Nairn International Jazz Festival
2005
Sunday the 7th of August until Saturday the 13th of August 2005
Firstly, it is with a big thanks given to Ken Ramage, organiser of the Nairn International Jazz Festival, in being able to bring in a wealth of global talented jazz artists to the Moray Firth, North East Coast of Scotland, which in effect faces West, for Nairn's yearly festival of jazz music.
The Inverness Courier of Tuesday the 9th of August 2005 carried a review captioned, "Duke introduced Joe to Nairn playing partner" by Kenny Mathieson, which boosted up my appetite for that particular jazz session that was to lay ahead next day on the Wednesday the 10th of August at the Swallow Newton Hotel, Highland Conference Centre, Nairn, Scotland.
Kenny opens his review with the director's (Ken Ramage) enthusiasms for his long established tradition of bring in great American pianists to Nairn, naming some greats of the past brought in by him, that is to say with elaboration of the caption for the non-aficionados, as both pianist Mulgrew Miller of Greenwood, Mississippi, USA, and, multi-reeds player, New York based Joe Temperley who was born in Scotland, both having been members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, thus having met each other previously had made it ideal under the Ellington circumstances for their 10th of August programme renewed union to run beautifully.
The top photo is taken at the drive-in entrance to the hotel situated on the main Inverness to Aberdeen A96 bus route,
and, the one on the left is taken from my hotel room window.
After spending several interesting hours in the town since the sleeper from London arrived there, I left Inverness in the afternoon travelling on the Aberdeen bus which dropped me off at the hotel entrance drive-in, as shown on the top photograph. The walk along the tree-lined, shaded, avenue to check into the hotel was invigorating and exciting in thought of what was to lie ahead.
I booked into the Swallow Newton Hotel, as it turned out sadly for only just four days of the festival, those being from Monday the 8th of August to Thursday the 11th of August, thus missing out on Niki Harris, for seventeen years the right hand lady of Madonna on Sunday the 7th and, the International Jazz Band on Friday the 12th, and more, and for the finally, the Seventeen Piece Count Basie Orchestra on Saturday the 13th of August 2005, giving no excuse for the same.
It did not take me long to settle in, put on my walking boots, the ones that had passed over the Cairngorms from Marr Lodge in the East to Aviemore in the West, and I then set off on the short walk down to the Golf View Hotel partaking of a coffee sending me off walking along sea-shore pathway past the Golf Course.
The photo on the left is taken from the Golf View Hotel, the one on the right is of the lounge where I had the coffee.
SUNSET
ON MORAY
FIRTH
An area of the North Sea between Highland and Grampian Regions (Scenes from Nairn to Cromarty) east Scotland.
Evan Christopher - Celebrating Bechet
at 8pm, Monday 8 August, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Evan Christopher (cl); Duke Heitger (tpt); John Sheridan (pno);
Andrew Cleyndert (str bs); Tony de Nicola (drms)
It was the first time that I’d heard this very fine clarinettist from New Orleans, and after his superb performance here at Nairn, the knowledge of him for his skills is bound to spread and lengthen throughout our Isles. The write-up in the Nairn Jazz Festival programme booklet makes stunning reading about him, and it goes on to tell us that he met John Sheridan, resident pianist and arranger in the Jim Cullum Jazz Band.
I was spellbound not only by the Evan Christopher lead jazz music, but by his style of playing on the clarinet in Bechet remembrance, also, recalling the classic Hot Five promotions photo of the Johnny Dodds stance in it, it came, because when Evan, who was seated close to the magnificent Newton pianoforte, the Christopher reflection on the inside of the open lid, each time he gave a cue prompt to pianist Sheridan in the run of the set, it greatly added to my enjoyment of his session.
Shortly before going to Nairn I had reviewed a Jazz Crusade double CD album of Sidney Bechet/Johnny Windhurst
"Best of the Jazz Nocturne Programs" for the Boston Jazz Society, and, the study of both the Bechet clarinet on them, and the Christopher Nairn session version, will undoubtedly widen the audience to sound out the fantastic, intricate, vagaries of suchlike woodwind jazz playing, articulated with such unbelievable ease and decorum alike.
Antti meets Marty
Tuesday 9th August, at 12 Noon, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Marty Grosz (gtr); Antti Sarpila (cl); Andrew Cleyndert (str bs)
Guitarist Marty Grosz started leading and playing in Dixieland, and
New Orleans bands in cities and towns in the USA.
The meet with Finnish clarinettist, Antti Sarpila became another brilliant string to his instrument, in more ways than one.
In opening with the song Chicago perhaps it was in him recalling the period in the 50s whilst
playing in that great jazz windy city.
Evergreens came flowing in, Sweet Sue, When You’re Smiling, Emaline all bringing rapturous applauses
from the full-house audience.
One of his attributes is of being a humorous raconteur on intros to his selected tunes, his solo stand-up recitation about an Hussar officer, perhaps one of a light cavalry regiment kitted out in dress uniform with much frogging, falling on bad times, but I can't remember whether Marty referred to him as a Hungarian, Russian, Serbian or British one, whoever it was,
the tale greatly introduced the follow-up tune I’m Just A Gigolo ending his concert, which 'brought-down' the
Nairn Highland Conference Room gathering of jazz fans with their appreciative applause.
The clarinettist’s musical affinity with the master guitarist was truly remarkable.
Duke Heitger’s New Orleans All Stars
"Remembering Brian Ogilvie"
at 8pm Tuesday 9th August
in The Universal Hall, Findhorn
Duke Heitger (tpt), Evan Christopher (cl), John Alred (tmb), Antti Sarpila
(tenor sax), John Sheriden (pno) Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
I was looking forward to hearing trumpeter Duke Heitger again based on what I’d heard of him last year.
This year 2005, his concert was in remembrance of saxophonist, Brian Ogilvie who died in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Brian was from New Orleans, and had become ill whilst in Nairn. He will be cherished
by his many fans and friends, and admired always for his saxophone playing.
The Heitger group played the session with emotion through That’s All a request from Brian’s wife. The Tony de Nicola drumbeats on Dinah were poignant, touching, intense and moving. Hear Me Talking To Yah a piano solo by John Sheridan was with feeling ‘out of this world’ in passion. The mellow toned trombonist, John Aldred on Makin' Summer was scintillating. With the reeds men in control supported by the excellent very fine string bass player, Andrew Cleyndert, there was little wonder that a prolonged applause from the fans got an encore on Sleepy Down South - sensational.
The special tale on me, which happened before I had to run off to catch the bus home to the Hotel from Findhorn to Nairn
will be told ‘down the line’ here, not the railway one.
The photo on the right is of Hawco VW, taken from my room window, that is one of the ten sponsors of the jazz festival.
Bob Wilber's New Generation Band
Wednesday 10th August, at 7pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Bob Wilber (reeds),Antti Sarpila (reeds), Luca Velotti (reeds), Rossano Sportiello (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
Bob Wilber is among my finest for far and wide of the small reeds players - brilliant.
I can recall the date Thursday 11 June 1992, "Conductor Artie Shaw and clarinettist Bob Wilber at the Royal Festival Hall, London", and the lovely black background photograph taken by David Sinclair of them highlighted that was published in the Kings Jazz Review magazine, a three volume hard back copy of the magazine was sent to the New York public library.
Two reviews published of that concert were, one by me "Wilber Plays Shaw and Mozart", and, the other one by
Vic Smith of Rotherham, who was invited back stage to meet Artie.
As Shaw was 82 when he conducted his Festival Hall concert, I’m not surprised that Wilber has today at Nairn created his "New Generation" band of international jazz artists, playing the music of Sidney Bechet and Benny Goodman, who he toured with in 1958, and other notables. In 1968, Bob was a founding member of "The World’s Greatest Jazz Band".
The very large Nairn audience showed their much appreciation to the New Generation group for its performances, and a special one was given to Italian curved (saxello) soprano saxophonist, Luca Velotti for his solo ballad of his country.
One jazz artist from South America in the group was unable to attend - I believe, family marriage.
The Bob Wilber session was a great success.
Mulgrew Miller and Joe Temperley
Wednesday 10th August, 10pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew (pno), Joe (reeds)
This concert was billed as an exclusive UK appearance by a giant of jazz piano, and a well known in Scotland baritone saxophone player based in New York.
See third opening paragraph of this review of the 2005 Nairn Jazz Festival, and we'll have some insight as to how the two talented musicians first met.
I was very fascinated by the calm approach Joe had to playing beautiful tunes, creating an unique, mellow sound on his instrument, an instrument in not long time past, was used in keeping tempo by many military bands.
The pianist flourished in his element in making use of the pianoforte to full extent whilst soloing on tunes completely new to me. His attentative approach on accompanying the admirable, delightfully pleasing, melodies coming from the saxophone that the multi-reeds player Joe Temperley was producing, will be imprinted on mind for time to come - memories.
The John Alred-Dan Barrett Quintet plus Two
Thursday 11th August, 1pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
John Alred (tmb), Dan Barrett (tmb), John Sheridan (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs),
Tony de Nicola (drms), Joe Temperley (bari sax), Rebecca Kilgore (vcls)
Out of the four days of attending the jazz concert over the festival period, this one was of special appeal to me as I was in wonderment in the way that the two American trombonists, band leaders in their own right, were at all times in harmony with each other with nice contrasting tone qualities, especially so that they seldom ever before got the chance to meet each other.
I enjoyed the body movements of vocalist Rebecca Kilgore as she took on the role of leader of the group introducing her songs to sing, among them being, one by the Fine and Mellow Billie Holiday or was it This Year’s Kisses or A Fine Romance or On What A Little Moonlight Can Do or Riffin’ The Scotch or perhaps Them There Eyes as Artie would have saw in 1938, perhaps not, but certainly any one of Billie Holiday’s scores of more songs, including Lover Man with Dizzy
would have been it - it was beautiful.
The leader Dan Barrett of the quintet plus two on Ory’s Creole Trombone with John Sheridan on piano was sparklingly great stuff.
The rendition of Poor Butterfly by Joe Temperley, perhaps played open on his baritone Eb saxophone was simply a masterpiece.
Both Andrew Cleyndert and Tony de Nicola on string bass and drums respectively got to solo more than once each, those two greats even with a wide, wide contrast in ages, the latter being the elder of the two does count, for throughout the concert/session they dearly made an invaluable contribution to its success.
Mulgrew Miller Trio
Thursday 11th August, 8pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew Miller (pno), Derrick Hodge (str bs), Rodney Green (drms)
The billing for the Mulgrew Miller Trio reads, "there’s an aura of Oscar Peterson that’s around the 50 year old American pianist. He’s a big man, with a penchant for swing. The trio is one of the strongest exponents of the genre in the world today, and here he is in Nairn for the very first time".
Unlike his session with Joe Temperley the previous day when his playing I felt most enjoyable to
listen to, the trio was enthusiastically frenetic and outwith my scene.
Yes - however and sadly, I had to turn in after the first set because I was to catch the 7.23 am train from Nairn to Inverness, the first leg of my long journey back home to Croydon, Surrey, England.
However I did sneak a glimpse of the Rodney Green shinning cymbal of his drum kit. It was indeed an Istanbul Agap Handmade one from Turkey - most interesting, and that goes to add something.
The photo is of the 2005 jazz festival programme
The Special Tale On Me
Note that there are no photographs of the jazz artists.
Reason, the use of flashlight has been classed as NOT being the done thing to do.
Perhaps a photo-call by a professional taking photos of the main jazz groups at a festival, with complimentary copies
given to the jazz artists, could be the way forward to ameliorate any ban on taking flash photography in jazz concerts.
All of my review has been written by memory as my memo pad, as I discovered, had lost the function of sound recording.
The Nairn Bookshop
The Nairn Bookshop is situated in the High Street, near where the street runs into Harbour Street close to the crossover throughway (A96) to Forres and Findhorn at Bridge Street that traverses over the
River Nairn.Nairn is a lovely town with much to offer having favourable weather throughout the year because of its enviable position on the map. It is a town that was granted its first royal charter by Alexander I in the
12th century, and, it is where I spent part of my youth being "called up" to Fort George near Ardersier,
which was built following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army at Culloden
just down the road a bit.
The Fort offers nice views over the Moray Firth and is a favoured spot to watch the dolphins, and is well worth a visit, which includes a large magazine, built to hold 2,500 barrels of gunpowder.
Last year I bought two jazz books from the shop, this year 2005 I bought another two. I recommend the jazz book that the lady in the picture is holding in her arms to all Nairn and Inverness jazz fans - well worth it, just like the four that I bought.
Comhairle Na Gaidhealtachd
Nairn Railway Station
jazz festival review to
The Highland Council et al
By
Ian King
Kings Jazz Review
Saturday the 20th of August 2005
KJR Home Page
Firstly, it is with a big thanks given to Ken Ramage, organiser of the Nairn International Jazz Festival, in being able to bring in a wealth of global talented jazz artists to the Moray Firth, North East Coast of Scotland, which in effect faces West, for Nairn's yearly festival of jazz music.
The Inverness Courier of Tuesday the 9th of August 2005 carried a review captioned, "Duke introduced Joe to Nairn playing partner" by Kenny Mathieson, which boosted up my appetite for that particular jazz session that was to lay ahead next day on the Wednesday the 10th of August at the Swallow Newton Hotel, Highland Conference Centre, Nairn, Scotland.
Kenny opens his review with the director's (Ken Ramage) enthusiasms for his long established tradition of bring in great American pianists to Nairn, naming some greats of the past brought in by him, that is to say with elaboration of the caption for the non-aficionados, as both pianist Mulgrew Miller of Greenwood, Mississippi, USA, and, multi-reeds player, New York based Joe Temperley who was born in Scotland, both having been members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, thus having met each other previously had made it ideal under the Ellington circumstances for their 10th of August programme renewed union to run beautifully.
The Inverness Courier of Tuesday the 9th of August 2005 carried a review captioned, "Duke introduced Joe to Nairn playing partner" by Kenny Mathieson, which boosted up my appetite for that particular jazz session that was to lay ahead next day on the Wednesday the 10th of August at the Swallow Newton Hotel, Highland Conference Centre, Nairn, Scotland.
Kenny opens his review with the director's (Ken Ramage) enthusiasms for his long established tradition of bring in great American pianists to Nairn, naming some greats of the past brought in by him, that is to say with elaboration of the caption for the non-aficionados, as both pianist Mulgrew Miller of Greenwood, Mississippi, USA, and, multi-reeds player, New York based Joe Temperley who was born in Scotland, both having been members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, thus having met each other previously had made it ideal under the Ellington circumstances for their 10th of August programme renewed union to run beautifully.
The top photo is taken at the drive-in entrance to the hotel situated on the main Inverness to Aberdeen A96 bus route,
and, the one on the left is taken from my hotel room window.
After spending several interesting hours in the town since the sleeper from London arrived there, I left Inverness in the afternoon travelling on the Aberdeen bus which dropped me off at the hotel entrance drive-in, as shown on the top photograph. The walk along the tree-lined, shaded, avenue to check into the hotel was invigorating and exciting in thought of what was to lie ahead.
I booked into the Swallow Newton Hotel, as it turned out sadly for only just four days of the festival, those being from Monday the 8th of August to Thursday the 11th of August, thus missing out on Niki Harris, for seventeen years the right hand lady of Madonna on Sunday the 7th and, the International Jazz Band on Friday the 12th, and more, and for the finally, the Seventeen Piece Count Basie Orchestra on Saturday the 13th of August 2005, giving no excuse for the same.
It did not take me long to settle in, put on my walking boots, the ones that had passed over the Cairngorms from Marr Lodge in the East to Aviemore in the West, and I then set off on the short walk down to the Golf View Hotel partaking of a coffee sending me off walking along sea-shore pathway past the Golf Course.
The photo on the left is taken from the Golf View Hotel, the one on the right is of the lounge where I had the coffee.
SUNSET
ON MORAY
FIRTH
An area of the North Sea between Highland and Grampian Regions (Scenes from Nairn to Cromarty) east Scotland.
Evan Christopher - Celebrating Bechet
at 8pm, Monday 8 August, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Evan Christopher (cl); Duke Heitger (tpt); John Sheridan (pno);
Andrew Cleyndert (str bs); Tony de Nicola (drms)
It was the first time that I’d heard this very fine clarinettist from New Orleans, and after his superb performance here at Nairn, the knowledge of him for his skills is bound to spread and lengthen throughout our Isles. The write-up in the Nairn Jazz Festival programme booklet makes stunning reading about him, and it goes on to tell us that he met John Sheridan, resident pianist and arranger in the Jim Cullum Jazz Band.
I was spellbound not only by the Evan Christopher lead jazz music, but by his style of playing on the clarinet in Bechet remembrance, also, recalling the classic Hot Five promotions photo of the Johnny Dodds stance in it, it came, because when Evan, who was seated close to the magnificent Newton pianoforte, the Christopher reflection on the inside of the open lid, each time he gave a cue prompt to pianist Sheridan in the run of the set, it greatly added to my enjoyment of his session.
Shortly before going to Nairn I had reviewed a Jazz Crusade double CD album of Sidney Bechet/Johnny Windhurst
"Best of the Jazz Nocturne Programs" for the Boston Jazz Society, and, the study of both the Bechet clarinet on them, and the Christopher Nairn session version, will undoubtedly widen the audience to sound out the fantastic, intricate, vagaries of suchlike woodwind jazz playing, articulated with such unbelievable ease and decorum alike.
Antti meets Marty
Tuesday 9th August, at 12 Noon, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Marty Grosz (gtr); Antti Sarpila (cl); Andrew Cleyndert (str bs)
Guitarist Marty Grosz started leading and playing in Dixieland, and
New Orleans bands in cities and towns in the USA.
The meet with Finnish clarinettist, Antti Sarpila became another brilliant string to his instrument, in more ways than one.
In opening with the song Chicago perhaps it was in him recalling the period in the 50s whilst
playing in that great jazz windy city.
Evergreens came flowing in, Sweet Sue, When You’re Smiling, Emaline all bringing rapturous applauses
from the full-house audience.
One of his attributes is of being a humorous raconteur on intros to his selected tunes, his solo stand-up recitation about an Hussar officer, perhaps one of a light cavalry regiment kitted out in dress uniform with much frogging, falling on bad times, but I can't remember whether Marty referred to him as a Hungarian, Russian, Serbian or British one, whoever it was,
the tale greatly introduced the follow-up tune I’m Just A Gigolo ending his concert, which 'brought-down' the
Nairn Highland Conference Room gathering of jazz fans with their appreciative applause.
The clarinettist’s musical affinity with the master guitarist was truly remarkable.
Duke Heitger’s New Orleans All Stars
"Remembering Brian Ogilvie"
at 8pm Tuesday 9th August
in The Universal Hall, Findhorn
Duke Heitger (tpt), Evan Christopher (cl), John Alred (tmb), Antti Sarpila
(tenor sax), John Sheriden (pno) Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
I was looking forward to hearing trumpeter Duke Heitger again based on what I’d heard of him last year.
This year 2005, his concert was in remembrance of saxophonist, Brian Ogilvie who died in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Brian was from New Orleans, and had become ill whilst in Nairn. He will be cherished
by his many fans and friends, and admired always for his saxophone playing.
The Heitger group played the session with emotion through That’s All a request from Brian’s wife. The Tony de Nicola drumbeats on Dinah were poignant, touching, intense and moving. Hear Me Talking To Yah a piano solo by John Sheridan was with feeling ‘out of this world’ in passion. The mellow toned trombonist, John Aldred on Makin' Summer was scintillating. With the reeds men in control supported by the excellent very fine string bass player, Andrew Cleyndert, there was little wonder that a prolonged applause from the fans got an encore on Sleepy Down South - sensational.
The special tale on me, which happened before I had to run off to catch the bus home to the Hotel from Findhorn to Nairn
will be told ‘down the line’ here, not the railway one.
The photo on the right is of Hawco VW, taken from my room window, that is one of the ten sponsors of the jazz festival.
Bob Wilber's New Generation Band
Wednesday 10th August, at 7pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Bob Wilber (reeds),Antti Sarpila (reeds), Luca Velotti (reeds), Rossano Sportiello (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
Bob Wilber is among my finest for far and wide of the small reeds players - brilliant.
I can recall the date Thursday 11 June 1992, "Conductor Artie Shaw and clarinettist Bob Wilber at the Royal Festival Hall, London", and the lovely black background photograph taken by David Sinclair of them highlighted that was published in the Kings Jazz Review magazine, a three volume hard back copy of the magazine was sent to the New York public library.
Two reviews published of that concert were, one by me "Wilber Plays Shaw and Mozart", and, the other one by
Vic Smith of Rotherham, who was invited back stage to meet Artie.
As Shaw was 82 when he conducted his Festival Hall concert, I’m not surprised that Wilber has today at Nairn created his "New Generation" band of international jazz artists, playing the music of Sidney Bechet and Benny Goodman, who he toured with in 1958, and other notables. In 1968, Bob was a founding member of "The World’s Greatest Jazz Band".
The very large Nairn audience showed their much appreciation to the New Generation group for its performances, and a special one was given to Italian curved (saxello) soprano saxophonist, Luca Velotti for his solo ballad of his country.
One jazz artist from South America in the group was unable to attend - I believe, family marriage.
The Bob Wilber session was a great success.
Mulgrew Miller and Joe Temperley
Wednesday 10th August, 10pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew (pno), Joe (reeds)
This concert was billed as an exclusive UK appearance by a giant of jazz piano, and a well known in Scotland baritone saxophone player based in New York.
See third opening paragraph of this review of the 2005 Nairn Jazz Festival, and we'll have some insight as to how the two talented musicians first met.
I was very fascinated by the calm approach Joe had to playing beautiful tunes, creating an unique, mellow sound on his instrument, an instrument in not long time past, was used in keeping tempo by many military bands.
The pianist flourished in his element in making use of the pianoforte to full extent whilst soloing on tunes completely new to me. His attentative approach on accompanying the admirable, delightfully pleasing, melodies coming from the saxophone that the multi-reeds player Joe Temperley was producing, will be imprinted on mind for time to come - memories.
The John Alred-Dan Barrett Quintet plus Two
Thursday 11th August, 1pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
John Alred (tmb), Dan Barrett (tmb), John Sheridan (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs),
Tony de Nicola (drms), Joe Temperley (bari sax), Rebecca Kilgore (vcls)
Out of the four days of attending the jazz concert over the festival period, this one was of special appeal to me as I was in wonderment in the way that the two American trombonists, band leaders in their own right, were at all times in harmony with each other with nice contrasting tone qualities, especially so that they seldom ever before got the chance to meet each other.
I enjoyed the body movements of vocalist Rebecca Kilgore as she took on the role of leader of the group introducing her songs to sing, among them being, one by the Fine and Mellow Billie Holiday or was it This Year’s Kisses or A Fine Romance or On What A Little Moonlight Can Do or Riffin’ The Scotch or perhaps Them There Eyes as Artie would have saw in 1938, perhaps not, but certainly any one of Billie Holiday’s scores of more songs, including Lover Man with Dizzy
would have been it - it was beautiful.
The leader Dan Barrett of the quintet plus two on Ory’s Creole Trombone with John Sheridan on piano was sparklingly great stuff.
The rendition of Poor Butterfly by Joe Temperley, perhaps played open on his baritone Eb saxophone was simply a masterpiece.
Both Andrew Cleyndert and Tony de Nicola on string bass and drums respectively got to solo more than once each, those two greats even with a wide, wide contrast in ages, the latter being the elder of the two does count, for throughout the concert/session they dearly made an invaluable contribution to its success.
Mulgrew Miller Trio
Thursday 11th August, 8pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew Miller (pno), Derrick Hodge (str bs), Rodney Green (drms)
The billing for the Mulgrew Miller Trio reads, "there’s an aura of Oscar Peterson that’s around the 50 year old American pianist. He’s a big man, with a penchant for swing. The trio is one of the strongest exponents of the genre in the world today, and here he is in Nairn for the very first time".
Unlike his session with Joe Temperley the previous day when his playing I felt most enjoyable to
listen to, the trio was enthusiastically frenetic and outwith my scene.
Yes - however and sadly, I had to turn in after the first set because I was to catch the 7.23 am train from Nairn to Inverness, the first leg of my long journey back home to Croydon, Surrey, England.
However I did sneak a glimpse of the Rodney Green shinning cymbal of his drum kit. It was indeed an Istanbul Agap Handmade one from Turkey - most interesting, and that goes to add something.
The photo is of the 2005 jazz festival programme
The Special Tale On Me
Note that there are no photographs of the jazz artists.
Reason, the use of flashlight has been classed as NOT being the done thing to do.
Perhaps a photo-call by a professional taking photos of the main jazz groups at a festival, with complimentary copies
given to the jazz artists, could be the way forward to ameliorate any ban on taking flash photography in jazz concerts.
All of my review has been written by memory as my memo pad, as I discovered, had lost the function of sound recording.
The Nairn Bookshop
The Nairn Bookshop is situated in the High Street, near where the street runs into Harbour Street close to the crossover throughway (A96) to Forres and Findhorn at Bridge Street that traverses over the
River Nairn.Nairn is a lovely town with much to offer having favourable weather throughout the year because of its enviable position on the map. It is a town that was granted its first royal charter by Alexander I in the
12th century, and, it is where I spent part of my youth being "called up" to Fort George near Ardersier,
which was built following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army at Culloden
just down the road a bit.
The Fort offers nice views over the Moray Firth and is a favoured spot to watch the dolphins, and is well worth a visit, which includes a large magazine, built to hold 2,500 barrels of gunpowder.
Last year I bought two jazz books from the shop, this year 2005 I bought another two. I recommend the jazz book that the lady in the picture is holding in her arms to all Nairn and Inverness jazz fans - well worth it, just like the four that I bought.
Comhairle Na Gaidhealtachd
Nairn Railway Station
jazz festival review to
The Highland Council et al
By
Ian King
Kings Jazz Review
Saturday the 20th of August 2005
KJR Home Page
I booked into the Swallow Newton Hotel, as it turned out sadly for only just four days of the festival, those being from Monday the 8th of August to Thursday the 11th of August, thus missing out on Niki Harris, for seventeen years the right hand lady of Madonna on Sunday the 7th and, the International Jazz Band on Friday the 12th, and more, and for the finally, the Seventeen Piece Count Basie Orchestra on Saturday the 13th of August 2005, giving no excuse for the same.
It did not take me long to settle in, put on my walking boots, the ones that had passed over the Cairngorms from Marr Lodge in the East to Aviemore in the West, and I then set off on the short walk down to the Golf View Hotel partaking of a coffee sending me off walking along sea-shore pathway past the Golf Course.
The photo on the left is taken from the Golf View Hotel, the one on the right is of the lounge where I had the coffee.
SUNSET
ON MORAY
FIRTH
An area of the North Sea between Highland and Grampian Regions (Scenes from Nairn to Cromarty) east Scotland.
Evan Christopher - Celebrating Bechet
at 8pm, Monday 8 August, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Evan Christopher (cl); Duke Heitger (tpt); John Sheridan (pno);
Andrew Cleyndert (str bs); Tony de Nicola (drms)
It was the first time that I’d heard this very fine clarinettist from New Orleans, and after his superb performance here at Nairn, the knowledge of him for his skills is bound to spread and lengthen throughout our Isles. The write-up in the Nairn Jazz Festival programme booklet makes stunning reading about him, and it goes on to tell us that he met John Sheridan, resident pianist and arranger in the Jim Cullum Jazz Band.
I was spellbound not only by the Evan Christopher lead jazz music, but by his style of playing on the clarinet in Bechet remembrance, also, recalling the classic Hot Five promotions photo of the Johnny Dodds stance in it, it came, because when Evan, who was seated close to the magnificent Newton pianoforte, the Christopher reflection on the inside of the open lid, each time he gave a cue prompt to pianist Sheridan in the run of the set, it greatly added to my enjoyment of his session.
Shortly before going to Nairn I had reviewed a Jazz Crusade double CD album of Sidney Bechet/Johnny Windhurst
"Best of the Jazz Nocturne Programs" for the Boston Jazz Society, and, the study of both the Bechet clarinet on them, and the Christopher Nairn session version, will undoubtedly widen the audience to sound out the fantastic, intricate, vagaries of suchlike woodwind jazz playing, articulated with such unbelievable ease and decorum alike.
Antti meets Marty
Tuesday 9th August, at 12 Noon, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Marty Grosz (gtr); Antti Sarpila (cl); Andrew Cleyndert (str bs)
Guitarist Marty Grosz started leading and playing in Dixieland, and
New Orleans bands in cities and towns in the USA.
The meet with Finnish clarinettist, Antti Sarpila became another brilliant string to his instrument, in more ways than one.
In opening with the song Chicago perhaps it was in him recalling the period in the 50s whilst
playing in that great jazz windy city.
Evergreens came flowing in, Sweet Sue, When You’re Smiling, Emaline all bringing rapturous applauses
from the full-house audience.
One of his attributes is of being a humorous raconteur on intros to his selected tunes, his solo stand-up recitation about an Hussar officer, perhaps one of a light cavalry regiment kitted out in dress uniform with much frogging, falling on bad times, but I can't remember whether Marty referred to him as a Hungarian, Russian, Serbian or British one, whoever it was,
the tale greatly introduced the follow-up tune I’m Just A Gigolo ending his concert, which 'brought-down' the
Nairn Highland Conference Room gathering of jazz fans with their appreciative applause.
The clarinettist’s musical affinity with the master guitarist was truly remarkable.
Duke Heitger’s New Orleans All Stars
"Remembering Brian Ogilvie"
at 8pm Tuesday 9th August
in The Universal Hall, Findhorn
Duke Heitger (tpt), Evan Christopher (cl), John Alred (tmb), Antti Sarpila
(tenor sax), John Sheriden (pno) Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
I was looking forward to hearing trumpeter Duke Heitger again based on what I’d heard of him last year.
This year 2005, his concert was in remembrance of saxophonist, Brian Ogilvie who died in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Brian was from New Orleans, and had become ill whilst in Nairn. He will be cherished
by his many fans and friends, and admired always for his saxophone playing.
The Heitger group played the session with emotion through That’s All a request from Brian’s wife. The Tony de Nicola drumbeats on Dinah were poignant, touching, intense and moving. Hear Me Talking To Yah a piano solo by John Sheridan was with feeling ‘out of this world’ in passion. The mellow toned trombonist, John Aldred on Makin' Summer was scintillating. With the reeds men in control supported by the excellent very fine string bass player, Andrew Cleyndert, there was little wonder that a prolonged applause from the fans got an encore on Sleepy Down South - sensational.
The special tale on me, which happened before I had to run off to catch the bus home to the Hotel from Findhorn to Nairn
will be told ‘down the line’ here, not the railway one.
The photo on the right is of Hawco VW, taken from my room window, that is one of the ten sponsors of the jazz festival.
Bob Wilber's New Generation Band
Wednesday 10th August, at 7pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Bob Wilber (reeds),Antti Sarpila (reeds), Luca Velotti (reeds), Rossano Sportiello (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
Bob Wilber is among my finest for far and wide of the small reeds players - brilliant.
I can recall the date Thursday 11 June 1992, "Conductor Artie Shaw and clarinettist Bob Wilber at the Royal Festival Hall, London", and the lovely black background photograph taken by David Sinclair of them highlighted that was published in the Kings Jazz Review magazine, a three volume hard back copy of the magazine was sent to the New York public library.
Two reviews published of that concert were, one by me "Wilber Plays Shaw and Mozart", and, the other one by
Vic Smith of Rotherham, who was invited back stage to meet Artie.
As Shaw was 82 when he conducted his Festival Hall concert, I’m not surprised that Wilber has today at Nairn created his "New Generation" band of international jazz artists, playing the music of Sidney Bechet and Benny Goodman, who he toured with in 1958, and other notables. In 1968, Bob was a founding member of "The World’s Greatest Jazz Band".
The very large Nairn audience showed their much appreciation to the New Generation group for its performances, and a special one was given to Italian curved (saxello) soprano saxophonist, Luca Velotti for his solo ballad of his country.
One jazz artist from South America in the group was unable to attend - I believe, family marriage.
The Bob Wilber session was a great success.
Mulgrew Miller and Joe Temperley
Wednesday 10th August, 10pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew (pno), Joe (reeds)
This concert was billed as an exclusive UK appearance by a giant of jazz piano, and a well known in Scotland baritone saxophone player based in New York.
See third opening paragraph of this review of the 2005 Nairn Jazz Festival, and we'll have some insight as to how the two talented musicians first met.
I was very fascinated by the calm approach Joe had to playing beautiful tunes, creating an unique, mellow sound on his instrument, an instrument in not long time past, was used in keeping tempo by many military bands.
The pianist flourished in his element in making use of the pianoforte to full extent whilst soloing on tunes completely new to me. His attentative approach on accompanying the admirable, delightfully pleasing, melodies coming from the saxophone that the multi-reeds player Joe Temperley was producing, will be imprinted on mind for time to come - memories.
The John Alred-Dan Barrett Quintet plus Two
Thursday 11th August, 1pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
John Alred (tmb), Dan Barrett (tmb), John Sheridan (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs),
Tony de Nicola (drms), Joe Temperley (bari sax), Rebecca Kilgore (vcls)
Out of the four days of attending the jazz concert over the festival period, this one was of special appeal to me as I was in wonderment in the way that the two American trombonists, band leaders in their own right, were at all times in harmony with each other with nice contrasting tone qualities, especially so that they seldom ever before got the chance to meet each other.
I enjoyed the body movements of vocalist Rebecca Kilgore as she took on the role of leader of the group introducing her songs to sing, among them being, one by the Fine and Mellow Billie Holiday or was it This Year’s Kisses or A Fine Romance or On What A Little Moonlight Can Do or Riffin’ The Scotch or perhaps Them There Eyes as Artie would have saw in 1938, perhaps not, but certainly any one of Billie Holiday’s scores of more songs, including Lover Man with Dizzy
would have been it - it was beautiful.
The leader Dan Barrett of the quintet plus two on Ory’s Creole Trombone with John Sheridan on piano was sparklingly great stuff.
The rendition of Poor Butterfly by Joe Temperley, perhaps played open on his baritone Eb saxophone was simply a masterpiece.
Both Andrew Cleyndert and Tony de Nicola on string bass and drums respectively got to solo more than once each, those two greats even with a wide, wide contrast in ages, the latter being the elder of the two does count, for throughout the concert/session they dearly made an invaluable contribution to its success.
Mulgrew Miller Trio
Thursday 11th August, 8pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew Miller (pno), Derrick Hodge (str bs), Rodney Green (drms)
The billing for the Mulgrew Miller Trio reads, "there’s an aura of Oscar Peterson that’s around the 50 year old American pianist. He’s a big man, with a penchant for swing. The trio is one of the strongest exponents of the genre in the world today, and here he is in Nairn for the very first time".
Unlike his session with Joe Temperley the previous day when his playing I felt most enjoyable to
listen to, the trio was enthusiastically frenetic and outwith my scene.
Yes - however and sadly, I had to turn in after the first set because I was to catch the 7.23 am train from Nairn to Inverness, the first leg of my long journey back home to Croydon, Surrey, England.
However I did sneak a glimpse of the Rodney Green shinning cymbal of his drum kit. It was indeed an Istanbul Agap Handmade one from Turkey - most interesting, and that goes to add something.
The photo is of the 2005 jazz festival programme
The Special Tale On Me
Note that there are no photographs of the jazz artists.
Reason, the use of flashlight has been classed as NOT being the done thing to do.
Perhaps a photo-call by a professional taking photos of the main jazz groups at a festival, with complimentary copies
given to the jazz artists, could be the way forward to ameliorate any ban on taking flash photography in jazz concerts.
All of my review has been written by memory as my memo pad, as I discovered, had lost the function of sound recording.
The Nairn Bookshop
The Nairn Bookshop is situated in the High Street, near where the street runs into Harbour Street close to the crossover throughway (A96) to Forres and Findhorn at Bridge Street that traverses over the
River Nairn.Nairn is a lovely town with much to offer having favourable weather throughout the year because of its enviable position on the map. It is a town that was granted its first royal charter by Alexander I in the
12th century, and, it is where I spent part of my youth being "called up" to Fort George near Ardersier,
which was built following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army at Culloden
just down the road a bit.
The Fort offers nice views over the Moray Firth and is a favoured spot to watch the dolphins, and is well worth a visit, which includes a large magazine, built to hold 2,500 barrels of gunpowder.
Last year I bought two jazz books from the shop, this year 2005 I bought another two. I recommend the jazz book that the lady in the picture is holding in her arms to all Nairn and Inverness jazz fans - well worth it, just like the four that I bought.
Comhairle Na Gaidhealtachd
Nairn Railway Station
jazz festival review to
The Highland Council et al
By
Ian King
Kings Jazz Review
Saturday the 20th of August 2005
KJR Home Page
SUNSET
ON MORAY
FIRTH
An area of the North Sea between Highland and Grampian Regions (Scenes from Nairn to Cromarty) east Scotland.
Evan Christopher - Celebrating Bechet
at 8pm, Monday 8 August, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Evan Christopher (cl); Duke Heitger (tpt); John Sheridan (pno);
Andrew Cleyndert (str bs); Tony de Nicola (drms)
at 8pm, Monday 8 August, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Evan Christopher (cl); Duke Heitger (tpt); John Sheridan (pno);
Andrew Cleyndert (str bs); Tony de Nicola (drms)
It was the first time that I’d heard this very fine clarinettist from New Orleans, and after his superb performance here at Nairn, the knowledge of him for his skills is bound to spread and lengthen throughout our Isles. The write-up in the Nairn Jazz Festival programme booklet makes stunning reading about him, and it goes on to tell us that he met John Sheridan, resident pianist and arranger in the Jim Cullum Jazz Band.
I was spellbound not only by the Evan Christopher lead jazz music, but by his style of playing on the clarinet in Bechet remembrance, also, recalling the classic Hot Five promotions photo of the Johnny Dodds stance in it, it came, because when Evan, who was seated close to the magnificent Newton pianoforte, the Christopher reflection on the inside of the open lid, each time he gave a cue prompt to pianist Sheridan in the run of the set, it greatly added to my enjoyment of his session.
Shortly before going to Nairn I had reviewed a Jazz Crusade double CD album of Sidney Bechet/Johnny Windhurst
"Best of the Jazz Nocturne Programs" for the Boston Jazz Society, and, the study of both the Bechet clarinet on them, and the Christopher Nairn session version, will undoubtedly widen the audience to sound out the fantastic, intricate, vagaries of suchlike woodwind jazz playing, articulated with such unbelievable ease and decorum alike.
Antti meets Marty
Tuesday 9th August, at 12 Noon, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Marty Grosz (gtr); Antti Sarpila (cl); Andrew Cleyndert (str bs)
Tuesday 9th August, at 12 Noon, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Marty Grosz (gtr); Antti Sarpila (cl); Andrew Cleyndert (str bs)
Guitarist Marty Grosz started leading and playing in Dixieland, and
New Orleans bands in cities and towns in the USA.
The meet with Finnish clarinettist, Antti Sarpila became another brilliant string to his instrument, in more ways than one.
In opening with the song Chicago perhaps it was in him recalling the period in the 50s whilst
playing in that great jazz windy city.
Evergreens came flowing in, Sweet Sue, When You’re Smiling, Emaline all bringing rapturous applauses
from the full-house audience.
One of his attributes is of being a humorous raconteur on intros to his selected tunes, his solo stand-up recitation about an Hussar officer, perhaps one of a light cavalry regiment kitted out in dress uniform with much frogging, falling on bad times, but I can't remember whether Marty referred to him as a Hungarian, Russian, Serbian or British one, whoever it was,
the tale greatly introduced the follow-up tune I’m Just A Gigolo ending his concert, which 'brought-down' the
Nairn Highland Conference Room gathering of jazz fans with their appreciative applause.
The clarinettist’s musical affinity with the master guitarist was truly remarkable.
New Orleans bands in cities and towns in the USA.
The meet with Finnish clarinettist, Antti Sarpila became another brilliant string to his instrument, in more ways than one.
In opening with the song Chicago perhaps it was in him recalling the period in the 50s whilst
playing in that great jazz windy city.
Evergreens came flowing in, Sweet Sue, When You’re Smiling, Emaline all bringing rapturous applauses
from the full-house audience.
One of his attributes is of being a humorous raconteur on intros to his selected tunes, his solo stand-up recitation about an Hussar officer, perhaps one of a light cavalry regiment kitted out in dress uniform with much frogging, falling on bad times, but I can't remember whether Marty referred to him as a Hungarian, Russian, Serbian or British one, whoever it was,
the tale greatly introduced the follow-up tune I’m Just A Gigolo ending his concert, which 'brought-down' the
Nairn Highland Conference Room gathering of jazz fans with their appreciative applause.
The clarinettist’s musical affinity with the master guitarist was truly remarkable.
Duke Heitger’s New Orleans All Stars
"Remembering Brian Ogilvie"
at 8pm Tuesday 9th August
in The Universal Hall, Findhorn
Duke Heitger (tpt), Evan Christopher (cl), John Alred (tmb), Antti Sarpila
(tenor sax), John Sheriden (pno) Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
I was looking forward to hearing trumpeter Duke Heitger again based on what I’d heard of him last year.
This year 2005, his concert was in remembrance of saxophonist, Brian Ogilvie who died in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Brian was from New Orleans, and had become ill whilst in Nairn. He will be cherished
by his many fans and friends, and admired always for his saxophone playing.
The Heitger group played the session with emotion through That’s All a request from Brian’s wife. The Tony de Nicola drumbeats on Dinah were poignant, touching, intense and moving. Hear Me Talking To Yah a piano solo by John Sheridan was with feeling ‘out of this world’ in passion. The mellow toned trombonist, John Aldred on Makin' Summer was scintillating. With the reeds men in control supported by the excellent very fine string bass player, Andrew Cleyndert, there was little wonder that a prolonged applause from the fans got an encore on Sleepy Down South - sensational.
The special tale on me, which happened before I had to run off to catch the bus home to the Hotel from Findhorn to Nairn
will be told ‘down the line’ here, not the railway one.
The photo on the right is of Hawco VW, taken from my room window, that is one of the ten sponsors of the jazz festival.
This year 2005, his concert was in remembrance of saxophonist, Brian Ogilvie who died in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Brian was from New Orleans, and had become ill whilst in Nairn. He will be cherished
by his many fans and friends, and admired always for his saxophone playing.
The Heitger group played the session with emotion through That’s All a request from Brian’s wife. The Tony de Nicola drumbeats on Dinah were poignant, touching, intense and moving. Hear Me Talking To Yah a piano solo by John Sheridan was with feeling ‘out of this world’ in passion. The mellow toned trombonist, John Aldred on Makin' Summer was scintillating. With the reeds men in control supported by the excellent very fine string bass player, Andrew Cleyndert, there was little wonder that a prolonged applause from the fans got an encore on Sleepy Down South - sensational.
The special tale on me, which happened before I had to run off to catch the bus home to the Hotel from Findhorn to Nairn
will be told ‘down the line’ here, not the railway one.
The photo on the right is of Hawco VW, taken from my room window, that is one of the ten sponsors of the jazz festival.
Bob Wilber's New Generation Band
Wednesday 10th August, at 7pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Bob Wilber (reeds),Antti Sarpila (reeds), Luca Velotti (reeds), Rossano Sportiello (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
Wednesday 10th August, at 7pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Bob Wilber (reeds),Antti Sarpila (reeds), Luca Velotti (reeds), Rossano Sportiello (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs), Tony de Nicola (drms)
Bob Wilber is among my finest for far and wide of the small reeds players - brilliant.
I can recall the date Thursday 11 June 1992, "Conductor Artie Shaw and clarinettist Bob Wilber at the Royal Festival Hall, London", and the lovely black background photograph taken by David Sinclair of them highlighted that was published in the Kings Jazz Review magazine, a three volume hard back copy of the magazine was sent to the New York public library.
Two reviews published of that concert were, one by me "Wilber Plays Shaw and Mozart", and, the other one by
Vic Smith of Rotherham, who was invited back stage to meet Artie.
As Shaw was 82 when he conducted his Festival Hall concert, I’m not surprised that Wilber has today at Nairn created his "New Generation" band of international jazz artists, playing the music of Sidney Bechet and Benny Goodman, who he toured with in 1958, and other notables. In 1968, Bob was a founding member of "The World’s Greatest Jazz Band".
The very large Nairn audience showed their much appreciation to the New Generation group for its performances, and a special one was given to Italian curved (saxello) soprano saxophonist, Luca Velotti for his solo ballad of his country.
One jazz artist from South America in the group was unable to attend - I believe, family marriage.
The Bob Wilber session was a great success.
I can recall the date Thursday 11 June 1992, "Conductor Artie Shaw and clarinettist Bob Wilber at the Royal Festival Hall, London", and the lovely black background photograph taken by David Sinclair of them highlighted that was published in the Kings Jazz Review magazine, a three volume hard back copy of the magazine was sent to the New York public library.
Two reviews published of that concert were, one by me "Wilber Plays Shaw and Mozart", and, the other one by
Vic Smith of Rotherham, who was invited back stage to meet Artie.
As Shaw was 82 when he conducted his Festival Hall concert, I’m not surprised that Wilber has today at Nairn created his "New Generation" band of international jazz artists, playing the music of Sidney Bechet and Benny Goodman, who he toured with in 1958, and other notables. In 1968, Bob was a founding member of "The World’s Greatest Jazz Band".
The very large Nairn audience showed their much appreciation to the New Generation group for its performances, and a special one was given to Italian curved (saxello) soprano saxophonist, Luca Velotti for his solo ballad of his country.
One jazz artist from South America in the group was unable to attend - I believe, family marriage.
The Bob Wilber session was a great success.
Mulgrew Miller and Joe Temperley
Wednesday 10th August, 10pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew (pno), Joe (reeds)
Wednesday 10th August, 10pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew (pno), Joe (reeds)
This concert was billed as an exclusive UK appearance by a giant of jazz piano, and a well known in Scotland baritone saxophone player based in New York.
See third opening paragraph of this review of the 2005 Nairn Jazz Festival, and we'll have some insight as to how the two talented musicians first met.
I was very fascinated by the calm approach Joe had to playing beautiful tunes, creating an unique, mellow sound on his instrument, an instrument in not long time past, was used in keeping tempo by many military bands.
The pianist flourished in his element in making use of the pianoforte to full extent whilst soloing on tunes completely new to me. His attentative approach on accompanying the admirable, delightfully pleasing, melodies coming from the saxophone that the multi-reeds player Joe Temperley was producing, will be imprinted on mind for time to come - memories.
See third opening paragraph of this review of the 2005 Nairn Jazz Festival, and we'll have some insight as to how the two talented musicians first met.
I was very fascinated by the calm approach Joe had to playing beautiful tunes, creating an unique, mellow sound on his instrument, an instrument in not long time past, was used in keeping tempo by many military bands.
The pianist flourished in his element in making use of the pianoforte to full extent whilst soloing on tunes completely new to me. His attentative approach on accompanying the admirable, delightfully pleasing, melodies coming from the saxophone that the multi-reeds player Joe Temperley was producing, will be imprinted on mind for time to come - memories.
The John Alred-Dan Barrett Quintet plus Two
Thursday 11th August, 1pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
John Alred (tmb), Dan Barrett (tmb), John Sheridan (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs),
Tony de Nicola (drms), Joe Temperley (bari sax), Rebecca Kilgore (vcls)
Thursday 11th August, 1pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
John Alred (tmb), Dan Barrett (tmb), John Sheridan (pno), Andrew Cleyndert (str bs),
Tony de Nicola (drms), Joe Temperley (bari sax), Rebecca Kilgore (vcls)
Out of the four days of attending the jazz concert over the festival period, this one was of special appeal to me as I was in wonderment in the way that the two American trombonists, band leaders in their own right, were at all times in harmony with each other with nice contrasting tone qualities, especially so that they seldom ever before got the chance to meet each other.
I enjoyed the body movements of vocalist Rebecca Kilgore as she took on the role of leader of the group introducing her songs to sing, among them being, one by the Fine and Mellow Billie Holiday or was it This Year’s Kisses or A Fine Romance or On What A Little Moonlight Can Do or Riffin’ The Scotch or perhaps Them There Eyes as Artie would have saw in 1938, perhaps not, but certainly any one of Billie Holiday’s scores of more songs, including Lover Man with Dizzy
would have been it - it was beautiful.
The leader Dan Barrett of the quintet plus two on Ory’s Creole Trombone with John Sheridan on piano was sparklingly great stuff.
The rendition of Poor Butterfly by Joe Temperley, perhaps played open on his baritone Eb saxophone was simply a masterpiece.
Both Andrew Cleyndert and Tony de Nicola on string bass and drums respectively got to solo more than once each, those two greats even with a wide, wide contrast in ages, the latter being the elder of the two does count, for throughout the concert/session they dearly made an invaluable contribution to its success.
I enjoyed the body movements of vocalist Rebecca Kilgore as she took on the role of leader of the group introducing her songs to sing, among them being, one by the Fine and Mellow Billie Holiday or was it This Year’s Kisses or A Fine Romance or On What A Little Moonlight Can Do or Riffin’ The Scotch or perhaps Them There Eyes as Artie would have saw in 1938, perhaps not, but certainly any one of Billie Holiday’s scores of more songs, including Lover Man with Dizzy
would have been it - it was beautiful.
The leader Dan Barrett of the quintet plus two on Ory’s Creole Trombone with John Sheridan on piano was sparklingly great stuff. The rendition of Poor Butterfly by Joe Temperley, perhaps played open on his baritone Eb saxophone was simply a masterpiece. Both Andrew Cleyndert and Tony de Nicola on string bass and drums respectively got to solo more than once each, those two greats even with a wide, wide contrast in ages, the latter being the elder of the two does count, for throughout the concert/session they dearly made an invaluable contribution to its success.
Mulgrew Miller Trio
Thursday 11th August, 8pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew Miller (pno), Derrick Hodge (str bs), Rodney Green (drms)
Thursday 11th August, 8pm, 2005, Swallow Newton Hotel
Mulgrew Miller (pno), Derrick Hodge (str bs), Rodney Green (drms)
The billing for the Mulgrew Miller Trio reads, "there’s an aura of Oscar Peterson that’s around the 50 year old American pianist. He’s a big man, with a penchant for swing. The trio is one of the strongest exponents of the genre in the world today, and here he is in Nairn for the very first time".
Unlike his session with Joe Temperley the previous day when his playing I felt most enjoyable to
listen to, the trio was enthusiastically frenetic and outwith my scene.
Yes - however and sadly, I had to turn in after the first set because I was to catch the 7.23 am train from Nairn to Inverness, the first leg of my long journey back home to Croydon, Surrey, England.
However I did sneak a glimpse of the Rodney Green shinning cymbal of his drum kit. It was indeed an Istanbul Agap Handmade one from Turkey - most interesting, and that goes to add something.
The photo is of the 2005 jazz festival programme
The Special Tale On Me
Note that there are no photographs of the jazz artists.
Reason, the use of flashlight has been classed as NOT being the done thing to do.
Perhaps a photo-call by a professional taking photos of the main jazz groups at a festival, with complimentary copies
given to the jazz artists, could be the way forward to ameliorate any ban on taking flash photography in jazz concerts.
All of my review has been written by memory as my memo pad, as I discovered, had lost the function of sound recording.
The Nairn Bookshop
The Nairn Bookshop is situated in the High Street, near where the street runs into Harbour Street close to the crossover throughway (A96) to Forres and Findhorn at Bridge Street that traverses over the
River Nairn.Nairn is a lovely town with much to offer having favourable weather throughout the year because of its enviable position on the map. It is a town that was granted its first royal charter by Alexander I in the
12th century, and, it is where I spent part of my youth being "called up" to Fort George near Ardersier,
which was built following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army at Culloden
just down the road a bit.
The Fort offers nice views over the Moray Firth and is a favoured spot to watch the dolphins, and is well worth a visit, which includes a large magazine, built to hold 2,500 barrels of gunpowder.
Last year I bought two jazz books from the shop, this year 2005 I bought another two. I recommend the jazz book that the lady in the picture is holding in her arms to all Nairn and Inverness jazz fans - well worth it, just like the four that I bought.
River Nairn.
Nairn is a lovely town with much to offer having favourable weather throughout the year because of its enviable position on the map. It is a town that was granted its first royal charter by Alexander I in the
12th century, and, it is where I spent part of my youth being "called up" to Fort George near Ardersier,
which was built following the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army at Culloden
just down the road a bit.
The Fort offers nice views over the Moray Firth and is a favoured spot to watch the dolphins, and is well worth a visit, which includes a large magazine, built to hold 2,500 barrels of gunpowder.
Last year I bought two jazz books from the shop, this year 2005 I bought another two. I recommend the jazz book that the lady in the picture is holding in her arms to all Nairn and Inverness jazz fans - well worth it, just like the four that I bought.
Comhairle Na Gaidhealtachd
Nairn Railway Station
jazz festival review to
The Highland Council et al
By
Ian King
Kings Jazz Review
Saturday the 20th of August 2005