jazz notes
LATE NEWS: BANBURY JAZZ CLUB HAS BEEN RE-OPENED. SEE PAGE 17
WITH MICK DAY
The saxophone in its various forms has to be the most used wind instrument in jazz and the one which is commonly featured as the lead in bands. It was a pleasant change, therefore, to attend a recent concert in which trumpeter Martin Shaw was lined up in front of a supporting trio. For those who don’t know, Martin is one of this country’s top musicians who can be heard regularly on the radio as featured trumpet in the BBC Big Band and last year appeared with that band in a Promenade Concert paying tribute to the music of Stan Kenton. He has worked with the Dankworths, Dick Morrissey, Pete King and many other leading artists and in 2001 was appointed Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Local jazz fans may have seen him a couple of years ago at the Bicester Jazz Festival.
He got the evening under way with Charlie Parker’s Au Privave and from this first number it was clear that not only was he a highly accomplished and inventive player but also generous in the time he gave members of the trio to show off their individual skills. Pianist Ken McCarthy, bass player Nick Pugh and drummer Martin Hart were, as ever, equal to the challenge. A top notch version of Miles Davis’ All Blues had me assuming that we were in for an evening of bebop; but not so. The remainder of the programme consisted of standards. The more mellow sounds of Martin’s second instrument, the flugelhorn, were just right in Stella By Starlight, Body And Soul, Lover Man, All The Things You Are and The Man I Love. Shaw and the trio excelled in a Latin style rendition of Kurt Weill’s Speak Low.
One of the high spots in the jazz gigs over the next few weeks must be the return appearance at the Live Jazz In Oxfordshire evening on Friday 30th March of American singer Lillian Boutte with her Quartet. A frequent visitor to these shores and someone who spends much of her year touring around the world, it is no wonder that in 1986 she was named the Official Jazz Ambassador of New Orleans. The gig takes place at Carswell Country Club, near Faringdon in Oxfordshire and advance tickets may be purchased on 01367 718903.
There seems to be an international theme running through much of the local jazz and lovers of contemporary jazz might like to note that Deddington’s bass player Steve Kershaw will be performing with Stekpanna at Stratford Jazz Club (01789 264787) on Sunday 1st April. The band will be augmented by Russian musicians Leonid and Nikolai Vintskevich. They can also be heard in South Oxfordshire at the Kings Head and Bell, East St. Helen St., Abingdon on 29th March. Stratford Jazz Club meets at 1 Shakespeare St. and the March bookings have the Quentin Collins/ Brandon Allen Quartet there on the 4th for an evening of hard bop, vibes player
82 FOUR SHIRES v MARCH 2012
Paul Sawtell leads his Quintet - which includes the fabulous pianist Craig Milverton on the 11th and the Dominic Norcross Quartet appear on the 25th.
The Stables at Wavendon (01908 280800) presents American singer Marlene Verplanck in a “Live Jazz Matters” session at 11.30 on the morning of March 4th. Evening activities include Kenny Ball’s Jazz Band on 22nd and guitarist Martin Taylor with saxophonist Alan Barnes on 1st April. Tickets for March 10th will, I suspect, sell out fast as Cleo Laine will be introducing an evening looking back at the musical life of John Dankworth from the 1950s through to recent times.
Jazz Coventry presents pianist Zoe Rahman with her Quartet at Warwick Arts Centre (024 7652 4524) on 15th. She is one of the most in demand musicians on the contemporary jazz scene and is sure to
Julian Smith
(Do any readers remember the recording of this by Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes and the Jazz Couriers?). Inevitably, perhaps, we were treated to a swinging Cherokee and - raising a hat to Duke Ellington - Caravan, which began in a marching rhythm reminiscent of the New Orleans parades before settling into the usual tempo. Martin is generally one of the cool guys in his playing and demonstrates much technical skill in his performances, but without the physical and musical excesses of some musicians.
However, these last two numbers showed him in a more outgoing light. The band’s encore My Romance was introduced by Martin as being his favourite tune; a love song without the word “love” appearing anywhere in the lyrics!
Any stamp collecting readers of this column may like to note that in June the United States postal authorities are issuing a stamp showing trumpeter Miles Davis. This is part of a set depicting musicians and singers.
I gather this is a joint collaboration with the French post office, and so I imagine Miles will also appear in that country.
provide an evening of satisfying music. Yukaka Shina is another pianist who has performed with some of the big names in jazz. He makes a welcome return to Cheltenham Jazz Club at D’Fly, 1A Crescent Place, on 7th in a Quartet which includes Damon Brown on cornet.
Britain’s Got Talent runner up Julian Smith takes his soprano sax to The Theatre, Chipping Norton (01608 642350) on 25th. He can count Prince Charles and the Prime Minister amongst those he has played for! Still in Oxfordshire, the Deddington Arms Hotel offers guitarist Ade Holland’s Duo as a musical accompaniment for lunchtime diners on 25th March. Jazz lunches are also on the menu on the first Sunday of each month at The Villiers Hotel, Buckingham (01280 822444), Queen Street Jazz being “on stage” on 4th March. Carluccio’s Restaurants have The Swing Museum playing
at Stratford (01789 298607) on 1st March and 5th April and in an early evening slot at Bicester Village (01869 247651) on 29th March.
LOCAL GIGS
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