The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,900 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.
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“Most musicianly singer Brigitte Beraha” performs as both ‘sideman’ and as a leader in an ever-expanding range of projects, from straight ahead jazz- singing jazz standard songs with lyrics, to more contemporary outlets- using her voice as an instrument.
Brigitte studied Music at Kingsway College, Classical and Contemporary music at Goldsmiths College, and Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London under teachers and artists as diverse as 
Simon Purcell, Pete Churchill, Lee Gibson, Scott Stroman, Jason Rebello, Rufus Reid and Stan Sulzman. She has performed and/or recorded with musical luminaries Kenny Wheeler, Chris Laurence, Paul Clarvis, Bobby Wellins, Pete King, Alan Barnes, Liam Noble, John Parricelli, Ingrid Laubrock, Frank Griffith, Julian Siegel, Jonathan Gee, Jim Watson, Anita Wardell, Tim Garland, Tim Whitehead, Malcolm Creese, and rising stars Ivo Neame, Phil Donkin, George Hart, John Turville, Tim Lapthorn, Tim Giles, Jez Franks, Tori Freestone and Dave Manington. Brigitte has performed and led workshops in the United States, France, Brussels, Switzerland, Finland, Turkey, Nepal and all over the UK, performing regularly in London at top venues such as the Vortex, the National Theatre, Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Festival Halls, Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express, the Spice of Life, and venues run by the Loop and E17jazz collectives.
Brigitte’s wide range of musical influences is apparent on all of her albums to date. The first one, a more straight-ahead album of standard songs and two originals, Prelude to a Kiss (FMR, 2005), shows a love for jazz and Latin standards whilst retaining a contemporary and ethereal sound, enhanced by the saxophone of Ingrid Laubrock. The second album, Flying Dreams (F-Ire, 2008), is a more mature and personal collection of 
original compositions, influenced by Anglo-European and Latin Jazz, as well as by Brigitte’s own cosmopolitan upbringing. The album’s main themes are Dreams versus Reality. From that album stemmed Brigitte’s trio project (voice/trumpet & flugelhorn/piano) which extensively toured the UK twice (20 dates each time) in 2007 and supported by Jazz services and Arts Council England in 2008, from St Ives to John O’Groats, giving Brigitte more freedom to improvise and explore her voice further. Both albums have had rave reviews and extensive international and national radio play.
“Beraha scats with a daydreaming quality that is both engaging and never distracting.” John Fordham, The Guardian
“A fine lyricist” Ian Mann, The Jazzmann
“One of the most adventurous young vocalists around, a musical explorer..” Ian Mann, The Jazzmann
“Sincerity and a lack of tricksiness reminiscent of Dawn Upshaw” Phil Johnson, The Independetaneity, high-class UK jazz artistry” John Fordham, The Guardian 
“Her silky voice immediately created a sense of tranquility and solitude that hung in the air, and left the audience in awe.”LondonJazz”..Pure-toned, wide-ranging… Brigitte is a skilful writer of patiently curling, subtly resolved tunes.” John Fordham, The Guardian
“Rich imagery, harmonic surprises and subtly crafted arrangements can all be found in ‘Flying Dreams.” Jazzwise
“Brigitte’s voice and writing have truly matured to another soaring level” Rufus Reid
“..A Fine Composer.” Kenny Wheeler
And Brigitte played at Jazznights to a full house that would all those comments above
Brigitte Beraha 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.
Peter Lemer – Piano
Peter studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He remained a fixture of In Cahoots – he can be heard on Parallel (1996), Out Of The Blue (2001), – as well as playing one-off gigs with old friends Steve Cook (bass) and Roger Odell (drums), recording an album with them in Israel A member of Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia
Bernie Hodgkins – 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
Larraine began 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 some great jazz standards including:
Like Someone In Love
Dindi
It’s Easy To Remember (And It So Hard To Forget
Darn That Dream
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
Brigitte Beraha then joined the Jazznights Trio for a stunning first set which included extended versions of r Love Is Here To Stay
Jobim’s Wave
Ellington’s Prelude To A Kiss
On The Street Where You Live
Following the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s and a bottle of sparkling 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 John Reeve-Butler with his electric bass guitar and vocals from Carol Bliker singing My Romance. This was followed by Geoff Harriman playing his harmonica.
Brigitte Beraha the returned for her second set with a seasonal element which included versions of
anta Clause Is Coming To Town
Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves but sung in French
Jobim’s Desafinado
Gershwin’s They Can’t Take That Away From Me
All The Things You Are
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
A superb evening of song from Brigitte Beraha and we all wished that she will come back to sing for us again soon.
Steve is one of the top British jazz trumpet players both at home and on the international scene. He has toured Europe playing at many of the major Jazz Festivals with the Carla Bley Big Band and has recorded over ten CDs including two for the famous ECM label. Steve is professor of Jazz Trumpet at Trinity College of Music in London.
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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The full house really appreciated a stunning performance of both the sublime ballads and the exciting and powerful improvisations from this master of the tenor sax.
Having released four solo albums to date, Paul Booth has firmly established himself as an in demand solo artist, as well as a ‘first call’ sideman for many big names in both jazz and popular music worlds.
In his early years, whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Music, he won many awards including the prestigious Clifford Brown/Stan Getz fellowship held in Miami, “The Best Modern Jazz Player” category in the televised “Young Jazz Player of the Year” competition and many more.
His ability to blend into any musical surrounding coupled with his talents as a multi-instrumentalist has seen him work with a variety of well-known artists. Paul is currently in the Steve Winwood band, can be seen touring with the BBC Big Band, Michael Janisch Quintet, Ryan Quigley Quinet and has performed worldwide with the likes of Carlos Santana, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton,The Allman Brothers, Riverdance, Basia, Ingrid Jensen, Matt Bianco, Eddie Henderson, Alex Wilson, Roberto Pla, Snowboy, Ray Gelato, Jane Monheit and many more.
Paul runs several groups including a newly formed quartet with Steve Hamilton, Ernesto Simpson and Michael Janisch (album to be released in the fall 2015). He also runs a world music group called Patchwork Project featuring Victoria Newton, Giorgio Serci, Ernesto 
Simpson, Davide Mantovani & Satin Singh, it’s debut album will be released this summer 2015. Paul can also be seen with his organ trio with Ross Stanley & Andrew Bain and as the musical director of the London based world music big band the Bansangu Orchestra.
He is a regular at Ronnie Scotts jazz club in London with his own band and others and has done several UK tours under his own name with the backing of Jazz Services and Jazz Action. Some other jazz groups he has been involved with include Arnie Somogyi’s Ambulance, Sax Appeal, The New Couriers, Mike Garrick Big Band, Tim Garland’s Northern Underground Orchestra etc.
Paul played 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.
Simon Brown –PianoLeading UK Jazz innovator and musical entrepreneur Simon Brown 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, as well a the very popular Simon Brown Trio and Quartet. He is also a stalwart of the Jazznights Trio with Roger Odell and Bernie Hodgkins.
Bernie Hodgkins – 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
Larraine began 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 some superb renditions of jazz standards including:
Too Close For Comfort
Nature Boy
The Masquerade is Over
I’m Old Fashioned
Paul Booth the then opened his first set with some great extended versions of:
My secret Love by Sammy Fain
A Time For Love from Johnny Mandel
Duke Ellington’s Cotton Tail
Following the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s 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 John Reeve-Butler with his electric bass guitar and vocals from Carol Bliker singing Make someone Happy. This was followed by Geoff Harriman playing Try A Little Tenderness on his harmonica.
Harry Greene (Harry was a semi finalist this year in the 2004 BBC young jazz musician of the year) on tenor say then joined the band playing There will Never Be Another You
Paul Booth then re-joined the band with Harry Greene together with John Reeve-Butler on bass guitar to play an exceptional up-beat version of Ray Noble’s Cherokee – This was outstanding.
Paul Booth then gave us superb versions of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Long Side Up ??the title too engrossed to take i note of the proper title!
This was followed by s superb version of Sonny Rollin’s Without A Song and as a finale we had the classic Body And Soul. A wonderful evening of jazz thoroughly enjoyed by all. This was Paul’s first visit to Jazznights and we certainly hope that it will not be his last.
Brigitte is now recognized as one of the most versatile and exciting vocalists to emerge on the UK jazz scene in the last decade. As well as performing and recording with many of the legends of the UK jazz scene, including Kenny Wheeler, Chris Laurence, Paul Clarvis, John Parricelli, Bobby Wellins and Henry Lowther
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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