Simon Hurley/Andy Watson Quartet with Bernie Hodgkins and Alex Best at The Bell Hotel, Clare on Sunday 16th September 2018

Simon first picked up the guitar 25 years ago and, after having been self-taught, decided to embark upon his first formal musical education in 2006. In 2010 he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from Colchester Institute, also being awarded the Centre Prize for Music. It was here that he began to study jazz under the tutelage of session guitarist Andy Watson, a relationship that has now developed into the Watson/Hurley Jazz Guitar Duo.

Although he is competent in many styles of playing from rock and blues to country and funk, as well as theatre work (having performed with Heather Peace and Marc Almond), he also performs regularly in small jazz groups and larger ensembles. Simon feels equally at home within more intimate duo settings. He is a fluent soloist as well as accompanist, often simultaneously mixing chords, walking bass lines and single note passages. His jazz playing is much inspired by that of Joe Pass and Martin Taylor, who described his playing as ‘Just beautiful’.

He has also had the pleasure of playing alongside such jazz artists as Simon Spillett, Alan Barnes, Georgina Jackson, Martin Shaw, Brandon Allen, Josh Kemp, Simon Allen, Matt Waies, Martin Speake (ECM records), Nigel Price (Woodville records), Osian Roberts, Steve Fishwick (Hard Bop Records),Quentin Collins, Roger Beaujolais, Mick Hutton (ECM records), Digby Fairweather…

Simon divides his times between teaching, recording, accompanying and performing in and around the Essex area. In another life he has also been the 5-string banjo player and singer in the Bluegrass quintet ‘The Ragged String Band’with many high profile appearances to their name including the Maverick Festival, Camp Bestival and Harvest at Jimmy’s Farm (supporting Newton Faulkner and Ed Sheeran).

So, if you are in need of a musician for a performance/event or wish to learn the guitar in the Colchester area, please contact Simon today.

Andy Watson’s professional qualifications are:

G.D.L.M.  –  Graduate Diploma in Light Music…a graduate qualification in Popular Music and Jazz from the City of Leeds College of Music.

A.R.C.M.  –  Associate of the Royal College of Music…a diploma in Classical Guitar Performance

P.G.C.E.  –  Postgraduate Certificate in Education…a teaching qualification achieved by further study after a degree in music

I have run workshops around the UK. I have written for “Guitarist” and “Music Teacher” magazines and I run a successful part time private teaching practice at my studio in Chelmsford.

I have been a professional musician for the whole of my working life as both player and educator. My experience as a session player includes live and TV work including a number of  West End Shows (7 in total). As a solo artist I have performed nationally and internationally at many different venues and festivals. My teaching experience includes work in schools and colleges as both a guitar teacher and as a lecturer and I have directed many

The quartet included:

 

Bernie Hodgkins – 5 string Double Bass

Alex Best – drums

Bernie Hodgkins, Simon Hurley, Alex Best and Andy Watson

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 vocalist Larraine Odell followed by Geoff Harriman  playing his harmonica

Larraine Odell

 

Geoff Harriman playing with the band

Sunday 30th September 2018 Jazznights will have the pleasure of:

Tara Minton is a harpist, vocalist and songwriter hailing from Melbourne, Australia and since relocating to London in the Spring of 2011 she has built an international reputation. Tara has played some of London’s most iconic venues including The Elgar Room at The Royal Albert Hall, The Pizza Express Soho and Ronnie Scott’s.

THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, 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

The Jaznights blog and pictures is now at https://moreopinions.wordpress.com

Pictures from past gigs can also be seen HERE

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

Tenor Madness: Kevin Flanagan and Colin Watling play with the Roger Odell, Simon Brown and Bernie Hodgkins with vocals from Larraine Odell at The Bell Hotel Clare on Sunday 2nd September 2018

Kevin Flanagan and Colin Watling feature in a “Battle of the Saxes” brought to mind the famous saxophone duets of John Coltrane/Sonny Rollins and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis/Coleman Hawkins. This proved to be a night of hard swinging fireworks from these two brilliant musicians in a programme drawn from the classic 40’s to 60’s period of modern jazz.

Kevin Flanagan and Colin Watling

Rebop’s Kevin Flanagan and Colin Watling feature in a “Battle of the Saxes” brought to mind the famous saxophone duets of John Coltrane/Sonny Rollins and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis/Coleman Hawkins. This proved to be a night of hard swinging fireworks from these two brilliant musicians in a programme drawn from the classic 40’s to 60’s period of modern jazz. Tenor Madness features the tenor saxophones of Kevin Flanagan & Colin Watling.

Dr Kevin Flanagan

Kevin Flanagan comes from Lowell MA, USA. He has been involved in jazz and blues, both recording and performing. He settled in the UK Kevin Flanagan Rebop Jazznights 180410 (7)in 1985, playing with his own group and with musicians such as Dick Morrissey, Alan Barnes, Gerard Precenser, and Dave Cliff. He has made two successful CDs with Chris Ingham as the Flanagan-Ingham Quartet and with Roger Odell

Kevin Flanagan

Kevin comes from Lowell, Mass., USA. He initially studied music and philosophy at the University of New Hampshire, and was part of Antares, a free improvisatory group that toured the New England through the mid-70s to early 80s. During this period he was also involved in jazz, blues, and popular music, both recording and performing. He settled in the UK in the mid-80s, and worked on the London jazz and pop scene, playing and recording with members of Pink Floyd, Ben E. King, the Sex Pistols, Jools Holland, Led Zeppelin, B.B. King, Portishead, and many others. By the late 1980s he was primarily involved with jazz, playing with his own )group or with musicians such as Dick Morrissey, Alan Barnes, Dave Newton, Gerard Precenser, Don Weller, Dave Cliff, Mark Edwards, Adrian Utley, and the Tommy Chase quartet around the festivals of the UK and Europe.

Colin Watling

Colin Watling

Colin Watling specialises in tenor sax and offers the full gamut of musical styles in his performances from soft and mellow, through to boppy and brassy….. and always in great humour. Colin is rated by many as one of the most exciting tenor saxophonists on the  circuit with his melodic, swinging sound. He is a mainstay of the region’s jazz scene, the Hertfordshire-based tenor sax colossus.

Colin made a superb CD with Roger Odell, Mike Harris and Chris Ingham called We’re All Done.

The two tenors played with the Jazznights Trio who were:

Roger Odell – Drums

Roger Odell

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

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 is an demand bass player with both the electric and the double bass. Bernie plays with a 5 string bass with an extra c string to great effect

Brian Stapley and Carol Bleiker

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 vocalist Carol Bleiker and drummer Brian Stapley with September In The Rain

Sunday 16th September 2018 – SIMON HURLEY & ANDY WATSON BAND will be at Jazznights.

The Andy Watson/Simon Hurley Band was formed in 2010 with a view to exploring a carefully selected repertoire of song and jazz standards. The duo is strongly influenced by the Jim Hall/Pat Metheny, Louis Stewart/Martin Taylor and Jimmy Raney/ Doug Raney partnerships – which have been an inspiration to both players for many years.

THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, Admission £10. Doors open 7.00 pm. Music 7.30 – 10.00 pm.

PLEASE NOTE THAT Jazznights is back at The Bell Hotel, Clare

serve 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

The Jaznights blog and pictures is now at https://moreopinions.wordpress.com

Pictures from past gigs can also be seen HERE

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