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“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
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