Jazz on a Winter's Weekend 5-7 February in Southport
After ten full house concerts, a record breaking sixth Jazz on a Winter's Weekend concluded very late on Sunday night with a gloriously informal session in The Royal Clifton's Chatsworth Lounge. The sad news of the passing of jazz legend Sir John Dankworth had come on Saturday evening through a phone call from vibraphonist Jim Hart who had rushed from his gig at our festival to appear at the 40th anniversary concert at Wavendon after which Dame Cleo Laine made the announcement of her husband’s death. Their son, the masterful double bass player Alec Dankworth was scheduled to play in our headline finale on Sunday evening in the Steve Waterman All Star Tentet. Always a delightfully unassuming and consummate professional, Alec followed his mum's example and surely his late father's wish that ‘the show must go on’ by turning in a great performance in the concert and the later jam session. The audience at both gave him a fantastic welcome and much deserved applause.
The event was not without its dramas. These things were sent to try us and they surely did.
Pianist David Gazarov's flight from Berlin was cancelled without notice and it proved impossible to reschedule in time. UK piano star Robin Aspland's last minute substitution in the piano trio concert created one the weekend's most impressive performances. Vocalist Cleveland Watkiss turned in a well received and virtually acoustic set after his complex electronic mixer failed ten minutes prior to the gig.
Despite all that we had a ball. Nobody complained. All eleven sets were hugely applauded. The event sold out. Promoters from no less than ten other jazz club/ festivals came along. The BBC recorded two gigs for Radio 3 Jazz Line Up. The workshops were packed and the Jazz Shop and exhibitions were busy. The hotel was filled to capacity and the specially ordered Timothy Taylor's Landlord and Black Sheep bitter didn't run out until Sunday evening.
Altogether something of a triumph, thanks to the hard work and planning of Southport Melodic Jazz Club's team of volunteers, the superb support of the hotel's management and staff and a fantastic audience. Thanks to all who came, especially the 80 great musicians who made the whole thing possible.
Geoff Matthews
Southport Jazz
(Photograph by Paul Bentley)
Our 'webmaster' who maintains this site is club member Jamie Matthews of Bombcircle Design. www.bombcircle.net
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