Lesley Christiane
| Strawberry Jazz Festival, Sunday 5th June, 2pm to 9.30pm |
| “A careless song with a little nonsense in it now and then would not misbecome a monarch” Horace Walpole |
| For better or worse Kelvin and I are not individuals who sit still for very long. Not content with running our thriving Jazz club, for several years we have been working towards creating a Jazz Festival for our area and finally on Sunday 5th June this is going to happen in the hallowed grounds of the recently restored Strawberry Hill House. our excitement and sense of achievement is palpable. |
| The day starts at 2pm with the Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble which is to include a guest appearance by Sarah Gillespie. Next Kelvin will be playing a stunning set of standards and originals from his latest albums with award winning guitarist Nigel Price, Ross Stanley on piano and Noel Joyce on drums. |
| He will be followed by Humphrey Littleton’s lady prodigy Karen Sharp on Baritone and alto saxophone accompanied by Adrian Fry on trombone, Dave Green on double bass and Chris Nicolls on drums. The early evening will climax with the ever popular winner of the parliamentary Jazz awards Alan Barnes. A consummate entertainer and outstanding musician. A good time will be had by all. |
| Delicious food will be served from the Strawberry Hill café and there will be local ales from Twickenham breweries. We ask people not to bring alcohol into the grounds. There is a massive marquee and plenty of seating. |
| The house itself is a recently restored 18th century Gothic masterpiece once the home of Horace Walpole. who was the son of the first British Prime Minister The festival is partly to raise funds for the continued renovation and maintenance of the house but mostly to enjoy a great day of completely awesome Jazz. With family and friends. |
| For tickets (Adults £25, Children 5 to 15 £10, Under 5's FREE and Students £18, please bring NUS ID) and more information please visit www.strawberryhillhouse.org.uk/events.php Numbers are extremely limited as some of the grounds will be out of bounds whilst new plantings are established. |
| Happy days… Lesley. |
 |
| Every so often at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club we witness a truly inspirational musical event which stuns and enlightens us all. Such was the night when the inauspicious slender intensity of Luca Boscagin descended upon us asked to play. Luca had called and asked could he sit in with the band on guitar (a request which we rarely adhere to with players we do not know) but the request was supported by Enzo Zerrilli, on drums, Alex Hutton on piano and other loved and highly respected musicians who reiterated that we simply must hear Luca play. |
| So we did… and he was phenomenal. Yet again Musical Jazz Genius had been beamed down from planet Jazz to TW1 and was in our midst. Lucky us! |
| Later we discovered that Luka is now working with the legendary guitarist Jim Mullen… |
| We are delighted to feature them this week Thursday 17th March at our club. |
| Luca Boscagin |
| Luca grew up in Verona, North East Italy, in a traditional working class family with no established musical connections. He had an adoring Italian mother and a father who worked hard in a factory to support his family. Young Luka heard a friend play at a classical guitar recital when he was 8 years old and he says that ‘I forced my parents to buy me a guitar, I just knew that that was my path’. Many parents hear such a plea and instruments gather dust across the world but with Lukas it was a worthwhile investment. He is now one of the most highly regarded jazz guitarists of his generation. |
| Luca came to London just 18 months ago, and is not sure how long he will stay. He plays at some of our top Jazz venues and is highly respected by all as the new jazz voice on guitar. We must take the opportunity to enjoy him whilst he is here… meanwhile true to his genetics he is also a very great and opinionated cook… or should I say Chef? |
| Jim Mullen |
| To many of you Jim Mullen needs no introduction also beamed down from Planet Jazz he remains a truly original voice in contemporary jazz guitar and possibly one of our busiest and best known guitarists. Co-founder of the legendary group Morrissey/Mullen. He works with all of the contemporary Jazz greats and has a Jazz discography too long to list but includes vocalist Claire Martin (three albums) visiting US stars like Gene Harris, Mose Allison, Jimmy Smith, Weldon Irvine, Percy Sledge, Teddy Edwards, Plas Johnson, Jimmy Witherspoon and Terry Callier. And being twice winner of 'Best Guitar' in the British Telecom jazz awards and ‘Best Guitar’ in the British Jazz Awards for 2000 |
| Jazz Trivia |
| In the not so long ago 1980’s along with a fellow musician and equally difficult person Dick Crouch ( PAZ) I used to run the ‘Queen Victoria Jazz Club’ in Ealing, (another intimate and thriving venue) which for a short period was in the hub of the Jazz circuit for many brilliant Jazz musicians. It only had one small problem… we didn’t actually have a music licence and still behaved as if it was the more sensible and lenient 50’s and 60’s and even 70’s where a pub licensee could put on live music if he wished, so long as his clients did not upset his neighbours. |
| The reason this bit of Jazz Trivia is the subject of my email is that on the night we were closed down we had a fabulous band called Morrissey/Mullen playing for us, featuring Dick Morrissey (sadly now deceased) and our guest this week at the Jazz club, Jim Mullen. |
| We did not upset the neighbours but as the grinding hum of middle class bureaucracy began to cast its tedious spell upon entrepreneurial landlords, the then council, along with a police escort turned up one night and basically closed the club down after the amazing band played their first set. |
| The clearing of the club was a seriously dignified affair where the audience filed out singly and solemnly walked between the policemen. Nobody spoke. Not a single person wanted their entrance fee back and the band were still paid. |
| Fortunately times have moved on, The Crown does have a licence and Thursday night will be great. We hope to see you there. Very best wishes, Lesley |
| A Night of Jazz - a review by Helen McCreery, 4 February 2011 |
| The Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club hosted a vocal session at the Crown Bar & Kitchen Twickenham in the heart of the Richmond borough on Thursday night. The incredibly unusual and memorable vocalist Sarah Moule starred, with a guest slot featuring Teddington’s own Linley Anne Weir who has recently produced a new album. |
| The Crown was an ideal venue for such a night – candles flickered on the tables, and the atmosphere was relaxed and intimate as guests were welcomed by hosts Kelvin and Lesley Christiane. Local jazz enthusiasts will be aware of the work that Kelvin and Lesley are doing to heighten the profile of the jazz scene in the Richmond area. There is much talk about the possibility of a jazz music festival for the borough, indeed if my recent experience of jazz entertainment at the Crown is any indication, then this reviewer can certainly vouch for the viability of such an event! |
| As we absorbed the ambient music, ate good food and drank a glass or two of wine, it occurred to me that the night represented all that is good about this area. The choice of songs was ideal – accessible to those who are not jazz experts, songs were sung with emotion and commitment. Sarah chatted to guests between songs, and her accompanying band were excellent – Paul Robinson on drums (impressively he is Nina Simone’s chosen drummer), Dave Green on double bass, and Simon Wallace on piano. The audience clearly enjoyed the music, applause broke out on several occasions, inspired by music that meandered and found its way in a style that can only be achieved by masters of their instruments. |
| The talented Linley Anne Weir gave a rendition of the Beatles “I saw her standing there” which was nothing short of remarkable. It made me think that the song was written to be played by a jazz band, it was my favourite song of the evening. Linley Anne’s performance was assured and effortless, she is truly a “rising star” to be looked out for in the future. |
| All in all, an excellent night out. The Richmond and Twickenham jazz club hosts nights every Thursday night at the Crown so why not go along and check it out – a warm welcome and a memorable night is guaranteed. |
| Unexpected Comet of Heat and Light in the outer Cosmos |
| In the jazz cosmos, Soho is the sun, which burns forever with the hydrogen heat of Ronnie Scotts and Hot Dog Jazz. Out past the asteroid belt of the inner boroughs, Islington, Camden, Hoxton, Battersea, Hammersmith, one expects occasional and spectacular pyrotechnics of light and energy, but once past this cluster and the planets are further and further away, reflecting only the cold light from their distant sun in Soho. Who knows how the cold huddled masses of these outer burbs keep warm, other than by twitching their curtains? |
| Yet, last Thursday night, lost in this inhospitable space, identified on cosmological maps as Twickenham, where no one can hear you scream, my cellular city, with its own bustling population of billions of nerve cells, was sent into a dancing, swinging, lindy hopping great ballroom. The tenor lead, Ray Gelato, had marched into the present time warp from his first life as a Rat Pack swinger and singer. Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr stood in ghostly presence alongside him. His white sculpted hair, his bright red and smiling physiognomy shone with the integrity, innocence and happiness of a more alive age, when fewer folk moved around in a catatonic trance induced by endless television and couch potato filled blood. He sang, and he blew beautiful breeze blocks from his tenor, which he made from the gravel and grit he kept in the bend of his horn, and these flew out over the appreciative audience and defied gravity as they raced around our clapping hands and shaking heads. |
| The eminent artist and creator of this fiery happy comet in the outer darkness of the universe, Ray Gelato himself, has, in fact, played for many successful years in the full glare of the sun at the centre of the universe. Only at Christmas had he graced Ronnie Scotts. I salute him, respect is due, to him and his superb swinging band: Matt Home on drums, Gunter Kuermayer on piano, and Julian Bury on double bass. Accompanying Roy on some numbers was tenorist Kelvin Christiane, he and Roy sparred, thrust and parried each other like a couple of young bucks on Richmond Park. |
| The venue is The Crown, Richmond Road, Twickenham, and the Promoter who burns forth this life force every Thursday night is the delicious Lesley Christiane, (proud wife of Kelvin, himself no relation of the great scientist) herself a silky voiced singer too. The crowd was, in conventional earth years, older than the Hot Dog cool cats of Denmark Street. Yet the force was with them, their blood moved hot in their veins, and their eyes shone with happiness. Simon Cowell life is half life. Jazz life is nuclear, particles racing, spinning, jiving and hopping in response to one another and the simple joy of being here life. |
| Hot Dog Jazz is going to swing demotic and primitive on Thursday 10th February with the sleek young genius of the trumpet Laura Jurd and a bigger swing combo. Be there or be half life! |
| Michael and Gabriel Garrick. Father & Son on Piano and Trumpet |
| I don’t know about you but personally I love people watching, In a restaurant, on a train or best of all in a Jazz Club, where souls are stirred and intellect and passions breathe in dichromatic harmony with each other. This week at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club we will have the added and truly remarkable thrill of observing a famous father and son musical relationship with all of its many complexities and joys. Great ingredients for stunning Jazz. |
| Michael Garrick was born in Enfield in 1933. He is a phenomenal Jazz Pianist. Poet and composer who has truly lived a long and colourful Jazz life and is still at the top of his profession. “From straight lines we make curves” he says, his poetic and musical outpouring and breadth is astonishing, good humoured, all embracing and challenging. which makes him an intuitive, experienced and sublime musician of universal dimensions…“He never resorts to repertoire Jazz.” The Guardian |
| Michael formed his first Jazz quartet whilst studying English Literature at University College London. His childhood and adolescence had been seeped in English Folk, classical and Church music which he maintains was as much a part of his influences as Jazz and Blues sounds emerging from America at the time. |
| “Jazz is not a confrontation with older music” he says “indeed it carries forward those qualities which makes classical music great and fulfils a musicians quest for wonder and adventure”. |
| He is famous for his Jazz choral work, numerous recordings and concerts and a highly respected life lived in the forefront of the Jazz limelight. He is also the father of some very gifted musical sons. |
| Gabriel Garrick chose the trumpet at the tender age of 7. As a small boy he was exposed to both his fathers musical passion and the very finest jazz musicians, concerts etc but as a the stubborn individualist he undeniably is he has developed his own sometimes controversial music and style. From Studying at The Royal Academy of Music and working with The National Youth Jazz Orchestra upwards he has played with many great players including John Dankworth Generation Band, Mike Garrick Jazz Orchestra, Derek Nash’s Sax Appeal Big Band, Len Phillips Big Band, Pete Cater Big Band, Gerard Presencer Big Band and Big Band Metheny. |
| He is an exciting, innovative and moody player, a complete thrill to watch. “Its all about the music” he says “I strive to surrender and serve, there is no room for overpowering individual ego”. |
| Mike and Gabrielle Garrick will be complimented by Riaan Vosloo double bass and Noel Joyce drums. Do join us. Best wishes, Lesley Christiane. |
| Lucky us with so many fantastic musicians performing for us every Thursday at our local Jazz Club. This week, the 18th November we feature the very lovely Jo Fooks on tenor saxophone. One of a new breed of Serious Ladies of Jazz. |
| Jo Fooks, Tenor Saxophone, 18th November 2010 |
| Born in Edinburgh in 1975, Jo Fooks is one of a new generation of ladies in jazz who rises above the historical jazz sexism and stuns us all with her playing. Jo is a beautiful, warm, charming young woman who plays the tenor saxophone with a sensitivity and maturity that defies any stylistic bias. She is a total joy to listen to and to watch. I recently saw her at a charity event where she was performing alongside such Jazz giants as Simon Bates, Simon Spillett, Derek Nash and our own Kelvin Christiane. Her performance was extraordinary and yet her inherent femininity and perception added yet another dimension to the sax phonic arena. It was totally stunning. |
| “I make no apology for singing her praises” said Humphrey Littleton (after hearing her debut album‘Here and Now’ he had asked her to join his 8 piece band) “she is a brilliantly inventive player and composer”… |
| Jo cites her influences as Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Aderly, Bill Evans and others. Her style and tone has been likened to Zoot Sims and Stan Getz… personally I think that Jo has her own unique sound and contribution to make to Jazz, and I would like to hear a bit of back stage gossip about her tutoring the RAF bands men! |
| Jo encapsulates incredible musicianship with professionalism and an endearing and infectious personality, we will have another fabulous night at the Jazz Club on Thursday in her company. I hope that you will join us. |
| Richard Busiakiewicz, International Pianist |
| Meanwhile whilst much is always made of front line acts at any Jazz event, serious attention is rarely given to the hardworking rhythm section, yet without them no gig would work let alone entertain and enlighten us. If the rhythm section is not equally brilliant the whole experience can go horribly wrong hence I have decided to start to feature some of the players in our club email starting with a little background information on our esteemed pianist this week Mr. Richard Busiakiewicz. |
| Born in Amersham, Surrey from Polish immigrant parents (who came here after the second world war from Africa) Richard was encouraged my his mother to play from a very early age in spite of their enormous difficulties in making a solid life in the UK. Like many talented musicians Richard felt himself to be an outsider at school and became totally absorbed in his classical piano studies, endlessly losing himself in the wonderful sounds he found that he could make. At The age of 10 he remembers hearing Oscar Peterson on the radio which inspired him to begin to improvise and play Jazz. |
| By the age of 17 he was playing at many of the top London Hotels and he remains one of our countries top Jazz players constantly sought out by visiting International musicians. His Jazz discography is impressive and includes names like Scott Hamilton, Art Farmer and Harry Allen he also played at Sir Paul McCartneys wedding and for The Queen and the Royal family at Prince Charles birthday party at the Ritz. |
| So we are in very good company on Thursday with Jo Fooks on tenor saxophone, Richard Busiakiewicz on piano, Matt Home on drums and Dominic Howles on double bass. I have also invited HRH! We hope to see you there. Very best wishes, Lesley. |
| Vocals and Vision with Gill Manley, 4th November 2010 |
| There are many lovely and sometime clever voices on our modern Jazz scene. There is a history of fabulous unappreciated (in their time) songsters within it‘s chequered history and then there is our guest vocalist this Thursday Miss Gill Manley, who for me encapsulates it all, as a woman, as a vocalist and as a truly intuitive musician. |
| Gill is not a young clever, pretty, tight skirted, been to college vocalist, but a stunning, mature 21st century musician who has struggled in this life and come out of it interpreting the great standards with a deeper than modern perspective. She has both the experience, and maturity of both joy and pain to speak to us all about where we go from here. An evening with her is never forgotten as an empty night out. |
| Gill Manley is just an absolutely extraordinary woman and performer. She has a massive vocal range and stage presence with a warm, vulnerable and welcoming personality that takes you on a musical journey from where songs are really written to where they breathe. An instinctive entertainer Gill has been singing and acting since she was a small child, She went to drama school, thrived in fringe theatre and went on to perform in and devise shows which were performed at The Barbican, The Royal festival Hall and The National Theatre. She decided upon music as a career and has sung and recorded with many of the greats. Gill is well known for her extremely individual Nina Simone tributes at Ronnie Scott’s and has been involved in many JazzFm related projects etc. |
| Although it is very obvious that Gill is a born singer and actress and that she was very successful at it she became deeply disillusioned with the music business and dropped out completely in millennium year for a solid soul searching seven years. During this time she went to India, became a devout Buddhist and even sang for the Dalai Lama in Tibetan. Now every phrase she expresses is from the soul. I believe that we are all better people if we acknowledge that part of ourselves. |
| On her return to England Gill ran a community cafe in a park in South London. Still convinced that her singing career was behind her. However undisputedly Jazz is in the blood and was always going to call her back. The cafe became a discreet Mecca for Jazz Musicians including Ertha Kitt, Tony Bennett and the late Blossom Dearie, although Gill would rarely perform herself she put on lunchtime concerts for the community. I am not sure who coaxed her out of retirement as vocalist in 2007 but the Jazz world was delighted. |
| I am so excited that she will be singing for us, so dispense with the Autumn Blues and come and enjoy this humorous, musical and heart-warming evening with Gill Manley and journey into your quietest and most perceptive inner self. |
| This time the dream is on Damon Brown, 28th October 2010 |
| Today I am tapping my feet, swivelling my hips and generally enjoying listening to a new album called “This time The Dream is on Me”. Its executor and sincere ambassador of trumpet is our guest player at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club this week, the inimitable and very attractive, Damon Brown. |
| Damon’s more than compact energy when he plays is phenomenal and not for its egotistical high pitched clever, dramatic and self indulgent phrases but for its beauty, clarity, control and and stunning, uncluttered delivery. Damon always leaves you wanting more, finishing the phrases in your head yet entranced and enjoying the journey. He speaks with incredible musical perception energy, talent and integrity and and lives on the forefront of the modern jazz idiom but his feet are firmly enjoying its colourful, rhythmic and harmonic history. |
| Digby Fairweather |
| Jazz musicians truly live on the edge of that which is musically possible and they push themselves to incredible intellectual and physical limits to produce their music and create an original sound. I still struggle to understand what motivates them as there is so little commercial or practical benefits from playing Jazz, yet for the Jazz musicians it is their only truth. |
| On reading Digby Fearweather's biography he talks of what Louis Armstrong a called the terrible urge to play the trumpet and said “Jazz is a perfectly good reason for living, and there is a lot of living to do” what a thrill for us as the audience to enjoy. |
| We will be doing lots of living on Thursday night, meanwhile I am attaching some information about Christmas at The Crown, both Jazz nights and others and hope that if you are organising a works Christmas party or merely meeting friends you will consider their extremely affordable and interesting menu. |
| I finish with another Digby quote “There are very few feelings greater than being in total control of a musical instrument, whilst playing the music you love”. |
| Now there is food for thought! |
| Eagles in Flight and Jazz, 7th October 2010 |
| What a thoroughly exquisite evening we had at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club on Thursday. Our vocalist Jacqui Hicks created an atmosphere that was intimate, poignant and entertaining, Thank You for the many emails and messages today saying how much you enjoyed it… I think that Jacqui sold more CD’s than any other artist to appear at the club and as so many of you took home a bit of the magic to soothe the ominous chill, I wish you musical euphoria and comfort in the winter months to come. |
| Meanwhile… |
| Don Weller Tenor saxophone, 14th October 2010 |
| This coming Thursday we change the atmosphere again and welcome a firm bastion of the Jazz scene to our Jazz carpet, Mr Don Weller on tenor saxophone. A stubborn individualist, not remotely college taught, he is highly regarded in the Jazz world a legend in his own right. Don is old school, with a turbulent history of all the traditional vices that used to go with completely living for Jazz. I have no moral or social comment on this but all that I know is that to live on the edge of everything, with music as your only legitimate form of communication does create some of our most incisive and perceptive artists, and that it is they who speak to our safer and more conformist souls, to be bolder, truly expressive and unafraid. |
| Don is one of the acknowledged greats along with Dexter Gordon and Joe Henderson. Humble now and considered the Gentle Giant of the Jazz world, we hope that along with his traditional followers you will come and hear the great man play and soar through the high ceilings of the Crown Bar and Kitchen like an Eagle in flight. Our rhythm section for the evening is also stunning, along with Ross Stanley on piano we have, Val Manix on double Bass and Noel Joyce on drums. Pure Jazz Magic. |
| So don’t succumb to the Autumnal Blues, come and hear some truly amazing Jazz on Thursday night. And leave your troubles outside! |
| Jacqui Hicks, 7th October 2010 |
| It is hard to contain the quiet thrill of anticipation that I feel about our session at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club this week as we feature the beautiful, gossamer vocals of Jacqui Hicks with Phill Pekett on piano and Dave Jones on double Bass. This will be an intimate and thrilling session of incredible perceptive, intuitive Jazz. |
| Jacqui grew up in North Yorkshire, her father was a drummer and her mother a gifted photographer, as an only child Jacqui was torn between graphics or music as a career. Much of this was made more complex by the fact that at that time if an instrument and music was taught, it was taught classically. Jazz was still grossly underrated as a true intellectual and musical art form and seen very much as the poor relation of the classical world. I would say that this is still the case today but that the boundaries and prejudices are becoming less defined. As we move towards 2012 they will gently join the debris of the Berlin Wall and other 20th century stupidities. One of the first innovative colleges to take on the Jazz mantle was Leeds College and having chosen music Jacqui says that “at last I was with people who spoke the same language, and without apology”. At that time the Jazz course was taught by professional musicians, tired of touring and anxious to pass on both their knowledge, experience (and perhaps Jazz Madness) to their intelligent and rebellious pupils. |
| Many great Jazz musicians went to Leeds college and include Alan Barnes, Paul Booth and my very own Kelvin Christiane. It was soul food for all who were beamed down from Planet Jazz. After college Jacqui, toured with NYJO, she had studied saxophone and clarinet but her fabulous voice had already been noticed and was seriously developed with the band. She went on to work with Shakatak, currently tours with The Count Basie Orchestra and many others, with film credits, an incredible radio and recording CV she is a very busy Lady Of Jazz. |
| In fact Jacqui is a consummate and engaging musician, as a more than competent reed player it is her technical knowledge of the idiom that makes her such a firm favourite with other brilliant players, she is a vocalist but she understands the technicalities of music and the machinations of Jazz. Thursday will be stunning. |
| Another gift to our club is that Thursday will also be the premiere for Jacqui's new album “A Child is Born” (only released on Tuesday) It is a tribute to her daughter, Abigail who apparently at 4 years of age can get a note out of any instrument in the house but also said that she wants to be a nurse. Lets all watch that space! |
| Jazz dynamics: Nigel Price on guitar & Alex Garnett on Saxophone, 21st October 2010 |
| As a son of the inimitable Willie Garnett, Alex has enjoyed a life seeped in music. From his fathers Putney based saxophone repair shop (and purveyor of the finest antique and modern saxophones!) to living, breathing and working in the very heart of the London and now international Jazz Scene. He is currently considered to be one of the leading tenor sax men in Europe and plays with bands that range from Jools Holland, Ray Gelato Giants to Van Morrisson. |
| Alex is an odd mix of naughty boy bohemian, quixotic Jazz musician to serious exquisite, genius level professional and for that reason he embodies all that is truly great about Jazz today. He is not a college boy imitator of someone else’s style he is a stubborn, humorous, sublimely gifted and restless being who listened to Jazz in the womb, was bundled around his fathers gigs his whole childhood and became not only a great musician but also a very natural entertainer. Alex to date has not recorded his own individual CD, yet he has played on far too many to list here so if you wish to really listen to his stunning playing join us at the Jazz Club on Thursday at 8pm for some magic Jazz moments. |
| The evening also features a guitarist who is seriously in the forefront of any Jazz academia and entertainment, and to many of you needs no introduction as his name is Nigel Price, such is his intense appeal and exploding reputation Nigel has been unable to honour his last two gigs with us, but as a sincere friend and enthusiast of Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club he today assured us that he would be with us on Thursday before he fly’s off to New York. There will be truly great dynamics at the Jazz Club on Thursday and we sincerely hope that you can join us. |
| Roger Beaujolais “Vibrophonic Genius”, 9th September 2010 |
| This Thursday The Crowns wonderful acoustics will feature the unique and haunting sound of the vibraphone. The protagonist is considered to be one of the worlds finest vibraphone players, his name is Roger Beaujolais. He will be accompanied by Nick Meier on guitar, Dave Manington on double Bass and Tristan Mayo on drums, a truly dynamic and musical combination of Jazz talent. |
| Like many of our great Jazz musicians Roger is a self taught, original, stubborn creative individualist who was drawn to Jazz from a very early age. From his 60’s working class background he soaked up the Hendrix, Zappa and Santana sound and started off his musical life playing drums in a rock band. |
| He came to London and it was working in some of the many record shops that littered the town (like Honest John’s in Kensington) that opened up his ears to the more progressive sound of Grover Washington, Billy Cobham and more pertinently the vibes player Bobby Hutcherson. In 1969 he bought his first vibraphone and never looked back. Roger is now at the top of his profession with many ongoing musical projects (see www.rogerbeaujolais.com) and credits too long to list. |
| His first band was the Chevalier Brothers with Ray Gelato with whom he toured the world. He then made four albums for Acid Jazz Records and had a number one on the jazz charts in the USA. Roger has also appeared on albums by Robert Plant, Fairground Attraction, Roni Size, Guy Chambers, Shola Ama, Omara Portuondo, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Alison Limerick, D Influence, Kristy MacColl, 4 Hero, Neneh Cherry, Ed Motta, Brian Kennedy, Mark Nevin and Alexander O’Neal. |
| He teaches at Trinity College of music. A Hippy at heart, he tells me that he has not had a hair cut since 1969. His playing is inventive, unpretentious and appears deceptively simple but in fact it is a beautifully composed complex web of knowledge, dreams and inspiration. There are no wasted threads or misspent lines. Every note is the result of many years, hard work, practice and genius. With a spiders precision the result is strong, beautiful and ethereal creations. |
| There will be a different feel again to the music at the Jazz Club this week. We hope to see you there. Best wishes, Lesley Christiane. |
| Digby Fairweather “The Cornet Master” 8th July 2010 |
| This Thursday we feature the indefatigable Digby Fairweather on Cornet and vocals. Described by the late Johnny Dankworth as “one of our most articulate Jazz men” it is impossible not to be intoxicated by Digbys enthusiasm and energy for Jazz and life. Initially I thought that it was the sea air that makes him such a refreshing person (Digby lives in Southend-on-Sea.) but delving into his quite unusual back ground I think that it is also the fact that as a small child Digby lived in a remote Essex farmhouse with his parents. Until the age of 6 he was schooled at home and both parents, who met when Digby’s father was teaching his mother to play the piano, were classical musicians So the young Digby spent his early years immersed in his own thoughts, the beautiful Essex countryside and music. He says that he never felt lonely and developed an independence of perception and being that has stayed with him since, which prompted the poet Adrian Green to write of him “The Cornet master blows an emptiness away”. |
| Later as he gravitated towards Jazz, Digby was to dramatically clash with his father, “music drove us apart” he said sadly as his father like many classical musicians vehemently disregarded both the integrity and worth of the emerging jazz genre. Digby initially studied law, then worked as a librarian but by the age of 30 he turned into a full time professional Jazz musician and never looked back. He remains one of the most highly respected Jazz scholars and musicians we have. |
| During his career Digby has recorded prolifically, written several books about Jazz, broad casted regularly on the BBC and worked with most of Britain's leading swing players before forming his own band “ The Half Dozen” in 1995. His awards include the Jazz Societies Jazz musician of the year’ and he founded “The National Jazz archive” In 2004 Zoltan Films produced a unique film about Digbys career in Jazz entitled “Scenes from a Jazz life” it is a charming and comprehensive gem which captures the turbulent life of a jazz musician. I wholeheartedly recommend it and it will be available at the club on Thursday |
| So do join us for a truly refreshing and inspirational evening of great Jazz and reflection, perhaps bring a friend or make a few new ones. Best wishes, Lesley Christiane. |
| The Real Peter King, 1st April 2010 |
| At Richmond and Twickenham Jazz club this week our featured guest is the legendary saxophonist Peter King. “Is the real Peter King Playing?” asked a club member last week and I speculated on the idea that there may be Peter King imitators who perform in Peter King Jazz tribute bands etc but in reality I believe that there is only one Peter King and he is the one that is playing at our club on Thursday 1st April. Peter is truly one of the greatest British Jazz men our Island has ever produced. He is a master saxophonist, inspired composer and polymath, who commands complete respect from everyone who hears his lyrical, smokey, intimate and shimmering tones. |
| He first came to commercial attention in 1959 when aged just 19 he played at the opening night of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho, that evening his technical skills along with his instinctive command of the Be bop language assured his status in the forefront of Jazz. He never looked back. The be bop label has rather stuck with Peter but in fact he has never stood still musically and later on has been more obsessed with John Coltrane then Charlie Parker. He has played with The New Count Basie Band, Zoot Sims, Bud Powell etc. He now concentrates on his work as a solo artist. He is phenomenal. |
| Whilst researching Peter’s career I came across a bizarre video of him playing Charlie Parkers Grafton Alto Saxophone when it was auctioned at Christies in 1994, his composure appears total..just another gig and another excuse to be lost in the realms of Jazz ! ( You tube). |
| This is not a session to miss, whatever the weather. To be so close to so much brilliance is truly a gift to us all. Best Wishes Lesley Christiane. |
| Rosetta Bones with Mark Nightingale and Chris Lowe – the mellow tone of five trombones, 18th February 2010 |
| At Richmond and Twickenham Jazz club we are always trying to introduce variety and new ideas to our club programme. Consequently this Thursday 18th February we have another first for the club when we are presenting the unique sound of five trombones – ‘The Rosetta Bones’. |
| The trombone is a very old and under exposed instrument which is rarely placed centre stage and yet it is capable of incredible harmonic variation and colour. Originally called a ‘sackbut’ (from the French word ‘saquer’, meaning to draw out) its existence has been recorded as early as 1450 and its structure has changed very little since. Later it was renamed ‘trouba’ or large trumpet and is played by the players buzzing lips or ‘embouchure’ causing the air columns of the instrument to vibrate. It is this that creates its wonderful tone and its reputation for being the closest of all the jazz instruments to the pitch and timbre of the human voice. It is also what makes a strong sence of humour an essential attribute for a trombone player. |
| The band is made up of some of the UK’s top virtuoso trombonists, playing arrangements by Kai Winding, Mark Nightingale, Bob Florence and Chris Lowe accompanied by Nick Smally on drums, Nick Ram on piano and Nick Walsh on double Bass. |
| As an additional treat and by popular request we are pleased to welcome back the gorgeous Italian guitarist Luca Boscasgin playing songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and an original tune called ‘Nimo’ with lyrics by Lesley Christiane. |
| So all in all another unusual and entertaining night at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club. We hope that you can join us. |
| Simon Bates – The Musical Giant, 11th February 2010 |
| It seems that behind all the money glamour and showmanship of the Film, TV and pop music industry there is always a hard core of truly amazing and to me ‘real’ musicians who are unseen but make the packages work. Such musicians are not only very talented but really know and understand music technically. The whole media would not work without them. |
| Our guest at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club this week is such a player with countless advert, TV themes, film scores and arrangements to his name, he is also an incredible Jazz saxophonist, multi instrumentalist and professor of saxophone for The Royal Marines. |
| His discography includes arranging and playing for Elvis Costello, Lulu, Billy Ocean, Chaka Khan, Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) Seal and Jamie Cullum. But it was in a small Jazz Club that Kelvin and I first heard him we were spellbound and hence we invited him to our play for us. |
| Simon attributes his musical versatility to studying Stravinsky by day and Charlie Parker by night. I think that along with his twin brother he was sprinkled with some of that amazing stardust from planet Jazz when he was born. The rest is down to pure hard work and dedication., but who can say I hope that you will join us on Thursday to listen and enjoy the music of this imaginative and creative gentle giant. |
| Our rhythm section for the evening features Leon Greening on piano, Chris Nickolls on drums and rapidly rising star Adam King on double Bass. |
| Very best wishes Lesley Christiane. |
| Derek Nash, 4th February 2010 |
| Many thanks to those of you who braved the cold last night to hear Anita Wardell with her amazing band and guest appearance by Mark Jennett what a fabulous evening of entertainment and song. Which confirms that our Sunday Vocal Session is here to stay. Watch out for details of our next guest vocalist Georgia Mancio on Sunday 28th with The lovely Kate Winter performing in our rising star spot. All making this monthly evening really special. |
| Meanwhile this Thursday 4th February we welcome back to the club the extremely popular saxophonist Derek Nash. |
| To Jazz aficionados Derek need no introduction, equally talented in swing, fusion. Be bop or pop Derek is a stupendously gifted, distinguished and versatile musician and performer. |
| He has worked live with David Sanborne, Sam Brown. Eric Clapton , Barbara Thompson, Jools Holland etc and all of our top touring Jazz musicians but the best thing about Derek is how wonderfully amiable, witty and entertaining he is in a setting like our humble Jazz Club. |
| With the Jools Holland Orchestra he has solo’d to an audience of 65,000. There were 100,00 at his Glastonbury gig. We are hoping that our audience will be a bit more modest this week but we sincerely hope that you will brave the elements and enjoy a wonderful evening of wonderful Jazz with us. |
| At least it is February now and soon we can start playing spring songs. Very warm wishes, Lesley and Kelvin Christiane. |
| This is an exciting week for R & T Jazz Club |
| Michael and Gabriel Garrick. Father & Son on piano and trumpet, 28th January 2010 |
| I don’t know about you but I personally love people watching. In a restaurant, on a train, or best of all in a Jazz club. This Thursday we have the truly remarkable thrill of experiencing not only truly gifted musicians but also a father and son musical relationship with all its many complexities and joys. |
| Michael Garrick was born in Enfield in 1933. He is a phenomenal jazz pianist and composer and one of the original pioneers of the poetry and Jazz in concerts movements which still thrive today, he is an international name and famous for his jazz choral work, numerous recordings and bands,, he is an intuitive, experienced and sublime musician of universal dimensions. |
| Michael has held teaching posts at The Royal Academy, Trinity College and Guildhall. He is also the father of some very gifted sons. |
| Gabriel Garrick chose the trumpet at the tender age of 7. As a small boy he was exposed to both his fathers musical passion and the very finest jazz musicians, concerts etc but as a the stubborn individualist he undeniably is he has developed his own music and style. From NYJO upwards he has played with too many great players to mention and is an exciting, innovative and moody player. .a complete thrill to watch. Thursday night will be fantastic. |
| We hope to see you there. |
| Anita Wardell, Sunday 31st January 7pm-10pm |
| Due to the incredible success of our new monthly vocal session we are absolutely thrilled to feature the Guildford born and Australian raised Jazz vocalist Anita Wardell on Sunday 31st January 7pm- 10pm. |
| This a lovely lazy way to enjoy a beautiful mellow jazz early evening Sunday. Anita uses her beautiful voice as an instrument with a horn players improvisational flair, she dresses our finest ballads with a careful unsentimental glow and scat sings with a rare musical intelligence. This has earn her admiration and respect from both musicians and a hungry public. She has played The Festival Hall, Ronnie Scotts’ Club and most major Jazz venues and festivals, her CD’s will be available at the club. |
| Our rising star for the evening is Mark Jennet. Mark is a wonderful vocalist who’s recently released album “The Way I Am” has attracted a lot of critical attention. He is a name to look out for and listen to. |
| It really is wise to book tables in advance for this show if you wish to eat but you are also welcome to come and listen. |
| Entrance is a very modest £8. |
| Welcoming The New Jazz Decade with a swing, 7th January 2010 |
| It is with a great sense of energy, optimism and enthusiasm we wish you a Happy New Year in what is the New Jazz Decade at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club. It is going to be another great one. With some amazing acts already booked for the Spring and Summer season. |
| We are starting the new year featuring the outstanding talents of Ray Gelato, fresh from a two week Christmas stint at Ronnie Scotts, Thursday will be a chance to hear this charismatic and experienced entertainer in his element. |
| To the larger public Ray is well known for his band The Ray Gelato Jazz Giants, TV and film appearances, and venues as huge as The Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall. He played at Sir Paul McCartney’s wedding and Richard Branson’s birthday bash, has entertained The Queen and was the opening act for Robbie Williams “Swing When You’re Winning” tour. Ray has also written a cook book ! The list goes on and includes Nice and Lugan jazz festivals, packing both the 100 Club and Ronnie Scotts and several albums. |
| The Key to Rays success is that he is both a brilliant musician and energetic and sincere entertainer, there will be lots of laughter and tears on Thursday for behind the consummate, showman razzmatazz Ray is a committed family man, friend and Jazz musician. |
| It is wise to come early to get a good seat, or if you wish to eat please book a table in advance on 0208 286 3242, nb.we can only book tables for diners. Admission is £10/ concessions £9. Very best wishes, Lesley |
| Adam Glasser… “Free at First” Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club, 10th December 2009 |
| There are only two more sessions to come at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club before Christmas and both are fabulous. Thursday 10th December we feature the unique and utterly charming sound of Adam Glasser on chromatic harmonica. |
| Adam is infectiously enthusiastic about this often unappreciated instrument and is considered internationally to be one of its chief exponents, he is also a virtuoso pianist and an exceptionally tasteful improviser (in all 12 keys) his last performance at our club was completely mesmerising and his album “Free at First” remains one of my personal favourites. |
| As a young boy growing up in South Africa Adam absorbed much of the countries rich rhythmic musical heritage, it has a subtle and haunting presence in his playing as he integrates it with his significant passion for both mainstream and modern Jazz. It is this combination which makes listening to him such a memorable experience. |
| Adam has played with Martha Reeves, Hugh Masakela, Jimmy Witherspoon, Duda Pukwana, The Eurythmics and the BBC Concert Orchestra. He will be performing with his own band on Thursday. |
| So save the late night Christmas shopping for another evening as we hope that you will come and join us to enjoy a wonderful evening with this brilliant and engaging musician. Very best wishes, Lesley. |
| Planet Jazz sends Henry Armburg Jennings to Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club, 19th November 2009 |
| I am more and more convinced about the universal existence of Planet Jazz than ever before. It is a place where jazz genius is the most natural means of communication and occasionally beings are beamed down in human form to embellish life here on earth. How else can this highly specialised musical genre appear amongst us so randomly? |
| Our guest this week at the jazz club is the trumpeter Henry Armburg Jennings. At just 20 years of age he is our youngest guest at Richmond & Twickenham Jazz Club, but listening (as I am whilst writing this) to his first album 'Out of the Starting Blocks’ his playing has a maturity that completely defies his years. Closing my eyes to listen… I hear echoes of Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard and Chet Baker, played with an astounding sensitivity and originality. His influences may have been Miles Davis and all of the above but Henry has his own star and his own sound. |
| Henry has been playing trumpet since the age of five “I was just given one at school” he said, he had completed grade 8 by the age of 12 and became professional at the age of 14. He has already played many of our most prestigious venues like 100 Club, The Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scotts and The Jazz Café and is an experienced session musician on both piano and trumpet. Hence my theory is confirmed and I know that he comes from Planet Jazz… what will come next for this extraordinary young man I don’t know, but try to catch him on Thursday and witness a gift from the heaven’s and a great night out! Very best wishes, Lesley. |
| The New Sunday Session, 29th November 2009, 7pm-10pm with Antone Brown at The Crown |
| Meanwhile due to the popularity of Thursday night at The Crown we are introducing a new Sunday session to the Jazz Club programme. |
| Our first vocalist is the extremely talented Antone Brown. He has a deep luxurious voice, velvety and interesting as a great Rioja. Antone has been likened to Nat King Cole and will be singing many jazz, soul and blues classics. Antone is also a versatile master of many instruments, a composer and teacher. He has played Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, has appeared on EastEnders and backed Paul Young amongst others. He is a real treat and put us all in a good mood for the week ahead. |
| The session will also have a single guest slot for a professional rising star vocalist at the beginning of the second set. Our first guest is Janet Penfold a beautiful young singer who has just produced her first album ‘Hey There’. The album also features Derek Nash on saxophone, Robert Rickenberg on double Bass and Antone Browne on guitar. It will be available at the club. |
| The session will become monthly in January if it is successful - so please put it in your diary. Very best wishes, Lesley |
| “Breathtaking” Christian Brewer at The Crown 12th November 2009 |
| “Breathtaking” was a comment from one of our Jazz club audience last time Christian Brewer played for us at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz club, hence we are really proud to be welcoming back this talented man on Thursday 12th November |
| Christian’s music is tasteful, fluent and expressive. Expect to be surprised and reassured in one phrase, elated and challenged in the next. His gift is to embrace lyrical Be bop with Latin sensibility, funk, groove and oriental music. His tone is melodic and pure. |
| Christian studied at Leeds College and Guildhall school of music but like many of our musicians cites his real school of learning to be the Jazz Gigs themselves. He has played alongside Julian Joseph, Rico Rodriguez, Paul Weller and Chana Dominguez and has played most of international festivals in Spain, Portugal, Italy and beyond, he has a rich and diverse musical outlook. I can’t wait to hear him again. |
| Very best wishes, Lesley. |
| Paul Jayasinha, Proud Lion at The Crown 29th October 2009 |
| The more that I learn about Jazz and the more that I listen… the more I seem to love this obscure genre and the people within it. This week our guest is the extremely talented Mr Paul Jayasinha who will be playing trumpet and flugel horn with a mercurial sensitivity and virtuosity that fascinates and astounds anyone who hears him. |
| Paul’s name means “Joyful and proud Lion” and talking to this softly spoken humble man he is indeed all of these things. |
| The son of a Scottish mum and Srilankan father, Paul grew up surrounded by music. His father is a classical singer and his mother plays flute and piano. Consequently Paul was playing a quarter size cello as soon as he could fit his arms around it. He was given a trumpet when he was ten and started improvising spontaneously, by the age of 17 he was firmly committed to making his pathway in Jazz. |
| Paul now works at the top level in the UK and internationally. Whilst still at college he was featured with the soloist Kenny Wheeler on the CD “Walk Softly” and treaded the boards with Courtney Pine, Jason Rebello and Steve Williamson. He has since worked on some of the worlds best international Jazz projects fascinated as he is by the ambiguities and intricacies of world rhythm and world politics. |
| Paul’s Album “Round Trip” explores these themes, but its phenomenal and complex musicality is easy to listen to and lots of fun.It is one of my personal good humoured Jazz favourites and will be available at The Club on Thursday. I asked Paul what motivates him every day, and he replied simply to stay healthy (he practises Tai Chi) to make music and to love and support his family and friends. |
| With his partner, the singer Clare Foster, Paul has a small daughter called Maia her name means “the mother of the messenger of the gods” I wonder if her message too will be in Jazz? |
| Very best wishes, Lesley. |
| The Jazz Magpie, Gilad Atzmon at The Crown, 1st October 2009 |
| Today was the first day that I ever felt truly middle class, privileged and spoilt. Today I learnt so much about the prolific alto saxophonist, author, recording artist and music educator Mr. Gilad Atzmon, that my Northern working class background and my years of struggling as a single mum running my own business seemed an easy ride. |
| Gilad is our guest artist at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club this week “When the ego and the awareness melts down” he says “a flood of music comes out of you”, and indeed a flood of music does continually flow from this gifted man. He has an international musical reputation. He produces albums which are always original and critically acclaimed. He plays over 100 dates as year. He is the regular tutor for The Global Music Foundation. He is also a great entertainer. |
| Gilad is an Israeli born Jew, sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, who has lived in self exile in Britain since 1994. He was born in 1963 and studied at The Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem but it was on a cold night in Jerusalem when as a 17 year old he was preparing to do his National service during the 1982 conflict in Lebanon that he heard a recording of Charlie Parker playing ‘April in Paris’ on the radio. “It was that moment I fell in love with Jazz” he said. He has been playing it ever since. |
| The next day he went to the only British record shop in Jerusalem and bought every Jazz album he could and resolved that one day he would live in America. |
| This week it is his album “In loving memory of America” that I have been compulsively listening to over and over again. Gilad plays with an extraordinary soft, fluid, lyrical intensity which is haunting and easy to listen to. He is the musical equivalent of a magpie, collecting treasures from the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, skilfully weaving them into his nest of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Dizzie Gillespie, Miles Davis and Bill Evans settling upon his own interpretation of the beautiful Jazz standards. |
| Gilads love affair with America was short lived as he learnt more about American politics hence he settled in Britain, but his passion for Jazz remains… so does his sense of humour. |
| I am looking forward to Thursday night and I hope that you are too. It is wise to come early for a good seat. Very best wishes, Lesley |
| Simon Spillett Saxophonist at The Crown, 24th September 2009 |
| One of the few advantages of being in or around the Jazz scene for the best part of 30 years is the joy of watching a true artist struggle, develop and emerge. Such is the case with our guest this week at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club, Mr. Simon Spillett. |
| Simon grew up in a musical family, his father was a semi professional trombone player who’s total sense of purpose came from supporting his family, living for Jazz and encouraging his young son to make music. All this sounds very privileged and refined but in fact there was no money for Simon to go to music college and in his own words “I had a practical apprenticeship, I had to earn and learn at the same time. From 1996 - 2004 I was really struggling both for recognition and to make any kind of living… it was hard but looking back it was the very best experience a Jazz player could have. I have no regrets.” |
| When you first meet Simon you will notice the manners and demeanour of an old school English Gentleman, Immaculately presented he is polite. Intelligent, tense, and waits for others to speak first. He is also graciously happy to complement another person. Until recently this was also his character in Jazz, always happy to support from the sidelines, afraid to be too assertive and carefully developing his trade, although technically brilliant he took no risks. Watching him recently however I saw a new voice emerging from his incredible technique, assertive, intuitive and creative, happy to complement from the side lines but with a lot to offer to the emerging jazz arena. |
| The constant association with Simon Spillet is that he has learnt and developed so much from listening and playing to his fathers old Tubby Hayes vinyl recordings that he sounds like Tubby himself. With Simon’s natural generosity of spirit he cites this as a compliment of the highest degree, however a recent jazz promotion presented Simon Spillett as the ‘UK’s leading Tubby Hayes imitator. “This is a travesty” he said “I am more than a one trick pony” and given that he has just been nominated for the BBC Jazz Tenor Saxophone awards he is perhaps a bit more than an imitator of an established genius. So do come along on Thursday and decide for yourself. We will hear some fabulous standards and a few brand new originals. |
| Our fabulous rhythm section this week also includes Simon Woolf on double Bass and Leon Greeing on piano. Meanwhile our in house Chef, Scott has lots of new autumnal dishes to offer |
| Here’s to a great night. Meanwhile those Autumn leaves keep fallin… Hope all is well with you. |
| A recommendation |
| Richmond and Twickenham jazz club is one of those warm, off beat gems you wish you could get to every week. Even when I can't make it however, it's a comfort to know that it lives on, breathing the joy of jazz in its welcoming, communal approach to evenings of carefully selected music. |
| Much love, Christian McLaughlin |
| A little poem, with thanks to Lesley and Kelvin (originally from January 2009) |
| Jazz untangles the soul, introspective yet exuberant, waking the dead, reviving the heart, enabling peace; I thank God for it: expressing things we cannot say, and joyful. |
| Barrie |
| Definition of Jazz, Alex Garnett at The Crown 3rd September 2009 |
| Whilst taking my pampered pooch Gershwin for his daily walk I met a man who asked me to explain what Jazz is. In fact he said if I could define Jazz he would come to the Jazz Club to hear some. I must admit I struggled to completely pin it down but on returning home I looked it up in the dictionary to find it described as “polyphonic, syncopated music characterised by solo virtuostic improvisation.” |
| How I wished that I could have just said that instead of rambling about spontaneity. Harmony and personal interpretation around fabulous songs which can be hectic, exciting soulful, and full of harmonious idioms and which are an integral part of our musical culture. The man had looked confused. |
| “Sing some” he said so as it was a dull wet Wednesday morning I sang a bit of “Heres that rainy day” (to the surprise and possible irritation of other people walking their dogs). And I explained that different musicians would all interpret the tune in their very own special way at The Jazz Club and that t here are lots of different instruments played and this week we feature a very talented alto saxophonist called Alex Garnett. “What is an alto saxophone?” he asked… Gershwin snorted. “Come on Thursday” I said “and then you will understand what Jazz is”… because Alex personifies Jazz, he is young energetic, original and lots of fun… and he plays the alto saxophone… I wonder if the man will be there. |
| Toni Kofi Eternal Truths of Jazz, 16th July 2009 |
| As we approach the last couple of weeks of the Summer season at Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club I have been reflecting quite deeply on the memorable nights we have had at the club since Christmas and how wonderful some of those unfathomable, mercurial, Jazz evenings have been. |
| Kelvin and I are both amazed and reassured by how the club continues to thrive in spite of the recession and everyone being continually bombarded by doom and gloom negativity by the media. To us every week feels like a mini Jazz party, and I know that our musicians and guests feel the same. They love to play at our club. We would like to thank all of you for your friendship and support this year as we all escaped to Jazz Heaven on a Thursday night. Long may it continue. We have certainly had a lot of fun and enjoyed some incredible music. |
| This week we feature the well known saxophonist and multi instrumentalist Toni Kofi. Born in Nottingham to West African parents Toni was originally self taught but estimates that his career began when he stumbled upon a series of Jazz workshops run in Leicester by Nick Haslam. So began his love affair with Jazz. Such was his passion he went on to win a full scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. From there he toured extensively. Toni is an unassuming and acknowledged genius on many instruments. |
| His discography includes being the youngest and only British member of the renowned “World Saxophone” quartet, Winning the Best Instrumentalist award in the BBC Jazz awards in 2008. Touring with Abdullah Ibrahim, Brandford Marsailis, Courtney Pine and Clifford Jarvis, and an appearance on The Micheal Parkinson Show playing with the legendary Joe Cocker. A personal friend of Kelvin’s, we are very privileged to have him playing at our club. |
| Thursday 16th July 2008 is not one to miss. Hope to see you there, best wishes Lesley |