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Southport Melodic Jazz Club

Committed to bringing the best in live jazz to Southport

Jazz on a Winter's Weekend 2014 - Programme

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Friday 31st January 2014 - Sunday 2nd February 2014

Jazz on a Winter's Weekend 2014

Friday 31st January 2014, 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Jean Toussaint with the Reuben James Trio - Through Coltrane's Eyes

Jean Toussaint with the Reuben James Trio - Through Coltrane's Eyes

Former Art Blakey’s Jazz Through Coltrane’s Eyes Messengers saxophonist Jean Toussaint, native of St Thomas in the Virgin Islands, now London based, has developed his expressive style through performances with such jazz notables as McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis and Gill Evans. He will explore the eloquent side of Coltrane’s music from the album Ballads, through to his later period of spiritual enlightenment. Jean is joined by Reuben James & Dave Hamblett who really impressed in the late Abram Wilson’s band in Southport in May 2012, just a few weeks before Abram’s untimely death. The line-up is completed with exciting young bassist Mark Lewandowski. We are pleased to include the gig in the programme in Abram’s memory and in support of The Abram Wilson Foundation.

Tenor/soprano tax:
Jean Toussaint
Piano:
Reuben James
Double bass:
Mark Lewandowski
Drums:
Dave Hamblett

Friday 31st January 2014, 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Lennon and McCartney Big Band Style directed by Dr Ian Darrington MBE

Lennon and McCartney Big Band Style directed by Dr Ian Darrington MBE

Southport played host to the Beatles many times. Geoff Wright has established that they did more than 30 gigs in the town between 1960 & 1963, some right next door to the Clifton Hotel, at The Kingsway Club, only recently destroyed by fire. In 1962 Ringo Starr played his first gig with the Beatles at The Kingsway. Brian Epstein, the manager who led them to stardom, was a former Southport resident. With so many Southport associations it was a ‘natural’, half a century on, to celebrate the tunes of Lennon & McCartney.

Alto:
Alan Barnes, AJ Brown
Tenor:
Munch Manship, Ben Lowman
Bari:
Richard Halliwell
Trumpets:
Andrew Greenwood, Craig Wild, Clifford Ray, Steve Parry
Trombones:
Lee Hallam, Danny Hammerton, John Stevens, David Little
Guitar:
Tim Carter
Piano:
Martin Longhawn
Bass:
Dave Lynane
Drums:
Guy Walsh

Friday 31st January 2014, 10:30 p.m.

The Ghost, The King and I

The Ghost, The King and I

The Ghost, The King and I Trio was by founded in 2007 by Dutch pianist Rob van Bavel. Their music is inspired by trios such as those of Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum and Nat King Cole. Their repertoire consists of original compositions by Rob and new arrangements of jazz and classical tunes which are virtuoso, sparkling, and provide a lot of space for improvisation. The group sound, interaction and swing are just breathtaking. They have toured Europe and the Far East and have three albums to their credit. ‘Trilogy’ ‘En blanc et noir, No.11’ and ‘The Ghost, the King and I’. Thanks go to Manchester based pianist Dan Whieldon for the introduction to this excellent trio.

Piano:
Rob Van Bavel
Guitar:
Vincent Koning
Double bass:
Frans Van Geest

Saturday 1st February 2014, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

New Directions - Art Themen Quintet

New Directions - Art Themen Quintet

Regular attendees will recall that this slot in the programme has often been used to showcase young emerging musicians with a contemporary take on composition. It must be respectfully said that the members of this band have well and truly emerged! In fact they are all well established stars of the current UK scene. Don’t let that lull you into a sense of déjà vu familiarity. Art Themen’s purpose in forming ‘New Directions’ was “to reinterpret some of the more challenging tunes by established writers and to add the compositional firepower of Gareth, Arnie and Steve to create something exciting but still accessible and appealing.” That sounded like the recipe for a perfect Jazz on a Winter’s Weekend Saturday morning and, if proof were needed, that jazz innovation is not the sole prerogative of the under 30’s .

Tenor:
Art Themen
Trumpet:
Steve Fishwick
Piano:
Gareth Williams
Drums:
Winston Clifford
Bass:
Arnie Somogyi

Saturday 1st February 2014, 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Freddie Bryant Kaleidoscope Trio

Freddie Bryant Kaleidoscope Trio

We first heard Freddie Bryant's guitar playing at the Wigan Jazz Festival with Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy and the impression was indelible. A browse through his website, freddiebryant. com, will reveal a rich tapestry of musical excellence, experience and versatility (jazz, classical, Brazilian, World) with multiple influences, styles and skills (acoustic, electric, 12 string). Kenny Burrell described him as ‘a brilliant young guitarist and composer’. He has toured 50 countries and played and recorded with a host of jazz notables; just to mention Brad Meldau, Avishai Cohen, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis and the Brazilian star Eliane Elias. He is currently a fixture of the New York jazz scene where he leads and records with his own ‘Kaleidoscope’ ensembles and also plays with the Mingus Big Band and Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy. Freddie’s regular ‘Kaleidoscope’ bassist Patrice Blanchard and drummer Willard Dyson join him from New York for this gig.

Guitar:
Freddie Bryant
Electric bass:
Patrice Blanchard
Drums:
Willard Dyson

Saturday 1st February 2014, 7:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.

Bunch of Fives Quintet

Bunch of Fives Quintet

After New York City saxophone guru Tim Armacost’s mind blowing appearance in Southport in April 2012 with his New York Standards Quartet, it took just one phone call from fellow UK sax colossus Alex Garnett to agree to this gig in principle. Bunch of Fives had already had already done a limited UK tour at the back end of 2012, regrettably with no recordings to show for this 2 sax duelling, monster rhythm section supported quintet. The good news is that they are due a recording session in London late 2013 and we have persuaded Tim to make the one off visit to the UK late January 2014 to complete this stunning band’s exclusive at our 10th anniver- sary festival. All the musicians in the band have CV’s far too ex- tensive to cover in the space available here as a quick Google search will confirm. Expect a highly charged combination of sparring saxes, dynamic rhythm, original arrangements and some familiar tunes mixed with the new.

Tenor sax:
Alex Garnett, Tim Armacost
Piano:
Liam Noble
Double bass:
Michael Janisch
Drums:
James Maddren

Saturday 1st February 2014, 10:30 p.m.

MJQ Celebration with special guest Alan Barnes

MJQ Celebration with special guest Alan Barnes

From 1952 through to the 80s the Modern Jazz Quartet (John Lewis, Milt Jackson, Percy Heath and Kenny Clarke/Connie Kay) brought some of the style, counterpoint and formal dress of the classical scene to jazz and created a popular and memorable series of recordings & performances. ‘MJQ Celebration’ was formed in 2010 by Michael Garrick to honour their music. After sell out shows across the country, Michael tragically died in Nov 2011. Ridley, Hart and Brown were determined to continue what he had started recruiting Barry Green to play piano; to excite audiences with their contemporary take on such classics as Django, Bluesology and Bag’s Groove as well as Garrick originals. With Alan Barnes guesting this is a perfect day closer for which the ‘dress’ clause in the contract reads ‘black tie optional’.

Tenor sax:
Alan Barnes
Bass:
Matt Ridley
Vibes:
Jim Hart
Piano:
Barry Green
Drums:
Steve Brown

Sunday 2nd February 2014, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Robert Fowler's Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band

Robert Fowler's Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band

Gerry Mulligan is probably remembered primarily for his contribution to the iconic ‘Birth Of The Cool’ album and his piano-less quartet. Less so for his ‘Concert Jazz Band’ which he led for a short spell in the early 60’s. The recent re-issue of a Santa Monica 1960 recording which featured Zoot Sims as guest soloist inspired Robert Fowler to search out, collect, and commission transcribing by Adrain Fry and Iain Dixon, enough of the arrangements to realise this tribute. The initial gig at Watermill Jazz Club in Dorking really caused a buzz. Its July outing at Titley Festival produced a standing ovation. An uncharac- teristic slip in our pro- gramming created the opportunity to present this fantastic music. Robert switches from his customary tenor sax to take the lead on baritone through some wonderful and complex Mulligan/Brookmeyer arrangements by this exceptional band, including Bernie’s Tune, Funny Valentine and a rollicking Apple Core.

Reeds:
Robert Fowler, Alan Barnes, Karen Sharp, Alex Garnett, Iain Dixon
Trumpets:
Bruce Adams, Steve Fishwick, Martin Shaw
Trombones:
Mark Nightingale, Adrian Fry, Sarah Williams
Bass:
Dave Green
Drums:
Steve Brown

Sunday 2nd February 2014, 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Damon Brown / Martin Zenker Group feat. Michael Lutzeier

Damon Brown / Martin Zenker Group feat. Michael Lutzeier

A truly international band formed by some of the best musicians from the UK and Germany. Trumpet player Damon Brown has played at festivals and clubs all around the world and Michael Lutzeier is considered one of the world’s finest baritone sax players. Together with Paul Kirby on piano, Martin Zenker on bass and the great festival favourite Mark Taylor on drums, this is a truly international star band. Damon Brown began to visit South Korea regularly about 4 years ago whilst performing in Japan. He developed a strong musical relationship with bassist Martin Zenker who had been Professor of Jazz Bass on one of the leading jazz programs in Seoul. In May 2012 the band made a short and successful tour of South Korea that featured Michael Lutzeier on bari- tone sax, wonderful musician, high- ly respected in Germany as the leading Baritone player on the scene there. They also had the op- purtunity to make a TV recording for EBS TV. The exel- lent young pianist on these gigs was Paul Kirby from Scotland. A follow up tour of Germany and the UK in Jan/Feb 2013 which included New York based UK drummer Mark Taylor went equally well and led the group to re- cord their first CD. The repertoire features strong melodic compo- sitions from Damon, Martin , Mi- chael and Paul and some lesser known songs from the standard repertoire. It’s Scenario? Very much a classic 1950 sound with echoes of Mulligan and Baker and also Donald Byrd and Pepper Ad- ams. This festival gig is the start of a tour of the UK and Germany to promote the new CD.

Trumpet:
Damon Brown
Bari sax:
Michael Lutzeier
Piano:
Paul Kirby
Bass:
Martin Zenker
Drums:
Mark Taylor

Sunday 2nd February 2014, 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Carte Blanche - Alan Barnes Octet with Liz Fletcher

Carte Blanche - Alan Barnes Octet with Liz Fletcher

The band and music for this gig were selected by Alan Barnes. His choices. The man who has graced all our festivals, each time with a new project, all his own arrangements, some his own compositions; each time resulting in a sell-out concert. What's your favourite? The Sherlock Holmes Suite? Songs for Unsung Heroes? Seven Ages of Jazz? Swinging Down Broad Street? The Marbella Suite? The Johnny Mandel Tribute? Billy Strayhorn - Duke Ellington - Harlem Airshaft? Cannonball? Swingin' The Samba? And there's more! You'll just have to come to hear Alan's selection on the night played by this fantastic band of world class musicians - the crème de la crème of British straight ahead jazz.

Reeds:
Alan Barnes, Robert Fowler, Karen Sharpe
Trumpet:
Bruce Adams
Trombone:
Mark Nightingale
Piano:
David Newton
Bass:
Andrew Cleyndert
Drums:
Steve Brown
Voice:
Liz Fletcher

Sunday 2nd February 2014, 10:30 p.m.

Brandon Allen Quartet

Brandon Allen Quartet

We elected to end on a high - and it doesn't get much higher than this. Aussie sax superstar Allen has been picking up accolades and great reviews since his last visit to our festival. His quartet's gig (with Ross on Hammond) went down a storm at our club and also at Scarborough JF last September. His appeance at Wigan JF in July with Darius Brubeck likewise. He's also joined the ranks of jazz promotion, founding and developing the Highgate Jazz and Blues Festival.

This gig came about from a chat with Mick Hutton about the new quartet's (as listed here) regular weekly gig at Ronnie Scott's with Ross on piano. Sounded too good to leave for just the London jazz audience so we dragged them (not screaming too loud) 'up North' to close our 10th 'Jazz on a Winter's Weekend'.

Tenor:
Brandon Allen
Piano:
Ross Stanley
Bass:
Mick Hutton
Drums:
Chris Higginbottom