Jazz Northampton - Jazzco, promoting contemporary Jazz in Northamptonshire
JAZZ DIARY :: (all gigs start at 8pm unless otherwise stated)
Thursday, September 18 - The Castle - THE STAN TRACEY TRIO £12 (£10)
Stan Tracey - piano, Andy Cleyndert - bass, Clark Tracey - drums
Stan is finally finding the legendary status he deserves and, with his regular rhythm section, establishes a tight musical unit that continues to find new interpretations and insights in the jazz repertoire. His percussive piano style finds a rare freedom in this setting. Book early for what is likely to be a sell-out in the studio.
'Tracey's piano-playing just goes on getting better. It grips you from the very first note with its twists and turns, its droll asides, its romping good humour tinged with plangent melancholy' DAVE GELLY, THE OBSERVER
Thursday, October 9 - The Black Bottom Club - THE DON WELLER QUARTET £10 (£8)
Don Weller - tenor saxophone, Dave Green - piano, Andy Cleyndert - bass, Dave Barry - drums
A great opportunity to hear what is probably one of the best-loved modern jazz quartets playing in this country. This band has a uniquely British flavour: the sort of sound that the late, lamented Appleby Jazz Festival was set up to celebrate. Don has toured with many jazz greats, including Stan Tracey and Gil Evans, but his own quartet is the perfect setting for his spirited, yet mellow playing. Individually, each band member is a giant on his instrument; collectively, they create some very special moments.
'Weller is one of the most adventurous tenor sax players on the British scene' JOHN FORDHAM, THE GUARDIAN
Thursday, October 23 - The Castle - JUTTA'S PARTY BAND £9 (£7)
Chris Garrick - violin, Pete Oxley - guitar, Dave Gordon - piano, Oli Hayhurst - bass, Russ Morgan - drums
This band came together as a blend of The Chris Garrick Quartet and Pete's band Curious Paradise, but plays a different repertoire from either of those groups. From their first session, JPB defined itself as a rollicking modern jazz combo, imbued with humour and a hard-swinging feistiness. Their repertoire comes from both standards from the bebop era and modern classics (Charlie Parker, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Egberto Gismonti) plus a selection of their own lively tunes.
'the ingredients of a remarkable evening; the result was jazz with a real edge and that all important contrast......this quintet sounded tight and imaginative from the first number, playing the whole evening with intensity and co-operation' OXFORD TIMES
Thursday, 13 November - The Black Bottom Club - THE ZOE RAHMAN BAND £10 (£8)
Idris Rahman - clarinet, Zoe Rahman - piano, Oli Hayhurst - bass, Patrick Illingworth - drums
Although born and raised in Britain (she studied music at Oxford University and jazz performance at Berklee College in the US), Zoe likes to explore her mixed race background and connections with Bengali culture. This band, with her brother Idris on clarinet, plays a varied set, which allows an element of world music, as well as straight ahead jazz.
'One of the finest young pianists in Europe' DAVE GELLY, THE OBSERVER
Thursday, 20 November - The Castle - THE TRUDY KERR BAND £9 (£7)
Trudy Kerr - vocals, Tom Cawley - piano, Geoff Gascoigne - bass, Sebastiaan de Krom - drums
After starting out singing in piano bars and restaurants in her native Australia, Trudy moved to London in the 90s where she studied jazz at the Guildhall. Her first big break was when Ronnie Scott heard her sing and offered her a week at the Club supporting Monty Alexander and she has been a regular at Ronnie Scott's ever since. She is a singer whose musicianship shines through in a beautiful and subtle set, which presents fêted young pianist Tom Cawley on his first visit to the Castle.
'[Kerr's CD] Cloudburst is a striking homage to the instrumental jazz repertoire of Coltrane, Mingus, Monk and others........Boldly conceived and brilliantly executed.' PETER QUINN, JAZZWISE MAGAZINE
WEDNESDAY, 10 December - The Castle - ALEX GARNETT with THE PETE COX TRIO £9 (£7)
(Please note this event is the only one in our programme on a Wednesday)
Ben Parkinson - piano, Pete Cox - bass, Mal Garrett - drums
One of the UK's most in-demand session players, Alex has played with Van Morrison, Jools Holland Paul Weller and Albert King. On the jazz front he was schooled in the bands of Ray Gelato, Buddy Guy, Alan Barnes and more, and has emerged leading his own Jazz Ambassadors Band, which has been exciting audiences in Europe over the past few years. Expect a lively night as he plays with the Castle's very classy rhythm section.