See www.jazzdivas.tv for archive flashbacks since 2002. See also the following link to photos taken by the Island Pulse team at the 2007 IOW Jazz Festival: Island pulse photos IOW Jazz Fest 07 Also google Alan Ainsworth photographer www.jazzshot.co.uk as he is selling some great photos of musicians from the 2008 festival.
The way it was for the IOW International Jazz Festival in 2008:
Headline events:
Friday night headliner
Maceo Parker & His Band featuring Dennis Rollins
“Quite simply, there is no better living showman than Maceo Parker. Catching one of the alto sax maestro's marathon three-hour shows is a truly transcendent experience for any fan of funk, jazz, hip-hop, R&B and soul: His performances are never disappointing, always worth the money, and a funky, funky good time”. Check out www.maceo.com if you don’t believe us !! Maceo Parker: his name is synonymous with Funky Music, his pedigree impeccable; his band: the tightest little funk orchestra on earth. TOTALLY UNMISSABLE performance of this legendary saxophonist. Following on from his tour with Prince in 2007, this year’s UK tour features award winning trombonist Dennis Rollins, who had last year’s Messin’ Around club night rocking. This is a UNIQUE opportunity on the Isle of Wight and a rare opportunity in the UK to see these musicans, some of the world’s very best, at play. This ticket is a double whammy, so don’t even consider hesitating !
Saturday Messin’ Around Club
Manteca, Perry Louis “Messin’ Around” DJ, Jazzcotech Dancers, Thabani
Dance to the Latin nu-groove jazz sounds of Manteca (9–piece), the roots-soul-afro-groove of Thabani (7–piece)and a whole collection of jazz grooves with DJ Perry Louis… and stamp your feet to the rythym of the legendary jazz street dance tapping, twirling and jumping of the JazzCotech Dancers.
Sunday night Swing Era Big Band concert
18 piece Big Swing Orchestra of major names led by Pete Long, director of Ronnie Scotts Big Band, with Liane Carroll & Ian Shaw
In a specially commissioned performance, the Peter Long Swing Orchestra will be presenting all the great hits of the golden years of swing. Expect to hear from the libraries of Basie, Goodman, Shaw, Ellington, Barnet, Kenton and Miller. To further gild the lily, Liane Carroll will be on hand to provide gems from the Ella Fitzgerald songbook, and Ian Shaw will be providing soulful recollections from the swinging repertiore of Ray Charles. Not to be missed!
Stroller Programme
(a brilliantly balanced line up of all types of jazz for wide tastes)
Friday 11 April:
Selection with Jam sessionA selection of jazz hosted by Mick Smith of Quay Arts based mostly on its own stage in the Mill Bay Inn, Ventnor esplanade all weekend. Some acts are so big that they will be based in either the Baptist Church (on Friday) or St Catherine’s Church (on Saturday). Timings shown at the bottom of this page.
Southampton Jazz Youth Orchestrawith Tom Cawley guesting on piano – Winter Gardens 12 noon
Fabulous line up of the best young musicians in the Southampton area, led by Dan Mar Molinero, supported by Southampton City Council and well known names of the jazz world. SYJO is a most successful and creative organisation of its type, aiming to promote jazz as a living, vibrant art-form to young musicians. Its music focuses on cutting-edge, creative, contemporary British Jazz. Joining them today on the Kawai Shigeru EX-7 Concert Grand Piano kindly loaned by Kawai Pianos to the festival, is Tom Cawley.
Messin’ Around DJ Perry Louis
What started as Perry's Red Box of goodies has developed into a collection of over 10,000 records and the fact that over a quarter of his albums have been signed by the original artists speaks for itself. We nickname him the Dancing DJ because he is the founder and lead dancer of Jazzcotech too. We are pleased to welcome this charismatic performer back to our festival after popular appearances last year.
Aydenne Simone & the Jazz Culture BandOK – we don’t usually do this – but popular request was too much to resist so we are bringing an act back for the third time in a row! Well actually, it is the fifth time we have brought her over to the Isle of Wight as so many of you just can’t resist this powerball of fun, with her raunchy blues and jazz and backed by her swell guys. Aydenne Simone, who three years ago walked into our Jazz Office with a rucksack on her back, on holiday after the death of her dear mother and declared she was a jazz singer and would we like to book her, has become a firm favourite. Her repertoire of jazz and blues is extensive and she belts it out like mama used to.
The Baddest Blues Band (Ever!)The finest new blues band on the British scene? … Very possibly. Featuring a host of top JAZZ players. This is not miserable, down at heal, morose, smoky pub fare - rather Hammond / harmonica / vocal / guitar led six piece band, producing exhilarating and vibrant dance blues. The players are all amazing musicians with excellent track records." - Dan Somogyi, Music Promoter. Sultry and charismatic vocalist Zoë Schwarz is propelled by ace blues guitarist Rob Koral and blistering blues harp man Si Genaro. The achingly groovy all-star rhythm section features happening Hammond organist Mike Gorman, jet-setting jazz double bassist Malcolm Creese and dynamite drummer Dave Wallace.
"A thoroughly modern mix of jazz and blues, they are superb..... To all fans of quality blues/jazz, this will really appeal." - Blues Matters
The Sophie Garner BandSophie is one of the leading up and coming singer songwriters in the UK and written and performed music for both film and television. Recent appearances include the 02 Millennium dome opening for McFly and the Sugababes . She has also entertained the likes of Van Morrison and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Having already released three albums, Sophie is currently recording an album of her own original material due for release later this year.
'One of Britain's most stylish vocalists' The Times
'A singer who brings every song vividly to life' The Observer
Jazzcotech Dancers were so very popular in our 2007 line up that it just wasn’t possible to say no to them returning to do it all again. We just love them and, judging by all the requests, so do you ! Street Jazz Fusion Dance is a breathtaking mix of fast, intricate footwork, graceful spins and acrobatic floor moves. Using the music's varying rhythm patterns, the Dance works on the Dancers' creativity, their understanding of the music and their own energy. As such, the style is deeply rooted in clubs – unlike the theatre style Dance style, most people associate with Jazz Dance. Definitely no ‘Jazz Hands’ here and a lot of people have their whole understanding of Jazz Dance turned upside down when they experience Jazzcotech style for the first time.
DJ Tim BoogalooIsland character and master DJ with his mammoth collection of original jazz-funk-soul vinyls gets all types of crowds up and dancing in his own inimitable style. Rarely seen without a hat and never knowingly underdressed, Tim Boogaloo has won awards for top London clubs in his time and is a popular club DJ on the island that is his home. With DJ Boogaloo with his Blue Notes and the 60’s boogaloo of Filthy Six, you are sure of a great fun time. If you are going on to the Messin’ Around Club after, this is a great warm up and if you aren’t, you’ll have a really great fun evening in the Jazz Village and if you wanna dance – just do it!
The Filthy SixThe Filthy Six are fast establishing themselves as one of the finest live acts around. A London based group, they take their cue from the groove and boogaloo styles of late 60's Blue Note artists such as Lou Donaldson, Grant Green, Jimmy McGriff and Donald Byrd. Playing a mixture of original material plus classics from the golden period of Soul Jazz, the band honed their skills at their monthly residency (The Thursday Boogaloo) at the infamous Tatty Bogle club in London’s Soho, and have since been invited to burn up venues and dancefloors all across the UK and Europe, including shows in Stockholm, Paris, Geneva and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Like their heroes before them, their music appeals to hard-core groovers and jazz heads alike. The sextet is comprised of some of London’s hottest musicians who have worked with a variety of artists from home and abroad including Amy Winehouse. Expect to have fun – we all did the last time Filthy Six played Ventnor for us.
Saturday 12 April:
FREE Jazz Fringe marquee stage hosted by Quay Arts Mick SmithA selection of jazz hosted by Mick Smith of Quay Arts based mostly on its own stage in the Mill Bay Inn, Ventnor esplanade all weekend. Some acts are so big that they will be based in either the Baptist Church (on Friday) or St Catherine’s Church (on Saturday). Timings shown at the bottom of this page.
John-Paul Gard “Pedalmania”
Hammond organ based groove beats of jazz, funk and soul from JPG on organ with Ben Waghorn’s post bop modern and brilliant tenor sax. Easily describable as wacky, fun and lapping with humour, JPG is described as torturing his organ to bring out fresh confessions that nobody else can make ! This is one we can’t wait to see and wholly recommend you get out of bed, get dressed quickly and come down to grab breakfast and a coffee in the Jazz Fringe Marquee Deep South Diner before heading on down to the main arena stage to hear this first thing on Saturday morning. He started playing the Hammond Organ at the age of 10, so we put him on stage at 10am. His unmistakeable foot bass pedal stomps are a treat for any Hammond Organ fan. Don’t miss it! Seriously.
Terry Seabrook’s Cubana BopCubana Bop was formed in 1995 out of a weekly Latin jam session at the infamous Casablanca Club in Brighton and over the years the band members have included Byron Wallen, Raul D’Olivera, Gary Kavanagh, and Tristan Banks with performances and recordings with top US musicians such as percussionists Pucho and Bobby Mattos and the flautist Dave Valentine. During that time the band has performed at over 400 gigs at K venues and festivals including Brecon, Edinburgh, London’s Jazz Café, Cowes Week and The Festival Hall and Barbican Foyers. The music is all jazz with a strong Latin Afro-Cuban flavour featuring originals penned by Seabrook. With associations and collaborations with many of the great names in jazz today, here you will see performing trumpeter Graeme Flowers, Drummer and Timbalero Adam Riley, Bassist Davide Mantovani, Ian Price on both sax and flute, Satin Singh on congas and is as versed in Indian percussion and Terry Seabrook the band leader on piano. Seabrook's band is the King of Cuban jazz-fusion utilizing the intricacies of the form and its open harmonic possibilities to kick up a riot on their sharp originals. (Jazzwise Magazine)
Tom Cawley’s CuriosNYJO, Royal Academy of Music, Acoustic Ladyland with Pete Wareham & Seb Rochford, now Curios……. 32 yr old pianist/composer Tom Cawley is finding his own way in this trio, with bassist Sam Burgess and 20 yr old Derby drum sensation Josh Blackmore. This is concentrated music where detectable influences are overwhelmed by intelligent individuality and imaginative compositions as well as the sheer brilliance of the musicians. Is it jazz? Yes – for the 21st century - and there is no end in sight for Cawley as he pushes this piano trio further than those that have gone before…….and not even the musicians know where it is going to. That’s jazz alright!
An Afternoon with Ian Shaw & TrioDescribed by Time Out Magazine as “the best jazz vocalist we have”, there is rather a lot to say about 2007 BBC Jazz award winning vocalist who has collaborated with anyone who is anyone on the jazz circuit in recent years, notably and popularly with Claire Martin and Liane Carroll, so we only chose a few snippets and will leave you to thoroughly soak up and enjoy this afternoon in his company, as well as his Sunday performance on the Big Band Swing Concert stage with Liane Carroll.
Shaw’s career in performance began unusually for a jazz musician on the Alternative Cabaret Circuit, alongside such performers as Julian Clary, Rory Bremer and Jo Brand. Shaw was spotted by Dave Illic, jazz critic for "City Limits" and was described as "the voice of the decade". He recorded an album with legendary English blues and rock artist Carol Grimes. Over the next two years Shaw moved from the singer-pianist format to working with his new band, Brave New World, co-formed with Adrian York. This band garnered a huge club and concert following playing such venues as the Hammersmith Odeon and Ronnie Scott’s. Venturing boldly into jazz, Shaw recorded a further two albums for Jazzhouse Records, TAKING IT TO HART (a tribute to Rodgers and Hart) and THE ECHO OF A SONG (an album of love songs compiled by Shaw’s mentor, Ronnie Scott) and toured extensively in the UK, Europe and the States, promoting these albums. His appearances on TV in the 90’s included guesting with Jools Holland, Pebble Mill, Top of the Pops (Shaw wrote a song for the 1993 Children in Need), The Jack Dee Show, Christmas Night with the Stars (BBC), C4’s The Happening, TVAM, BBC Breakfast Show, BBC 2’s A Night of Love, BBC 2’s Jazz at the 606 and, more recently, numerous appearances on the Performance and Artsworld channels. In the summer of 2002, Carlton/HTV made a documentary about Shaw.
These days, Shaw’s shows sell out so we really hope you will enjoy the privilege of an intimate audience at our festival in the company of a scatty humorist with a jazz voice that will melt you.
Trevor Watts & Veryan Weston DuoRare chance to hear legendary saxophonist/percussionist Trevor Watts, who has just returned from tours in Brasil and USA and who has been a stalwart of the UK Jazz/World & Improvisation scene for many years, with pianist Veryan Weston who has also performed with just about everyone of any note on the World Jazz & Improv scene. It's a reunion for these two musicians having played as a duo in the early 2000's. The music will be an eclectic mix of Jazz/ African & other World music elements played in their own very special way. Focusing on strong rhythm and melody. Full of passion, commitment and excitement. Not to be missed.
Cameron PierreDistinctive guitarist Cameron Pierre, born in London but raised on the Carribean Island of Dominica, has toured the world in the award winning line up with Courtney Pine, having been discovered playing the London scene of Calypso, Reggae and Jazz. The Reggae sounds of Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder formed part of his early musical influences that today echo his Jamaican roots in shows of funky jazz guitar that reflect the later jazz influences of George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Parker, Grant Green. A talent with an eye for a killer hook, this great man deserves centre stage. Expect West Indian influenced jazz with soul, reggae, funk and gospel in melodic riffs.
“Cameron Pierre is one of the finest musicans I have met. He has that elusive quality of being able to play the past, present and future styles of jazz. Without a doubt, he is one of the finest guitarists to be produced in Britain”. Courtney Pine (on whose label, Destin-E, Cameron Pierre records his CDs).
“Thoroughly entertaining, infectiously swinging, intelligent and alert, at times tenderly sensitive with energy and power”.
Faye Patton Going SoloFaye Patton was a new talent emerging onto the scene when we showcased her at The Boathouse in 2007’s emerging talent section of the festival. Her voice and piano compositions are so different, pioneering and distinctive that she fully deserves a place in the Main Arena this year and we urge you to pop in and listen to either of her performances at this year’s festival because her voice is truly something else - beyond compare and truly remarkable. She writes and sings intensely personal songs - lush landscapes of love, loss, passion and inspiration, with rich, soulful vocal stylings and prodigiously funky, groove-ridden command of the piano. A compelling lyricist as well as singer/instrumentalist, at home in varying categories, from Nu-jazz to blues, funk and pop, Faye Patton represents a formidable new talent that defies musical boundaries.
Zoe Gallant & her BandDavid Gallant, who has interviewed and written about so many jazz greats for Jazzwise Magazine must be a very proud Dad! Here pianist/vocalist Zoe makes her debut on the Isle of Wight with Rob Statham on Bass, Mike Pickering on Drums and Rod Fogg on Guitar. Expect Latin/Jazz/Funk with a nod in the direction of popular song, showing influences of Carole King, Joan Armatrading, Laura Nyro and Joni Mitchell. She’s unsigned – so if you are into signing up new artistes, take a look see.
Sunday 13 April:
FREE Jazz Fringe hosted by Quay Arts Mick SmithAnother chance to spend time with food and a drink listening to a selection of jazz on the free fringe. A selection of jazz hosted by Mick Smith of Quay Arts based mostly on its own stage in the Mill Bay Inn, Ventnor esplanade.
Sue Hawker DuoSue Hawker is renown on the British jazz circuit for her timeless vocal performances. During a career spanning over 30 years, Sue has played all the major venues (Ronnie Scott's, The Barbican, Royal Festival Hall) as well as jazz festivals and clubs all over the UK, including our own Divas festival in 2005. More recently she has won recognition for her songwriting talents, with compositions being performed and recorded by major artists such as Ian Shaw and Zoe Schwarz.
"Hawker is a full-blown Jazz singer with a husky, seductive voice who can wade through bop phrasing as boisterously as Annie Ross." Cadence Review
Tony Smith & CoIn Tony’s book, there’s two kinds of music – good and bad - but as far as guitar players go, his early influences were Santana and Jeff Beck followed by Larry Carlton and Robben Ford. Before that, he listened to the great rock bands of the 60s and 70s (The Beatles, Led Zeppelin etc). He also secretly listened to his Dad’s Frank Sinatra, Sergio Mendes and Sarah Vaughn records. Tony also got into jazz when he was at Humber College and heard Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, John Scofield and Pat Martino amongst others. After college, he spent a lot of time gigging with funk bands, which has been a huge influence on his music. He always keep an ear open for anything new that inspires him by anyone in any form of music. We just love hearing this guy play – his talent touches the soul and we would book him time and time again – the closest thing to Santana the jazz world can claim for its own.
"Tony Smith delivers a punchy, energised brand of fusion and his solos fly -- a musician who's really going places. Watch out for him!" Stuart Nicholson, THE OBSERVER
"Fusing a jazz brain with a blues heart, Smith's coruscating signature sound and passionate intensity continues to impress" Peter Quinn - JAZZWISE October 2007
Faye Patton & Band/Special GuestsFaye Patton was a new talent emerging onto the scene when we showcased her at The Boathouse in 2007’s emerging talent section of the festival. Her voice and piano compositions are so different, pioneering and distinctive that she fully deserves a place in the Main Arena this year and we urge you to pop in and listen to either of her performances at this year’s festival because her voice is truly something else - beyond compare and truly remarkable. She writes and sings intensely personal songs - lush landscapes of love, loss, passion and inspiration, with rich, soulful vocal stylings and prodigiously funky, groove-ridden command of the piano. A compelling lyricist as well as singer/instrumentalist, at home in varying categories, from Nu-jazz to blues, funk and pop, Faye Patton represents a formidable new talent that defies musical boundaries.
Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House EnsembleGilad Atzmon was born in Israel in 1963 and had his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (Composition and Jazz). A multi-instrumentalist he plays Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Clarinet, Sol, Zurna and Flutes. Coming to the UK in 1994, Atzmon recovered an interest in playing the music of the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe that had been in the back of his mind for years. He founded the Orient House Ensemble in London and started re-defining his own roots in the light of political reality with Asaf Sirkis on Drums, Yaron Stavi on Bass and Frank Harrison on keys. Also a prolific writer, Atzmon's essays are widely published his novel 'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love' have been translated into 24 languages all together.
Over the years Gilad Atzmon's music has moved more and more towards a cultural hybrid. As a bandleader and reed player he has been amazing his listeners with his powerful personal style that combines great bebop artistry and Middle-Eastern roots in a sophisticated, sometimes ironical manner. Influenced by Coltranes powerful approach on the sax, Gilad's live performances are simply breathtaking and overwhelming.
As a member of the Blockheads, Gilad has also recorded and performed with such as Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney. Gilad has also recorded with Robert Wyatt, the Waters Boys and many others.
"Israeli-born saxophonist Gilad Atzmon's stew of modern jazz discipline, expressionist bluster and Middle Eastern vernacular has rarely sounded better. His slew of recent compositions blends these elements into an organic whole, and sets up the genre-hopping improvisations that are Atzmon's trademark. And, after an extensive UK tour, his band, The Oriental House Ensemble, is on fire with intuition and purpose.” Mike Hobart, Financial Times, Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
Tony Kofi Trio +1A newly formed original project by the double award winning Saxophonist/Composer, featuring Byron Wallen on Trumpet, Anders Olinder on B3 Hammond Organ and Winston Clifford on Drums. When Tony met Anders in 2001 and saw how he approached the B3 Hammond Organ, it was only a matter of time before Tony set his mind at composing music around the sound of the Organ and finding the right musicians to complete the sound and feeling he was looking for to recreate the fresh sounds of yesterdays for today's listener. With these compositions you get to hear the blues, Gospel, Jazz, funk, Latin, African rhythms, Bebop and many more.
The playing career of saxophonist Tony Kofi began when he chanced upon a series of jazz workshops, run in Leicester by Nick Hislam. Born in Nottingham to West African parents, Tony was bitten by the jazz bug and made a point of making the journey to go along to each session. This laid the seeds for what was to come. While in the US, Tony studied with such musical luminaries as Andy Magee, Ernie Watts and Billy Pierce. From 1991, Tony was part of the UK's premier jazz group of the time – The Jazz Warriors. This band was (and, indeed, is, in its current form of Tomorrow's Warriors) a hotbed of young talent from the UK jazz scene. Tony was also vital part of Gary Crosby's Nu Troop, the educational ethos of which Tony is still committed to, regularly running his own workshops and giving individual lessons.
"Music must serve a purpose; it must be part of something larger than itself, a part of humanity." Pablo Casals
Protect the Beat (with Derek Nash)Gigs with Protect the Beat are a riot – high energy stuff with influences of Morrisey Mullen Band, Brecker Brothers and Mike Stern. Funky, with electric rock influences, the question has got to be, “is this really jazz?” Well of course it is but it is a type of jazz that will be enjoyed by those who didn’t realise jazz can be this mould-breaking as much as those who know the power of the individual jazz musicians in the line up. The quintet improvise over the chord sequences and then out comes a solo and well…… that’s jazz and with Nash on whichever sax he chooses, who could doubt it!
Derek Nash - sax (Jools Holland, Dave Grusin, Sax Appeal) Winston Blissett - bass (Massive Attack, Jeff Lorber) Tim Cansfield - guitar (Steve Winwood, Annie Lennox, Ray Charles) Arden Hart - keys & trumpet (Bootsy Collins, Massive Attack) Darby Todd - drums (Dennis Rollins, Disney's Lion king).
Located on Pier Street, after the antique bookshop, on the right as you are heading down towards the seafront. Entry by Gold/Silver/Purple package, Stroller ticket or Day.
Brigitte Beraha TrioFor lovers of good vocal jazz with Joe Auckland-trumpet/fluegelhorn and Ivo Neame on piano. Often described as playing original melodic contemporary jazz with World and Latin flavours, the Brigitte Beraha Trio is an imaginative vocal-led Modern Jazz Ensemble who sidestep obvious standards to tackle lyrical material. The music, mainly written by Brigitte but also by Ivo and Joe, is very much influenced by Brigitte’s multi-lingual background and by the likes of John Surman, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Azymuth, Chick Corea, Milton Nascimento and Hermeto Pascoa. The ensemble, fronted by a vocalist singing songs with lyrics also becomes and instrumental group when the voice is used as an instrument blending in with the trumpet and fluegelhorn so as to create a unique soundscape.
“If sheer talent were the only ingredient needed for success in music, Brigitte would already be up there with the stars. She has a tremendous future to explore, one which we’ll be watching with great expectations”. Dame Cleo Laine & John Dankworth CBE.
EmpiricalJay Phelps (trumpet) Nathaniel Facey (alto) Kit Downes (piano) Neil Charles (bass) Shane Forbes (drums). Empirical are five jazz stars of the future – four of them recent graduates from Tomorrow’s Warriors (the organisation founded in 1992 by original Jazz Warriors double bassist Gary Crosby to nurture and develop talented young jazz musicians) – are now stepping forward on their own terms and with their own compositions. Performing with astonishing musical maturity, confidence and a cohesiveness derived from many years of playing together, Empirical is dedicated to maintaining the roots of traditional modern jazz but with a definite finger on the pulse of the contemporary world.
“Empirical is the most exciting jazz band to come out of the UK,” Courtney Pine.
“Empirical could turn out to be one of the most important bands in UK Jazz history,” Jazzwise.
Shez RajaJazz-funk and fusion with nods to Weather Report, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Herbie's 'Headhunters'. Shez Raja Collective is an exciting and unique. An intoxicating headcharge of experimental Funk & Jazz-fusion with lashings of African, Reggae, Latin, Drum&Bass and Arabic vibes. Shez Raja’s multi-genre fusion outfit will be serving up an intoxicating headcharge of bass-led eclecticism. Their live show, from organic lushness to incendiary meltdown is unmissable! Shez Raja - Bass guitar - Pascal Roggen – Violin - Nick Haseman – Trumpet - Kwame Yeboah – Keyboards-MattPhillips -Drums.
Louis Vause & his MusiciansPiano jazz for those who think they don’t like jazz with boogie woogie wonderman who taught George Harrison and Suggs of Madness. Widely travelled Vause is an entertainer and educator and prolific writer with humorous tales to tell inbetween pieces. He still wears the hat which characterises Madness and when his blues fingers start on the keys you can’t help but think Jools Holland but he is very definitely an individual with a life story – he is Louis Vause.
“Think Jools Holland with a rocket attached to his sidecar”.
Glorious ChorusLast year St Catherine’s Church hosted the Sunday morning service with the Glorious Chorus bringing in every element of love in technicolor! This year the Ventnor Baptist Church on Pier Street hosts the service featuring the Rockin’ with Motown-inspired grooves, burstin’ with jazz-inspired passion, and wrenching the very core with weight of the mighty blues. Director, Helen Yeomans, has written an outstanding range of songs for her chorus and soloists and, under the vocal direction of Sandra Smith, the chorus show their emotional and vocal dexterity through some of the most accessible and inspirational choral writing around. This choir has an infectious character and a well deserved following, attracting the enigmatic jazz singer Louise Parker as a key soloist.
Located on Church Street; turn left at the Pier Street traffic lights. Entry by Gold/Silver/Purple package, Stroller ticket or Day Passes or pay £5 on the door.
Glorious ChorusGlorious Chorus bring every element of love to you in glorious technicolor! Rockin’ with Motown-inspired grooves, burstin’ with jazz-inspired passion, and wrenching the very core with weight of the mighty blues, this choir inspires the heart and soul with their passionate and committed performances. Director, Helen Yeomans, has written an outstanding range of songs for her chorus and soloists and, under the vocal direction of Sandra Smith, the chorus show their emotional and vocal dexterity through some of the most accessible and inspirational choral writing around. This choir has an infectious character and a well deserved following, attracting the enigmatic jazz singer Louise Parker as a key soloist.
Located at the top of the Cascades as Pier Street winds steeply down to the seafront. This old lady of a deco building, built by the council in 1936 and still run by the town council today, hosts the main headline events. Bars will be open late for these events. Both Friday and Saturday is cabaret/dance floor style layout with some seating and some tables. Sunday is a formal sit down concert with numbered seating in rows.
Maceo Parker Band featuring Dennis RollinsWe’ve had some great British names of jazz on our headline stage in recent years but this year we are totally thrilled to announce an American legend to grace the boards of the Winter Gardens. The great saxophonist and one of the world’s greatest showmen, Maceo Parker, leads his band in a three hour non-stop show that also features BBC Jazz Award winning trombonist, Dennis Rollins.
Maceo Parker: his name is synonymous with Funky Music, his pedigree impeccable; his band: the tightest little funk orchestra on earth. Everyone knows by now that he's played with each and every leader of funk, his start with James Brown, which Maceo describes as " like being at University "; jumping aboard the Mothership with George Clinton; stretching out with Bootsy's Rubber Band. He’s the living, breathing pulse which connects the history of Funk in one golden thread. The cipher which unravels dance music down to its core.
"Everything's coming up Maceo," concluded DownBeat Magazine in a 1991 article at the beginning of Maceo Parker's solo career. At the time Maceo was a remembered by aficionados of funk music as sideman; appreciated mainly by those in the know. More than a decade and a half later Maceo Parker has been enjoying a blistering solo career. For the past sixteen years Maceo has been building a new funk empire, fresh and stylistically diverse. He navigates deftly between James Brown's 1960's soul and George Clinton's 1970's freaky funk while exploring mellower jazz and the grooves of hip-hop.
His collaborations over the years performing or recording or both have included Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, De La Soul, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. His timeless sound has garnered him a fresh young fan base.
It is almost impossible to separate which came first, Maceo or the funk. The amazing P-funk Parker has been at it with his legendary alto horn for some time dating back to the 1960’s. That’s when Maceo and his drummer brother Melvin climbed on board the James Brown funky soul funk train. It wasn’t long before James coined the solo summoning signature, “ Maceo, I want you to Blow!” . To most musicologists it’s the muscially fertile group of men from this period of James Brown's band who are recognized as the early pioneers of the modern funk and hip-hop we still jump to today.
“When people talk about legends they mean ‘they’re done, but boy did they do good’ when I think of Maceo Parker I think of legendary funk master and horn player, but not ‘legend’ in the term that he’s done. He’s still doing it. And that to me makes a really legendary person ” Ani DiFranco.
Joining him is funky trombonist, Dennis Rollins, the face of our 2007 festival, BBC Jazz Award and Ronnie Scotts Jazz award winner who had our Messin’ Around Night rocking last year. Acclaimed musician, composer and educator, Dennis is an energetic, versatile performer who brings a unique style to the underrated trombone. Born in Nottingham
Saturday Club NightThe now world famous Messin’ Around Club is a monthly club night for jazzers who want to dance at Camden Town’s Jazz Café. Conceived and hosted by Perry Louis who is both DJ and lead dancer, this brand now travels jazz festivals across the world but, as far as we know, we are the only Jazz Festival in the UK to host this event. Tonight you have the pleasure of two live bands on stage inbetween DJ Perry (straight no chaser) Louis’s sets from his great vinyls and towards midnight the Jazzcotech jazz street fusion dance troupe will be on stage to pump up the energy levels with a deft move or two.
Featuring:
DJ Perry Louis All dancers obviously love music but there are those who love it so much, they have to go and buy it! Perry is one of those dancers and so, throughout a dance career spanning some 20 years he has amassed a lot of tunes. What started as Perry's Red Box of goodies has developed into a collection of over 10,000 records and the fact that over a quarter of his albums have been signed by the original artists speaks for itself. We nickname him the Dancing DJ and we are pleased to welcome him back to our festival after popular appearances last year.
Thabani – On stage at about 8.15pmHailing from West London, THABANI the Roots-Soul collective combine Soul, Afro and Groove influences to their potent mix of 'brilliant front line' tunes with a modern contemporary edge. Led by charismatic Zimbabwean singer and songwriter Tee Nyoni, together with a tight musical ensemble of brass, guitar, drums, African percussion and backing vocals, THABANI produce a classic 'Soulful Wall Of Sound',Tee brings the energy of a young 'James Brown' the voice of 'Marvin Gaye' and the songwriting influences of Curtis Mayfield and Fela Kuti!! Conscious lyrics to live by, fused with a passionate musical landscape, the THABANI band have earned a massive live following all over Europe with headline performances at The Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scott's (sold out for the second year running) and were featured guests of Bob Geldof and Gordon Brown at the "BBC MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" campaign in 2005. They have also appeared on "One World" (BBC Radio 1), BBC Network Africa and "Late Junction" (BBC Radio 3). THABANI have already made an explosive impact on Europe with city tours in France, Germany, Holland and the Czech Republic. 2007 has seen the band enter the American Dance charts (DJ Masspool) at 47 to climb to no 14! They also embarked on a successful Oct 2007 tour of USA where they were part of the CMJ music festival in New York. The band also featured in a tour of Uganda as part of the Royal Commonwealth society's conference in Kampala in Oct 07. Thabani head straight into 2008 with a series of headline shows in JAPAN in Febuary 2008! With festival dates and a new release planned in 2008, THABANI continue their unstoppable rise to musical recognition!
Manteca – On stage at about 9.45pmMixing Latin music with a splash of jazz, funk, soul and Drum & Bass, Manteca pioneer a fresh and exhilarating style. Manteca is an expression of the eclectic and ever changing musical culture in London, combined with a love for funky 70’s Nuyorican beats.
JazzCotech Dancers – Dance show at about 11.45pmTo witness Street Jazz Fusion is an attack on all senses. Unfortunately, these days too many people think Jazz is old people music, lift music, easy listening, smooth stuff you relax or fall asleep or have dinner to. The stuff the multi cultural Jazzcotech Dancers dance and club to is a mix of high tempo Swing/Bebop, Afro Cuban, Brazilian, Latin and Funky Jazz. Most of it is high-octane and dates back to the late 60s and early 70s, expanding to the mid 80s, a time when Jazz Fusion was at its freshest and rawest and Musicians seemed to be at their freest and thus most experimental. Anyone who knows their Jazz will know that this genre isn’t for the faint hearted. It’s deep, complex, sometimes aggressive and dark – definitely not Music you would dare fall asleep to.
The beauty of Street Fusion Jazz Dance is that it is totally flexible, lacking the rigidity of many other Dance styles. It is for this reason that it appeals to such a wide audience, especially young people.
Pete Long’s Big Swing Orchestra
With Liane Carroll & Ian ShawIn a specially commissioned performance, the Peter Long Swing Orchestra will be presenting all the great hits of the golden years of swing. Expect to hear from the libraries of Basie, Goodman, Shaw, Ellington, Barnet, Kenton and Miller. To further gild the lily, Liane Carroll will be on hand to provide gems from the Ella Fitzgerald songbook, and Ian Shaw will be providing soulful recollections from the swinging repertiore of Ray Charles. Not to be missed! A fitting finale to a fabulous festival featuring so much of today’s generation jazz – what better than a night flashback to the great days of glitz and swing with some of the greatest memories of the heyday of jazz.
Sussex Jazz KingsFood & service style is the decision and responsibility of the hotel which is located on Madeira Road at the Bonchurch end of Ventnor – a 15 minute walk from the Jazz Village (limited car parking).
Louise Parker Quintet featuring Alan BarnesWith a Jamaican mother and jazz-obsessed father, Louise Parker was born to create the sort of souful jazz she is rapidly gaining a reputation for. Named after Louis Armstrong and bought up listening to her father’s extensive blue-note collection, it was until her late thirties (after numerous career choices!) that Louise discovered she could sing. Following a Diploma in Performing Arts and a jazz summer-school with Lee Gibson (who first recommended we give her an audience at our 2005 Jazz Divas Festival), Louise began performing with Plymouth based main-stream jazz band Woza in 1998. In 2006, Louise was tipped by Evening Standard critic Jack Massarik as the most promising new jazz singer and she didn’t disappoint. 2007 has seen her perform with BBC Jazz Award winner, saxophonist Alan Barnes at the Plymouth Orange Music Festival, with whom she performs tonight and recently with Humph. Influences including Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday and a mix of funk and gospel, combine an easy rhythmical style with a sweet warm tone and daring scatting to create a performance that really stirs the soul. Tender or wild her never loses its warmth and her phrasing has an in-built propulsion rarely heard from others. Here with her on piano is the fabulous Craig Milverton and household name Alan Barnes on saxophone who, over the years, has won many British Jazz awards in alto, baritone, clarinet and arranging categories. In 2001 and 2006 Alan received the prestigious BBC Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year award and in November 2003 was made a fellow of the Leeds College of Music. His contribution to the world of jazz is well respected and he is always busy – so busy that this is the first time we’ve managed to get him down to our festival!
'Let me say right now that Louise Parker is a fine, fine vocalist.' 'On all the normal counts of what makes a good jazz singer, Louise Parker seems to qualify: clear diction, fine projection, warmth, a feel for the lyrics and, most all, she seems to give every song the right 'weight'. Humphrey Lyttelton.
Trudy Kerr QuartetTrudy is now a director of Jazzizit Records with Derek Nash and many of her albums are available through it. Trudy is also hosting BBC Radio Kent’s Jazz hour on a Tuesday night with Roger Day where she plays latest UK releases as well classic jazz recordings. Recently she received great reviews for her children’s jazz CD “JAZZ FOR JUNIORS” and is currently performing the JAZZ FOR JUNIORS show in schools. Hailed as ‘one of the country's most polished singers’ by The Times, Trudy moved to London in 1990 from her native Australia and, whilst continuing to gig regularly, as she had done back home, worked during the day as secretary for popular clarinetist Acker Bilk. She took time out to study jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and in 1995 got her musical career break when Ronnie Scott offered her a week at his club: she has performed regularly at the famous Soho jazzerie ever since. Residents of the Royal, eat your heart out with the classics and contemporary numbers sung by the beautiful Trudy Kerr.
Liane Carroll TrioBBC Jazz award winner and recent winner of Best Jazz Vocalist in the first Ronnie Scott’s jazz awards, pianist/composer/vocalist Liane Carroll plays the Royal tonight for residents before appearing with the Big Swing Orchestra and her vocal male equivalent Ian Shaw on Sunday night at the Winter Gardens. Larger than life in every respect and never without a drink by the piano (used to have the cigs as well!) Liane packs power and depth with sweet tenderness in a vocal range that carries such presence that is genuinely “once heard never forgotten”. Wrap that up with the often-irreverent humour, the stories as interludes to the music and the scats, residents of the Royal are in for one very special evening in the company of a true living jazz great. As Time Out magazine wrote of her “swinging like hell one minute, brutally expressive and heartbreakingly tender the next ……. She is utterly brilliant” and having seen her in performance, we all agree. She’s one of our favourites – if we are allowed to say so when we have so many favourites but she’s special because she is also very real!
Much more ……..Friday – midday to 4pm House Band with guests, 4pm SWISS, 5pm House Band with guests, 6pm Sutton Valence School Jazz Band (at the Baptist Church), 7pm SWISS, 8pm – close Jam Session.
Saturday – 11am House Band with guests, 12 Sub Zero (St Catherines Church), 1pm Sutton Valence School Jazz Band (St Catherines Church), 2pm House Band with guests, 4pm Mike Birch Jazz Assignments, 6pm House Band with guests, 7pm Aneesa Chaudhry, 8pm to close Jam Session.
Sunday – 11am Mike Birch Jazz Assignments, 1pm Ken Waters Duo, 2pm House Band with guests, 4pm Aneesa Chaudhry, 5pm House Band with guests, 8pm to close Jam Session.