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In the five short years of his professional life Pete Roth has played in some of the best venues in Europe including the Purcell Room at the Royal Festival Hall and he has appeared on the same bill with one of his heroes John Schofield. On his new CD “Meridian” he is joined by Jazznights favourite Nicolas Meier.
“Writing and performing music was something that always seemed a natural progression to me. Ever since the early beginning of my musical journey at age 11 when I picked up the guitar for the first time.
I was very lucky to be able to perform publicly from a very early age on by being involved in the school’s band led in a passionate way by Miss Kern, a brilliant piano player in her own right. Many wrong notes later and at least 10 bands later I have found myself backing a major artist at a prime time television show “Hitparade der Volksmusik”.
I took this as an incentive to take music to the next level and moved to Guildford 30 minutes south of London to study popular music and Jazz under the brilliant Stefan Redtenbacher.
It was from then on when things really started to pick up and I had a run of performing with some of England’s most prestigious Jazz and Classical musicians. There were unforgettable moments when I was asked to play with the London Gala Orchestra under the Musical Direction of the brilliant Steve Bell. I turned up at the gig with a newly bought acoustic nylon string guitar, my pride and joy, for 500 pounds. I got it out of the case and showed it proudly around thinking this must be the best thing those guys have ever seen. The violin player next to me then got her violin out of the case which was a 250.000 pound instrument. I sat quietly in a corner for the rest of the evening:-). 
There were many others such as Maria Friedmann a protégé of Stephen Sondheim and Michel Legrand, Teatro a platinum selling vocal group, the mad Irish Sam Flynne who made his name as piano player for the Eurhythmics, Roachford and Stevie Wonder or the unforgettable Rosemarie Squires best known for singing with Les Paul and the magic Brian Dee.
In the five years of my professional life I had the luck to play in some of the best venues in Europe such as the Purcell Room in the Royal Festival Hall being on the same bill with one of my heroes John Schofield. All in all there are too many to name.
In the last two years I have made an effort to move towards being a leader of my own outfit in order to find a medium in which to express my own musical thought. Something that always strongly resonated within me.
Especially working together with Giorgio Serci a Naim Label artist and the multi-talented Nicolas Meier, ex Naim now MGP records, has set a fire and desire alight which led to the writing and recording of my own music.
But it was when I got Nicolas Meier to agree to be the producer and play guitar with me when things began to move in the right direction. We formed a band together with the amazing Alun Harries on drums and the beautiful melodic Dave Suttle on Bass.”
Pete brought along his own brilliant pianist, Brighton based Tom Phelan and together they provided a wonderful evening of jazz together with Roger Odell on drums and Bernie Hodgkins on his 5 string double bass and Tom Phelan on piano.
The first set of the evening was opened by Larraine Odell together with Colin Holden on trumpet and Flugelhorn, a lovely and melodic combination which included Close Your Eyes, Don’t Go To Strangers and Moonray.
Pete Roth then joined the band (playing both electric and acoustic guitars)and opened the his first set which resulted in rapturous applause wanting more. They played extended versions of many numbers including How Insensitive, There’s No Greater Love,
a stunning up tempo version of God Bless The Child and The Shadow Of Your Smile. 
Following the interval and the Jazznights raffle of three Jazz CDs 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 Brian Stapley replacing Roger on the drums for the first number of the second set.
Pete Roth then gave us a superb second set which included Autumn In New York, Do You Know What Love Is, Darn That Dream plus a sample track of his forthcoming album with Nicolas Meier.
Sun 25th October 2015 – MARTIN SHAW (trp & flg) at Jazznights
Martin has worked with many leading jazz artists including Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Pete King, Tim Garland and numerous big bands including the BBC Big Band. Along with session and TV work he has recorded and toured extensively with Sting, Jamiroquai & Natalie Cole. A stunning musician!
THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, Clare, Suffolk.
Admission £10. Doors open 7.00 pm. Music 7.30 – 10.00 pm.
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
Pictures from past gigs can also be seen HERE
For further information on future gigs go to www.jazz-nights.com
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