These words are mostly by Steve Jordan, with a few additions from Dave Lyons.  It is a longish read, but I think, a good one.

Last night, we were treated to an eclectic selection of numbers from various genres, from classical music to early ‘70s rock through to the jazzed up celtic soul of Van Morrison and the disco funk of Earth, Wind and Fire interspersed with plenty of popular jazz songs and instrumentals from the 1930s through to the 1970s.

The arrangements were wondrous and often quite complex, effortlessly held together by John Law’s prodigious skill and invention on the keyboards with the spirit and talent of each member of the band shining through, not least in the “solos”. The arrangements were melded such that it was difficult to applaud individual solos, we were just carried through the transitions.

Invariably, John Law begins the first set of a performance with a classical piece and tonight was no exception; his background in classical piano shone through with Claude Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’. Dave would have expected Bach, but loved the Debussy.

The evening quickly developed into a game of ‘Name That Tune’ as John challenged the audience to identify each one, hiding his sheet music from us and himself.   Heads were nodding along to the music or in recognition of the original tune, masked by the arrangement, gradually and teasingly revealed by the band as the song developed.  

The rendition of Van Morrison’s ‘Moondance’ had our audience baying in appreciation at the end, before the all-too-familiar theme of Miles Davis’ ‘So What’ played in.  At one point, the combination of John’s electric piano and Henrik’s double bass produced harmonics eerily like those from Jaco Pastorius’ fretless bass guitar!  How does that happen?

For me, Cavatina was a challenge, but not for others as they sang the lyrics of “He Is Beautiful”, added by Cleo Laine in a later version.  Although it is best known as the theme from ‘The Deer Hunter’, Stanley, Myers originally wrote it for piano, rewriting it for classical guitar at the request of John Williams in 1969, long before ‘The Deer Hunter’ was released.  [Thank you, Dave, for serenading me afterwards, but you knew what it was. As did Dougie, it seemed.  The same was true of ‘Fly Me To The Moon’, but I much prefer Sinatra!]

The second set began with the band playing the highly recognisable introduction to the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s ‘Take Five’, with its unusual 5/4 time signature, as the last few winning tickets were called on the raffle.  It was a good combination, almost like a rap.  Now you wouldn’t get that at Ronnie’s!  

The next song was, John informed us, “for the ageing rockers in the audience”, so I was ashamed to say that I guessed it pretty quickly from the original guitar riff – Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke on the Water’.  Sam Crockatt’s plaintive tone on soprano sax made ‘Moonriver’ instantly recognisable – audible sighs of pleasure were heard afterwards.

The pace accelerated as the set drew to a close, first with the old Broadway show classic, ‘You and the Night and the Music’. The urgency of the playing was offset by the easy swinging tone before the concluding song, ‘September’, from those masters of classic 1970s disco funk, Earth Wind and Fire.  A joyous celebration dedicated to frazzled parents across the land as the kids go back to school!

No set like this would be complete without a number by Dylan, so we were treated to a straight rendition of ‘Blowing in the Wind’ as a very generous encore from a hard-working band who gave us their all. 

Just to add that the band drove to and from Devon. There is dedication to the music. Also, many thanks to Webby from the Ipswich Drumming shop for the provision of John Parr’s  legendary drum kit.

Set list

1. Clair de Lune (Claude Debussy
2. Moondance (Van Morrison
3. So What (Miles Davis)
4. Cavatina – Theme from the ‘Deer Hunter ‘ (Stanley Myers)
5. Fly Me To The Moon (Bart Howard)

*          *          *           *         *        *        *

6. Take Five (Paul Desmond)
7. Smoke On The Water (Gillan, Lord, Blackmore, Glover, Paice – the members of Deep Purple) 
8. Moonriver (John Mercer/Henry Mancini)
9. You and the Night and the Music (Howard Dietz/Arthur  Schwartz)
10. September (Maurice White, Al McKay – two members of Earth, Wind and Fire)
11. Encore: Blowing in the Wind (Bob Dylan)

Take care,

Steve and Dave

Now, that was a joy! Given who was in the band, it was going to be good, but it was exceptional. Gaz Hughes led from the drums. Bruce Adams brought both trumpet and flugel. Alan Barnes played tenor and alto saxes. Andrzej Baranek was our pianist, very special.  We had a wonderful dep on bass; Mike Reed. It was one of those sound checks where I learned a lot, as they went through the music. They were celebrating the great Art Blakey, and I am sure he would have been pleased with the gig.

We had quite a large (and very listening) audience. They all went home glowing. Our photog, Peter, was not able to be at the club (new hip, now recovering), but luckily, a photography student, Peter Bushby had asked to do a portfolio, so we used his shots. 

Thanks again to Steve Jordan for the beautifully annotated set list.

Take care,

Dave

1. A Bitter Dose (Bobby Watson)
2. Arabia (Curtis Fuller) Curtis Fuller was a trombonist and a Jazz Messenger between 1961 -1965
3. Easy Living (Ralph Rainger) originally composed for a film of the same name in 1937. The song later became associated with Billie Holiday who recorded it for Decca in 1947 with her own orchestra.
4. Crisis (Freddie Hubbard) Freddie Hubbard was a Jazz Messenger between 1961 – 1965.
5. The Soulful Mr. Timmons (James Williams) Bobby Timmons was a jazz pianist in Art Blakey’s band between 1958-1961
6. Caravan (Ellington/Juan Tizol; arranged by Art Blakey)

*          *          *           *         *        *        *

7. Duck Soup (Art Blakey)
8. One by One (Wayne Shorter)
9. Body and Soul (Johnny Green) featuring Andrzej Baranek
10. 10. A Wheel Within A Wheel (Bobby Watson)
11. 11.We’ll Be Together Again (Carl T. Fischer)
12. 12.Moanin’ (Bobby Timmons)

      ENCORE: Ping Pong (Wayne Shorter)

On Wednesday last, Julian Costello (soprano and tenor), David Beebee (piano), Dave Jones (5 string bass) and Eric Ford (drums) gave us a gig that will stand in the memory. Steve Jordan has written the bulk of this post, but I wanted to mention the lyricism and dynamics of all four of the players. The variation of dynamics throughout each song and even through long single notes was remarkable.

And now Stephen…
What a wonderful gig we had on Wednesday evening and what a pity that more people weren’t there to hear it. I’m not clear why but sincerely hope our audiences pick up – I worry that the “cost of living crisis” is hitting people hard and evenings out are being sacrificed. Our next gig will be a test of how true that is.It was a thoughtful presentation and programme, and I want them back soon.

So many of the numbers told a story, as our host and saxophonist Julian said. Sunflowers – about his dad’s night-time raid on an angry French farmer’s field; a tune, based on the intro to the theme tune for the TV series Morse about cosy evenings indoors; Look At Yourself With A Smile – a therapist’s advice; Everyone Has A Story (I think) about missing his Maths ‘O’ Level exam on the third attempt! Oh dear, we have all had those moments in our lives.
But, but, but …… he didn’t explain the beautiful encore which I recognised as Sting’s Fragile. Below are the lyrics to the first verse of the song, which Sting released in 1988:

If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow’s rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime’s argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

Whether Julian chose this number for its potential relevance to the carnage currently taking place in the Ukraine, I do not know. Either way, it was a very apt and poignant choice and beautifully executed with Julian leading on the soprano saxophone.

SETLIST

Lonnie’s Lament (John Coltrane) based on Kenny Garrett’s interpretation
Sunflowers (Costello)
Morse (Costello)
Untitled (Costello)
Look At Yourself With a Smile (Costello)
Bridges (Costello)

• * * * * * *

La Rosita (Coleman Hawkins)
Blackbird (Paul McCartney)
Everyone Has A Story (Costello)
Phrygian Blues (Costello)
Caravan (Duke Ellington)
Encore: Fragile (Sting)

       *          *          *           *         *        *        *

We had this truly wonderful singer and he wants to talk about the band? Accompanying a singer is a special art, and not every even great musician is very good at it. Last Wednesday we heard a singer with such subtle phrasing which varies in depth at need, and a monster range of pitch, level and timber. The band has to hear that and support  it; a very difficult thing to do. The famous classical accompanist, Gerald Moore, would have agreed. And this band? Perfection.

I can’t stop listening to her 2005 recording (Everything I Love, Joy EDC002) of Porter songs. Elaine Delmar gave us an evening of songs by the  Cole Porter. and other geniuses; it was a beautifully constructed evening. She sings all of the verses, which is a rarity, sadly. Elaine’s live performance is such a treat. She keeps the chat to a minimum, so we get lots of songs (see the set list that Steve Jordan made). For her, the audience is part of her performance; they love her and she loves them back. She even allowed community singing for “I’m Going to Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”. 

I was deeply affected by “Killing Me Softly with His Songs”. Elaine seems to have  a team of voices, such is her range of timbre, and she used them to such effect in this song, She sang “Summertime” with just Simon Thorpe’s bass accompaniment. Elaine used a deep low register timer for most of this song, so beautiful. In “I Got Rhythm” she used her upper registers, both sweet and sassy. And the breath control; Holding a note for bar after bar with constant pitch and volume, always beautiful.

Elaine left lots of room for the band to solo. Lovely work from Barry Green, Simon Thorpe and Bobby Worth. I would hire them as a trio anytime.

The sound was not as good as it should in the first set. Someone had put up large mirrors all around our room. The acoustic was like a badly designed cathedral. I got it a lot better for the second set.

The next gig is Julian Costello’s “Connections” . Expect lots of melodic lyricism from this fine saxophone quartet.

Take care,

Dave

ELAINE DELMAR AND HER TRIO SETLIST AT FLEECE JAZZ, 13/04/22 SET LIST: (Steve Jordan)

It Might As Well Be Spring (Rodgers and Hammerstein)

Stairway to Paradise (George and Ira Gershwin)

Let Me Love You (Bart Howard)

Honeysuckle Rose (Fats Waller)

Killing Me Softly With His Song (Roberta Flack)

I’m Going To Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter  ( Fats Waller)

If You Love Me (Original music written by Marguerite Monnot Original lyrics written by Edith Piaf Translated to English by Geoffrey Parsons)

Hymn for Jobim (Duncan Lamont)

There’s A Boat That’s Leaving Soon For New York (Gershwin)

Send In The Clowns (Stephen Sondheim)

Where or When (Rodgers and Hart)

       *          *          *           *         *        *        *

I Got Rhythm (Gershwin)

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Rodgers and Hart)

No More Blues (Antonio Carlos Jobim) Original was “Chega de Saudade”

Like a Lover (Marilyn Bergman, Alan Bergman, Dori Caymmi, Nelson Motta)

Tea for Two (Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar)

Joy (don’t know)

I Won’t Last A Day Without You (Paul Williams)

S’Wonderful (Gershwin)

It’s Alright With Me (Cole Porter)

Summertime (Gershwin)

I Get A Kick Out Of You (Cole Porter)

ENCORE: Yours Sincerely (Rodgers and Hart)

Surprise! Hans Koller plays great Euphonium as well as  very fine piano. That is, his playing that is very fine, but he does like our piano.

Martin Speake brings a band of heavy listeners: himself on alto, Hans, Anders Christenssen on bass and Anders Mogensen on drums. Indeed, this is music that requires listening. It is filled with lyricism and emotion, built on great technique and a band in each others minds. I have no favourites. Most of the music is from Martin’s hand. One, “Balance”, is recognisably based on Parkers “Moose the Mooche”.

Our audience are great listeners too, and they enjoyed the gig thoroughly.

Steve Jordan has provided us with a set list. Martin does not announce all of hs songs, but Steve did very well.

1. Bouncy (Martin Speake
2. Unannounced (but very likely from the Universal Connection recording)
3. Unannounced (but very likely from the Universal Connection recording)
4. Four Four (Martin Speake)
5. What is there to say? (Vernon Duke/Yip Harburg)

A jazz standard performed by Johnny Hartman, Nat King Cole and Gerry Mulligan

6. Father Sky (Martin Speake)

       *          *          *           *         *        *        *

7. Balance (Martin Speake)

Based on Charlie Parker’s Moose The Mooche)

8. Heaven Energy (Martin Speake)
9. Dissolving Illusions (Martin Speake)
10. 10.Conspiracy Observer (Martin Speake)
11. 11.Unannounced 

12. 12.ENCORE: Unannounced
14. Take care
15. Dave

We had a thoroughly enjoyable fun evening with this superb band. I have to confess that with 9 musicians, four of whom sang, there were very many mics on stage. There were a multitude of  opportunities for feedback. An eagle eye was needed on the desk. I did not have time to write notes.

So I can’t walk your through the songs, but I can say a bit about the band members. Just to say that I enjoyed every solo and the stunning horn choruses.

The revelation was Liz Fletcher. What a beautiful singer: great voice, great presentation, very sexy. She belted with the full band accompanying, and purred in the duet with Simon on bass. 

Simon Thorpe has been mothering this band since 1999. His arrangements are wonderful, and the programme was nicely variable. There was even some audience dancing to the faster numbers! Surprise,Simon sings as well. 

George Hogg  stepped in for Enrico Tomasso at the last moment. George is a delightful trumpeter. He went through quite a variety of mutes during the show. His flugel playing is mellow but still clear.

Malcolm Earl Smith Is a fine jazz singer and excellent trombonist.

Luke Annesley played alto sax and clarinet. His clarinet playing seemed  to me to be influenced by Arty Shaw, not a bad model.

Alex Garnett blew a storm on the tenor sax. He was a backing singer on one song, very good.

Colin Oxley on guitar was, as always, a real pleasure to hear.

John Pearce has played for us many times. His mastery of the piano is alway welcome.

Matt Skelton (as seen on the proms) plays the room so well.

In two weeks time, Martin Speake’s “Universal Connections”: lyricism, subtlety and great musicianship.

Take care,

Dave

This band was a delight from first note to last. We had a programme of film related music: some from the movies, and some by our leader, Bassist George Trebar  It was so nice to have people who had not played for us before: George, Pete Hill on drums and pianist Roy Hilton. Altoist Matt Wates is  often with us and so welcome.

I will append the set list from Steve Jordan. It is difficult to pick out highlights as all the solos hit the spot. The first two tunes set the tone for us, by which time the band was at home with the space and the audience. Some were surprised at the fact we have a listening audience, and found that great to play to.

The theme from the file “Taxi Driver” had solos from Matt and George that told the story beautifully. Similarly on “Laura”, Georges bass solo, with strong use of vibrato caught the mysterious edgy story that the lyrics tell. I love instrumentalists who tell stories.Matt always seems to tell a story with his solos.

“Night Owls” was one of Georges tunes. Both Roy and Pete had excellent solos on this one.

I hope we see this group again soon. They were having a great time, so so did we.

Take care,

Dave

 

Set list:

1. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislaw Kaper)

Performed by Miles Davis and Bill Evans amongst others. From film of the same name from1947

2. Night Owls (George Trebar)

3. Stella by Starlight (Victor Young)

From film, The Uninvited. Has been performed by Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra amongst others.

4. Theme from Taxi Driver (Bernard Herrmann)

5. Laura (Johnny Mercer/David RaskinDune”.) From film of the same name from1944.

6. Maudib (George Trebar) For the hero of the novel, “

7. Gone with the Wind (Allie Wrubel/Herb Magidson)                      Popular song performed by Frank Sinatra and Clifford Brown amongst others. Not related to the film.

       *          *          *           *         *        *        *

8. Invitation (Bronislaw Kaper) Originally used in the film, ‘A Life of her Own’, but it only became a jazz standard after being used in the 1952 film of the same name.

9. Midnight Cowboy (John Barry)

10. 10.What are you doing the rest of your life? (Michel Legrand) from the film, ‘The Happy Ending’ (1969)

11. 11.Sal’s Paradise (George Trebar)

Inspired by a character from Kerouac’s ‘On The Road’ about the Beat Generation.

12. 12.If I Were A Bell (Frank Loesser) from the musical, ‘Guys and Dolls’ (1950)

13. 13. Just Friends (John Klenner). Performed by Chet Baker in his 1988 film, ‘Let’s Get Lost’. It is a jazz standard that has been performed by Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker amongst others.

14. 14.ENCORE: Straight, No Chaser (Thelonious Monk)

 

I have had lots going on at home, so I have just got around to writing about this delicious gig. So this will be a short one from me.

We had John Etheridge on just one guitar but a load of stomp boxes (up high on a music stand, finger stomp). On organ was Pete Whittaker, and George Double was on drums. This trio has lots of history, and they knew each other well. It was the three people, one mind thing. And this while having a huge amount of fun, as did the lovely audience.

The funky bluesy programme was all a delight, and John’s chat was great fun as always I am going to finish off with a set list of the programme written by Steve Jordan, for which much thanks.

Take care

Dave

 

Set list:

1. Careless Love (W.C. Handy/Spencer Williams)

Best known by Madeleine Peyroux’s version

2. Georgia On My Mind (Hoagy Carmichael/Stuart Gorrell)

Best known by Ray Charles’ version

3. Secret Love (Sammy Fain/Paul Francis Webster)

Best known by Doris Day’s versionfrom Calamity Jane , later covered by Kathy Kirby

4. Broken Hill (John Etheridge)

Best known from Soft Machine era

5. Cold cold heart (Hank Williams)

6. Do Like Eddie (John Scofield) Dedicated to Eddie Harris

       *          *          *           *         *        *        *

7. God Bless The Child (Billie Holliday & Arthur Herzog Junior)

8. Msunduza (Abdullah Ibrahim)

Performed when Ibrahim was with Dollar Brand

9. First Moves (Sonny Rollins)

10. 10.Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers (Stevie Wonder)

Best known by Jeff Beck’s performance on ‘Blow by Blow’ but also performed by Syreeta on ‘Stevie Wonder presents Syreeta’

11. 11.Sealed with a Kiss (Peter Udell and Gary Geld)

Best known by Brian Hyland

12. 12.Wabash III (John Scofield)

13. 13.Distant Voice (John Etheridge)

14. 14.ENCORE: I’m Going Home (To See My Baby) (Gene Vincent) 

I have written in the past about the joy of seeing singers who tell stories, and there are many that have graced our stage. Sara Dowling is a superb example of this,  body, research and soul. Couple that with a great voice and a fine backing trio, it was a totally delightful gig.

Chris Ingham’s piano trio, with Dario De Leche on bass and George Double on drums, led us off. Their rendition  of “Come Rain or Come Shine, (Arlen/Mercer) showed us how exciting a piano trio can be.  

The songs all had a reference to Judy Garland. Every song that Sara sang was a clear story to hear and see. Ballads were sung with intensity and clarity. Up tempo numbers were joyous and at times raucous and hilarious. She sent her husband Dario up something rotten in their duo of Rick Astley’s “Wonderful You”.

I liked the programme. The instrumental combinations were varied, with lots of duos between Sara and piano, bass or drums, as well as with the trio. She left plenty of space for the trio to blow. Chris’s solo on “Falling in Love with Love”(Rogers) was beautiful, and a lesson in ‘less is more’. Sara scatting with Dario on Walter Donaldson’s “You’re Driving Me Crazy” was great. George’s solo on “Get Happy”  (Arlen) was a treat.

It was a lovely gig, for me from sound check to   gig to putting stuff away. She is a delightful person to work with and she must come back to us soon. 

The next gig is on January 26, and it will be a doozy. John Etheridge on a stage full of guitars, Pete Whittaker on just one Hammond Organ, and George Double is back on lots of drums. Try hard not to miss it.

Take care

Dave

Just listing the band members shows how good a gig this was. Alan’s sextet gave us Ellington and Strayhorn and a joyous evening. I will list them in the classical order, but this was a band of equals playing at the top level.

Alan Barnes played alto and clarinet, and was raconteur superbe.

Karen Sharp played tenor, baritone and clarinet, and did some of the arranging.

Robert Fowler played tenor and clarinet, and did some of the arranging.

David Newton, our honorary Presidentè, commanded the piano.

Simon Thorpe played double bass with his usual intensity.

Clark Tracey played drums; he brought “Stomp, Look and Listen” (Ellington) to the party.

I am sure you will agree that is a very tasty group. An excellent audience certainly did. They got a wonderful evening of jazz. Everything was played with verve and energy, and synergism between the players, very close, I think to the intention of the composers. I will only mention one tune which was a bit different in approach.

“The Mooche”, by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills was played as a story. At the time, a mooche was the local drug dealer. All three played the first 16 bars of the head on clarinets; the harmonies and dissonances were disturbing. Karen switched to tenor for the rest of the head, which was in an almost mellow mood. Having seen it happen to a musician in my youth,  I could not get out of my mind the scream of need, followed by the calmness after injecting.  This was amazing story telling and these words do not do it justice.

We had great solos from everyone. We had lovely ballads, like Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” with beautiful horn choruses. We had smashing up tempo numbers like his “Cottontail”, getting the audience jumping in the first few bars.

I will remember some of this gig for a long time. That doesn’t stop me looking forward to our new season, which we all hope will be allowed to be. Sara Dowling (The Jazz of Judy Garland) has a terrific voroice and phrasing. That will be on January 12th with Chris Ingham on piano, Dario De Lecce on bass, and drummer Geoge Double. See you there.

Take care,

Dave