davis 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, George Michael, Tina Turner, Paul Hardcastle, Take That, Cher, China Crisis, , Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Swing Out Sister, Dave Stewart, Paul Young, Pet Shop Boys, Soul II Soul, Robert Palmer, Tanita Tikaram, Acoustic Alchemy  Motorhead, Calvin Harris, and The Spice Girls, and he has also worked on numerous television adverts in the UK and abroad.
Snake Davis is renowned for his skill and expertise in playing both the saxophone and the flute and call play in any number of genres when asked upon from the smooth jazz to soul jazz. He released his first solo album in 2001 called “Snakebites”. Subsequently he has toured with his band Snake Davis & The Charmers.
He has subsequently released other albums including, Hysteria, Adder Lessons, and Talking Bird, the latter of which was commended for its blend of chillout, soul, and oriental themed music, which included his first recorded works of him playing the ancient Japanese instrument, the Shakuhachi.
http://www.snakedavies.com

LARRAINE ODELL & THE JAZZNIGHTS TRIO
Larraine Odell
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.
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’s CD entitled “Portrait” attracted excellent reviews as did her performance on “The Blue Window” CD by Beatifik. She also appeared on Jimpster’s “Messages From The Hub” and is represented on the “Jazz In Essex – Vol 2” CD.
“I love Larraine’s voice…she has something special” Chrissie Murray – Ronnie Scott’s House Magazine. “Larraine shows a range and soulfulness that simply cannot be taught” – Kenneth Pearson – Jazzmanonline.

Roger Odell
As 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.
      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.
He recently produced his own CD “The Blue Window” by Beatifik, which featured top UK saxophonist Mornington Lockett, and was released to great critical acclaim.
Roger is the author of three technical articles which appeared in the international magazine Modern Drummer, and is an Endorsee Artist for Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Hardcases.

Bernie Hodgkins
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.
Touring in Europe and further afield with a wide variety of artists honed his skills and added to his prodigious repertoire. Supports to players like John Scofield, and singers such as Annie Ross always proved inspirational and served to reinforce his enduring love affair with jazz.
Spending much of his time in the recording studios, he is equally at home and in demand as an enthusiastic “live” rhythm section player, as is testified by his work with Don Rendell, Jack Parnell, George Chisholm, Pete Jacobson, John Etheridge, Kenny Baker, Allan Skidmore, Dave O’Higgins and many others.

Simon Brown
Simon Brown 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, the Lakeside Jazz Club at Lyng and The Green Man at Rackheath. 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

THE WATSON-HURLEY QUARTET
Andy Watson and Simon Hurley, two highly respected local guitar players, specializing in finely crafted arrangements of jazz standards with a high degree of musical interaction. The quartet is sure to appeal to fans of both guitar and jazz alike. The guitarists will be joined by a superb rhythm section featuring Andy Staples (Bass) and Alex Best (Drums) for what promises to be a wonderful set that showcases some of the area’s finest jazz musicians. The quartet, who between them have performed with such names as Helen Shapiro, Humphrey Littleton and respected jazz guitarists John Etheridge and Jim Mullen, will be performing tunes chosen from the standard repertoire in ways that will demonstrate each band members wealth of talent and experience.

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

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NICHOLAS MEIER (guitar) returned to Jazznights on Sunday 23rd June 2013 with the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio and vocals from Larraine Odell

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Since winning both the “Grand Prize of the Jury” and “Jazz Guitar Prize” at the Jazz A Juan Revelations 2006 Nicolas has gained an enviable reputation. “Meier’s technique is phenomenal. Dextrous and vigorous, favouring giddily-fast fingered, serpentine single note runs, it is musicianly in the best sense of the word” Chris May, All about Jazz

Meier began with the classical guitar when he was 11, having had ‘rhythm’ classes when he was six and having tried to learn the flute when he was nine. “I started with a cheap acoustic guitar, then after a year I switched to electric. I got a Weston electric guitar from my parents which got stolen on a trip to London a few years later. Every summer when school was out, I used to work [doing electrical jobs in the state hospital] to be able to buy either a new guitar or a new amp.”

“Meier’s technique is phenomenal. Dexterous and vigorous, favouring giddily-fast fingered, serpentine single note runs, All About Jazz

Swiss guitar maestro Nicholas Meier, now resident in the UK, is a dazzling yet sensitive guitarist as happy with flamenco and Latin as he is in Western jazz. Nicolas has had a long association with saxophonist Gilad Atzmon

Nick Meier is a multi-genre guitarist who focuses his mainline of ambidextrous playing ability on the jazz and Latin circuit. As an award winning guitarist with classical tendencies, Meier’s ambience and ability shines through with sophisticated results and makes a very welcome return to Jazznights.

Nicolas Meier played with the 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.
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.
Andy Noble – Keyboards
Andy regularly plays with the Albert Garza Trio, Ben Greenslade-Stanton Fuerza, Carl Orr’s Dangerfunk and the Jazznights Trio as well as other bands in and around London and East Anglia. Andy is already establishing himself as one of the most sought after keyboard players in London performing with all types of artist from pop to salsa and obviously Jazz. He has a BA (MUSIC), Assoc Diploma Jazz Studies & Grade 8 Piano ABRSM. He teaches grades for the ABRSM exams and specialises in jazz and Latin music as well as teaching ensembles. He has performed with saxophonists such as Derek Nash, Alex Garnett, Peter King, Brandon Allen, Christian Brewer, Tony Kofi,
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.

Our Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Geoff Harriman our well known local harmonica player.

Larraine opened the first set with some great standards which included:
1. Misty In 1954 the Erroll Garner Trio introduced the instrumental “Misty.” A year later Johnny Burke penned the lyrics, creating the song we know today. which was sung tonight  at a medium tempo.
2. Speak Low (1943) is a popular song composed by Kurt Weill, The tune is a jazz standard that has been widely recorded, both by vocal artists from Billie Holiday and such instrumentalists as Bill Evans, Roy Hargrove and Brian Bromberg. Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. Tonight Larraine sang to a great original Roger Odell Arrangement.
3. It Might As Well Be Spring (1945) Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics from Oscar Hammerstein II was sung beautifully at a medium tempo.
4. Estate (Summer) is an Italian song written in 1960 by Bruno Martino (music) and Bruno Brighetti (lyrics). A minor hit in Italy when released, it eventually became a worldwide jazz standard largely through its interpretation by João Gilberto.
5. Nacio Herb Brown and Gus Kahn’s 1940 You Stepped Out of a Dream – originally from the musical Ziegfeld Girl,

Nicolas Meier with his set of Goldin guitars then joined the trio for his first set which included:
6. Django Reinhardt’s 1939 Nuages which was superbly played at a medium tempo and involved solos from Andy Noble and Bernie Hodgkins. A great introduction as to what was to come.
7. The following number started off as the 1941 I’ll Remember April and developed…… This was a frighteningly fast version with immaculately co-ordinated fingers from both hands and involving 8 bar trades between all four of the band.
8. Bluesette is jazz standard 3/4 number written by the American trombonist Curtis Fuller. This was played almost as a slide guitar effect with Nicolas’s fretless Goldin guitar but with of course just the fingers, it incorporated notable solos by both Andy Noble and Bernie Hodgkins and was a stunning end to Nicolas’s first set.

Following the interval and the Jazznights raffle of 4 jazz cd’s including a CD very kindly donated by Nicolas Meier 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.

9.Tonight we had our M.C. playing his version of Georgia On My Mind on his chromatic harmonica

10. And Harry Greene who played a jazz standard on the tenor sax.

Nicolas Meier then returned for his second set of the evening which included the following numbers:

11. The Bossa Nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim in Corcovado AKA Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars a lovely sensitive medium tempo number.
12. In 1949 Johnny Mercer wrote English lyrics for a Prevert poem to music, “Les Feuilles Mortes” changing the original French title to Autumn Leaves. Away from the original version Nicolas started at a medium tempo developing into an ultra fast version showcasing those magic fingers of his. Andy Noble. Bernie Hodgkins and a very hot Roger Odell all going a long with the rhythm with great deal of  aplomb and a lot of sweat!
13. Travels (maybe I got that wrong?) came next at a medium tempo followed by:
14. Jimmy Van Heusen’s 1944 Like Someone in Love is well known jazz standard which the writer has previously mainly associated with Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – but after tonight it will be Nicolas Meier!
15. The final number of this evening was a blistering version of Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol’s Caravan at a very up-tempo rhythm accentuated by Roger’s ferruled brushes – what a finale and the cheering and shouting from tonight’s audience went on for some considerable time.

A truly master musician together with one of East Anglia’s finest jazz trios gave us a most memorable evening.

On Thursday 4th July – JAZZNIGHTS @ THE BURES FESTIVAL Jazznights presents a special jazz evening taking the form of a “Cherry Tree” presentation as part of the Bures Festival. Larraine Odell & the Jazznights Trio will get things moving in the time-honoured fashion followed by a set from the Simon Hurley Quartet. The amazing saxophonist Snake Davis will headline the evening with the Jazznights Trio. Tel: 07508 486 484 or see http://www.buresmusicfestival.org/boxoffice.html for £10 tickets.

Jazznights regular venue is at The Cherry Tree, 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 info@jazz-nights.com .  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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Simon Spillett made a stunning return to Jazznights with the Roger Odell Trio at The Cherry Tree, on Sunday 9th June 2013

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Originally influenced by the great Tubby Hayes, Simon has since forged an original style which adds a contemporary touch to the grand tradition of modern jazz saxophone. A winner of the British Jazz Award for Tenor Saxophone in 2011 he had already won Rising Star in the BBC Jazz Awards for 2007 and his CD “Sienna Red” won the Jazz CD award in 2009 – Simon’s star has well and truly risen. “Those of us who have heard him…have been left blinking in disbelief…mastery of the tenor saxophone…absolute conviction of his playing is so impressive” DAVE GELLY, THE OBSERVER

“His sound is his own, as is his approach to phrasing…..he operates in the same high energy hard bop territory that Hayes did”
PETER VACHER – JAZZWISE May 2008 (Review of “Sienna Red”)

“I have heard no-one in years who compares to tenorist Simon Spillett, a miraculous player who sounds like a reincarnation of Tubby Hayes but with his own personality. Catch him wherever he is. Astounding!”
JOHN MARTIN – THE JAZZ RAG

“He’s stood old head and young shoulders above many of his contemporaries as a live performer for several years. Five stars for knowing how to play jazz when so many of his generation think they can but can’t.”
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
 
“Such a terrific tenor player. I was astonished by what I heard. At times, it was like Tubby coming back!”.
TONY HALL, (Veteran club compere and DJ, Hall produced Tubby’s Hayes recordings for the legendary Tempo label from 1955 to 1959)

“Spellbound! That’s all I can say! I went to see one of the UK’s leading saxophonists tonight and it was a sheer delight. Simon Spillett hit town with all the force of a force gale. His dapper look was a throwback to the days of Tubby Hayes and Zoot Sims and his two sets went by in the blink of an eye, it was that captivating.”

Stunning and captivating – the evening certainly was from this master of the tenor saxophone as he played with 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. 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.
Ivars Galenieks – Double Bass
Ivars was born in Riga, Latvia. He studied piano, oboe and double bass, graduating from the Latvian State Conservatoire on double bass. His musical career began at the age of 15, playing double bass in restaurants, and later moving on to electric bass. After graduating from music college he worked in the Latvian Theatre of Operetta, then with composer Raimonds Pauls. He also worked for several years as a pianist at sports school, using his position to develop his improvisation skills. He worked in Riga’s music instrument factory as a stringer, laying strings to more than 700 pianos and ultimately gaining his piano tuner’s qualification. Ivars continued his work in the piano field part-time, and as a freelance piano tuner, holding a position in a workshop which specialised in restoring antique furniture and pianos. After three years spent in the factory, he joined the Latvian State Symphony Orchestra where he worked for ten years and worked with the National Symphony Orchestra, He is now part of the house band of the Norwich Jazz Club and is a regular bassist at many gigs throughout East Anglia.
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.

Our Masters of Ceremonies were Donald Muir and Gareth Williams-James.

Larraine opened the first set with some great standards which included:
1. All or Nothing At All (1940) – Words and Music by Arthur Altman and Jack Lawrence was a medium tempo opening Larraine’s set.
2. Close Your Eyes (1933) Words and Music by Bernice Petkere (It took twenty years for Bernice Petkere’s composition to find its way into the jazz repertoire with a 1956 session featuring saxophonist Lee Konitz) this was another medium tempo yet contrasting number from Larraine showing her versatility of styles.
3. Another early 1927 composition by Irving Berlin Blue Skies came next which was yet another innovative number from Larraine featuring a superb interlude with just the voice and the double bass of Ivars Galenieks.
4. My Foolish Heart (1949) Music from Victor Young who wrote this as the title piece for the film My Foolish Heart for which he also wrote the score. Lyrics were by Ned Washington and it was was performed to a new arrangement by Roger Odell – this version ought to be one of Larraine’s regular numbers!
5. I Only Have Eyes for You (1934) Music by Harry Warren and Lyrics from Al Dubin. This was a lovely up tempo number to give a great finale to Larraine’s set.

Simon Spillett then joined the trio and mercifully was able to play more than one number – on Simon’s last visit a power failure lasted all evening in the whole area! Simon’s first set included:
6. Speak Low (1943) is a popular song composed by Kurt Weill, The tune is a jazz standard that has been widely recorded, both by vocal artists from Billie Holiday and such instrumentalists as Bill Evans, Roy Hargrove and Brian Bromberg. Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. This was a barn storming up tempo introduction as to what is to come including solos from Simon Brown, Ivars Galenieks and 8 bar trades between Simon and Roger Odell.
7.   Esta Tarde Vi Llover (English version “Yesterday I Heard the Rain” composed by Armando Manzanero and features on his new CD Square One (with John Critchinson, Alec Dankworth and Clark Tracey). Allegedly  only available at gigs – although we do not worry as we bought a copy! This was played as a medium tempo ballad played with a softer much contrasting style – sublime.
8. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins’ composition Oleo was introduced in a June 1954 recording session for the Prestige label by Miles Davis’ Modern Jazz Giants and has since of course become a great classic. (Apparently he got the title from oleomargarine, which was a big thing then, a cheap butter substitute.). This was another superb up-tempo number which left us wanting him to carry on and not stop for the interval.

9. 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 the pleasure of the sultry tones of Karen Davies singing Ned Washington’s 1937 The Nearness of you.

Simon Spillett then returned with the trio for the second set which included:
10. Tin Tin Deo (1947) co written by Walter Gilbert Fuller and Chano Pozo made famous by Dizzy Gillespie but certainly remembered by the Tubby Hayes recording. Played at a medium

tempo which featured a great sequence with Ivars Galenieks playing his bass with the bow and 8 bar trades again between Roger and Simon.
11. Another Tubby Hayes number Bass House composed by Jimmy Deuchar and featured on his Pub Crawling album. He had the idea for the album’s title from the fact that each of its six tracks is named after one of the best known British brands of beer. A superb medium swing version with the rhythm accentuated with Roger Odell’s swinging brush style.
12. From Simon’s Sienna Red album we had the ballad The Right To Love by Lalo Schrifin, the Argentinian pianist and composer. Also fondly remembered by the Stan Getz and Tubby Hayes recordings. This again illustrated Simon’s mastering of the tenor in many varied modes from bebop to to very tender interpretations such as this.
13. Another number from his new CD Square One was sadly the last number but never the less a very exciting finale – Cole Porter’s In The Still Of The Night . A very up-tempo version epitomising that exciting Simon Spillett unique high octane hard bop innovative style. A true master musician.

On Sunday 23rd June Jazznights present NICOLAS MEIER (gtr). This superb guitarist won the Grand Prize of the Jury and the Jazz Guitar Prize at the Jazz a Juan Revelations 2006 and after a few years in Boston, USA Nicolas now lives in the UK where he leads his own band. “Meier opts for an attractive acoustic tone somewhere between a lute, an oud and Django Reinhardt’s guitar”. John Fordham – the Guardian.

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

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