MARTIN SPEAKE (sax) will be at Jazz Nights on Sunday 19th June 2016 to play with the Jazz Nights Trio at the Bell Hotel, Clare

Martin has developed a personal ​musical voice that expresses a deep understanding of the history and language of Jazz with ​individuality as an improviser that is intelligent, melodic, cool, complex, direct, beautiful and ​profound. “one of the most interesting and rewarding alto saxophonists now playing jazz on any continent.’ Thomas Conrad – Jazz Times

“Speake is a strikingly talented improviser with a seemingly bottomless well of inspiration.” – Encyclopedia of Popular Music

“Speake’s playing can be as enigmatic as his writing. The lyricism and subtlety of both his written and improvised melodies sometimes unfold so gradually that one needs to take a
mental step back to absorb it all”. John Kelman All About Jazz

Citing Lee Konitz, Charlie Parker, Warne Marsh, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman, Steve ​Coleman, Rabi Abou Khalil, and Paul Motian as major influences, Martin has developed a personal ​musical voice that expresses a deep understanding of the history and language of Jazz with ​individuality as an improviser that is intelligent, melodic, cool, complex, direct, beautiful and ​profound.

Born in Barnet, North London in 1958, Martin was inspired to take up the saxophone at the age ​of 16. From 1977-81, he studied Classical Saxophone at Trinity College of Music, where he was awarded the prestigious Dame Ruth Railton prize for woodwind playing. He first came to public attention as a founder member of the award winning Saxophone Quartet ‘Itchy Fingers’ during the height of the UK’s so called ‘80’s Jazz Revival’ when a host of young musicians including Courtney Pine, Andy Sheppard, Django Bates, Iain Ballamy and the big bands of the Jazz Warriors and Loose Tubes were acclaimed as the leaders of an emerging generation of UK jazz talent.

With Itchy Fingers, Martin toured Europe, South America, Africa, Britain and the USA, and recorded two albums. In 1988, he left the group to develop his own projects, and establish himself as a composer and improvisor.

His studies at Canada’s renowned Banff Centre for the Arts in 1990, under the artistic direction of Steve Coleman, and alongside peers that included keyboard players Andy Milne and Ethan Iverson, and trumpeter Ralph Alessi, proved to be pivotal and catalytic in Martin’s subsequent development as a creative musician.

​He started his own record label Pumpkin in 2007. The first release was a duo with free improvising drummer Mark Sanders and in 2008 Generations with Barry Green, Jeff Williams and Dave Green.

​Current projects being developed include a saxophone quartet with Phil Bancroft, Martin Hathaway and Tony Kofi and a trio with Canadian musicians Duncan Hopkins and Anthony Michelli.

​​Martin is a committed, inspiring, and sought after jazz educator and currently teaches at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and the Royal Academy of Music in London, and on numerous international Jazz summer courses.

“Speake is a strikingly talented improviser with a seemingly bottomless well of inspiration.” – Encyclopedia of Popular Music

“An alto saxophonist who sounds only like himself.”
Dave Gelly – The Observer

“A saxophonist with an unusual turn of phrase, a persuasively gentle sound and jazz allegiances that don’t follow the usual Coltranesque paths but veer instead toward the fifties Cool School, Martin Speake is not just a distinctive improviser but a striking composer too. Superficially, Speake can sometimes seem cool to the point of chilliness – but like his original inspirations, the heat is all in the logic and integrity of the lines, the balance of mind and heart.”
John Fordham – The Guardian

“One of the most original and interesting contemporary jazz saxophonists on the British scene. Speake has an offbeat melodic sense, a fine gentle tone and a strong technique.”
Linton Chiswick – Time Out

Martin Speake will be playing with:

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.

 

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,

 

 

Unfortunately there will be no further report or photographs of this gig due to circumstances outside our control

Sunday 3rd July 2016 – ANDY PANAYI (saxes & flts)

  Andy plays all the flutes and all the saxophones and currently leads his own groups, both jazz and classical. He has performed or recorded with many singers such as Cleo Laine, Jessye Norman, Paul McCartney, Salena Jones, Elvis Costello, Georgie Fame, Zoot Money, Elaine Delmar, Madeline Bell & Patty Austin to name a few.

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.

For this gig only – Non-regulars can reserve seating by email to Norman –pettitt95@btinternet.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

Unfortunately there will be no further report or photographs of this gig due to circumstances outside our control

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Nigel Price at Jazz Nights the Bell Hotel, Clare on Sunday 5th June 2016 playing with The Roger Odell Jazz Nights Trio and vocals from Larraine Odell

(click on images for larger pictures)

A stunning master class on the guitar from Nigel Price, he is one of the most highly regarded and in demand guitarists on the UK jazz scene today with a blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues feeling and mastery of chording that has made him instantly accessible and popular with jazz audiences. He is also a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s where he has played over 400 times.

Nigel Price  – who led his organ trio to pick up the 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Award for “best jazz ensemble” is one of the most highly regarded and in demand guitarists on the UK jazz scene today. He spent three years with UK funk legends – the James Taylor Quartet, placed third in the 2014 British Jazz Awards for “best guitarist.
His blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues feeling and mastery of chording has made him instantly accessible and popular with jazz audiences.

Nigel Price plays a mean jazz guitar – he has won the Parliamentary Jazz Award for his seriously accomplished playing. A regular fixture at Ronnie Scott’s, he also plays a lot of private gigs, for example weddings and parties, as well as high-end restaurants in Mayfair and Covent Garden.

Nigel’s style is always a pleasure to listen to, with foot-tapping grooves to liven up the place, or soulful ballads to provide an atmospheric backdrop.
He can provide solo jazz guitar, team up with a sax, bass or vocalist for a duo, expand into a trio with organ and drums, or add trumpet, piano or anything else within reason, up to a six-piece.

He spent three years with UK funk legends – the James Taylor Quartets placed third in the 2014 British Jazz Awards for “best guitarist” and is also a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s, where he has played over 400 times.

His blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues feeling and mastery of chording has made him instantly accessible and popular with jazz audiences.
“Clear, clean and concise coupled with a towering technique. This guy’s got the lot!” “Blues & Soul. “Bluesy lyricism and breezy swing” John Fordham.
“Nigel Price is a blazing guitar player.  He has serious chops and is able to demonstrate them wonderfully in the context of the standard repertoire.  His arrangements and new melodies are creative and expressive,” We could not have put it any better! He was support of true master of his instrument.

Nigel Price played with 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

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:

I Could Write a Book is a show tune from the 1940 Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey (1940), where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst.

The Gentle Rain (Chuva Delicada) is a 1965 bossa nova composition by Luiz Bonfá, with lyrics by Matt Dubey.
The Touch of Your Lips is a romantic ballad written by Ray Noble in 1936.
Cole Porters   I’ve Got You Under My Skin written in 1936 This was a great finale to Larraine’s set and was uniquely arranged by Roger Odell

Nigel Price then joined the trio to play extended versions of:

I’ve Never Been In Love Before was written by Frank Loesser for the 1950 musical Guys and Dolls.  It has been performed and recorded by many notable artists such as Chet Baker,

Frank Sinatra, Sonny Rollins, Ahmad Jamal, and many more.
On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever) 1966 is from a musical with music by Burton Lane. a lovely up-tempo number.
Prelude to a Kiss has undoubtedly become one of the top jazz standards. On August 9, 1938, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, featuring Johnny Hodges, recorded “Prelude to a Kiss” for the Brunswick label.

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 the pleasure of Colin Holden playing Alone Together (joint mortgage song) on the trumpet with Nigel and the Trio.

    

This was followed by Jill Saward – the second founder member of Shakatak here tonight with of course Roger Odell singing Summertime and Polka Dots and Moonbeams

        

Nigel Price then continued with his second set to play more extended versions of:

Stolen Moments is a jazz standard composed by Oliver Nelson feature on Nelson’s 1971 set at the Montreux Jazz Festival which was released on Swiss Suite and in 1975 he rerecorded the composition as the title track of his final studio album Stolen Moments.

Bluesette was written by harmonocist Toots Thielemans. It became an international hit in the 1960’s and was original recorded with him whistling the melody along with a guitarist. This is a great 3/4 tune to add to your repertoire although Nigel played this as a 4/4 tune.
It Ain’t Necessarily So is a popular song with music by George Gershwin . The song comes from the Gershwins’ opera Porgy and Bess (1935).
Sonnymoon For Two is a 12 bar blues written by the great tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins.

This was a superb gig which highlighted the great musicianship of Nigel as well as the Jazz Nights Trio as they all gelled so well together – a real cracker!

Sun 19 Jun – MARTIN SPEAKE (sax) will be at Jazz Nights on Sunsday 19th June 2016

Martin has developed a personal ​musical voice that expresses a deep understanding of the history and language of Jazz with ​individuality as an improviser that is intelligent, melodic, cool, complex, direct, beautiful and ​profound. “one of the most interesting and rewarding alto saxophone players in the U.K.

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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