As a result of a high recommendation from Emily Dankworth the young jazz singer Ben Cox makes his debut at Jazznights. He is currently studying jazz voice at the Guildhall and along with Emily he is a member of the amazing six part close-harmony A Cappella group ‘Vive’. Male UK jazz singers have been few and far between until recently – that’s about to 
change!
Ben Cox is currently studying jazz voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. His aim is to work professionally as a jazz musician. He initially studied classical piano and trumpet, but he was also lead vocalist and trumpeter with the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra for several years. His love of jazz and his wish to study the subject in depth led him to apply to study for a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz, with jazz voice as his principal study. Successful auditions led to offers from Birmingham Conservatoire, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Trinity College of Music, but he was delighted to accept the offer from Guildhall, which has given him the opportunity to learn from, work and regularly perform with internationally acclaimed jazz musicians, including for example Wynton Marsalis, Ian Shaw, Todd Gordon, Jacqui Dankworth, Cleo Laine and Liane Carrol.
Since being at Guildhall Ben has been studying jazz voice with the renowned jazz singer and tutor Lee Gibson, enhanced by classical voice tuition with Linda Hutchison. Ben is a 
member of the A Cappella group ‘Vive’, whose members are present or former students at Guildhall, and who recently performed to great acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe. Vive were the winners of the 2013 National Voice Festival and are appearing at the London Jazz Festival in November 2013.
“I think it was the age of the voice in such a young man, more akin to Tony Bennett and Chet Baker, yet being sung by a twenty something ! Perfect execution, depth and tone, Catch him soon if you’re lucky enough.”
Neil Hughes – The Cinnamon Club.
It certainly was well proven at this Jazznights gig, it was a superb evening and we are sure that Ben will be coming back to see us again.
Ben 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.
Steve Cook – Double Bass
Steve has a wonderful rounded tone with great clarity. In the 1960s and 70s Steve Cook played with many leading jazz artists including Don Rendell, Art Themen, Dick Heckstall-
Smith, Alan Skidmore, Pete Jacobsen, Michael Garrick and numerous others. He was in several of Barbara Thompson’s bands including the Quintet, Jubiaba and Paraphernalia. He toured and recorded with progressive rock bands CMU, Gilgamesh, Seventh Wave, Mirage and Soft Machine. He worked at Ronnie Scott’s with Mark Murphy and Gil Evans. He spent several years touring and recording with the Mike Westbrook orchestra, appearing on three albums. He’s done dance bands, pit bands, and film and TV soundtracks. Recently Steve has played salsa with the Spanish Harlow Orchestra, Latin jazz with Que Pasa, and recorded albums with folk and world musicians Wes McGhee, Janie Romer and Ravi. He may occasionally be seen with the Harmony in Harlem band and the Cambridge Sinfonietta. He has also had a 35-year career as a professional software engineer.
Sam Edwards – Piano
Sam was born in London in 1970 to a musical family; his mother and sister both are professional musicians. Sam studied classical music at the Colchester institute for 2 years from 1986 where he attained grade 8 Piano, grade 8 theory of music and two ‘A’ levels (Theory and Practical) in music. Sam then graduated with a 1st in Jazz and Contemporary 
music from the City of Leeds College of music in 1991. As a professional musician Sam has worked in many areas of the music industry, below are listed just some of his work credits as either a Keyboard player, Pianist, or Musical Director: Boney M, Brotherhood of Man, Eden Kane, George McRae, Jackie Graham, JTQ, Marty Wilde, Mike Berry, Odyssey, Paul Da Vinci, Rose Royce, The Commitments, The Contours, The Drifters, The Real Thing.Boney M, Brotherhood of Man, Eden Kane, George McRae, Jackie Graham, JTQ, Marty Wilde, Mike Berry, Odyssey, Paul Da Vinci, Rose Royce, The Commitments, The Contours, The Drifters, The Real Thing, Katy Setterfield tribute to Dusty Springfield, Sisters of Soul, Reach Out (Motown Show), The History of Motown, Sweet Home Chicago (Blues Brothers show), Tribute to the Carpenters and Marty Wilde and the Wildcats
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.
The first of our two great vocalists Larraine Odell opened the first set which included the following numbers:
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart’s 1935 It’s Easy to Remember (and so Hard to
Forget)
Out of This World (1944) with Music by Harold Arlen and Lyrics from Johnny Mercer
This Happy Madness – Writers: Antonio Carlos Jobim – Gene Lees and Vinicius Demoraes it was featured by Frank Sinatra in the 1971 album Sinatra & Company.
(I Don’t Stand A) Ghost of a Chance (With You) composed in 1932 by Victor Young with Lyrics from Bing Crosby and Ned Washington.
In 1954 the Erroll Garner Trio introduced the instrumental Misty. A year later Johnny Burke penned the lyrics, creating the song we know today.
Ben Cox then joined the Jazznights trio for his first set featuring the following numbers:
Madly In To Love which was followed by Victor Young’s 1949 My Foolish Heart written for the film of the same name.
I Thought About You (1939) it was among the first tunes that lyricist Johnny Mercer collaborated on with composer Jimmy Van Heusen.
Very touching and sensitive versions of In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning a 1955 popular song composed by David Mann, with lyrics by Bob Hilliard. It was introduced 
as the title track of Frank Sinatra’s 1955 album In the Wee Small Hours. and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1940) Words and Music by Eric Maschwitz, Manning Sherwin and Jack Strachey these were sung back to back and were absolute magic.
Broadway (1940) which was a mandatory number for vocalists from the Guild Hall School of Music and really does show the vocal ability and versatility of the voice,
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 Hoagy Carmichaels’ 1937 The Nearness Of You
Ben Cox then returned for his second set and started with Harry Warren and Al Dubin’s 
1937 September In The Rain followed by:
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, from his 1972 album One Man Dog.
I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face (1956) from Frederick Loewe and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner from the 1956 musical My Fair Lady.
Je suis seule ce soir which was sung in French after he had learnt it for a residency in a club France.
Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer’s 1941 Skylark first recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra featuring vocalist Ray Eberle.
The Gershwin’s 1337 A Foggy Day AKA A Foggy Day in London Town followed by a great scat vocal Blues in B Flat. What a stunning example of Vocalese.
An evening to remember from two superb jazz singers.
Jazznights will be back at the intimate Tudor Room, The Bell Hotel, Clare, CO10 8NN 
on Sunday 10th November 2013 with trumpet player Ray Butcher.
Ray is influenced by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and many more, Ray started playing piano at 7, cornet at 8 and then trumpet at 16. Ray has since played for Princess Diana, worked with Mica Paris, jazz great Jean Toussaint and recorded on Ivor Novello winner Scott Matthews’ second album ‘Elsewhere’ (which also featured Robert Plant).
Come along for this gig.
Tel: 01787 237263 Admission £10. 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 (which includes
ALAN SKIDMORE (sax, GEORGIA MANCIO (vocals), EMILY DANKWORTH (vocals, ANITA WARDELL (vocals), LOZ SPEYER (trumpet) and the wonderful PETER KING (alto sax) go to www.jazz-nights.com
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