Saturday 20 September 2003 – MARTIN DREW QUINTET: Celebrating The Jazz Couriers

It was Mornington Lockett who persuaded Martin Drew to form a band to recreate the Jazz Couriers repertoire from the late 1950s. The Couriers combined the talents of two of Britain’s best-ever saxophonists, Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes, their work a by-word for excitement and creativity. Now their arrangements (transcribed by Lockett) are being interpreted by two of the most searingly effective saxophonists from the present generation, the ebullient Nigel Hitchcock and Lockett himself. With Steve Melling on piano, bassist Paul Morgan and Oscar Peterson’s favourite drummer Martin Drew on hand, this is a quintet to savour. Make sure they play ‘Cheek To Cheek’ and look out for their new CD, ‘Through The Night Roared The Overland Express’.

Saturday 25 October – ALLAN GANLEY QUARTET

Allan Ganley is everyone’s favourite drummer for any number of good reasons. He always swings, he’s creative and he listens. What’s more, his technique is immaculate and there’s a well-ordered shape and coherence to what he does. All of these attributes and more will be on view in this concert by Allan’s quartet featuring the fine alto-saxophonist Geoff Simkins, along with guitarist Dave Cliff, another considerable soloist, and Pinner’s own Malcolm Creese on bass. Look out for Allan’s well-crafted compositions and some neat bebop too. The Quartet’s new recording ‘Jazz at the Station’ is a winner and is sure to be available at the door!

Saturday 15 November – CAMPBELL BURNAP QUINTET

Campbell is either a top broadcaster who is also an excellent trombonist or a fine instrumentalist who just happens to be the best spokesman for jazz on radio. Take your pick. Either way, Campbell is a force for good, as you’ll find when he presents his mainstream quintet on their return visit to Pinner. Look out for the warm sounds of Ron Drake’s tenor-saxophone and John Pearce’s tasteful piano. Expect to be pleased!

Saturday 13 December – JOHN DANKWORTH QUINTET

John Dankworth is quite simply one of the principal luminaries of British jazz, whether as player or composer-arranger. His involvement with modern jazz commenced with the Club Eleven group in the late 1940s which led on to his famous Seven and the later big band. Thereafter he concentrated on film scores and incidental music, and then with his wife, the singer Cleo Laine embarked on an international concert career that continues to this day. We’re fortunate indeed that he still loves to play straight jazz gigs with his quintet.  Britain’s leading jazz trombonist Mark Nightingale joins him as do his regular stalwarts, all well known to the Pinner audience, pianist John Horler, bassist Alec Dankworth and the ageless Allan Ganley on drums.

Saturday 17 January 2004 – SCOTT HAMILTON QUINTET

A club owner once said that the best way to keep his audience happy was to present Scott Hamilton every week. Crowds never seem to grow tired of this cordial American saxophonist’s way with a number, the creative fires banked high as he swings into chorus after chorus of great jazz. Scott spends a good part of his year in Britain and it’s a pleasure for us in Pinner to include him in our programme once again. He’s joined by Dave Cliff on guitar, with the old firm of Pearce, Green and Brown to kick things along in appropriately foot-tapping style.

Saturday 21 February 2004 – CLARE TEAL AND HER BAND

Clare is a singer-songwriter whose career is in the ascendant. Her CDs have earned acclaim from every quarter – she’s a regular on Michael Parkinson’s Sunday morning programme on Radio Two – and there’s a special quality both to her voice and to her interpretation of a lyric.  In short, she’s a star. You’ll just love her way with a standard or with her own thoughtful songs, the clever settings devised by her pianist and musical director, the erudite and always rewarding pianist Martin Litton. Mark Crooks is on saxophone and her band is completed by guitarist Nils Solberg, bassist John Day and the vibrant drums of Rod Brown.

Saturday 20 March 2004 – ALEC DANKWORTH TRIO

The Dankworth musical dynasty continues. Unsurprisingly, Alec Dankworth is the bassist of choice with John Dankworth’s band and appears regularly on Cleo Laine’s concert presentations. Who said nepotism was wrong? Now Alec is a bandleader is his own right with this recently formed trio including star saxophonist Julian Arguelles, once of Loose Tubes, and the impressive guitarist Phil Robson. They will perform original material contributed by the trio members.

Saturday 17 April 2004 – DIGBY FAIRWEATHER’S HALF-DOZEN

In our final concert of this sixth series, cornetist Digby Fairweather makes his long-awaited Pinner debut. Digby’s Half-Dozen is an eclectic outfit capable of moving from straight-ahead Dixieland through to mainstream and on to r&b without turning a hair. What’s more they’ll even throw in some nifty close-harmony vocals. It’s the irrepressible Fairweather who sparks the band but he’s supported by a talented line-up including Julian-Marc Stringle on reeds, Chris Gower, trombone, Dominic Ashworth, guitar, aided and abetted by the A-Team of pianist Craig Milverton, bassist Len Skeat and Bobby Worth on drums. Incidentally, Digby’s autobiography has just come out and it’s a riveting read. There’s every chance that he might try and sell you a copy!

Programme Notes by Peter Vacher July 2003

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