Nairn International Jazz Festival
The photograph to the left is of the avenue leading up to the Newton Hotel, the main jazz venue; the one to the right is of four of its kind posters distributed throughout the shops of Nairn.There was a very fine, lots to hand, glossy programme booklet with easy to follow listings of concerts and venues showing photos of many of the principal jazz performers.
Supporting the Nairn International Jazz Festival 2007 were EventScotland; Highland 2007; Hawco VW; Scottish Arts Council; HIE Inverness & East Highland; HIE Moray; The Highland Council; Oxford Hotels & Inns; Gordon (marquees): InnovaHouse; Kylauren Homes; MacKenzie Taylor; big sky environmental design & print; and, for the latest news and reviews - The Press and Journal.
Sound Engineer – Graeme Watt, Inverness
Excellent in main venues
Lighting – Unknown
There were stages in some of the jazz concerts when direct pointing by spot lighting of a jazz artist would have given dramatic effect.
Pianos
First class quality : Grand Pianos
One can imagine the extent of, and the dedicated efforts made to achieve its creation, for having gone through all seasons of weather during its duration on how everything went so smoothly, signifies innate capabilities of how well handled it had been, which indeed emits much thought and reason to countenance the flair and knack of the organisers for its expansion
Situated a stones throw down the road from Nairn railway station at the top end of theThe Classroom; Chapel Room; Little Theatre; Newton Marquee; Newton Hotel that are in Nairn, the Universal Hall in Findhorn and the Knockomie Hotel which is in Forres - Scotland.
There were daily weekdays - jazz workshops - masterclasses at 5pm in the Little Theatre.
The unique high jazz classical music style was new to me heard coming from a pianist. It was inspiring. Dado also set a trend for the Classroom by inviting up two string bass players featuring elsewhere in the jazz festival up to join him in chorus thus giving ticket holders a bonus. Move mouse pointer on photographs to see their names.
We encounter another feature of the jazz festival when the brilliant reeds player Alan Barnes from the South of England regions meets up for the first time with the Highlands popular jazz pianist
His versatility has no ends. There are no boundaries, earning the affection of his audience in quiet talk the like of:
"I guess I’ll know and probably you’ll know by the time I’ve finished playing it”.
Whether he gets a kick from, or out of champagne or not playing the tune, it was a beautifully absorbing piece.
With a medley of the American song-book, it was over the moon when I gleaned "Fly Me To The Moon"
the session ending all too soon. Move mouse pointer on photo left to see names
Jazz concert goers have established a great affinity with the LITTLE THEATRE where musicians
with ease create a special rapport with their audience, thus lending itself to them giving fine performances
as has been the case in the past.
The Dutch jazz violinist, Tim Kliphuis with an articulate knowledge of the English language, the leader of his Trio
in the line-up of Nigel Clark a virtuoso on guitar – thoughts of Joe Venuti style, and the string bassist Roy Percy from Edinburgh had no difficulty in capturing the full-house audience to good effect with tunes like The Sunshine Of Your Smile, a prodigious Danny Boy equalling the late Stephane Grappelli gifts of playing his instrument, a medley of bag-pipe tunes ending on Sweet Georgia Brown taking in his start on Louis’ Ain’t Misbehavin’ by Fats Waller. It was a lovely way to begin the Nairn International Jazz Festival.
I quote “a Dutchman playing French music in a Russian Café with Scots in Glasgow” - Good for you Tim.
at the Little Theatre
When James announced in distinct English diction a welcome to David Blenkhorn on guitar, Sebastien Girardot on string bass, Guillaume Nouaux on drums and the re-incarnation of the Sidney Bechet (New Orleans) Evan Christopher, I knew we would be in for a great session at the Little Theatre.
An elegantly graceful opening by the Australian on guitar, followed by nice shots by the French drummer with string bass accompaniment was introduced by a beautiful low register clarinet on When I grow To Old To Dream the start of a concert that - I’ll have something to remember.
After a while in came Duke Heitger on the Eva Taylor number Candy Lips (I’m Stuck On You) arranged by
Clarence Williams featuring Tommy Ladnier – it was great stuff.
With the right to sing the Blues guitar tinge, Louisiana and Hoagy Carmichael input backing by his other two inspiring sidemen,
Europe undoubtedly has much to savour having this Evan Christopher Quartet within it.
More than one of the jazz fans with whom I had had conversations felt that this Little Theatre concert would be very hard to better of any featured in the Nairn International Jazz Festival this year. Indeed, I felt it exceedingly difficult then to disagree with them, for this Robinson Quartet plus one truly brought into my jazz world a jazz composition that to me was quite unique. This inspiring line-up consisted of leader Scott Robinson on reeds, Dan Barrett on trombone, Bucky Pizzarelli on a 7-strings guitar and John Bunch on piano, which was fortuitously augmented by the string bass playing of Andy Cleyndert - I left seeking more.
I was not able to attend either of the two Curtis Stigers Quartet concerts at the Universal Hall, Findhorn, nor when they were at the Newton Marquee. Not because I think that there is a dearth of good jazz singers on the circuit, but that was how the balance worked out. The promotions on Stigers read that this singer saxophonist is back with his New York band for two nights of the classiest jazz vocals, so having missed seeing him over both years it became a must to catch his musicians in Trio at the Little Theatre.
Like every concert at this theatre there was a full house when I arrived, and what I did hear of them they sound very much like as if this trio being in big demand when out on tour alone.
at the
Newton Hotel
Californian singer Barbara Morrison was making her debut visit to the Nairn International Jazz Festival. She is a great show personality who imbues joyous pleasure in her audience with her relaxed style of easy communicating skills – cracking jokes along the way with individual fans as well as collectively, ably aided by the pianist leader of her trio, leading to tunes like The Very Thought of You and more.
As “Queen of Jazz” one can’t help getting a nice feeling for her as she expresses “I Love Being Here with You” with a voice in song dialogue – that’s wizard. She relates to Cole Porter tunes, makes references to Dinah Washington, Ella, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, they roll from her lips, sings the Blues to a nice relaxing rhythm – she’s all artistes. Yes, this lady gave what she set out “We’re going to have a good time here with you”. Without doubt In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down in song - Barbara Morrison and the Tom Finley Trio gave a cracking performance.
I was not disappointed to hear the beautiful sound coming from the tenor played by the protégé of Bob Wilber
leader Nik Payton from Brazil, thus - setting the scene for the afternoon.
An extended Lady Be Good highlighting the Andy Cleyndert string bass brings appreciative applause from the room.
I was impressed by the drummer Matt Skelton nice interpretations of the reeds and bass renditions whilst in trio.
Written by him, Nik Payton, a Bosa Nova tune, dedicated to his wife played on a lovely toned clarinet entitled Martinha was
simply a show stopper – beautiful. With several ballads fed in - it was an enjoyable set.
Salute to Kenny Davern/Introducting Nik Payton
at 7.30pm
on Sunday the 5th of August 2007
at the Newton Hotel
One will need travel far to hear the sound of a saxello, a curved soprano sound as beautiful as that made on it by Bob Wilber heard play on his salute to Kenny Davern.
The sextet opened on a Duke Ellington number, followed by a medley of Aquatic Wail and Lime House Blues, with Nicki Parrott on bass given the intro to it. The latter tune has been recorded by no less than, Django Reinhardt, Red Nichols, Sidney Bechet, and Harry Roy and is a favourite of mine.
Bob Wilber may not have been aware of, or perhaps he was, for how apt in him picking Jelly Roll Morton’s Fish Tail Blues – The Sidewalk Blues -The Fish-Vender by Sidney Bechet, one and the same tune to inspire the townsfolk for I believe that on the very same day a monument to a Nairn fish-seller was unveiled on the mound in between the sandy beach and harbour. See photo on the right.
The tunes in memory of Kenny were Bye, Bye Blues and St Louis Blues with reeds man Nik Payton making a superb improvisational, interpretation impression on them for the master and, in accompaniment Rossano Sportiello on piano and Matt Skelton collectively turning it into a wonderful evening listening to classic jazz at its very best.
Attending a jazz festival the size, spread and scope of one like The Nairn 2007 International Jazz Festival, one needs to be selective in choosing the concerts that they are able to attend. A list follows of the ones that I was unable to cover. The plus side of it is that jazz artistes are invariably seen playing at more than one event and venue, so the opportunity is there for one to hear them on different occasions.
Concerts not attended
I stayed late at the Classroom for another coffee after the Moroni set and took a leisurely walk to the Newton when on reaching the door of the concert room I heard the Harold Arlen tune
Let’s Fall In Love being played coming from the tenor saxophone horn of Houston Person and I knew that I was in for a session of some beautiful ballads. Ella’s Black Velvet; Blues Stone Cold, On the Sunnyside of the Street and it was not too late for Too Late Now all going down extremely well. Move mouse pointer on photos to see names of jazz artists.
I’ve heard of “Sing, Sing, Sing” drummer Gene Krupa, of Chick Webb, in Ella’s early days, but I’ve never heard them play. I’ve never been taken to listen in particular to drum solos, but when I heard drummer Jo Jones at the Artie Shaw concert in the Festival Hall, London, conducting his concerto, I then took a liking to the Jo Jones drumming input.
Here in the 2007 Nairn Jazz Festival, Alvin Queen was seen centre stage on his drums, conducting, not in showmanship fashion, as he certainly was in the highlight, but in an unassuming, unassailable mode that defies belief of human dexterity of being able to ply multifarious arms movements obtaining musical creations fitting for his sidemen’s deep appreciation and interpretation drummed out for them in accompaniment, which they were.
Was it a top of the bill performance? Well, there were many in the audience without entering The Seven Seas Of Heaven who thought so.
Note the respect shown in the wings (above photo) by the two the top class jazz front men, Wendell Brunious and Jesse Davis.
Warren Vaché on trumpet, John Allred on trombone, Alan Barnes reeds, Brian Kellock piano,
Nicki Parrott on string bass and vocals and Matt Skelton on drums.
The Vaché inimitable, fascinating charm elated me when he referred to his reeds-man, clarinettist Alan Barnes as London’s Pride himself in bring Alan to the attention of his jazz fans, I quip – who is this announcing visionary guy – for I know that London jazzers feel equally the same about this same special musician.
Although at first I forgot the name John, but alas, when the tune came up I Thought About You played by trombonist John Allred that
“marvellous man” it would be honest for one kind to haven said I Only Have Eyes For You stamping out how great a concert this sextet had given.
The Last Call
The Conference Room was full to capacity, which was not unexpected when one reads the line-up for the concert. It reads as follows, Duke Heitger trumpeter leader; John Allred and Dan Barrett are on trombones; Evan Christopher and Scott Robinson they are on reeds; John Sheridan on piano; David Blenkhorn on guitar; Sebastien Girardot on string bass; Guillaume Nouaux on drums and Rebecca Kilgore is the vocalist.
This was a band that cast the audience back to the big band, dance band, swinging days of over sixty years ago and the full-house loved it,
every bit of it. The Heitger group opened with drummer Guillaume al la Jimmy Crawford style as if at the Fiesta Danseteria, New York,
in a 1940 Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra memory lane fashion.
Each instrument player took his cue, Scott Robinson, John Allred, Evan Christopher Dan Barrett with bass accompaniment, then the piano with
John Sheridan at the keys took his turn.
Although ten years previous the Casa Loma did have a pianist, not Lunceford, I move to the point made that ‘business sure is swell’ a line in the Lunceford hit Jamming or Rhythm Is Our Business when leader Duke Heitger took on the singing roll “in the band” on introducing each of his band members to play their instrumental part given to them in lips of song order.
We heard some great old time tunes, some arranged by John Sheridan and then came Rebecca Kilgore on vocals to The Music Goes Around and Around a lovely toned wah wah trombone urging on Squeeze Me - what more is there to say.
What! With a Cootie Williams and his Rug Cutters Swing Pan Alley Otto Hardwick bass sax number, and On the Sunny Side of the Street this Heitger Swing Band really swung - making it without question a wonderful, lovely evening, yes, and I did walk back to my hotel.
It just happened. There was no talk of it. The most beautiful sound I've ever heard. The beat was lilting. The tempo was exquisite. What on earth was happening? I shan't say who it was. It was someone using his dancing feet in perfect time to the rhythm. What a wonderful world. Oh Yeah.
Also
An hors-d'Õuvre
Remembering Guitarist Freddy Green
at the Newton Hotel
are
Bucky Pizzarelli from America and Dave Cliff from England
Trombonists Dan and John opened their concert on Three Little Words with Butch Miles drumming tempi to keep scores on the hilarity increasing good banter - horn or vocalised, spreading cheerful impromptu friendly crowd-pulling chat and lovely honed jazz music along the way. Piano breaks by pianist John Sheridan like Sometimes I’m Happy, supported by bassist Andy Cleyndert, and upbeat Benny Goodman famous tunes like Avalon added with standing, sit-in vocals by Rebecca Kilgrove on bonus as Start All Over Again songs - others, but, I’m sure that like me, all those who heard Dan Barrett on Blue Turning Grey Over You on trombone, and likewise John Allred on Stars Fell On Alabama will cherish those musical hearings for the rest of their lives.
With the sun shinning through the window, a stroll in the lush green Newton Hotel gardens between sets, all made for a pleasant afternoon.
The Westerlea in 1882 was owned by the Rev Alexander Mackenzie, a native of Inverness who was ordained in 1843 at Nairn serving there in his ministry for 20 years.
The house passed through the family to Mr & Mrs Evan Barron, known Highland historian and owner of the Inverness Courier who championed the cause for the Highlands. In 1967 the house was by Victor Ellen converted into a hotel
The Westerlea Hotel is no match for the Newton Hotel once owned by Viscount Lindsey in grandeur, and Newton's staircase is no match
for the two metres wide one, with a fist and a half width banisters balustrade of oak seen at the Westerlea.
It had just started to rain, so I’ll blame that for cutting off the top of the poster, and the Moray Firth behind her would have otherwise appeared blue.
She is happy about it being on the web so that she can down load it when reading the review.
I found all audiences at the jazz concerts very supportive of the Nairn International Jazz Festival - that was great.
Rather than being over vociferous in going over their strength of appreciation in force for an encore, I always feel more rewarded
when leaving a concert wanting more, leaving it up to the jazz artists to decide for it whatever is their reason.
Today the jazz festival staged two 8pm concerts in the grounds of the Newton Hotel. One in the Marquee, the other in the Conference Hall, so I decided to visit one of their two sets at each venue.
The first set at the Marquee featured singer Todd Gordon who gave a wonderful alikeness of Frank Sinatra - through the Gordon style of singing I'd say that the Sinatra name will endure for time to come.
Yes, my youngest daughter still has her copy of the Songs For Swinging Lovers on LP vinyl. Yes, Todd was wonderful – Yes, one could say that it was Just Too Marvellous For Words - why not.
When Elaine took over on Ella’s A-Tisket, A-Tasket/Lisa Chick Webb remembrance, and on other great American song-book numbers such as Night and Day you are the one, I Get A Kick Out Of You the full marquee must have been bewitched by her talents for the rest of the evening's second set.
As one door closes another opens, hoping that the cancellation of pianist Benny Green cause was not too suffering on his wellbeing as I rushed to catch the second set of his replacement - pianist Cirus Chestnut at Newton’s Conference Hall.
Although the room was full there were a number of seats available and guest jazz artist saxophonist Houston Person was playing soulfully so beautifully on Taking a Sentimental Journey. The musical rapport between piano and bass, intermittently between drums and piano was stunning.
As the evening lengthened the sound coming from the Grand Pianoforte became evermore eloquent making it a really lovely way to spend an evening as if by roaming through the cornfields when all the lasses smile at me, the fingers of Cirus in floating fast gentle touch movements over the grand piano’s several octaves, spelling out the love songs of Robert Burns truly brought a finger to brush a teardrop away reaching the heavens when an uproarious applause spoke it all.
It was a spellbindingly, wonderful Cirus Chestnut pianist led concert.
It has been said that guitarist Freddie Green was recommended by John Hammond to Count Basie and became a solid member of the Basie band for years staying with it until the mid 80s when Basie died.
The most memorable part of this remembering Freddie Green concert for me was the call and response musical dialogue between guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and bassist Nicki Parrott during the instrumental break of the number You’ll Be So Nice To Come Home To
which was the medium for her vocals to it. Move mouse pointer on photos to get names
As a traditionalist and not a Count Basie fan, it is perhaps true to say that the Basie Orchestra, that is to say, a Swing Band had the longest enduring spell on record in jazz ever, indeed, still is perhaps on shown evidence.
The line-up here at the Newton in Nairn was Frank Wess and Scott Robinson on saxophones; Cirus Chestnut on piano; Lynn Seaton on double bass; Wendell Brunious and Warren Vaché on trumpets; John Allred on trombone and Butch Miles on drums and voice.
It was reeds and brass to the fore from opening time, moving into String Horn onwards to Tangerine and Just Friends on a lovely sounding guitar, so I began to wonder what I’d been missing all those long years. On to a Basie Plays Hefti tune a famous Basie recording that built excitement, but for me to hear Li'l Darlin' by Cirus Chestnut on piano was a most beautiful pianoforte recital – one, I’ll never forget.
This was it, yes it was, it was when Butch Miles in announcing a forthcoming featured part to be taken by double-bass player Lynn Seaton on the 1932 number Toby-Moten Swing subeebeedu in song - noting that there was a space beside him (Butch) on the floor for dancing,
I immediately felt like screaming out ‘find me a partner’ for the Seaton performance was spectacular in both rhythm and song that it took me back to the jitterbugging days of ‘Stage Door Canteen’ when those over here with their Shiny (Silk) Stockings taught us the art of Scat-Tapping jive.
“Another Year - Another June - Although it isn’t Spring” – It’s August two thousand and seven – “The Groom is Nervous” perhaps not but there is a wedding, it's going on across the green in the Newton Hotel, and here in the Marquee we hear the magical sound of a Scottish piper.
Humorous Butch on drums taps the talk of a waltz of the bagpipe blues, John on trombone steadies Nicki with encouragement as she swirls back her golden locks flicking her ears ready to face the music, and does so after John on piano tinkles out a few slow and groovy piano notes as she voices into the tune “Making Whoopee” to good effect with haggis but no tatties in mention.
I recall the day when in Canterbury, Kent, England, promoting my Croydon jazz book in a side street when Tuba “Fats” Lacen came with his
New Orleans marching band up one end, and the Scottish piper towards them from the other, together out came a great rendition of
“Amazing Grace” receiving loud applause for so doing on completion.
To the John Allred Quartet featuring singer, bassist Nicki Parrott, I can say that, although not a world first, you have added tentatively,
stirring Scottish bagpipes skirls to the Nairn Jazz music for exploration.
The Wonders Of The Tenors
and
Listening to Pianist Fuller
Many thanks to Ramage Jazz and helper colleagues for their superb bumper Nairn 2007 jazz festival.
Kings Jazz Review
August 2007