Jazz Steps Brochure Jan - July 2010

JAZZ AROUND NOTTINGHAM & NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

EVAN CHRISTOPHER. PHOTO BY JIM MCGUIRE (2008)

JAN-JULY 2010

WWW.JAZZSTEPS.CO.UK

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BOOKING INFORMATION Children up to and including 16yr old's go free when accompanied by an adult Bonington Theatre only.

Tickets for Bonington Theatre events can be purchased in advance by cash, cheque (with valid cheque guarantee card) or debit card only from Arnold Leisure Centre in person or by phone on 0115 956 0733 (additional charge for postage), or on the door on the night of the performance, subject to availability, by cash, cheque or debit card.

Tickets for Lakeside Arts Centre events can be purchased in advance by cash, cheque (with valid cheque guarantee card), credit or debit card or on the night of the performance, subject to availability, from the Lakeside Box Office on 0115 846 7777 or online at www.lakesidearts.org.uk.

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THURSDAY 28TH JAN 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £15.00 £12 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

STAN TRACEY QUARTET THE GODFATHER OF BRITISH JAZZ SIMON ALLEN (TENOR/ALTO/SOPRANO) STAN TRACEY (PIANO) ANDREW CLEYNDERT (BASS) CLARK TRACEY (DRUMS) With over sixty years of experience, Stan Tracey, the Godfather of British Jazz, returns to the Bonington with the freshest sounding quartet he’s had for years.

Tracey revisits some of his classic material of swinging bebop, blues and beautiful ballads as well as showcasing his Grandad Suite, taken from his latest album, Senior Moment, featuring young saxophonist Simon Allen.

THURSDAY 4TH FEB 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

STAN SULZMANN SONNY SIDE UP CLASSIC TENOR SAX / GUITAR JAZZ STAN SULZMANN (REEDS) JIM MULLEN (GUITAR) STEVE WATTS (BASS) TRISTAN MAILLIOTT (DRUMS) When tenor sax legend Sonny Rollins took a sabbatical from jazz from 1959-61 he re-emerged on the scene with some excellent recordings with guitarist Jim Hall (The Bridge/What’s New/The Standard Sonny Rollins).

Stan Sulzmann revisits Rollins’ comeback years, a period of creative passion, intense improvisation and relaxed, absorbing melodies. Joined by ace guitarist Jim Mullen, these two British jazz stars pay homage to their 60s forebears in an evening of calypso, Latin-tinged tunes, standards and joyful music. After their gig at the 2009 London Jazz Festival, bassist Steve Watts declared, “I’ve never played so many happy tunes.”

04 THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £12.00 £10 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

EMPIRICAL

EXCITING AND ADVENTUROUS POST-BOP NATHANIEL FACEY (ALTO) LEWIS WRIGHT (VIBES) TOM FARMER (BASS) SHANEY FORBES (DRUMS) After storming onto the jazz scene in 2007, Empirical have won numerous awards in the UK and internationally for their exciting and adventurous music. Their smart post-bop style has drawn admiration on both sides of the Atlantic. This new formation with Lewis Wright on vibes has just released the album Out ‘n’ In, (inspired by Eric Dolphy’s 1964 classic Out to Lunch), which has been listed in Jazzwise’s top ten albums of the year in 2009. This is fiery contemporary jazz with an affectionate nod to their 60s forebears.

THURSDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £12.00 £10 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

MICK COADY QUARTET

FEATURING PETER KING

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STRAIGHT AHEAD TO CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

THURSDAY 4TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £12.00 £10 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

ROBBIE ROBSON (TRUMPET) PETER KING (ALTO) ROSS STANLEY (PIANO) MICK COADY (BASS) S TEVE KEOGH (DRUMS)

BASIL HODGE QUINTET

Mick Coady has become an important bass player on the UK jazz scene since his move to London in 2003. A regular performer with The Peter King Quartet and The Jim Hart Quartet, his authoritative bass playing easily complements any musical situation from straight ahead to contemporary jazz. He has put together a band of musicians that spans several generations of the British jazz fraternity, from the legendary Peter King on alto saxophone to the young and talented Ross Stanley on piano.

Steve Keogh has worked with Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz and Gilad Atzmon.

Robbie Robson’s contribution to the band extends beyond his excellent playing to include a number of new arrangements of familiar standards.

BLUE NOTE’S HEYDAY AND COLTRANE-ERA JAZZ FULVIO SIGURTA (TRUMPET) TONY KOFI (SAXES) BASIL HODGE (PIANO) LARRY BARTLEY (BASS) WINSTON CLIFFORD (DRUMS) Basil Hodge is one of the best kept secrets on the London jazz scene. His piano playing is at once driving and subtle and his compositions are an impressive blend of post-bop and Latin jazz, inspired by the open, fresh sound of Blue Note’s heyday and Coltrane-era jazz. Featuring saxophonist Tony Kofi and one of the finest rhythm sections in the country, Basil Hodge makes a rare but welcome return to the Bonington.

06 THURSDAY 11TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

GEOFF GASCOYNE PROJECT FAVOURITE POP SONGS ARRANGED FOR A JAZZ QUARTET GRAHAM BLEVINS (ALTO) JIM MULLEN (GUITAR) GEOFF GASCOYNE (BASS) SEBASTIAAN DE KROM (DRUMS) After 6 years of working with Jamie Cullum, star bass player, composer, and arranger Geoff Gascoyne returns with a new quartet. His latest CD, Pop-Bop, featuring Geoff’s favourite pop songs from the last 30 years arranged for a jazz quartet including the great Jim Mullen on guitar, fellow Cullum collaborator Sebastiaan de Krom and introduces a fiery young Australian alto sax player, Graeme Blevins. Geoff’s musical history features songs by The Stylistics, James Taylor, Diana Ross, Cat Stevens, Earth Wind and Fire and even a song by Take That, all given a new ‘Pop-Bop’ jazz treatment. If you’re coming to jazz for the first time, this is a great place to start.

07 THURSDAY 18TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £12.00 £10 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

MIKE WALKER SEXTET CONTEMPORARY JAZZ FUSION AT ITS BEST MIKE WALKER (GUITAR) IAIN DIXON (TENOR/BARITONE/CLARINET) LES CHISNALL (PIANO) MARK EDMONSTONE (KEYBOARDS) STEVE WATTS (BASS) PAT ILLINGWORTH (DRUMS) Mike Walker has finally stepped into the national limelight by after many years honing his craft in the North West. Amongst the many fine musicians that Mike has played and recorded with over the last 20 years, mention must be made of Dave Holland, John Taylor, Tal Farlow, Arild Anderson, George Russell and Bill Frisell. This is exciting, modern, original and brave music, composed and arranged with great class. The sextet jump from jazz to rock, from fusion to blues without being caught drunk at the wheel. Walker’s solos are amazing, sweet and spicy or bad and distorted when needed, with ferocious lyricism. Contemporary jazz fusion at its best.

THURSDAY 25TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

MARLENE VERPLANCK JAZZ-BASED SINGER OF CLASSIC AMERICAN SONGS MARLENE VERPLANCK (VOCALS) JOHN PEARCE (PIANO) PAUL MORGAN (BASS) BOBBY WORTH (DRUMS) Marlene has almost everything one could ask for in a jazz-based singer of classic American songs: a gorgeous, musically pliable sound, a solid understanding of the linkages between words and story, a sure and steady feel for rhythm. She is one of these hidden American national treasures, and has worked as a backing singer for Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and Tony Bennett, emerging as a leading solo performer in the 1970s, playing Carnegie Hall to rave reviews.

Supported by Isata Kanneh-Mason, winner of the Nottingham Young Musician of the Year 2008, returning by popular request.

LAKESIDE PRESENTS FRIDAY 26TH MAR 8PM DJANOGLY THEATRE, LAKESIDE ARTS CENTRE TICKETS £15/£12 CONCS £5 RESTRICTED VIEW

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DAN BERGLUND GROUP DAN BERGLUND (BASS) JOHAN LINDSTROEM (GUITAR) MARTIN HETEROS (PIANO) MAGNUS PERSSON (DRUMS) Dan Berglund became known worldwide as the bass player of EST, probably the most innovative jazz band of the last decade. After the tragic death of Esbjörn Svensson, Berglund has formed his own band and we’re delighted to be presenting them as part of their first UK tour. The new line-up of guitar, bass and drums takes up the baton from EST and Berglund’s compositions continue to be a powerful mix of jazz and electric rock.

THURSDAY 1ST APR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

THEO TRAVIS DOUBLE TALK FINE ENGLISH PSYCHEDELIC JAZZ THEO TRAVIS (REEDS) PETE WHITTAKER (HAMMOND ORGAN) MIKE OUTRAM (GUITAR) ROY DODDS (DRUMS) Saxophonist and flautist Theo Travis is a jazz adventurer. An everinquiring composer and improviser, he is equally at home refreshing jazz standards, interpreting Pink Floyd and King Crimson songs, collaborating with Robert Fripp, Soft Machine, or Gong. Travis’s latest group, Double Talk, creates music that’s by turns intensely physical, hauntingly atmospheric, passionately direct and infectiously grooving.

“This is rare, fine English psychedelic jazz.”MOJO magazine (4 stars)

09 THURSDAY 15TH APR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

KATE WILLIAMS QUINTET FEATURING BOBBY WELLINS TASTEFUL MODERN JAZZ WITH LEGENDARY SAXOPHONIST THURSDAY 8TH APR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

COMPASSIONATE DICTATORSHIP FROM FOLK TO FREE AND CONTEMPORARY JAZZ JEZ FRANKS (GUITAR) TORI FREESTONE (SAX) JULIE WALKINGTON (BASS) BEN REYNOLDS (DRUMS) Compassionate Dictatorship was born out of the collaboration between Jez Franks and Tori Freestone who have been playing and writing together since 1993.

This guitar and sax led quartet play original material that draws from a wide and eclectic range of influences from folk to free and contemporary jazz, often reminiscent of John Scofield’s Quartet with Joe Lovano. Creating fresh sounds and textures within interesting harmonic frameworks and varied meters, the musicians cleverly blend four distinct voices into one.

“One of the most exciting groups in recent years...this group excels with a controlled but intelligent energy, sophisticated but not lacking in spirit” Avant Music Magazine

GARETH LOCKRANE (FLUTE) KATE WILLIAMS (PIANO) OLI HAYHURST (BASS) TRISTAN MAILLIOTT (DRUMS) AND SPECIAL GUEST BOBBY WELLINS (TENOR) Bobby Wellins has played with a who’s who of the British jazz scene for over 50 years. His laid back tenor approach is perfectly complimented by inventive pianist Kate Williams, whose compositions range from the overtly lyrical to the tastefully percussive. Her regular quartet will present a challenge to Wellins, but after working with Stan Tracey for many years he will certainly rise to the occasion.

10 LAKESIDE PRESENTS WEDNESDAY 21ST APRIL 8PM DJANOGLY THEATRE, LAKESIDE ARTS CENTRE £15.00 /£12.00 (CONCS)

STEFANO BOLLANI TRIO STEFANO BOLLANI (PIANO) JESPER BODILSEN (BASS) MORTEN LUND (DRUMS) The remarkable Italian pianist Stefano Bollani returns to Lakeside with his Danish trio, a group that has been honing its improvisational understanding for the last six years. The three players move with immense subtlety through a fascinating and sophisticated programme that includes new pieces by Bollani and Bodilsen, plus ballads by Caetano Veloso and Antonio Carlos Jobim, as well as a piece by Poulenc. Bollani is a star of the international jazz scene, having won the European Jazz Prize in 2007. He has since performed in packed halls across Europe and the UK to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike. The Trio’s CD Stone in the Water on the ECM label was released last autumn.

THURSDAY 29TH APRIL 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £4

BIRD (15) DIRECTED BY CLINT EASTWOOD (161 MINS)

Forest Whittaker stars in this biographical account of Charlie Parker set in the heyday of bebop, focussing on Parker’s genius and the turbulent lifestyle that went with it.

Whittaker won the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award for his depiction of the rise and fall of a musical legend. Charles McPherson, Jon Faddis, and Ron Carter contribute to the soundtrack, with Parker’s original solos digitally dubbed over fresh backings by Lennie Niehaus.

THURSDAY 6TH MAY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

NICOLAS MEIER GROUP JAZZ-ROCK WITH FLAMENCO, LATIN AND MIDDLE-EASTERN RHYTHMS NICOLAS MEIER (GUITAR/SAZ) GILAD ATZMON (REEDS) PATRICK BETTISON (BASS) ASAF SIRKIS (DRUMS) Nicolas Meier returns to the Bonington for another evening of tourde-force guitar playing. Meier subtly blends jazz-rock with Flamenco, Latin and middle-eastern rhythms producing a deeply emotive ‘world jazz’. Longtime collaborators Atzmon and Sirkis, and bassist Bettison add layers of textures to this exciting and inventive guitarist.

“Since John McLaughlin melted frets with the Mahavishnu Orchestra we have become used to frenetic guitarled groups. None, however, quite mixes styles and sounds like that of Meier, a Swiss player as happy in flamenco and Arab melodies as he is in Western jazz.” - John Bungey, The Times

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12 THURSDAY 27TH MAY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

JOHN LAW TRIO SUBTLE AND MELODIC PIANO TRIO WITH A FUNKY EDGE THURSDAY 20TH MAY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £10.00 £8 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

RENATO D’AIELLO EUROPEAN QUINTET CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN JAZZ RENATO D’AIELLO (TENOR) CHRISTIAN BREWER (ALTO) GUIDO DI LEONE (GUITAR) NICOLA MERUSU (BASS) ANDREA MARCELLI (DRUMS) Italian saxophonist Renato D’Aiello studied in New York and has worked with Art Farmer, Steve Grossman, and Kirk Lightsey, and performs with regular bands in different parts of the world. He has a highly dramatic manner of playing and a willingness to take risks while demonstrating an infallible control over the instrument and a true feeling for the melody itself. Christian Brewer’s lyrical alto adds another voice to this excellent quintet.

“Italian saxophonist Renato D’Aiello oozes class. When he plays quietly the effect is like hearing an old friend kindly giving you some muchneeded advice.” - James Griffith, The Guardian

JOHN LAW (PIANO) SAM BURGESS (BASS) ASAF SIRKIS (DRUMS) John Law captivated the Bonington audience two years ago with his Art of Sound Trio. The beautiful, subtle and melodic interplay between the trio brought Brad Mehldau to mind.

The trio have developed over the past couple of years offering the same hypnotically lyrical grooves but now with a more rugged funkiness more typical of EST. This trio rivals any in Europe.

THURSDAY 3RD JUNE 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE TICKETS £12.00 £10 CONCS/£5 STUDENTS

EVAN CHRISTOPHER’S DJANGO À LA CRÉOLE

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FUSION OF GYPSY SWING WITH NEW ORLEANS EVAN CHRISTOPHER (CLARINET) DAVE BLENKHORN (GUITAR) DAVE KELBIE (GUITAR) SEBASTIEN GIRARDOT (BASS) Django à la Créole is the fusion of Gypsy swing with hot syncopations from the streets of New Orleans, the Caribbean and Brazil. Elegant and impassioned, New Orleans-based clarinetist Evan Christopher’s style is steeped in the tradition exemplified by early jazz masters such as Sidney Bechet, Jimmie Noone, and Barney Bigard. Together with guitarists David Blenkhorn, Dave Kelbie, and bassist Sebastien Girardot, the quartet celebrates the music of the legendary Django Reinhardt and enlivens swingera classics with fresh interpretations and virtuosic improvisations. “[Evan] is, in my estimation, not only the greatest jazz clarinetist alive, but one of the greatest of all time.” - Ahmet Ertegun, Atlantic Records

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BONINGTON THEATRE Arnold Leisure Centre, High Street, Arnold, Nottinghamshire NG5 7EE The Bonington Theatre is one of the best equipped theatres for its size in Nottinghamshire and is situated in the Arnold Leisure Centre complex in the centre of Arnold, just off the Mansfield Road (A60), 20 minutes from Nottingham city centre.

PARKING The Bonington Theatre has a large car park which stays open 24 hours a day and is free after 6pm. Please allow plenty of time for parking at busy times. Please note that the neighbouring Asda car park closes at 8.30pm.

BUSES INCLUDE: 58 from Nottingham city centre, via Mansfield Road (last bus from High Street 11.37pm – not Sundays).

87 from Nottingham City Centre, via City Hospital (last bus from Front Street 10.45pm).

25 from City via Carlton & Mapperley (last bus from Front Street 11.03pm – not Sunday).

71 from City via Basford, Bulwell & Rise Park – (last bus from Front Street 10.20pm – not Sunday).

Calverton Connection (last bus to City Centre from High Street 11.02pm, last bus to Calverton from Front Street 11.49pm).

Taxi services are available next door to the theatre.

Tel 0115 920 0200.

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LAKESIDE ARTS CENTRE University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD Lakeside, the University of Nottingham’s public arts centre, has established an enviable reputation for its year round programme of high quality exhibitions, music, theatre, dance, comedy and participatory events, appealing to audiences from across the region.

Located on the University Park campus, take the south entrance to the University, just off University Boulevard, (A6005) and follow signs to the Lakeside Arts Centre.

PARKING From the South Entrance, there is car parking immediately on the left and ample parking off Science Road to the right. Parking is free anywhere on the campus after 6pm.

BUSES INCLUDE: 13 from Nottingham City Centre to Beeston, (from University Boulevard, last bus to City Centre 10.45pm, last bus to Beeston 11.16pm).

Trent Barton Indigo from Nottingham City Centre to Long Eaton/Derby (from University Boulevard, last bus to City Centre 12.39am, last bus to Long Eaton 11.53pm) Taxi services from Beeston. Tel 0115 922 6225.

For further bus information please contact Nottingham City Transport 0115 950 6070 or Trent Barton 0871 200 2233.

THURSDAY 28TH JAN 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE STAN TRACEY QUARTET

THURSDAY 1ST APR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE THEO TRAVIS DOUBLE TALK

THURSDAY 4TH FEB 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE STAN SULZMANN

THURSDAY 8TH APR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE COMPASSIONATE DICTATORSHIP

THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE EMPIRICAL

THURSDAY 15TH APR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE KATE WILLIAMS QUINTET FEATURING BOBBY WELLINS -

THURSDAY 11TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE GEOFF GASCOYNE PROJECT THURSDAY 18TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE MIKE WALKER SEXTET THURSDAY 25TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE MARLENE VERPLANCK LAKESIDE PRESENTS FRIDAY 26TH MAR 8PM DJANOGLY THEATRE, LAKESIDE ARTS CENTRE DAN BERGLUND GROUP ALL LINE-UPS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT

THURSDAY 29TH APRIL 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE BIRD (15) THURSDAY 6TH MAY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE NICOLAS MEIER GROUP THURSDAY 20TH MAY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE RENATO D’AIELLO EUROPEAN QUINTET THURSDAY 27TH MAY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE JOHN LAW TRIO THURSDAY 3RD JUNE 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE EVAN CHRISTOPHER’S DJANGO À LA CRÉOLE

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DESIGN: TOM PARTRIDGE

THURSDAY 4TH MAR 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE BASIL HODGE QUINTET

LAKESIDE PRESENTS WEDNESDAY 21ST APRIL 8PM DJANOGLY THEATRE, LAKESIDE ARTS CENTRE STEFANO BOLLANI TRIO

MAIN PHOTOGRAPHY: BOB MEYRICK

THURSDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 8PM BONINGTON THEATRE MICK COADY QUARTET FEATURING PETER KING