He is a monster musician on both saxophone and clarinet, his previous performances at Jazznights have always been among the highlights of the year and this one surpassed them all
“A formidable improvisational array…a local jazz giant steadily drawing himself up to his full height…”-John Fordham, The Guardian
“…Atzmon is an astonishing musician.”
John Lewis, Metro
“Atzmon is surely the hardest-gigging man in British jazz…” The Times
“Atzmon is a loose cannon: a larger than life figure with an almost overpowering musical personality… it’s as perfect a jazz marriage as you could wish for” Phil Jonson, Independent on Sunday
“His flow of ideas and coherent marshalling of them makes for solos that are as exhilarating as they are impassioned fantastiK” The Herald Sunday Tribune
It is not surprising therefore that this evening with Gilad gave us a stunning evening of innovative and majestic jazz at its best.
Gilad 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.
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 first set with some great vocals on a lovely section of jazz standards which included:
1. It Might As Well Be Spring (1945) Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics from Oscar Hammerstein II was sung beautifully at a laid back tempo perfect for this lovely warm (almost hot) spring evening.
2. Bronislau Kaper and Ned Washington’s 1947 On Green Dolphin Street was sung at a medium tempo in yet another of Larraine’s version of this great standard. We never tire of Larraine singing this particular personal favourite.
3. Rodgers & Hart’s I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (1939) was played in a very swinging way at a medium tempo featuring Simon Brown and 4 bar trades between Roger Odell & Bernie Hodgkins.
4. 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 slow tempo in the Chet Baker style with a sympathetic bass from Bernie.
5. Where or When (1937) with Music from Richard Rodgers and Lyrics by Lorenz Hart gave us a medium to up-tempo finale which featured another of Roger Odell’s arrangements.
Gilad Atzmon the joined the band for his first set of the evening which included the 
following numbers:
6. Jerome Kern’s 1933 Yesterdays (certainly not Yesterday by the Beatles). Gilad featured his tenor sax which he was to use quite a lot as distinct from his normal alto and clarinet (he did remind us that he was mainly a tenor player for the first twenty years of his jazz career. What a lesson in interpretations and improvisations bringing in many memorable quotes (what was that tune again!
7. The Gershwin’s 1930 But Not For Me 
followed with Gilad doing his Roland Kirk impression playing alto and tenor at the same time then going on to alto before moving back to the tenor! Quite an experience
6. My One and Only Love (1953). Many saxophonists include this standard in their repertoire but doubt that many can pull it off as well as Gilad did on his tenor, with superb solos from Simon Brown & Bernie Hodgkins
Following the interval and the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s and 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 local musician Geoff Harriman on his chromatic harmonica playing All Of Me.
10. Gilad Atzmon’s second set opened up with Jerome Kern’s 1939 All the Things You 
Are on tenor at a medium tempo moving on to alto for the main improvisations. Solo from Simon Brown with 8 bar trades between Gilad and Roger.
11. Good Bait (1944) It has been said that Tadd Dameron brought the tune with him when he joined the Basie band but Basie is usually credited as co-composer. Medium tempo start up with Gilad on alto before transferring to the tenor, Gilad again engages in exciting trades with Roger.
12. Jimmy Van Heusen’s 1944 Nancy (with the Laughing Face) came next as a total contrast with Gilad moving on to clarinet – a gentle ballad but in Gilad’s inimitable style.
13. Donna Lee has been credited to Charlie Parker, but it is said that it was actually a Miles Davis composition based on the chord changes to Indiana. Another complete contrast, this 
was played with a really hard bop rhythm particularly
powered by Gilad Atzmon and Roger Odell. A fascinating duet developed between Bernie on the bass and Roger with his ferruled brushes on the Zildjian cymbals.
14. Gilad goes wild! (his words) playing Ray Noble’s Cherokee (Indian Love Song) from1938 on alto at a speed of possibly Mach 2 – a blinding tempo with which the whole band not only sweated but thoroughly enjoyed.
15. A slow blues version followed of the 1930 Hoagy Carmichael tune Georgia on My Mind – very contrasting gentle (relatively) with Gilad on alto. We needed the respite on this quite hot (summer?) evening.
16. After numerous calls and suggestions for an encore Gilad and the trio decided on the ballad Laura a David Raksin composition. Unfortunately it was a short number as the time restriction on the premises beat us. Bot what a stunningly fantastic evening of jazz from the one and only Gilad Atzmon
On Sunday 21st July – CARLOS LOPEZ-REAL (sax) is our star for the evening. After Oxford 
University and the Guildhall School of Music, Carlos then studied with David Liebman in New York. For the past 7 years he has been professor of contemporary jazz and rhythm studies at the Guildhall and has led workshops up and down the country. “Carlos plays with a sound that comes from his soul”. Dave Liebman.
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 more information and future gigs go to www.jazz-nights.com
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