1 OCTOBER
Matt Wates Sextet
This is a very welcome return for the Matt Wates Sextet. The ensemble is a swinging, modern jazz group made up of six of Britain’s finest jazz musicians playing with attack and cohesion. Individually they solo with breath-taking dexterity and exciting improvisation. Winners of a British Jazz Award and appearing at many jazz festivals around the country, the band mixes originals with fresh adaptations of standards for an evening of exhilarating music. As Matt himself says “We play some Latin American tunes and some groove-oriented pieces as well, but the heart and soul of the band will always be straight-ahead swing. If it isn’t swinging at least some of the time, it isn’t really jazz!”Matt Wates, alto saxophone; Graeme Blevins, tenor saxophone; Martin Shaw, trumpet; Leon Greening, piano; Malcolm Creese, bass Matt Home, drums
Admission £9
8 OCTOBER
Simon Spillett
WINNER of the BBC JAZZ AWARDS 2007 RISING STAR
Simon Spillett is one of the finest musicians to emerge onto the British jazz scene for over a decade. His playing encompasses superb technique, great tone, melodic invention and a driving swinging sound that reminds you of the late master of the tenor saxophone, Tubby Hayes. Until very recently, few jazz fans had even heard of Simon Spillett, but his reputation is growing by leaps and bounds. From a storming interpretation of his own compositions (Howdy Doody), through subtle-smooth ballads, to swinging standards, Simon excels. The combination of Tubby Hayes’ influences, individual improvisation, the ability to embark on blistering runs across standards, wresting every ounce of juice from the harmonies earns Simon a place as one of Britain’s finest musicians, and composers. Pianist, Chris Ingham, always a firm favourite at Dereham heads up the accompanying rhythm section.
THIS IS A CHANGE TO THE PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED PERSONNEL:
Simon Spillett, tenor sax;
Chris Ingham, piano;
Mike Harris, bass;
Mike McCann, drums
Admission £8
15 OCTOBER
Bob Doré’s Eastern Bloc Big Band
Eastern Bloc is a barnstorming seventeen-piece band which made its debut in 1998 at the Millwrights Arms, Toftwood. Under the leadership of drummer Bob Doré, Eastern Bloc is among the finest of East Anglia’s big bands. The line-up includes some of the top jazz musicians in the region playing the music of the greatest jazz composers and arrangers. Being a bit of a perfectionist, Bob has put his lifelong experience into creating what he considers to be the quintessential big band format which in his words ‘plays the best of big band jazz and swings like crazy’.
Admission £8
22 OCTOBER
Lewis Wright
Hold tight for an upbeat jazz journey fronted by our local, exceptionally talented vibes player Lewis Wright. Lewis was the Norwich Students Jazz Orchestra’s youngest member at the age of 10. In 2001 he formed a Norfolk quartet which won the 2006 Jazz Services Newcomer Award. Lewis is studying at Trinity College of Music, and brings a band of fellow students to DJS. His colleagues are also building strong musical reputations and feature Mitch Jones – piano, Andy Chapman – drums and Pete Randall on bass, who studied at Chichester College. Expect an electrifying performance displaying superb versatility and technical skill handling some highly complex material.
Lewis Wright, vibraphone; Mitch Jones, piano, Andy Chapman, drums; Pete Randall, bass
Admission £8
29 OCTOBER
Pete Canter Quartet
Pete Canter is a jazz saxophone player, teacher and composer based in the UK. Pete did not begin playing saxophone until his early 30s. Since then he has more than made up for lost time. His repertoire draws on bebop, hardbop, latin jazz, more contemporary jazz standards and some of his own compositions. With his regular quartet, Pete Canter is known for his high-intensity straight-ahead hardbop and latin material and his bands are regular performers at jazz venues across the southwest and further afield. He has played in London and at most of the UK’s major jazz festivals leading trios and quartets in a mix of swinging, accessible modern jazz and jazz standards. Check out: www.petecanter.com
Pete Canter, tenor sax, Ted Beament, piano; Ivars Galenieks, bass; Mike McCann, drums
Admission £8
5 NOVEMBER
Simon Nelson’s Dixie Mix
Dixie Mix features a local young man purveying a very traditional brand of jazz. Trumpeter, Simon Nelson has a great affinity for the Dixieland, swing and mainstream jazz that preceded the bebop revolution. Taught by Gerry Salisbury, Simon has become a sought-after sideman performing with many of the local mainstream and traditional bands. Dixie Mix is a band assembled for just one purpose – to entertain – and they do it with consummate ease. The happy feeling generated on the band-stand soon communicates with the audience and a good time will be had by all.
Simon Nelson, trumpet and vocals; Bill Skinner, reeds; Chris Wigley, trombone; Kevin West, guitar and banjo; Tony Jullings, bass;
Mike McCann, drums
Admission £8
12 NOVEMBER
Bob Doré, Alan Martin
OCTET
Bob and Alan continue their crusade to breath new life into the octet format. Locally, the Martin/Doré ensemble is the splendid outcome of their campaign. Bob says that an octet demonstrates all the freedom of a small group but with sufficient voicings and texture to deliver some great arrangements in a big band style. Derek Cubitt and Alan Martin are both skilfull arrangers and contribute many great charts to the varied and swinging book of this rapidly developing band.
A review of a recent Octet performance is on our News page.
Alan Martin, trombone; Bob Doré, drums; Neil Waters, trumpet;
Derek Cubitt, tenor sax, Clive Hitchcock, alto sax;
Frank Wesson, baritone sax; Tom Harris, piano;
Ivars Galenieks, bass.
Admission £8
19 NOVEMBER
Derek Cubitt, Tim Densham
‘Soprano Plummet!’
Soprano Summit was a 1970s mainstream quartet featuring the soprano sax playing of Americans, Kenny Davern and Bob Wilber. Their group often included the fine guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.
Derek Cubitt and Tim Densham are recreating some of this fine swinging jazz, replicating the same line-up of two sopranos, guitar and bass. Don’t be mislead by the punning of the band’s name – there will be no plummeting tonight, only soaring!
Tim Densham and Derek Cubitt, reeds; Alan Cugoni, guitar; Tony Jullings, bass; Brian McAllister, drums
Admission £7
26 NOVEMBER
The Jonathan Wyatt Big Band
Yet another Big Band for you – two in one programme should please the fans of the Swing Era sounds. The Jonathan Wyatt Big Band has been around for a very long time and has established an enviable reputation for playing the “best of” of big band jazz. They have a great ability to put together a programme of the favourites that you want to listen to, played just how you like to hear them.
Admission £8
Details of events and participating musicians are correct at the time of printing. Occasionally changes from the published details are necessary. Feel free to check before attending.