Creative & original mainstream jazz from one of today’s most individual new male jazz voices – charismatic singer/songwriter, Kevin Fitzsimmons – praised by jazz critics for his naturally swinging vocal, elastic phrasing and engaging, highly personable stage presence. Together with some of the UK’s top straight-ahead & modern bebop musicians (players described by Jazzwise Magazine in review of Fitzsimmons’ album as “the cream of UK straight-ahead jazz musicians”). Known for their sassy new take on the genre, they re-style carefully-chosen standards from likes of Legrand, Strayhorn, Jobim, Mercer, Ellington with taste & verve. Interspersed with their formidable jazz versions of classic pop recordings (Beatles, Sam Cooke, Sting, Billy Preston, Paul Weller, Supergrass) plus a few of Fitzsimmons’own songs – some co-written with Sax Appeal frontman Derek Nash – has garnered them fans far & wide. In addition, the band offer several projects particularly suitable for jazz festivals:- “Bright Lights, Big City: Tribute to Cannonball Adderley/Ernie Andrews/Eddie Vinson” (read preview here http://www.londonjazznews.com/2016/03/preview-kevin-fitzsimons-bright-lights.html); “The ‘In Crowd’: Jazz In The Swinging 60s “(explores jazz artists that seeped into the mainstream during this unique time alongside new jazz translations of era’s pop hit-makers), “Too Marvellous: Sinatra At Capitol Today” (reimagines the rich seam from Sinatra’s supreme time on the Capitol label for today’s jazz fans).
About Kevin Fitzsimmons
Long a fan of Mark Murphy, Kevin Fitzsimmons is a London born jazz singer, bandleader, lyricist & songwriter, with a self-produced album ‘Show Me The Way’ released to considerable critical acclaim. He’s enjoyed many sell out shows at Ronnie Scotts and at venues nationwide, a concert broadcast live on Jazz FM, headlined in 400 seater Athens concert backed by pioneers of Greek jazz scene, The Dimitris Kalantzis Quartet, and with his band appeared in E4′s Made In Chelsea. He plays all the top London jazz clubs, including The 606, Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho, has several festival appearances under his belt including Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and has sang at Birdland Jazz Club, NYC. His distinctive vocals been used by by global brands (like Louis Vuitton, Hermes) and corporations for campaigns in New York, Far East, Europe, London, as well as for TV and radio commercials – including a TV advert with Hollywood film star Naomi Watts. Furthermore, as a favoured vocalist on the corporate/party/private events scene, he’s entertained royalty twice and been booked by many celebrities and sports stars to sing at their own private events. A natural lyricist (& artist/cartoonist), he also writes in collaboration with musicians, most notably the Jools Holland saxophonist Derek Nash. In addition, and running separately to his career on the UK jazz scene, Kevin Fitzsimmons also fronts a touring Big Band theatre concert alongside the Pete Long Orchestra (‘Sinatra Sequins & Swing (The Capitol Years Live!’) based on Sinatra’s supreme era on the Capitol label.
- “Lovers of the jazz vocal mainstream have another star to follow” – JAZZWISE MAGAZINE
- “Fitzsimmons shows he is a thoroughbred jazz singer and can even swing a superior rock song such as “Paul Weller’s ‘You Do Something To Me” – MARLBANK
- “Has the most unenviable job in jazz: sounding original in the male-jazz-vocalist mould. But he’s his own man, highly personable, “a musician’s singer” – JAZZ JOURNAL
- “Unique interpretations, superb presence, unique personality. A brilliant gig” – MOREOPINIONS (JAZZNIGHTS) BLOG
- “A very encouraging sign that modern jazz and male vocals are not incompatible” – UKVIBE (JAZZ CULTURE ONLINE)
- “Lush Life is something of a test, and he passes it with honours” – THE IRISH/SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
- “Reminiscent of Kurt Elling’s in that Fitzsimmons isn’t afraid to nonchalantly wander off the melody line while still capturing the song’s essence” –JAZZWISE MAGAZINE
- “Blessed with a rich voice, mature phrasing and a superb sense of swing” – JAZZ CAMERA
- “Supple, naturally versatile vocal & the warmth of his voice helps to steer the session away from the schmaltzy showbiz side of popular jazz vocals” – JAZZWISE MAGAZINE
- “Wow Kevin Fitzsimmons can really swing a song” – Birdland Jazz Club, New York
Kevin sang with :
Following the interval Raffle of three jazz CDs we had the traditional sitting in spot which gives local musicians to st in with the band, tonight we had the pleasure of Carol Bleiker singing Our Love Is Here To Stay and Jean Faulkner singing Misty
On Sunday 28th July 2019 – MICK FOSTER (bari) & GEOFF MASON (trb) will be at Jazznights
Mick Foster and Geoff Mason perform a tribute to their past heroes. Mick’s baritone sax and Geoff’s trombone pay their respects to the cool sounds of the 1950’s that were produced by Gerry Mulligan’s sax and Bob Brookmeyer’s valve trombone where their warm and swinging sounds found a way into the public’s soul worldwide.
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 Jazznights blog and pictures is now at https://moreopinions.wordpress.com
Pictures from past gigs can also be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dancerd/
and at google photos Here
Moreopinions's Blog at Jazznights 