Mick Hanson one of the UK’s leading exponents of jazz guitar returned to Jazznights at The Cock Inn, Clare on Sunday 21st December 2014

(Click on images for larger pictures)

Formerly from the local area, Mick moved on to establish himself as one of the major players on the UK jazz guitar scene with his duo performances with Dave Newton and in the trio Organic Matters. His forte is hard-swinging, straight-ahead jazz with a contemporary Blue Note school approach.

Mick Hanson is one of the UK’s leading exponents of jazz guitar. His unique style is a masterful fusion of his early blues roots with the honest swinging jazz of the 50’s and 60’s. Mick has worked and recorded with many of the worlds best known performers including Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis, Dick Morrissey, Brian Dee, Gordon Beck and Dave Newton, and recorded two critically acclaimed albums as a leader.

“Fantastic” is a litotes for his beautiful style and tone left the Jazz Nights crowd in no doubt that this was a night to remember.

Mick played with the Jazz Nights 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.

Simon Brown – Piano
Simon is a highly respected and popular jazz pianist who is equally known for his arranging skills. His bands include the quintet Beyond Cantaloupe featuring the music of Herbie Hancock, the Simon Brown Trio and Quartet.

Bernie Hodgkins – 5 String Double Bass
Bernie grew up in a Jazz-oriented family and has toured in Europe and further afield with a wide variety of artists and honed his skills and adding to his prodigious repertoire. Spending much of his time in the recording studios, he is equally at home and in demand as an enthusiastic “live” rhythm section player.

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, Royal Festival Hall. Boxford Fleece & Ronnie Scott’s.

Larraine Odell opened the first set to sing:

The Lamp Is Low (1939) Music from Peter De Rose, Maurice Joseph Ravel, Bert A Shefter. Lyrics by Mitchell Paris
Out of This World (1944) Harold Arlen and Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
The 1931 Beautiful Love written by Wayne King, Egbert Van Alstyne and Victor Young with lyrics from Haven Gillespie.
When Sunny Gets Blue (1956)by Marvin Fisher and Jack Segal for Larrae’s grand daughter

Mick Hanson then joined the Roger Odell Jazz Nights Trio for his first set which included extended versions of:
Jule Styne 1946 The Things We Did Last Summer.
Darn That Dream is a popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen published in 1939.
(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know is a song featured in Frank Sinatra’s 1963 album Sinatra’s Sinatra.
Harry warren’s 1945 song from 1945 I Wish I knew.

Following the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s and a 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 Jean Faulkner singing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas which was originally sung by Judy Garland in the film Meet Me In St Louis.

Mick Hanson then re-joined the band for:
Sunday in New York, filmed in 1963. An American romantic comedy film. The soundtrack score was composed and originally performed by Peter Nero.
Hello, Young Lovers is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I.
My One And Only Love originated in 1947 as “Music from Beyond the Moon,” with music by Guy B. Wood and was highlighted in the album Ella Swings Gently With Nelson.
Big Blues is from the album by American flugelhornist Art Farmer and guitarist Jim Hall featuring performances recorded in 1978.
Where’s He Gone – a great composition from Mick Hanson dedicated to Wes Montgomery.
Richard Rodgers 1945 It Might As Well Be Spring from the film State Fair.
Milestones is a jazz composition written by Miles Davis. It appears on the album of the same name in 1958. It has since become a jazz standard.
This was a superb finale to a fantastic evening from Mick Hanson and the Roger Odell Jazz Nights Trio.

KAREN SHARP (saxes) will be at Jazz Nights on Sunday  4th January 2015
As well as running her own Quartet featuring Nikki Iles, Karen popularity as a superb soloist on tenor and baritone saxophones sees her appearing in all sorts of musical situations with Alan Barnes, Tina May, Sue Richardson and many other top UK jazz artists. Formerly from the local region she is always a welcome guest at Jazznights.

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 go to www.jazz-nights.com