SNAKE DAVIS (sax’s) played at Jazznights, The Cock Inn, Clare on Sunday 26th April 2015 at 8.00pm with the Roger Odell Trio and vocals from Larraine. Blog, 13 Pictures and Play List.

(Click on images for larger pictures)

Snake Davis has played with some of the worlds biggest artists. He has played on the records of the following artists and many others notably the M People, as well as Lisa Stansfield, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Culture Club, Hamish Stuart, George Michael, Tina Turner, Paul Hardcastle, Take That, Cher, China Crisis, Beyoncé Knowles, N-Trance, Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Swing Out Sister, Dave Stewart, Paul Young, Mark Morrison, Pet Shop Boys, Soul II Soul, Robert Palmer, Tanita Tikaram, Acoustic Alchemy, Motörhead, Primal Scream, Calvin Harris, Spice Girls & Boy George, and he has also worked on numerous television adverts in the UK and abroad.

“Snake Davis has one of the most passionate Sax styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn heard in these Isles for a while.” TIME OUT

“A virtuoso saxophonist” DAILY TELEGRAPH

“Snake is a joy to work alongside. His musical skills have no limit – in fact he’s as free as a bird” DAVE STEWART

“From raw power to a joss-stick carrying ambience then back through reggae, soul and funk, Snake set the world alight elevating the mind” CARLISLE EVENING PRESS

“Snake Davis is quite a player. He has slithered into town, a tenor playing secret that Manchester has been trying to keep to itself” EVENING STANDARD

“A brilliant Sax player who could wail like the best American players, but was at his best weaving around slow ballads – won deserved acclaim” BLUES AND SOUL

“A virtuoso saxophonist” DAILY TELEGRAPH

“One of the most passionate styles and simple bluesy approaches a-la Sanborn” Time Out. 

Snake Davis played with the

Snake Davis played with the jazzznights 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

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. 

              

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was the erudite Gareth Williams-James

Larraine Odell opened the first set with great style singing:
Weaver of Dreams is a tune from the album of the same name by guitarist Kenny  Burrell recorded in 1960 and 1961. The album features Burrell’s vocal talents as well as his guitar playing.
Corcovado” (known in English as “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”) is a bossa nova song written by Antônio Carlos Jobim in 1960. An English lyric was later written by Gene Lees. The Portuguese title refers to the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro.
The Touch of Your Lips is a romantic ballad written by Ray Noble in 1936. The original version of the song (now a jazz standard), which was by Al Bowlly.
Wild Is the Wind is a song written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington. The track was originally recorded by Johnny Mathis for the 1957 film Wild Is the Wind. Recorded also by George Michael and was sungh in this style by Larraine.
I Only Have Eyes for You (1934) with music by Harry Warren and lyrics from Al Dubin. Dick Powell introduced this song in the 1934 motion picture Dames.

Snake Davis then joined the band to play extended versions of:
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy is a song written by Joe Zawinul in 1966 for Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and his album Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at ‘The Club’. The theme of the song on the original recording is performed by Joe Zawinul himself playing it on a Wurlitzer electric  piano previously used by Ray Charles. Snake was playing tenor on this tune.
Snake then changed  to alto sax for It Might as Well Be Spring which is a song from the 1945 film, State Fair. With music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and now a jazz standard having been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and FGrank Sinatra among many others.
Joy Spring, has become part of the standard jazz repertoire. The song was composed by CliffordBrown in honour of his wife, whom he called his “joy spring” and was first featured in the Clifford Brown & Max Roach album from 1955.

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 Geoff Harriman on  the harmonica and John Reeve-Butler on the fretless electric bass playing Henry Mancini’s Days Of Wine And Roses.

               

Snake Davis then re-joined the trio to play:
Night Train,  The piece’s opening riff was first recorded in 1940 by a small group led by Duke Ellington sideman Johnny Hodges under the title “That’s the Blues, Old Man”.
You Are the One or You’re the One. Not sure of the origins of this one but a great number.
Luis Bonfa’s Gentle rain a bossa nova played on the flute.
Winelight is a 1980 album and a song by jazz musician Grover Washington, Jr. It received the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1982.
St. Thomas is perhaps the most recognizable instrumental in the repertoire of American jazz tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who is usually credited as its composer. However, it is actually based on the traditional English song The Lincolnshire Poacher. Was played by Snake on a wood whistle.
As a great finale Snake played Watermelon Man is a jazz standard written by Herbie Hancock, first released on his debut album, Takin’ Off (1962.

Sun 10 May – KEITH WINTER (gtr) will be at Jazznights on Sunday 10th May 2015
Having been a founder member of the jazz funk band Shakatak, Keith fell ill with a very rare condition that considerably damaged his sensory nervous system and left him unable to play the guitar. Amazingly, 20 years later and against all the odds, he has now recovered and is back playing again.

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.

You can join us at facebook, read reviews of previous performances on more opinions blog or tweet at twitter.com/jazznightsuk

For further information on future gigs go to www.jazz-nights.com

Allison Neale on alto and flute at Jazznights 12/04/15, The Cock Inn, Clare with the Roger Odell Trio and with vocals from Larraine Odell. Blog, pictures and playlist.

(Click on images for larger pictures)

American born altoist Allison Neale’s beautifully crafted lines evoke the spirit of Paul Desmond and Art Pepper with whom she has a particular affinity.
As a strong advocate of the melodic West Coast style she has performed alongside leading international artists such as Adelaide Hall and Bud Shank and more recently tenorist Scott Hamilton as well as featuring in both the John Dankworth ‘Generations‘ Band and the “Back to Basie’ Orchestra. She frequently tours the UK with her current Quartet, which also features acclaimed jazz pianist Leon Greening, bassist Julian Bury and drummer Steve Brown and has two CDs to her name ‘Melody Express’ with guitarist Dave Cliff and ‘Blue Concept’ with trumpeter Gary Kavanagh , both on 33 Records. Her latest CD ” I Wished on the Moon ” due for release in January 2015 on the Trio Records label and features the quartet as well as Milt Jackson influenced vibraphonist Nat Steele.

“ Allison Neale plays the alto saxophone with a tone so light and airy it positively melts at the edges” Dave Gelly , The Observer

“ A talent to savour” Peter Vacher Jazz UK

“An Alto sound like brushed velvet…” Jazz Review”

…” Allison is a young saxophonist of rare ability…she immediately demonstrates a touch and understanding of jazz soloing…the performances simply carries you to a world of  lightness and satisfaction..”
..Melody Express Review

” … a beautiful alto sound..light and fluffy like candy floss but with much more substance, Art Pepper, Paul Desmond, early Lee Konitz hover around the edges of her playing which floats like a musical butterfly before landing on a flower next to your heart. ” Review – Melody Express

It is therefore completely understandable that we had a lovely and beautiful evening of Jazz cool jazz. Allison was playing with the Roger Odell 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

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 with:
Let’s Fall in Love is a song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler and published in 1933. As a jazz standard, it’s usually played with a medium swing beat.
Estate is an Italian song written in 1960 by Bruno Martino (music) and Bruno Brighetti (lyrics). A minor hit in Italy when released, it eventually became a worldwide jazz standard largely through its interpretation by João Gilberto and as tonight it was sang with a bossa nova rhythm.
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart’s 1938 This Can’t Be Love The from the 1938 Broadway show The Boys from Syracuse.
The Meaning Of The Blues (1957) is a jazz composition and song, with music by Bobby Troup and lyrics by Leah Worth.
Come Rain or Come Shine is a popular song and a jazz standard written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was written for the musical St. Louis Woman, and was published in 1946.

Allison Neale then joined the band for her first set which included:
Darn That Dream is a popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Eddie DeLange, published in 1939. The song was introduced in the Broadway musical Swingin’ the Dream.
Cole Porter’s 1944 I Love You. it was John Coltrane’s 1957 trio version that brought the tune jazz standard status.
Tune Up.

Following the Jazznights raffle of 2 jazz cd’s and a bottle of wine Allison Neale the re-joined the trio to play extended versions of:

I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love with Me (1926). Music by Jimmy McHugh.
You’re Looking At Me written by Bobby Troup.
Once I loved by Antonio Carlos Jobim and was famously recorded by Astrud Gilberto – it was of course played with  bossa nova rythym.
  The Night We Called It a Day is a popular song and jazz standard. The music was written by Matt Dennis, the lyrics by Tom Adair. The song was published in 1941.
How Little We Know, by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer from the 1944 film To Have and To Have Not.
Perhaps written and recorded in 1948 by Charlie Parker. A wonderful evening from that lovely velvety sound that Allison always gives u s from her alto sax and what a great finale with Charlie Parker’s Perhaps. Thank you Allison and the great Roger Odell Jazznights Trio.

SNAKE DAVIS (sax) will be at Jazznights on Sunday 26th April 2015
Snake Davis is well established as one of the UK’s leading saxophonists and he is in  demand from the biggest names on the British Popular music scene as well as visiting artists from overseas. He played all featured Saxophone and Flute parts – on record and tour – for Lisa Stansfield and M-People.

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.

You can join us at facebook, read reviews of previous performances on more opinions blog or tweet at twitter.com/jazznightsuk

For further information on future gigs go to www.jazz-nights.com