Monthly Archives: September 2018
Mike Miller Trio | Sandhurst
Sun 2 Sep | Mike Miller Trio with David Chedgey double bass, Nick Monnas drums, Mike Miller guitar | Sandhurst | Wellington Arms |
3:00 pm | Free admission
Pangbourne Jazz Club | Denny Ilett Junior with the Terry Hutchins Trio
Sun 2 Sept / Denny Ilett and Terry Hutchins guitars, Brian Green drums, Keith Howard double bass | Pangbourne | PWMC | 7.30pm | £7.00
Ade Holland Trio | Caversham
Sun 2 Sep | Ade Holland Trio | Ade Holland guitar, Phil Mason
guitar/voc, Esther Ng bass | Caversham | The Griffin | 3.30 | no charge.
Dinner Jazz at The Crooked Billet | Stoke Row
Tue 4 Sept | Moscow Drug Club play 1930’s Berlin Cabaret, Hot Club de France, Nuevo Tango & Gypsy Campfire | The Crooked Billet | Dining 6.30 pm onwards | Music cover charge £15 | For reservations please call on 01491 681048
Jazz at the Four Horseshoes | Sherfield-on-Loddon
Tues 4 Sep | Equinox with Pauline Richings | Pauline Richings vocals, 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 Clive Burton Celebration Band with Robert Goodhew | Hedsor
Thur 6 Sept | The Clive Burton Celebration Band | Lester Brown trumpet, Robert Goodhew sax, Nigel Fox keyboard, Steve Riddle bass, Martin Hart drums | Hedsor | Hedsor Social Club – Jazz | Venue | 8:30pm | £7 on the door | free parking
Bracknell Jazz | Bracknell
Fri 7 Sep | Bracknell Jazz | Nikki Iles piano, Mark Hodgson bass, Tim Giles drums |Bracknell | South Hill Park Arts Centre | 7.30pm | £12 (£5.50 under 18s).
Mike Miller Trio | Dogmersfield
Sat 8 Sep | Mike Miller Trio with David Chedgey double bass, Nick Monnas drums, Mike Miller guitar | Dogmersfield Park | Four Seasons Hotel |
Time TBA | Free admission for diners only
Lea Lyle Quartet | Reading
Sun 9 Sep | Lea Lyle Quartet | Lea Lyle vocals, Phil Craddock, piano, Terry Davis bass, Jim Wade drums | Reading | The Global Cafe | 7:30pm | No charge
Gin and Jazz at the Three Guineas | Reading
Sun 9 Sep | Gin and Jazz at the Three Guineas | Fleur Stevenson vocals, Hugh Turner guitar | Reading | Three Guineas | From 2pm | No charge and tonic is free with all gins | In collaboration with Jazz in Reading
Jam in Reading – Mark Burton Quartet | Global Cafe | Reading
Tues 11 Sept | 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
Dinner Jazz at The Crooked Billet | Stoke Row
Wed 12 Sept | Purdy (Rebecca Poole) an outstanding singer with double bass & guitar accompaniment | The Crooked Billet | Dining 6.30 pm onwards | Music cover charge £20 | For reservations please call on 01491 681048
Andrew Cleyndert & Alexandra Ridout | Guildford – The Pavilion
Wed 12 Sept | Alexandra Ridout trumpet, Will Barry piano, Andy Cleyndert bass, Winston Clifford drums | The Pavilion Guildford | 8.00pm | £16/£14(in advance)
Bracknell Jazz | Bracknell
Wed 12 Sep | Bracknell Jazz | Olli Martin trombone, Simon Cook piano, Rudy Cook bass, Ted Hayes drums | Bracknell | South Hill Park Arts Centre | £10.50 (£5.50 under 18s).
The very best Trad Jazz at Reading Rugby Club | Sonning Lane
Wed 12 Sep | Traditional New Orleans – Dixieland style Jazz | Matt Palmer – The Eagle Jazz Band | Reading Rugby Club, Holme Park, Sonning Lane, Reading RG4 6ST | 7.00pm to 10.30pm | £10.00
The Clive Burton Celebration Band with Jess Cook | Hedsor
Thur 13 Sept | The Clive Burton Celebration Band | Jess Cook guitar, Mike Wills reeds, Nigel Fox keyboard, Steve Riddle bass, Martin Hart drums | Hedsor | Hedsor Social Club – Jazz | Venue | 8:30pm | £7 on the door | free parking
The Gap Gig | Derek Nash’s Salsa Band “Picante”
Fri 14 Sep | Derek Nash’s Salsa Band “Picante” | Goring Village Hall, Goring on Thames | Doors 7.30pm | Music 8pm | £15 | Ring 01491 874492 to book seats seats | Goring Gap Gigs
Matt Holland and Megan McConnell | Norden Farm, Maidenhead
Fri 14 Sept | Matt Holland trumpet, Megan McConnell vocals, Tom Temple Marlow piano, Jaime Wilkins bass, and Greg Nickolls drums | Maidenhead | Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Studio | 8.00pm | £15/£13/£5
Claire Jones: Jazz River Cruise | Reading
Sun 16 Sep | Claire Jones: Jazz River Cruise on The Caversham Princess | Claire Jones vocals, Rory McInroy piano, Marianne Windham bass, Jim Wade drums | Caversham Pier, Reading | Jazz River Cruise | | 2.15 – 5pm | Admission: £24.50
Fleur Stevenson and Pete Billington Duo | Wantage
Sun 16 Sept | Fleur Stevenson vocals, Pete Billington piano | The Greyhound Inn, Main Street, Letcombe Regis, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9JL | 6.30pm | Free admission | Reservations 01235 771969
Jazz in Fleet at The Harlington | Nigel Price with Vasilis Xenopoulos
Tue 18 Sept | Nigel Price with Vasilis Xenopoulos | for line up, see Fleet Jazz website | Fleet | Fleet Jazz Club | The Harlington | 8.00pm | £14
Julian Costello Quartet | The Spin, Oxford
Thur 20 Sept | Julian Costello Quartet | The Spin Oxford | Doors 8.30 for 9.00 | £12/£10/£6(students)
Jazz at the Magpie and Parrot – Lea Lyle Quartet | Shinfield
Thurs 20 Sep | Jazz at the Magpie and Parrot – Lea Lyle Quartet | Lea Lyle vocals, Phil Craddock piano, Phil Berry bass, Jim Wade drums | Shinfield | Magpie and Parrot | 8pm | £5
BBO Big Band Charity Night | Hedsor
Thur 20 Sept | BBO Big Band Charity Night | A sponsored evening to raise money for The Thames Valley Adventure Playground for Disabled Children | Hedsor | Hedsor Social Club – Jazz | Venue | 8:30pm | £7 on the door | free parking
Edd Keene – The Green Man | Didcot
Fri 21 Sep | Edd Keene – The Green Man | Edd Keene – Vocals, saxophone, flute, guitar, bass, percussion and more |Didcot | Rhythms at the Yurt | 8.00pm | Tickets
Fleur Stevenson and Pete Billington Duo | Reading
Fri 21 Sep | Fleur Stevenson vocals, Pete Billington piano | Browns Reading, Unit 5A, Oracle Centre, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2A | 7pm | Free admission
Esta & The Jazz Blues Hothouse | Windsor
Sat 22 Sep | Esta & The Jazz Blues Hothouse | Windsor | All Saints Church Dedworth Road SL4 4JW | 8pm | £12, tickets online or on the door (not guaranteed).
Sunday Jazz at Jagz | Roger Beaujolais Quartet | Ascot
Sun 23 Sept | Roger Beaujolais vibes, Frank Harrison piano, Simon Thorpe bass, Winston Clifford drums | Ascot | Jagz | 12.30 to 3.30pm | £10
Stan Sulzman & Kate Williams | Guildford – Electric Theatre
Tue 25 Sept | Stan Sulzman sax, Kate Williams piano, Marianne Windham bass, Dave Ingamells drums | Electric Theatre Guildford | 7.30pm | £14 online or 01483 50120
The Clive Burton Band with Max Brittain & Duncan Lamont Jr | Hedsor
Thur 27 Sept | The Clive Burton Band with Max Brittain & Duncan Lamont Jr | Max Brittain guitar, Duncan Lamont Jr sax, Nigel Fox keyboard, Steve Riddle bass, Martin Hart drums | Hedsor | Hedsor Social Club – Jazz | Venue | 8:30pm | £7 on the door | free parking
Fleur Stevenson’s Jazz Singers’ Night | Reading
Thurs 27 Sept | Fleur Stevenson vocals/ host, Pete Billington piano, TBC bass, Paul Glover drums | Global Cafe | 9pm | Free admission
Jazz at Progress | Elftet | Buy tickets – Sold out
Fri 28 Sep | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7:30pm | £16.00 (£14.00 concessions) plus maximum 5% booking fee | Ella Hohnen Ford vocals & flute, James Davison trumpet & flugel, Tom Smith alto & tenor sax & flute, George Millard tenor sax & bass clarinet, Rory Ingham trombone, Dom Ingham violin & vocals, Laura Armstrong cello, Read more…
Jazz at Progress | Elftet | Review
Friday 28 September, Progress Theatre, Reading
Jonny Mansfield vibes & leader, James Davison trumpet & flugelhorn, Rory Ingham trombone, Tom Smith alto saxophone, Sam Rapley tenor saxophone & bass clarinet, Dom Ingham violin & vocals, Ella Hohnen Ford vocals & flute, Laura Armstrong cello, Oliver Mason guitar, Will Harris bass guitar, Boz Martin-Jones drums.
We can’t say that we weren’t warned. Just a few weeks ago Jonny Mansfield, appearing with Jam Experiment, accepted an invitation to join Jazz in Reading’s Bob Draper on the Progress stage for a brief interview to promote his forthcoming Elftet concert. ‘Why an Elftet?’ asked an incredulous Bob. ‘An eleven-piece band!’ ‘It gives me the chance to write for a broad musical palette and to create colours and textures beyond what’s possible in a small group,’ replied Mansfield.
And how! Jonny’s self-effacing response gave no hint of the immense power that eleven musicians, at the top of their game on the penultimate night of a thirteen-gig national tour, can generate. To say we were blown away is an under-statement. It’s certainly no exaggeration to say that those privileged to be in the audience bore witness to the arrival of a major new instrumental and writing talent on the jazz scene. ‘It was like a breath of fresh air,’ remarked one stalwart of Jazz at Progress. For others, this writer included, it prompted memories of Messrs. Gibbs, Garrick and Westbrook in the nineteen-sixties and the later glories of Kenny Wheeler and Loose Tubes; bands which broke the established mould and added a new dimension to ensemble jazz.
Even in this day and age of heightened awareness of gender inequality, the jazz world is still dominated by all-male groups, where a female vocalist may be the only acknowledgement of women’s contribution to this area of music. Here, it was wonderfully refreshing to see two women, Ella Hohnen Ford and Laura Armstrong, absolutely intrinsic to the band line-up, performing as equal members of the ensemble and its improvising soloists, both of whose individual qualities added superbly to the unique sound of Elftet.
Mansfield may never have stepped into a sailing boat, as he admitted in his introduction to ‘Sailing’, but his impression of what he thought it might be like was the most perfect evocation of the experience that I can imagine. The blasts of Rory Ingham’s declamatory trombone launched the piece into motion. Alert to the challenges and ever-changing rhythms of wind and tide depicted by Mansfield’s arrangement, Ella Hohnen Ford, her wordless vocal blending beautifully with Dom Ingham’s violin, held a firm grasp on the tiller and brought the boat safely home. One couldn’t fail to be impressed by the startling originality of Mansfield’s writing, played with the spirit and gusto of a New Orleans street band, and the subtlety of the instrumental voicings. As he commented in his interview with Bob Draper, ‘Writing a tune is straightforward. Making it work for the ensemble takes a lot longer.’
Mansfield’s ear for putting together an interesting programme was fully in evidence in the next two numbers played back-to-back. ‘Falling’, a gentle lullaby inspired by ‘Golden Slumbers’ a poem by Thomas Dekker, contrasted brilliantly with ‘For You’, an almost pastoral piece, featuring the dazzling inventiveness of James Davison, winner of this year’s Musicians’ Company Young Musician Competition* on flugelhorn and the featherlight alto saxophone of Tom Smith. It finished with some stunning Gospel-like chords.
Sadly, ladybird’s are now rare visitors to my garden. Mansfield’s next piece, ‘Wings’, an interpretation of the traditional nursery rhyme ‘Burnie Bee’, used his vibes in a gorgeous combination with Ella Hohnen Ford’s voice, the violin of Dom Ingham, Laura Armstrong’s cello and Sam Rapley’s bass clarinet to capture the exquisite beauty of this well-loved creature. But there is a darker aspect to this seemingly benign beetle, as Mansfield made clear in a vibes solo of growing intensity; it can exude a pungent fluid to ward off its enemies – ants, birds … people!
‘Flying Kites’ completed the first set. As with earlier pieces, Mansfield used the full resources of the ensemble, in this instance to create a vivid image of the joys and frustrations of flying a kite. The bass guitar of Will Harris anchored the kite firmly to the ground, while each player in turn helped to launch it into the sky; fantastic guitar from Oliver Mason, whose playing was a constant delight throughout the evening, pizzicato violin from Dom Ingham and a show-stopping drum solo from Boz Martin-Jones.
The second set opened with the thoughtfully reflective ‘Silhouette’, which amongst many delights featured a wonderfully free-form vibes solo by the leader with the rhythm section in support, the resonant tones of Sam Rapley’s bass clarinet and a ripping alto solo by Tom Smith.
Mansfield crowned the evening with ‘Tim Smoth’s Big Day Out’. This imaginative and extraordinarily ambitious suite, lasting a full forty-five minutes, featured the ensemble members as soloists or in a variety of instrumental groupings that fully expressed the poetic qualities of Mansfield’s writing. The repetition of a seemingly simple vocal line, from which Ford drew scope for endless variations, linked the respective parts together. One was almost overawed by the emotional maturity and technical brilliance of each player and their determination to push the music to the utmost limits. Tom Smith’s (Yes, the play-on-words of the title scarcely disguises that this piece was written specifically for him as a tribute to his constant inspiration as a musician who always ‘questions what is possible’) unaccompanied alto solo, modelled on the work of American saxophone virtuoso Colin Stetson, held the audience spellbound as he extracted sounds from his instrument that no one could have imagined previously existed.
‘Present’, was written for fellow vibes player Jim Hart after he recommended that Mansfield read Eckhart Tolle’s ‘The Power of Now’. It brought the concert to rip-roaring close.
Jonny Mansfield is a worthy recipient of the 2018 Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize awarded to a graduating musician at the Royal Academy of Music who demonstrates excellence in performance and composition. This has led to a recording opportunity, which features Elftet with special guests, Chris Potter on saxophone, Kit Downes on Hammond organ and Gareth Lockrane on flute. The album will be released on Edition Records early next year.
On Saturday 13th October he will be leading Elftet at the Marsden Jazz Festival with the presentation of ‘On Marsden Moor’, a specially commissioned suite that combines the instrumental ensemble with song and spoken word. This will be recorded by BBC Radio 3 and broadcast at 11pm on Monday 12th November.
As ever, our thanks to the Progress Theatre ‘house-team’ for their hospitality and the excellent quality of the sound and lighting.
I should like to round-off this review with the following comment; written by Marc Edwards, a gentleman who works tirelessly to promote emerging-jazz talent in the UK, but I feel sure, shared by many:
‘A fabulous night at Progress. With players, bandleaders and composers of this calibre, the future of new music, powered by such a breadth of influences is bright.’
Review posted here by kind permission of Trevor Bannister.
Photo by Zoë White Photography
* Other finalists in this competition included saxophonist Alex Hitchcock, and bassist Joe Downard, both of whom will be familiar to Progress audiences.
Hungerford Jazz Forum Jam Session | Hungerford
Fri 28 Sep | Hungerford Jazz Forum Jam Session | Hungerford | Royal British Legion | 8.00pm | £2.00
The Supertonics Big Band | Bracknell
Sat 29 Sep | The Supertonics Big Band, featuring vocalist Tricia Bassett – popular 17-piece Swing Band | Organised by, and in aid of, the Wokingham-based charity Soulscape | Bracknell | Jennett’s Park, Bracknell RG12 8EB | 7.30pm | Tickets £12, reserve in advance at www.thesupertonics.co.uk or 07739-314261 or davidbennett470@gmail.com
Dinner Jazz at the Angel – Lea Lyle | Woolhampton
Sat 29 Sep | Dinner Jazz at the Angel – Lea Lyle | Lea Lyle vocals, Phil Craddock piano, Jamie Howell bass, Jim Wade drums | Woolhampton | The Angel | 8pm | No charge
Sunday Jazz at The Retreat – Stuart Henderson with Toliy Vyacheslavov and the Simon Price Trio
Sun 30 Sept | Sunday Jazz at The Retreat | Stuart Henderson Toliy Vyacheslavov and the Simon Price Trio | Reading | Retreat Pub | 3.30pm | No charge
Mike Miller Trio | Basingstoke
Sun 30 Sep | Mike Miller Trio with David Chedgey double bass, Nick Monnas drums, Mike Miller guitar | Basingstoke | Tea Bar | 1:00 pm | Free admission | Tea for two £25
