Well its nearly here the 2011 Scarborough Jazz Festival and we are all very excited about this year’s event taking place in the newly renovated Spa Complex .
There’s a pronounced French accent at the 2011 festival: the exhilarating multi-instrumental ‘Hadouk Trio’; the electrifying Paris based singer, Mina Agossi; the legendary Jacques Loussier, undoubtedly one of the key pianists of his generation, and some of the finest French jazz performers in the state promoted ‘Orchestre National de Jazz’;
We have two other big combos: the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and the Tommy Evans Orchestra. And in the programme you will find some of the very best jazz in the UK.
Evalutions were very positive last year. Typical comments were: ‘The highlight of my year!’; ‘As always a fine and varied line-up with the Director unafraid to take the odd risk.’ And from Washington USA, ‘One of the best I have attended ever, including 35 years at Monterey and 6 at the original Newport.’
Hope you will join in the fun with us.
Mike Gordon
Compere: Alan Barnes
At the British Jazz awards in December 2010 nobody received more than one award – except Alan Barnes who won a staggering four awards in the clarinet, alto saxophone, and miscellaneous instrument (baritone sax) categories and for best album. Alan is also a renowned composer and band leader. We don’t have the space to list the famous jazz bands he has played with and he has also appeared as a session musician on albums by Selina Jones, Bjork, Van Morrison, Bryan Ferry, ClareTeal and Jamie Cullum.
We are lucky to have him as a very knowledgeable and witty compere.
Hadouk* Trio
This is a French trio of adventure-seeking multi-instrumentalists who are exciting, exhilarating and not to be missed. They are outstanding musicians with a truly international reputation: Didier Malherbe (duduk, flutes, ocarina, soprano saxophone, ), Loy Ehrlich ( Hajouj , gumbass, keyboards) and Steve Shehan (percussion and hang). In 2007 the band was awarded ‘French band of the year’ in the prestigious ‘Victoires de la Musique Jazz’. ‘They shifted effortlessly from gnashing, industrial-strength rock to ethereal jazz passages highlighted by Malherbe’s driving, haunting sax and flute touches.’ (Billboard Mag, Los Angeles)
*Hadouk is a word made from hajouj or gumbri, an African bass, and doudouk, an Armenian oboe.o
Liz Fletcher sings ‘Liz’
Liz will be singing numbers from her latest CD. Lee Gibson quotes liner notes from her previous recordings saying ‘she achieves that rare thing of being … both respectfully traditional and excitingly contemporary.’ ‘ and asks: ‘What makes a jazz singer? Buy these CDs and find out.’
In 2004 Liz recorded the album ‘Songs for Unsung Heroes’ written by world class saxophonist Alan Barnes and the highly acclaimed British playwright Alan Plater. This was followed by ‘The Seven Ages of Jazz’ (Mike Gordon’s idea and premiered with huge success at the 2006 Festival). Sadly Alan Plater died last year and Liz, joined by Alan Barnes, will be singing a tribute to him.
Liz will be supported by Gunther Kurmayr (piano), Sebastiaan De Krom (drums) and Geoff Gascoyne (bass).
Orchestre National de Jazz: ‘Shut Up And Dance’
As you would expect, France’s national jazz band has outstanding musicians and soloists who ‘embrace folk, contemporary-classical forms, jazz-rock themes that recall Frank Zappa, and fragments that grow into richly coloured, mobile shapes.’ (John Fordham)
‘Shut Up And Dance’ is ten remarkable compositions specially written by the internationally renowned New York drummer, composer and arranger, John Hollenbeck. Each piece is dedicated to a different orchestra musician tailored to their unique personality and language. The repertoire emphasizes the relationship between music and movement. Percussion is everywhere, a bone fide sequence of powerful melodic passages that blend the shades of a repeating musical sound, pygmy music, art music, electronic music, not to overlook a Gnawas’ trance or a Duke Ellington swing.
Kate Williams Quartet featuring Gareth Lockrane
Described by Humphrey Lyttleton as ‘ ... a superbly lucid and inventive pianist and composer ...’ Kate Williams has gained a distinctive reputation. She was born into a musical family: her father is the guitarist John Williams, her mother a classical pianist. She has released four CDs, each one to critical acclaim,.
Kate has performed with many of the UK’s leading musicians, including John Etheridge, Anita Wardell, Tim Whitehead and Julian Siegel.
Flautist Gareth Lockrane was a massive success at the 2006 Scarborough Jazz Festival bearing out the Guardian’s praise: ‘the formidable Lockrane ... a stunning display of sharp-accented runs, earthy whoops and constantly refreshed melodic ideas.’ The quartet is completed by two of the best jazz musicians around: Jeremy Brown (bass) and Tristan Maillot (drums).
Mark Nightingale Quintet
UK jazz stars Mark Nightingale and Nigel Hitchcock front-line this quintet with the backing of the stellar rhythm section of Laurence Cottle (bass), Ian Thomas (drums) and Graham Harvey (piano).
Trombonist Mark Nightingale has played on countless film soundtracks and TV shows, recorded for Sting, Tom Jones, The Spice Girls and Robbie Williams and played in the orchestras of Henry Mancini, Michel Legrand or Frank Sinatra. He has also performed with Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, James Morrison and Ray Brown.
In his late teens Nigel Hitchcock received three jazz awards: the Schlitz award for rising star, the Cleo Laine Personal Award for best young musician, and the Pat Smythe Trust award (voted for by musicians). He is now recognized as a world class saxophonist.
Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Express
The Orient House Expresshas toured all over the world. The founder, Israeli born Gilad Altzmon is a multi-instrumentalist playing soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxes, clarinet and flutes. His albums, of which he has recorded nine to date, often explore political themes and the music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, as well as jazz.
As a member of the Blockheads Gilad has also recorded with Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney. Influenced by Coltrane’s powerful approach on the sax, Gilad's live performances are simply breathtaking and overwhelming.
‘Atzmon's fluid lyricism is in full flow on songbook classics and worldly originals. But as sweet romance morphs to modernist uncertainty, the bittersweet balance and rich emotional palette equally impress.’ (Financial Times)
National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO)
NYJO is recognised as a world-class jazz orchestra and as a glittering showcase for the country’s best young musicians with many top British jazz musicians rising through its ranks.
NYJO is known for its unique swinging big band sound. Much of its music is especially written for the orchestra by British composers. The music repertoire is huge, covering a wide variety of styles suitable for different occasions. NYJO regularly tops the bill at festivals, has made numerous TV and radio programmes, recorded around forty albums, and visited most European Countries as well the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Mina Agossi Trio
Sexy, funky and funny, Mina Agossi has turned jazz singing into an entirely new musical form. With her deeply expressive voice, winsomely theatrical performing style and individual take on drum n bass, the Benin-born, Paris based singer brings jazz standards slap-bang into the current age and turns rock songs by Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd into vehicles of seduction and wit.
Mina has performed at prestigious venues across the world including the Montreux and London jazz festivals and the Blue Note, New York. Last year she was nominated for the Victories of Jazz event. Mina has developed a wonderful musical rapport with bass player Eric Jacot and the Japanese drummer Ichiro Onoe.
Jacques Loussier Trio
What an incredible coup to have this jazz giant in Scarborough. French pianist and composer, Jacques Loussier, demonstrated tremendous ability at the age of ten. His compositions were praised by Fauré and Camille Saint-Saëns and his prodigious piano talents were encouraged by Debussy. In 1959 Loussiere founded the ‘Play Bach Trio’, which used Bach’s compositions as the basis for jazz improvisation. The group achieved an amazing breakthrough to popular commercial success. In fifteen years the trio sold over six million albums. Loussier feels his new trio - with Andre Arpino (drums) and Benoit Denoyer de Segonzac (bass) - has far more stylistic range than its predecessor and combines jazz, rock and contemporary classical ideas with a mix of jazz and Bach.
Matt Anderson’s ‘Songs of the Ridings’
Composed and arranged by Jazz Yorkshire ‘Futures’ saxophonist Matt Anderson, this new commission from Creative North Yorkshire celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Yorkshire through original compositions and adaptations of traditional material. With a vocal/saxophone-led jazz quintet featuring well-known artists vocalist Kari Bleivik (Røyst, Tommy Evans Orchestra), pianist Jamil Sheriff (David Liebman, Jamil Sheriff Octet and Big Band), John Marley (double-bass) and Sam Gardner (drums), this meeting of the folk and contemporary jazz traditions promises a relevant and accessible set of music. To celebrate the first performance of the new project, Scarborough Jazz Festival has also commissioned a suite of original pieces to form part of the work.
Andreas Varady Quartet
American bassist Mike Janisch emailed Mike Gordon: ‘There is a young 13 year old guitarist from Ireland, originally from Slovakia. His name is Andreas Varady, and he's a complete prodigy. Martin Taylor was floored by him and wants to do a duet recording with him. They flew me over to play on his debut album, and I was completely freaked out at how good he was. He's playing better than most professional guitarists all over the world, and has more natural talent than any young person I've ever seen.’
‘The CD arrived,’ said Mike, ’and after one listen I made the booking!’
With Andreas are Bandy Varady (guitar), David Lyttle (drums) and Mike Janisch.
In March Andreas became the youngest musician to headline at London’s legendary Ronnie Scott’s.
Christine Tobin Quartet
Christine Tobin’s sound is rich, authentic and deeply expressive and was praised by the Guardian both for the poetry of her compositions and her golden voice. Christine has received many accolades for her skills as a writer and arranger. Romantic and radical, Christine is a musical free spirit who blurs the lines to create her own unique style that is streetwise and eclectic. In 2008 she was named Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards.
Christne is backed by Phil Robson (guitar), Dave Whitford (double bass) and Gene Calderazzo (drums).
‘What draws me to her is her sound. I really like what she does and I find myself listening to what she says. I’m reminded that the voice is the primary source of all music.’ Mike Figgis, Director “Leaving Las Vegas”.
Tommy Evans Orchestra: ‘The Green Seagull’
The Green Seagull is a suite of music written by Tommy Evans, who also conducts the orchestra, and is inspired by the life of his uncle, David Partridge.
Barney Stevenson, Director of Marsden Jazz Festival, which commissioned the piece, said: "I was absolutely blown away … I was standing at the back of The Mechanics Hall with tears streaming down my face! It was a magical highlight of Marsden Jazz Festival 2010 for me. The density and intensity of sound Tommy gets from just twelve musicians is stunning - I found the inclusion of three mostly wordless vocal parts particularly affecting. The layers of sound built up into a mesmerizing epiphany of music ...’
Alan Barnes and William Ellis ‘On Stage’
William Ellis, one of the world’s leading jazz photographers, is also an informative and highly entertaining international speaker. As his photographs are screened, William will give the story behind each shot, and Alan will lead an all-star band performing a piece by each selected musician.
Saxophonists Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins and Illinois Jaquet will be spotlighted, and the inclusion of trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Clark Terry make the presence of the mighty Bruce Adams essential. The David Newton trio will swing as intensely as usual with works by Herbie Hancock and Horace Silver. Sprinkle in some Mingus and this will be a brilliant insight into the players behind some of the greatest jazz ever heard.
(Parental guidance advised. Strobe lighting, swearing, drug taking and some nudity)
FRINGE EVENTS
Scarborough Jazz @ The Cask
Cambridge Terrace, Scarborough
Wednesday 21 September 8.45pm Entry £3
Nicola Farnon Trio
Nicola is a vocalist who plays the double bass. Humphrey Lyttleton said of her: ‘She's a remarkable performer on stage, a fine singer and an outstandingly swinging and propulsive bass player with an outgoing personality to match ... I declare that she is a class act, a sure fire hit!’
Accompanied by Piero Tucci - .... ‘a jazzer's dream, as unpretentiously skillful on keys as he is on sax.’ Sandman Magazine - and the swinging and driving force of Phil Johnson on drums.
www.nicolafarnonmusic.com
Saturday 24 September 5.30pm FREE EVENT
Scarborough Spa, Sun Court Enclosure
The Eastern Area Schools Youth Jazz Orchestra
Following a morning workshop in the Sun Court led by pianist Kate Williams and flautist Gareth Lockrane – an entertaining and interesting event which anyone is welcome to attend – the tutors will take part in the afternoon interval performance. Why not come along and have a drink or some food whilst you listen.
Sunday 25 September 5.30pm FREE EVENT
Scarborough Spa, Sun Court Enclosure
Yoruba
United by their love for high-energy Afro-Cuban music, Salsa and Jazz, Yoruba are a powerful young band intent on pushing Latin Jazz boundaries. Led by pianist/composer Aron Kyne and comprising of some of the hottest young talent from the North they have been turning heads everywhere they go. Drawing together a diverse mix of influences Yoruba has its own take on Latin Jazz, blending beautiful harmonies with syncopated rhythms and fiery solos with a massive horn section sound.
Artist in Residence: Shirley Sheppard
Shirley will be drawing the musicians as they perform. Works from the current festival and previous years will be on display and for sale. Shirley says: ‘Drawing live gives the feel and effect of the moment. The musician is continually moving and the drawer becomes part of that movement on paper.’
Mike Jackson’s Jazz Images
Local jazz photographer Mike Jackson returns this year with a new exhibition entitled 'Scarborough Jazz' featuring some new images from last year’s and previous Scarborough Jazz Festivals.
Jazz Shots from Alan Ainsworth
their set list with their new lineup before taking their righful place back
Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics and revered folk veterans Martin
