First gaining recognition as a member of the ground-breaking band Loose Tubes, Tim continued to develop his own music, recording for Spotlite Records and Editions EG – “EnglishPeople” and “Decision” with his own bands. “There are many fine tenor players on the current British scene but Tim Whitehead is undoubtedly one of the best we have” Peter Lund – Crescendo.
“Whitehead has a highly personal, always gorgeous sound on tenor and an infinite vocabulary – in a country of fine saxophonists he is one of the finest.” Peter Bacon, Jazz CD of the Week, Birmingham Post
“There are many fine tenor players on the current British scene but Tim Whitehead is undoubtedly one of the best we have” Peter Lund – Crescendo – and so it proved at Jazznights.
Tim was playing with the Jazznights Trio who were:
Roger Odell – Drums
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 he has played with most of the great names on the UK jazz scene.He recently produced his own critically acclaimed CD “The Blue Window” by Beatifik, which featured top UK saxophonist Mornington Lockett. Jacqui Hicks and Larraine.
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
Peter Lemer – Keyboards
is an English jazz musician. He has worked with the Pete Lemer Quintet, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Annette Peacock, Harry Beckett, Gilgamesh, Baker Gurvitz Army, Seventh Wave,Harry Beckett’s Joy Unlimited, Pierre Jazznights Emily Dankworth 020314 (114)Moerlen’s Gong, Mike Oldfield Group, In Cahoots, Miller/Baker/Lemer. He currently works 
with In Cahoots, Peter Lemer Trio/Quartet, Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia, and the Peter Lemer-Billy Thompson Quartet and Duo. Peter made his recording debut as a leader (Local Colour) in 1996, the band by then including Jon Hiseman, John Surman, George Khan and Tony Reeves. A year in New York followed, which included extensive jamming, gigging and study. Coaches included famed jazz pianists Jaki Byard and Paul Bley and Double Bass guru David Walters. He also studied at the Royal Academy of Music and included Tommy Rajnaand Sven Weber among his classical coaches. In 1969, he worked with the Spontaneous Music Ensemble. In the last few years, Lemer has remained a fixture of In Cahoots – he can be heard on Parallel (1996), Out Of The Blue (2001), All That (2003) and Conspiracy Theories (2006), most of which also feature his writing – as well as playing one-off gigs with old friends Steve Cook (bass) and Roger Odell (drums), recording an album with them in Israel.
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.
With additional vocals from
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:
Alone Together is a song composed by Arthur Schwartz with lyrics by Howard Dietz. It was introduced in the Broadway musical Flying Colors in 1932 by Jean Sargent. The first jazz artist to record the song was Artie Shaw in 1939
I’ll Close My Eyes is a song with words and music originally written by the English songwriter and bandleader Billy Reid and published in 1945.[1] It is usually performed in a later version with different words by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye to Reid’s original music. It has become a jazz standard.
Like Someone in Love was introduced in the movie Belle of the Yukon by Dinah Shore. Music by Jimmy Van Heusen and Lyrics from Johnny Burke
Composer Victor Young wrote My Foolish Heart as the title piece for the film My Foolish Heart for which he also wrote the score. Long-time collaborator Ned Washington wrote the lyrics.
Tim Whitehead then joined the Jazznights Trio to play extended versions of:
The Way You Looked Tonight was composed by Victor Young and the lyric was written by Ned Washington. Billy Eckstein’s version became a million seller, spending 19 weeks on the charts and peaking at number six. Billie Holiday came up with a classic vocal version of “The Way You Look Tonight” in 1936
Anna Maria composed by Wayne Shorter, considered one of modern jazz’s most influential saxophonists (Anna Maria
was Wayne Shorter’s wife’s sister)
Somewhere (1956), Music composed by Leonard Bernstein from Westside Story
While most of the songs in West Side Story have achieved a good measure of popularity, three have become classics of the American musical theatre and have been recorded separately or together numerous times: “Maria,” “Tonight,” and this one, “Somewhere. This was a great tool for Tim’s superb interpretation and improvisation.
Following the interval and the Jazznights raffle of jazz cd’s and bottle of wine:
Tim Whitehead returned to play with the Jazznights Trio for his second set which included:
His luscious sounding bass clarinet (Tim bought this from the legendry Tommy Whittle), for You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To a popular song and jazz standard written by Cole Porter for the 1943 film Something to Shout About. There has been several notable recordings including those by Coleman Hawkins/Ben Webster/Oscar Peterson/Dizzy Gillespie and Chet Baker.
Invitation (1952) written by Bronislau Kaper was played using Tim’s tenor saxophone. John Coltrane’s 1958 recording that is to 
great extent responsible for the composition’s jazz standard status.
Returning to the tenor sax Tim played Hoagy Carmichael’s 1937 The Nearness of You. The biggest selling 1938 version was recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The set sadly ended with Bobby Timmons 1959 tune Moanin’ which forever will be associated Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. This was Blakey’s first album for Blue Note in several years. This extended version was an outstanding rendition by Tim Whitehead and the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio. The only sad note that all the audience would have wished for another couple of hours by these fine musicians.
JOSH KEMP (sax) will be at Jazznights on Sunday 14th September 2014
Josh Kemp is an acclaimed jazz saxophonist and composer known for his melodic inventiveness, warm tone and a heartfelt and lyrical approach to improvisation. His latest album “Tone Poetry” featuring Tim Lapthorn on Piano and Mick Hutton on Bass was released in January 2014. ‘Josh Kemp is setting his stamp on 2014’ JazzUK Magazine.
THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, The Cock Inn, 3, Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk, CO10 8PX
Admission £10. Doors open 7.30pm. Music 8.00-10.30pm.
Reserve seating on 01787 237653 or email info@jazz-nights.com
Pay on the night.
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For further information on future gigs which will feature Ben Cox (vocals), Josh Kemp (sax), Simon Spillett (sax) and Juliet Kelly (vocals) – live BBC recording and Karen Sharp (saxes) go to www.jazz-nights.com
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