Monthly Archives: October 2017
Pangbourne Jazz Club | Mark Aston and Lester Brown
Sun 1 Oct | Mark Aston and Lester Brown | Mark Aston trombone & baritone sax, Lester Brown, trumpet & flugelhorn, Terry Hutchins guitar, Malcolm Cliff piano, Keith Howard double bass, Matt Skeaping drums | Pangbourne Jazz Club | PWMC | 7.30pm | £7
The Supertonics Big Band | Bracknell
Sun 1 Oct | The Supertonics Big Band with popular jazz vocalist Miss Tricia Bassett | Bracknell | Jennett’s Park Community Centre | 8:00pm | £9, £8 “early bird” | Tickets by cash or credit card from David Bennett / 07739-314261 / davidbennett470@gmail.com
Jazz at the Four Horseshoes | Sherfield-on-Loddon
Tues 3 Oct | Equinox with Mike Gale | Mike Gale trumpet, Peter Bingham tenor sax, John Clarke guitar, Derek Alford bass, Paul Kaluza percussion | Sherfield-on-Loddon | Four Horseshoes | 8:00pm | No charge for admission (donations are welcomed)
The Colossal Perverts of Jazz | Reading
Thu 5 Oct | The Colossal Perverts of Jazz | Johnty Wilks (soprano & alto saxes, wind synthesiser), K Darling (fretless bass, programming) | Reading | Global Cafe | 9-11pm | Free
Bracknell Jazz – Simon Cook Trio with Kelvin Christiane
Fri 6 Oct | Bracknell Jazz – Simon Cook Trio with Kelvin Christiane | Kelvin Christiane tenor sax, Simon Cook piano, Andy Masters bass, McGill Anderson drums | Bracknell | Bracknell Jazz, South Hill Park, Recital Room | 7.30pm | £10.00/£5 U18s
Gli Avanzi Jazz Quintet | Reading
Sun 8 Oct | Gli Avanzi jazz quintet | Lorenzo Todorow tenor, Chris Wagstaff trumpet, Martin Dix guitar, Jim Saunders bass, Andrew Last drums | Reading | The Global Cafe | 7:00pm | FREE
Jam in Reading – Mark Burton Quartet | Reading
Tues 10 Oct | Jam in Reading – Mark Burton Quartet | Jam session with house band, open to singers and instrumentalists | Les Foden saxophone, Mark Burton keyboards, Nick Hill bass, Eddie Hall drums | Reading | Global Café | 8.30pm | No charge
Simon Spillet & Art Themen | Marlow
Tue 10 Oct | Simon Spillet & Art Themen | Simon Spillet tenor sax, Art Themen tenor & soprano saxes, with the Frank Toms Trio | Marlow | Royal British Legion | 8.30pm | £10
Bracknell Jazz – Young Musicians evening | South Hill Park
Tue 10 Oct | Bracknell Jazz – Young Musicians evening with the house band | Helena Kay tenor sax, Simon Cook piano, Rudy Cook bass, Charlie Hutchinson drums | Bracknell | South Hill Park, Wilde Upstairs performance space | 7.30pm | £10.00 (£8.00 in advance) and £5 U18s
Trad Jazz: The Eagle Jazz Band | Goring Village Hall
Fri 13 Oct | Trad Jazz at Goring Village Hall | The Eagle Jazz Band | Tickets at Inspiration, High Street, Goring or telephone Bill on 01491 875758 or 07885 251 803 or go to www.goringhall.live | Goring Hall Live | 8.00pm | £15
Jazz at the Oakwood Centre with Vasilis Xenopoulos | Woodley
Sat 14 Oct | Vasilis Xenopoulos with the Martin Hart Trio | Vasilis Xenopoulos sax, Ken McCarthy piano. Nick Pugh bass, Martin Hart drums | The Oakwood Centre, Woodley | 7.45pm | £10
Jazz at St Andrew’s – Simon Lasky Quartet | Caversham
Sat 14 Oct | Simon Lasky Quartet | St Andrew’s Church, Albert Rd, Caversham, RG4 7PL | 7.30 | Tickets: £15, £17 in advance, under 16s free, from Waltons the Jewellers, Caversham (cash only, closed Mondays) or phone 0118 9484112 / 0118 9463202. Or £17, £19 on the door | Full details www.concertsincaversham.co.uk
Sax in the City & guests | Reading
Sun 15 Oct | Sax in the City | Johnty Wilks (soprano & alto saxes, wind synthesiser), K Darling (fretless bass, programming), with special guests on keyboard and drummer | Shinfield, Reading | Bell and Bottle pub, 37 School Green, RG2 9EE | 7.30-10.30pm | Free
Fleur Stevenson hosts Jazz Singers Night | Reading
Tues 17 Oct | Fleur Stevenson hosts Jazz Singers Night in Reading | Fleur Stevenson vocals, Maff Potts piano, Nick Hill bass, Ben Robins drums | Reading | Global Café | 9.00pm – jam from 9.30pm | No charge
Jazz Collective | Reading
Thurs 19 Oct | Jazz Collective | Andy Kennedy saxes, Nick Hill piano, Brian Throup bass, Mike Goff drums | Reading | Magpie and Parrot | 8:30pm | £5
Jim Mullen Quartet | Maidenhead
Fri 20 Oct | Jim Mullen Quartet | Jim Mullen guitar, Robin Aspland piano, Andy Cleyndert bass, Clark Tracey drums | Maidenhead | Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Courtyard Theatre | 8.00pm | £15/£13/£5
Guildford Jazz Festival | Day One | 20 October
Fri 20 to Sun 22 Oct | Guildford Jazz Festival | Venues at various locations throughout to city | A huge choice and variety of bands | See full details here: Guildford Jazz Festival
Sax in the City goes Global | Reading
Fri 20 Oct | Sax in the City | Johnty Wilks (soprano & alto saxes, wind synthesiser), K Darling (fretless bass, programming) | Reading | Global Cafe | 9-11pm | Free
Rhythms at the Yurt | Didcot
Fri 20 Oct | Rhythms at the Yurt | BB Kean vocals, Jamie Howell guitar | Didcot | Rhythms at the Yurt | 8.00pm | £12.50
Guildford Jazz Festival | Day Two | 21 October
Fri 20 to Sun 22 Oct | Guildford Jazz Festival | Venues at various locations throughout to city | A huge choice and variety of bands | See full details here: Guildford Jazz Festival
All Jazz Quartet | Reading
Sat 21 Oct | All Jazz Quartet | Rima Jake tenor sax, Helen Moore piano and vocals, David Richardson bass, Kate Swann drums | Reading| Jolly Anglers | 8.00pm | No charge
Sunday Jazz at Jagz | Benn Clatworthy Quartet | Ascot
Sun 22 Oct | Benn Clatworthy Quartet | Benn Clatworthy tenor sax, John Donaldson piano, Simon Thorpe bass, Matt Home drums | Ascot | Jagz | 12.30 to 3.30pm | £10
Ella Fitzgerald – a Centenary Celebration | Basingstoke
Sun 22 Oct | Ella Fitzgerald – a Centenary Celebration | Olivier Award nominated singer Alison Jiear and the London Concert Orchestra Show Band | Basingstoke | Anvil Arts | £31.50, £29; Over 65s, under 16s and f/t students £2 off – limited offer (includes £2 booking fee)
Three days of Guildford Jazz Festival | October 20th to 22nd
Fri 20 to Sun 22 Oct | Guildford Jazz Festival | Venues at various locations throughout to city | A huge choice and variety of bands | See full details here: Guildford Jazz Festival
Berkshire Jazz Jam: Ken Thompson Trio | Reading
Wed 25 Oct | Jam session with house band, open to singers and instrumentalists | Ken Thompson guitar, Phil Berry bass, Paul Glover drums | Reading | Global Café | 9:00pm | No charge
Andy Kennedy Quintet | Reading
Thurs 26 Oct | Andy Kennedy Quintet | Andy Kennedy saxes, Tony Imbierski keyboards, Brian Throup bass, Fern Rose percussion, Mike Goff drums | Reading | Global Cafe | 9:00pm | Donations
Jazz at Progress | Ray Gelato Alex Garnett “Tough Tenors” Quintet | Buy tickets
Fri 27 Oct | Progress Theatre, Reading | Ray Gelato Alex Garnet “Tough Tenors” Quintet | Ray Gelato tenor sax, Alex Garnett tenor sax, Gunther Kurmayr piano, Manuel Alvarez bass, Matt Home drums | 7:30pm | £18.00 (£16.00 concessions) plus maximum 5% booking fee | Buy tickets
Stuart Henderson’s Remix Jazz Orchestra | Finchampstead
Fri 27 Oct | Stuart Henderson’s Remix Jazz Orchestra | Stuart Henderson trumpet, line up see web site | Finchampstead | Memorial Hall, RG40 4JU | http://www.remixjazzorchestra.co.uk/ | 8.30pm | Price TBC
Amber & the Professors EP Launch Vintage Ball | Shiplake
Fri 27 Oct | Amber & the Professors EP Launch Vintage Ball | Shiplake Memorial Hall, Memorial Avenue, Shiplake Cross, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 4DN | Doors: 7.15 | Tickets include Prosecco, 3-course dinner, CD and return Red Routemaster trip from Reading Station: £40 online at www.trybooking.co.uk/book/
Hungerford Jazz Forum Jam Session | Hungerford
Fri 27 Oct | Hungerford Jazz Forum Jam Session | Hungerford | Royal British Legion | 8.00pm | £2.00
Two back to back gigs with Johnty Wilks: – Sax in the City – full of sizzling sax at 6.15 pm | And: – Deep Deep Sax at 8.30pm | Reading
Sax in the City – full of sizzling sax | Reading
Sat 28 Oct | Sax in the City | Johnty Wilks (soprano & alto saxes, wind synthesiser), K Darling (fretless bass/programming) | Reading | South Street Arts Centre | 6:15pm | £14 advance, £17 door, Combo tickets: Sax in the City + Johnty Wilks (as below): £27/£32 door | Booking: South Street Arts Centre | Box Office: 0118 960 6060
Johnty Wilks – Deep Deep Sax | Reading
Sat 28 Oct | Johnty Wilks | Johnty Wilks (soprano & alto saxes, wind synthesiser), K Darling (u-bass/fretless bass, programming) | Reading | South Street Arts Centre | 8:30pm | £19 advance, £22 door, Combo tickets: Sax in the City (as above) + Johnty Wilks: £27/£32 door | Booking: South Street Arts Centre | Box Office: 0118 960 6060
Dinner jazz at The Angel – Lea Lyle Quartet | Woolhampton
Sat 28 Oct | Dinner jazz at The Angel – Lea Lyle Quartet | Lea Lyle vocals, Phil Craddock piano, Terry Davis bass, Jim Wade drums | Woolhampton | The Angel | 8pm | No charge
Hugh Turner Heavy Funk Quartet | Reading
Sat 28 Oct | Hugh Turner Heavy Funk Quartet | Hugh Turner guitar, Frankie Tontoh drums, Anatoliy Vyacheslavov tenor saxophone, Stefan Redtenbacher, bass) | Reading | Global Cafe | 10pm | £4
Sunday Jazz at The Retreat – Stuart Henderson with Ian Bailey and the Simon Price Trio
Sun 29 Oct | Sunday Jazz at The Retreat | Stuart Henderson trumpet, Ian Bailey sax, Pete Billington piano, Esther Ng bass, Simon Price drums | Reading | Retreat Pub | 3.30pm | No charge
The Mollycules Band | Cholsey
Sun 29 Oct | The Mollycules Band | Molly Graham vocals, Tim Dawes piano, Al Pirrie bass, Noah Stone drums | Cholsey | The Red Lion | 6:30pm-8:30pm | No charge
Mike Miller Trio | Basingstoke
Sun 29 Oct | Mike Miller Trio with Dave Chedgey double bass, Nick Monnas drums, Mike Miller guitar | Basingstoke | Tea Bar | 1 pm | Tea for two £20
Spectacular Swanage Jazz Festival Fundraiser | Swanage
Sun 29 Oct | Spectacular Swanage Jazz Festival Fundraiser | Musicians include Martin Taylor guitar (performing both solo and with the band), Steve Brown drums, Dave Newton piano, Dario Di Lecce double bass, Simon Spillet tenor sax, George Hogg trumpet, Ian Bateman trombone, Tony Kofi alto sax, Nigel Price guitar and Byron Wallen trumpet | Swanage | Mowlem Theatre | 7pm | Only £20! | Theatre box office 01929 422239, or online at http://www.mowlemtheatre.co.uk | All proceeds go towards the Swanage Jazz Festival start up fund.
Organiser Nigel Price says “we’ll be playing a rip-roaring set in a ‘Jazz at the Philharmonic’ style. Expect trumpet battles, tenor battles, a swinging rhythm section and some of the finest playing you’ll ever hear!”
Fleur Stevenson and Hugh Turner duo | Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell
Sunday 29 Oct | Fleur Stevenson and Hugh Turner duo | Fleur Stevenson vocals, Hugh Turner guitar | Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell | The Red Lion | 5-7pm | Table reservations: 01491 837373
Jackie Doe and the Uncertainty of Passion | Reading
Sun 29 Oct | Jackie Doe and the Uncertainty of Passion | Reading | Global Cafe | 7:00pm | Donations
Senanes3 | Reading
Mon 30 Oct | Senanes3 | Argentinian trio from Buenos Aires | Reading | Global Cafe | 7:30pm | £5
October
I cannot believe that it was May when I wrote my last Blog and I was soon to depart on my main summer holiday. When I returned late June, we had seen the demise of the Tory majority and Reading East returned to Labour. The fun has not stopped in that regard. There were some very good gigs during the summer, but the scene was quieter than previous years over the summer months and into September. Now things are hotting up.
We must welcome ace guitar veteran Jim Mullen at Norden Farm, Maidenhead. Jim was very ill at the turn of the year and could not perform for several months, but he now back on the road and in good company on the 20th.
The London Jazz Festival arrives in November, but we have an exciting festival nearer to hand this month: The Guildford Jazz Festival runs over a weekend from the 20th until late on the 22nd over several venues in the town. I do not recall this festival in previous years and have not even read anything about it in the media. Curated by Denis Rollins of funky trombone and community events renown, there is a plethora of names and styles to entice you from the comfort of your hearths. To name a few; Ruby Turner, Sax Appeal in big band and combo format, Joe Stilgo, Clare Teal, Mica Paris, Byron Wallen, Martin Shaw, Courtney Pine, Soweto Kinch, Jazz Jamaica. There are many others and also some interesting projects. A must for serious jazz fans.
Jagz in Ascot hosts the monthly Sunday lunch gigs over the Autumn Winter and Spring and a regular is Ex Pat Benn Clatworthy who visits annually from Los Angeles. He appears on the 22nd and never fails to dig deep on his tenor, makes the standards fresh and his originals sparkle.
Jazz In Reading at Progress Theatre has a couple of “Tough Tenors” lined up in the shape Alex Garnett and Ray Gelato with their gang of outstanding musicians. I saw them at Jagz earlier this year and highly recommend the gig on the 27th.
Local axeman Hugh Turner brings a funky line up to The Global Cafe in Reading on the 28th and you can be sure that the joint will be jumping.
I must sneak in one gig that is happening 3rd November. The NYJO makes their annual appearance at the Kenton Theatre, Henley. I really must try to get to this, as I have as yet to make a gig of theirs, which is a terrible confession.
You can find all these events listed on the gigs calendar with links to the venues for tickets.
My November highlights will definitely appear in a few weeks.
Enjoy live Jazz.
Bob
Jazz n Stuff
The Definite Collective | Reading
Tues 31 Oct | The Definite Collective | Jamie Howell guitar, Matthew McNaughton sax, James Newman, bass, Tony Imbierski, organ, Monte Hall, percussion, Paul Glover , drums | Reading | Global Cafe | 9pm | Donations
