 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
December
2010 to March 2011
Joe Stilgoe Trio
Terry Seabrook's Milestones
Zoë Gilby Quintet
Chris Biscoe Quartet
Dylan Howe Quartet
Peter King Quartet
Asaf Sirkis Trio
Jay Phelps Quintet + special guest
Marlene VerPlanck Band
Quentin Collins / Brandon Allen Quartet
Gareth Lockrane's Grooveyard
Christmas party - so three sets, party food and a monster raffle!
(Friday 10 December 2010)
Esther has sung for us before - back in 2007. Now she has the Maestro of the piano, Steve Melling, playing and arranging for her it is clearly time to invite her back to bring us warmth and fun for our party.
She swapped the study of medicine in Cape Town for a precarious life as a musician in the UK around the Millennium. Her inspiration from Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Shirley Horn and Blossom Dearie has been used to brilliant effect and she now has a burgeoning career. She still returns to South Africa for TV and Festival appearances but is settled in the North of England - our gain!
"She radiates class, combined with relaxed humour and a great rapport with both band and audience" - Stratford Herald
Esther Miller - voice
Steve Melling - piano
Geoff Gascoyne - bass
Tony Levin - drums
Latest CD: A Place in the Sunlight (Tristan Records)
Web: www.esthermillersings.co.uk
Top
Esther Miller
Christmas Break
(Friday 7 January 2011)
Here's a singer/pianist with a pedigree. His dad is the famous Richard, and after NYJO, cruise ships, the Dorchester, Ronnies, Dubai, New York - now he's going to play Wakefield. He's a songwriter and composer in his own right and is preparing to record a second album which will include original material as well as covers of the classics.
You could describe him as a cross between Nat King Cole and Jamie Cullum (unkindly) but Ian Shaw says of him:
"His piano playing is a cross between Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Les Dawson."
In
the Observer, Dave Gelly said:
"Songs at the piano don't get much sharper than this... Whether he's
performing his own material or reshaping an old favourite."
We're
so pleased he can drop in to see us at Wakefield Sports Club.
Joe Stilgoe - piano and voice
Chris Hill - bass
Ben Reynolds - drums
Latest CD: I like this one (Candid)
Web: www.joestilgoe.com
and www.MySpace.com/joestilgoe
Joe Stilgoe
(Friday 14 January 2011)
Unsurprisingly this band was created to celebrate the music of Miles Davis; in particular the tunes from the seminal album "Kind of Blue". Terry has arranged a number of other songs associated with Miles as well so a night of familiar classics is in store.
His best known band Cubanabop got Terry recognised beyond his home on the South Coast and he is making another bid for a national tour with this ever-popular repertoire. For balance he's included a northerner in the line-up (Alan) and an Australian (Graeme) who has toured with Kylie Minogue and written film scores for Clint Eastwood. Spike we know well and it will be good to be introduced to Paul and Ian.
Terry Seabrook - piano
Alan Barnes - alto & baritone sax
Graeme Flowers - trumpet
Ian Price - tenor sax
Paul Whitten - bass
Spike Wells - drums
Latest CD: Milestones (to be recorded)
Web: http://terryseabrookmusic.com/
Terry Seabrook's Milestones
Alan Barnes
With support "from the Joe Montague trio at 7:30pm
(Friday 21st January 2011)
Zoë is touring to promote her second album "Looking Glass" and so makes her second appearance at Wakefield. Her debut for us was with Jim Mullen at Christmas 2009 when she made quite an impression and one audience member was moved to modify Boticelli's Venus to show Zoë rising from the shell. It was just a matter of time before we invited her back.
Now fronting her own band she leads with confidence and aplomb as she sings from the American Songbook, more modern material and a few of her and Andy's own compositions.
"A wide vocal range, warm timbre and clear diction which she uses skilfully to unveil her moods. It's clear that she's already found her own voice." - Jazz Journal International
"Sparkling debut by an exuberant singer whose lively personality comes across on every track. Sheer enjoyment throughout." - Jazz UK Magazine
Zoe Gilby - voice
Noel Dennis - trumpet / flugel
Mark Williams - guitar
Andy Champion - bass
Richard Brown - drums
Latest
CD: Looking Glass (Jazz Action)
Web:
www.zoegilby.co.uk
and www.MySpace.com/zoegilby
Top
Zoë Gilby
(Friday 28th January 2011)
BBC double award winner Tony Kofi joins Chris Biscoe in an exploration of the musical legacy of reeds virtuoso Eric Dolphy. Gone In The Air features arrangements specially developed for this quartet with music written by Eric Dolphy, and tunes from Oliver Nelson, Fats Waller and Monk which he recorded.
Chris has appeared on almost 50 albums and has been a long term collaborator of Mike Westbrook's with whom he was an invaluable contributor to the sound of his bands. Tony Kofi has now attained international significance through his membership of the World Saxophone Quartet and Jamaladene Tacuma's band. He recently recorded with Ornette Coleman.
" . . . the four outwardly modest men - Chris Biscoe and Tony Kofi on reeds, Larry Bartley on bass and Stu Butterfield on drums . . . turned in one blistering solo after another within ensemble passages of impeccable cohesion, the hallmark of the highest quality chamber-jazz" - Jazz UK
Chris Biscoe - saxes, alto clarinet and alto flute
Tony Kofi - saxophones
Larry Bartley - bass
Stu Butterfield - drums
Latest CD: Gone in the Air (Trio Records - TR578)
Web:
www.chrisbiscoe.co.uk
and www.MySpace.com/chrisbiscoe
Top
Chris Biscoe
(Friday 4th February 2011)
This gig comes near the beginning of a 24 date tour the new band has put together. No-one has heard the band play yet - what a tribute to Dylan and his sidemen that promoters all over the country are sure they'll get a great performance from them.
All Dylan tells us is that they'll be "playing original ensemble pieces with special arrangements of Blue Note classics, David Bowie's Berlin period, John Coltrane and beyond". Sound good to you? You can betcha.
"Howe, always inspiring and invigorating in any genre.'" - The Guardian
Dylan Howe - drums
Ross Stanley - piano
Brandon Allen - sax
Tim Thornton - bass
Latest CD: (Stravinski Duo with Phil Butterworth) Stravinski - The Rite Of Spring Part 1 (Motorik Recordings - MR1003)
Web:
www.dylanhowe.com
and www.MySpace.com/dylanhowe
Top
Dylan Howe
(Friday 11th February 2011)
An icon of the British jazz scene for 50 years. Peter King still plays his demanding Parker / Coltrane repertoire with astonishing stamina. Driven along by Steve Melling, who Pete recognises as his "most comfortable collaborator", the levels of intensity reached are remarkable. Geoff Gascoyne is relatively new to the group and, sadly, the loss of Martin Drew last Summer has meant that Pete has tried out several replacement drummers before settling on the exciting Mark Fletcher.
Peter now describes this quartet as "featuring" Steve Melling and allows him solo features in addition to using his compositions. Steve's orchestral sound has been influenced by McCoy Tyner and suits Peter's forays into the world of John Coltrane. Look out for their extended Coltrane tribute during the gig.
"A wonderful musician, Peter King, of course, is a master of his instrument. People are aware of that here in America as well as in England" - Elvin Jonesse
Peter
King - alto sax
Steve Melling - piano
Geoff Gascoyne - bass
Mark Fletcher - drums
Latest CD: Lush Life (Mile Music)
Web: http://peterkingjazz.com
Top
Peter King
(Friday 18 February 2011)
This is a band by request playing music by request. Tonight, in a unique collaboration, David Newton joins Andy and Mark's band to create a quintet which will play the music of Cole Porter. Andy has written special arrangements of Porter's classic melodies, and some lesser known ones, to create a programme for this one-off performance. His work with Mark Nightingale over the years guarantees empathy and a rhythm section of this quality promises the perfect night of mainstream jazz.
The desire to celebrate several birthdays close to this date means that the O'Gradys (Pat and Ann) and the Wells (Peter and Celia) will move from the book stall to front row seats for tonight. They have generously contributed sponsorship towards this performance and we thank them for their outstanding support for the Club.
Andy Panayi - saxes and flute
Mark Nightingale - trombone
David Newton - piano
Simon Woolf - bass
Steve Brown - drums
Web: www.davidnewton.biz
and www.andypanayi.co.uk
Top
Andy Panayi
Mark Nightingale
(Friday 25th February 2011)
This is the project that caused Asaf to leave Gilad Atzmon - he wanted to concentrate on his own band and was getting a lot of attention and bookings for it. He has now performed with them at festivals across Europe and the UK as well as almost all major clubs.
Its unusual composition demands much of all the musicians but they are equal to that and conjure up an engaging musical aura throughout a performance. Asaf's drumming is constantly of interest but he only dominates when the stage is clearly his. He supports and provokes Tassos relentlessly so that this remarkable musician gives of his best. A contemporary sound offering fascination to all.
They are promoting their second album together "Letting Go" which has garnered some glowing reviews.
"Sirkis's music manages to combine rapt, almost mesmeric contemplativeness with compulsive punch and drive, and over his dynamically varied drumming Spiliotopoulos rings the changes between squeezed, Frisell-like textures and more straightforward, spiky fluency, while Stavi underpins the whole with his melodious but rock-solid bass." - Chris Parker
Asaf Sirkis - drums
Tassos Spiliotopoulos - guitar
Yaron Stavi - bass
Latest CD: Letting Go - Stonedbird Productions (SBPT002)
Web: www.asafsirkis.co.uk
and www.myspace.com/asafsirkis
Top
Asaf Sirkis Trio
(Friday 4th March 2011)
Jay is the Canadian-born trumpeter who burst onto the British scene with the original, and immensely successful, version of Empirical. He visited Wakefield with them. Since leaving them his profile has been low but he has been gigging with others - he was with a Mike Janisch band in Glasgow last Summer when Wynton Marsalis sat in! He has now decided on a new direction and this, his first band under his own name, intriguingly combines his own generation with more established musicians. Even more surprisingly he has declared "Swing is the new avant-garde". So be prepared to be delighted by this exciting departure presenting Jay's swinging compositions. There'll be singing too!
"The
title track is a coolly grooving mid-tempo vehicle for Phelps's plummy
tone and casually applied ornamentation, with the remarkable Hutchings
offering a quirky blend of Lester Young's plaintive sound and a contemporary
edginess." - John Fordham (The Guardian)
Jay Phelps - trumpet
Shabaka Hutchings - tenor sax
Sam Leak - piano
Karl Rasheed-Abel - bass
Gene Calderazzo - drums
Special guest - vocals
Latest
CD: Jay Walkin' - Specific Jazz (Proper Records)
Web: www.lineupmusic.co.uk/jp_site
and www.MySpace.com/jayphelpsjazz
Top
Jay Phelps
(Friday 11 March 2011)
Marlene has a strong following in the UK and deservedly so. She has the classic jazz singer's chops and sings straight ahead material from a repertoire which has been fully developed over time. She is near the start of a 16 date tour which includes Ronnies, the Pizza Express and The Stables, Wavendon. On her last visit to the UK two years ago she was unable to fulfil her engagement at Wakefield as her husband Billy was taken ill and she returned to the USA to be with him. Billy sadly died and the William Patterson University of New Jersey has instituted a scholarship fund in his name.
We are delighted that Marlene is able to visit us once more and look forward to an evening of delightful songs sung to the arrangements Billy made for her.
" An evening with Marlene VerPlanck is a musical experience to be savoured and remembered while we await her next visit to these shores." - Sheila Tracy, Crescendo & Jazz Music (UK)
Marlene VerPlanck - voice
Chris Holmes - piano
Frank Grime - bass
Jim Scaife - drums
Latest CD: My Impetuous Heart
Web: www.marleneverplanck.com
Top
Marlene VerPlanck
With support from the Wakefield Youth Jazz Orchestra from 7:30pm
(Friday 18th March 2011)
Quentin has been a significant figure on the London scene for 10 years now but has only recently begun to make waves with bands of his own. The debut CD of his previous quartet "If Not Now, Then When?" earned a four star review in Mojo magazine. He now brings a band which has just released its own debut CD (title unknown at time of writing) and will certainly present material popular with the Wakefield crowd - just look at the band members. All except Enzo have wowed us previously - Enzo (from Turin originally) has played with Tom Harrell, Steve Grossman, Antonio Forcione in the past as well as touring with Gloria Gaynor (enough said).
This will be great music played by great musicians who know how to entertain.
"(Booker) Little's harmonic adventurousness and (Alex) Sipiagin's rich tone can both be heard in Collins' sound." - John Fordham (The Guardian)
Quentin Collins - trumpet
Brandon Allen - tenor sax
Ross Stanley - Hammond organ
Enzo Zirilli - drums
Latest CD: Debut album to be released late 2010
Web: www.quentincollins.com
and www.MySpace.com/qctrumpet
Top
Quentin Collins / Brandon Allen Quartet
(Friday 25th March 2011)
This is one of three bands Gareth runs, a Septet and Big Band being the others. The clue to their musical style is in the title of the band and instrumentation. However, their jazz credentials are high - Grooveyard were winners of 2003 "Best European Jazz Group" (Granada) and Gareth's septet also won "CD of the Year" in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2010 for "No Messin'". Anyway, those who have seen Gareth perform at Wakefield as side-man know his extraordinary talent.
" Lockrane enchants the listener with his fluid melodic improvisations coupled with his wondrous mix of orchestrational and compositional talents." Frank Griffith - London Jazz Blog
Gareth Lockrane - flutes
Alex Garnett - tenor sax
Mike Outram - guitar
Ross Stanley - Hammond organ
Nick Smalley - drums
Latest CD: Put the Cat Out
Web: www.garethlockrane.com
and www.MySpace.com/garethlockranesgrooveyard
Top
Gareth Lockrane