Tommaso Starace’s wonderful return to Jazznights at the Bell Hotel, Clare with the Roger Odell Trio on Sunday 24th April 2016

(Click on images for larger pictures)

Born in 1975 in Milano, Italy 7 started playing the saxophone and studying music at the age of 18. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1994 where he graduated at Birmingham

Conservatoire with a Bmus first class honours and later at the Guildhall School Of Music and Drama with a Postgraduate Degree in jazz studies

Tommaso’s star has truly risen over recent times with his tours of the UK and the rest of Europe with his own International Quartet. The latest CDs display the originality of his own compositions whilst his regular performances at The Bell show he is equally at home with the standard repertoire.

Tommaso Starace cites Cannonball Adderley and fellow Italian Rosario Giuliani as two of his favourite players, and the Charlie Parker legacy is also evident in his playing, but he has increasingly found his own melodically free-wheeling voice, which he applies to a range of impressive originals and lesser known tunes from such diverse composers as Michel Petrucciani, Ennio Morricone and Billy Strayhorn.

‘An exciting talent, Starace is developing a seriously impressive body of work’ – Bruce Lindsay – (www.allaboutjazz.com)

…The promising Starace seems to be revealing his most personal voice in the full-on music. John Fordham – The Guardian (April 2012)

Signor Starace is a shrewd operator. He plays alto and soprano sax with impressive post-Parkerian felicity and Italian flair.

‘Starace’s melodious originals offer good blowing potential for alto and soprano solos delivered in a cleanly articulate post-bop style reminiscent of Phil Woods’ – Jack Massarick, Jazzwise

It is interesting that not only is Tommaso a regular guest at Jazznights but after graduating his first professional gig was at Jazznights with Roger Odell some 10 years ago when it was at its original venue in Ridgewell.

Tommaso 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 – Piano
Leading 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 great jazz standards including:
You Stepped Out of a Dream is a song with music written by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Gus Kahn that was published in 1940.
Make This City Ours Tonight (“Cançâo do sal”) by Tracy Mann, Milton Nascimento
Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington’s The Nearness Of You
composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Devil May Care written by Bob Dorough

Tommaso Starace then joined the band to play extended versions of:
Isfahan is a jazz piece credited to Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington.
Mack The Knife is a song composed by Kurt Weill.
Nat Adderly’s Work Song made famous by his brother Cannonball Adderly.

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 Carol Bleiker singing Wrap your Troubles In Dreams and Geoff Harriman playing Till There Was You on his harmonica. 

           

Tommaso Starce then re-joined the Jazznights Trio to play:
Caravan composed by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington, and first performed by Ellington in 1936.
Waltz for Debby is a jazz standard composed by Bill Evans. “Debby” in the song title refers to Evans’ niece, Debby Evans.
Polka Dots and Moonbeams is a popular song with music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Horace Silver’s The Preacher.
Larraine Odell then joined Tommaso Starace for the Rodgers & Hart’s song This Can’t Be Love.
All the Things You Are is a song composed by Jerome Kern.

Unfortunately this was the final tune for this stunning evening of brilliant alto saxophone jazz which was enhanced by Tommaso’s great personality.

Sunday 8th May – JOSH KEMP (saxes) will be at Jazz Bights

With a playing style combining melodic inventiveness, a rich tone and a lyrical style of improvisation, Josh is a regular performer at Jazz clubs and festivals across the UK, with recent performances including Ronnie Scott’s and the London Jazz Festival. ‘A mix of Stan Getzian breeziness and Coltrane’s imploring cry.’ The Guardian.

 

THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, The Bell Hotel. 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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Hannah Horton returned to Jazz Nights at the Bell Hotel, Clare to great applause on Sunday 10th April 2016. She played with the Jazznights trio and vocals from Larraine Odell.

(click on images for larger pictures)

A natural born improviser from an early age, Hannah has played the saxophone since before high school days. As a youngster she attended the prestigious Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama and in her teens became a lead member of NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) and the National Youth Music Theatre. Accomplished on flute, bassoon and clarinet as well as sax, she now teaches her own students to a high level whilst pursuing her performing career with the Hannah Horton Quartet in London and the South East.

At the Trinity College of Music where she graduated with an advanced postgraduate performance diploma, she was coached and inspired by prominent names from the British jazz scene, including Mark Lockheart and Paul Bartholomew. Since then her hallmark velvet tone and versatility have attracted growing audiences. Renowned jazz guitarist John Etheridge, commented: ‘Hannah has a warmly attractive ‘vocal’ sound on both the tenor and baritone saxophone, combined with lovely un-hackneyed phrasing.’
In addition to leading her own jazz quartet, Hannah is a composer in her own right. She has played alongside many great jazz musicians including John Etheridge, Tina May, Roger Beaujolais, Acoustic Triangle, Simon Bates, Irene Serra, Tommaso Starace, Rob Hughes, Buster Cooper and John Lamb.

Defying categorisation, Hannah’s music spans jazz, Latin, funk, blues and rock along with classical influences. Her unique tone, melodic and creative improvisation, and sensitive phrasing have become her signature sound which is beautifully captured in her debut album Forget Me Not (released October 2012). Featuring the formidable talents of John Crawford (piano), Rob Statham (bass) and Nic France (drums), the album includes her own compositions, an original take on jazz standards such as Caravan, and some lesser known pieces.

Hannah’s jazz influences include Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett, John Coltrane, Gerry Mulligan, Jan Garbarek, Kenny Wheeler, McCoy Tyner, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis to name a few. On the classical front she loves Bach, Debussy, Finzi, Heath, Poulenc and Stravinsky.

Hannah plays regular monthly sessions at the Haverhill Arts Centre where she performs with some of the best UK jazz musicians. “Hannah has a warmly attractive ‘vocal’ sound on the tenor and baritone saxophone combined with lovely unhackneyed phrasing” – John Etheridge.

Defying categorisation, Hannah’s music spans jazz, Latin, funk, blues and rock along with classical influences. Her unique tone, melodic and creative improvisation, and sensitive phrasing have become her signature sound which is beautifully captured in her debut album Forget Me Not (released October 2012). Featuring the formidable talents of John Crawford (piano), Rob Statham (bass) and Nic France (drums), the album includes her own compositions, an original take on jazz standards such as Caravan, and some lesser known pieces.

Hannah played with the Jazznights Trio who were:

Simon Brown – Piano
Leading 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.

Jose Cana – Double Bass

In 2005 he began classical study under Miguel Leiria. He later enrolled at Escola de Jazz do Barreiro (Barreiro’s Jazz School) where he became a teacher 3 years later. Also in 2008 he get into ESML attending the Jazz Music college course. After completing this and before moving to the UK, his work was mainly focused on popular music and world music fusion. Now in the UK he has been working as a jazz double bassist accompanying various artists from the London, Essex and Suffolk Jazz scene. He  continues working with artists and composers from Portugal in studio and as a live session player.   

        

George Double – Drums

A national finalist in the Daily Telegraph’s Young Jazz 1989, George read Music at the University of Nottingham. West End and touring credits include Guys and Dolls, Avenue Q, Sinatra, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Anything Goes, Chicago Annie Get Your Gun, La Cage aux Folles and Godspell. Freelance credits include work for EMI, Polygram, London and Talkin’ Loud records, Kym Mazelle, Claire Sweeney, Matthew Herbert, The Memphis Belle Swing  Orchestra, and the British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra,

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

Beautiful Love
Close Your Eyes
The Touch of your lips
Isn’t It A Pity
Moonray

Hannah Horton then joined the trio to play extended version of great numbers including:

Remember (2015)
St Thomas composed by Sonny Rollins
A Night In Tunisia written by Dizzy Gillespie
Oliver Nelson’s Stolen Moments

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 Carol Bleiker singing Nobody Loves Me

Hannah Horton then returned to to plat with the band numbers includin
Playin’ In The Yard by Sonny Rollins
Chick Corea’s Sea Journey
Peacock (? composed by Kate Perry)
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy written by Joe Zawinul
James
Caravan

Sun 24th April 2016 – TOMMASO STARACE (saxes) will be at Jazz Nights

Having recorded 5 albums under his own name and two as a sideman Tommaso is busy performing concerts between the United Kingdom, Italy and Switzerland with his UK and Italian Quartets. In 2008 he was awarded with an Honorary Membership by Birmingham Conservatoire given to him for his significant contributions

 

THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, The Bell Hotel. 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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Hannah Horton (tenor & baritone saxes) will be returning to Jazz Nights, The Bell Hotel, Clare on Sunday 10th April 2016 to play with the Roger Odell Trio. See a few pictures of her previous Jazz Nights gig below

Hannah plays regular monthly sessions at the Haverhill Arts Centre where she performs with some of the best UK jazz musicians. “Hannah has a warmly attractive ‘vocal’ sound on the tenor and baritone saxophone combined with lovely unhackneyed phrasing” – John Etheridge.

A natural born improviser from an early age, Hannah has played the saxophone since before high school days. As a youngster she attended the prestigious Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama and in her teens became a lead member of NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) and the National Youth Music Theatre. Accomplished on flute, bassoon and clarinet as well as sax, she now teaches her own students to a high level whilst pursuing her performing career with the Hannah Horton Quartet in London and the South East.
At the Trinity College of Music where she graduated with an advanced postgraduate performance diploma, she was coached and inspired by prominent names from the British jazz scene, including Mark Lockheart and Paul Bartholomew. Since then her hallmark velvet tone and versatility have attracted growing audiences. Renowned jazz guitarist John Etheridge, commented: ‘Hannah has a warmly attractive ‘vocal’ sound on both the tenor and baritone saxophone, combined with lovely un-hackneyed phrasing.’
In addition to leading her own jazz quartet, Hannah is a composer in her own right. She has played alongside many great jazz musicians including John Etheridge, Tina May, Roger Beaujolais, Acoustic Triangle, Simon Bates, Irene Serra, Tommaso Starace, Rob Hughes, Buster Cooper and John Lamb and of course the Roger Odell Jazz Nights Trio.

Defying categorisation, Hannah’s music spans jazz, Latin, funk, blues and rock along with classical influences. Her unique tone, melodic and creative improvisation, and sensitive phrasing have become her signature sound which is beautifully captured in her debut album Forget Me Not (released October 2012). Featuring the formidable talents of John Crawford (piano), Rob Statham (bass) and Nic France (drums), the album includes her own compositions, an original take on jazz standards such as Caravan, and some lesser known pieces.

Hannah’s jazz influences include Stan Getz, Keith Jarrett, John Coltrane, Gerry Mulligan, Jan Garbarek, Kenny Wheeler, McCoy Tyner, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis to name a few. On the classical front she loves Bach, Debussy, Finzi, Heath, Poulenc and Stravinsky.

THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, The Bell Hotel. Clare, Suffolk.

Admission £10. Doors open 7.00 pm. Music 7.30 – 10.00 pm.

If you want to ensure your place please 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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