Alan Skidmore (sax) returned for a fantastic gig at Jazznights on Sunday 24th November with the Roger Odell Trio

(click on the images for larger pictures)

“After three decades of liaisons with legends such as Herbie Hancock and Georgie Fame, Skidmore only really needs his smouldering saxophone to get us drooling”. James Griffiths, The Guardian.

“Of all the tenor players who have chosen to work within the  Coltrane legacy, he is perhaps the most convincing”. Brian Case, Melody Maker.

“This remarkable and exciting tenor player never fails to move and lift an audience.”
Manchester Evening News

“Skidmore’s performance can sometimes go a considerable way to recreating the atmosphere of the master’s (John Coltrane’s) gigs.” John Fordham, The Guardian.
“This remarkable and exciting tenor player never fails to move and lift an audience.” Manchester Evening News.

Alan Skidmore is well known as an energetic tenor player of what is often described as the post-Coltrane school. However, whilst these characteristics are evident in his playing, in the course of his distinguished career beginning in the late fifties he has played in many genres from swing and R &B, through film music and ballet scores to modern jazz in which he confidently combines bop and abstract stylings. His professional affiliations read like a jazzman?s `Debrett` having been associated with the likes of Chick Corea, Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Gil Evans, and Elvin Jones to name but a small selection. He has also worked with such groups as Georgie Fame?s Blue Flames, Weather  Report and Ian Carr?s `Nucleus` as well as leading his own innovative combos such as  S.O.S. with John Surman and Mike Osbourne.

Influenced by Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Skidmore

He returned to Jazznights for a fantastic gig 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.
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 Odell opened the first set with some great jazz standards including:
It Could Happen to You (1944),Music    by Jimmy Van Heusen and Lyrics from Johnny Burke.
Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin’s 1935 If I Should Lose You. (It was Charlie Parker’s version of this number that brought the song to the attention of both jazz instrumentalists and vocalists.)
Speak Low (1943) is a popular song composed by Kurt Weill, with lyrics by Ogden Nash.  The tune is a jazz standard that has been widely recorded, both by vocal artists from Billie Holiday to The Miracles to Dee Dee Bridgewater, and such instrumentalists as Bill Evans. Larraine sang this with great feeling.
Bobby Troup,s 1957 Meaning of the Blues which appeared on the landmark Miles Davis album, Miles Ahead. Lyrics from Leah Worth.
Another favourite completed Larraine’s set The Lamp Is Low which is a popular song of the 1930s. The music was written by Peter DeRose and Bert Shefter, adapted from Pavane pour une infante défunte, a piece by Maurice Ravel. The lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish.

Alan Skidmore then joined the Jazznights Trio for his first set which featured:
Sigmund Romberg wrote the music and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the words for Softly As in a Morning Sunrise a composition for the musical New Moon, which premiered in New York at the Imperial Theatre on September 19, 1928. Artie Shaw was largely responsible for introducing Broadway show compositions into the jazz repertoire.
Billy Strayhorn’s Take the A Train  was then played to the Joe Henderson arrangement of Ellington’s signature tune.
John Coltrane composed Naima for his first wife, Juanita Austin, whose nickname was Naima or Nita. It first appeared on the Coltrane album Giant Steps. A rapturous rendition of this classic to end Alan’s first set.

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 Hit the Road Jack is a song written by rhythm and bluesman Percy Mayfield and first recorded in 1960

Alan Skidmore the joined the trio with some great versions jazz standards which included:

On Green Dolphin Street (originally entitled “Green Dolphin Street”) is a 1947 popular song composed by Bronislaw Kaper.  The 1950’s version by Miles Davis and John Coltrane established the composition as a jazz classic.
Weaver of Dreams is an album and the title number by guitarist Kenny Burrell first recorded in 1960
Larraine Odell then joined the band for a fine and lovely rendition of Autumn Leaves, i much-recorded popular song. Originally it was a 1945 French song Les feuilles mortes (literally “The Dead Leaves”) with music by Hungarian-French composer Joseph Kosma and lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert,
Alan Skidmore then returned to the band with his final number of this great gig with Impressions from the 1963 John Coltrane album of the same name. We had a lasting impression of one of the finest interpreter of John Coltrane from this master of the tenor saxophone who has been at the forefront of UK jazz for over 50 years and we had no doubt that he will return again to Jazz nights as he and the trio gelled so perfectly.

GEORGIA MANCIO (vocals) will be at Jazznights on Sunday 8th December for a BBC LIVE RECORDING!
Award-winning jazz vocalist and lyricist, Georgia Mancio, is one of the UK’s most important and original new artists. A performer of pure class and integrity, Georgia has proved herself a true improviser with an unfailing flow, innate musicality and a boundless, bold imagination. Her music embraces her Anglo/Italian/Uruguayan background

Come along for this gig and reserve your table seating on 01787 237653 or email info@jazz-nights.com.  Pay on the night.

Tel: 01787 237263       Admission £10.         Doors 7.30pm.       Music 8.00-10.30pm.
Reserve Food is available at the Bell

For further information and future gigs (which includes
EMILY DANKWORTH (vocals, ANITA WARDELL (vocals), LOZ SPEYER (trumpet), Tim Whitehead (saxes) and the wonderful PETER KING (alto sax) go to www.jazz-nights.com

RAY BUTCHER (trumpet) gave us a superb evening of jazz at Jazznights on Sunday 10th November 2013 with the Jazznights Trio

(click on images for larger pictures)

Ray is a jazz musician who has been influenced by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and many more. He started playing piano at 7, cornet at 8 and then trumpet at 16, where he studied at Peter Symonds’ college, Winchester. He later studied music at Kingston  University. He studied trumpet with Ray Allen (Royal Academy of Music) for two years and Colin Clague (principal trumpet English National Opera) and later took up jazz piano and jazz trumpet.
Ray has since played for Princess Diana, worked for Mica Paris, Robbie Williams, Frank McComb (Buckshot Le Fonque) jazz great Jean Toussaint and recorded on Ivor Novello winner Scott Matthews’ second album ‘Elsewhere’ (which also featured Robert Plant). He has also played with many of the top names in the jazz field including Jean Toussaint, Phil Robson and Julian Seigel and Liam Noble.

His own band has played twice at London’s famous 606 club and is a regular at the Malborough Jazz Festival, 2009, 2010 and 2011, and 2012.
Ray has also managed the music at London’s   ‘Blue Train Jazz Club’ (56 Stamford St, Waterloo), since its opened, 2nd dec 2011, booking acts on behalf of the club,  such as  Jacqui Dankworth and Tina May including the new years eve show, 2011, event ‘Mitch Winehouse and Friends’.

His Primary Instruments are Trumpet and Flugel Horn which he demonstrated this evening with extraordinary skill which he played with the Jazznights Trio who were:

Simon Brown – Piano
Simon’s piano playing has long been the soundaccompaniment 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.
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 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, and the British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, 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. 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.George is one of the UK’s most versatile percussionists, playing regularly with American singing legend Jack Jones, guitarist Mark Flanagan (Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra) and a wide range of West End and touring theatre productions. He is proprietor of Hadleigh Jazz Club, Suffolk

Ray butcher opened his first set of jazz standards which included:
Jerome Kern’s 1939 All The Things You Are (Charlie Parker secured the place of “All the Things You Are” as a jazz standard in 1947)
Joseph Kosma’s 1947 Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes). It took almost ten years to catch on as a jazz number, and 1957 saw three excellent recordings. There were versions by Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington.
Blue Bossa, a bossa nova by Kenny Dorham.
Joy Spring was composed by Clifford Brown in honour of his wife, whom he called his “joy spring”
Someday My Prince Will Come (1937) by Frank E. Churchill. Although Miles Davis is usually given credit for introducing this Disney movie piece into the jazz repertoire, another trumpeter, Donald Byrd, was one of the first to record it in 1957.
Dolphin Dance is a tune written by pianist Herbie Hancock and was recorded on Hancock’s hit 1965 record “Maiden Voyage”.

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 of Steven Sheriff from Nottingham taking over the piano and playing Little Sunflower which is a tune written by the great trumpeter Freddie Hubbard off of his 1967 album “Backlash”

Simon Brown then rejoined the trio and Ray Butcher for the rest of the second set playing:
What Is This Thing Called Love? is a tune written by Cole Porter in 1929 for the musical “Wake Up and Dream.” The song eventually became a popular jazz standard and one of Porter’s most famous works.
Round Midnight is a tune written by the great innovative pianist Thelonious Monk. Monk claims that he composed Round Midnight when he was 18 and eight years later, Cootie Williams recorded it with his orchestra. It is believed that Williams may have changed the composition slightly but regardless, his name remains on the copyright.
St Thomas is a great Latin tune by Sonny Rollins and it first appeared on Sonny Rollin’s 1956 record, “Saxophone Colossus
Bobby Timmons Moanin’ from the 1958 Blue Note album Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.
A Night in Tunisia is a colourful tune written by arguably jazz music’s most colourful character-Dizzy Gillespie.  Jazz folklore has it that Dizzy Gillespie penned A Night in Tunisia, also known as Night in Tunisia, on the bottom of a garbage can, with Art Blakey present.
Cherokee is a tune written by Ray Noble originally intended for an “Indian Suite”.  It  wasn’t really considered a vehicle for jazz improvisation until Charlie Parker’s arrival in New York in the early 1940’s.

This was a wonderful finale for a great night of jazz standards fully demonstrating Ray’s masterful control of the trumpet and flugelhorn. It was 2009 when Rav visited Jazznights last but we do not think it will be so long until the next time.

On Sunday 24th Nov Jazznights present ALAN SKIDMORE (sax)
“After three decades of liaisons with legends such as Herbie Hancock and Georgie Fame,   Skidmore only really needs his smouldering saxophone to get us drooling”. James Griffiths, The Guardian. “Of all the tenor players who have chosen to work within the Coltrane legacy, he is perhaps the most convincing”. Brian Case, Melody Maker.

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
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