What’s On

Catherine is one of the finest jazz singers in the country. A member of the very famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, but equally at home with her own small band, she cites Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Julie London as her main influences.

Tonight with pianist Paul Buck, drummer Terry Howard and Clive Morton, long-time bassist with Frank Sinatra.

“I will be singing standards and songs from the Great American Songbook. I enjoy singing good show tunes in a jazz style which include songs like ‘If I were a Bell’ and ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ I think it’s important to let the audience hear the tune that was written when performing them, so I think they can expect to hear some songs they’ll recognise.” Catherine Sykes

Legendary American tenor star Scott Hamilton back in Worcestershire, but appearing at Severn Jazz for the first time, is joined by his regular, all-star UK band. Hamilton was born in Rhode Island in 1954 and, after moving to New York, cut his teeth in Benny Goodman’s band. He soon formed his own quartet, got signed to the legendary Concord record label, and collaborated with the likes of Woody Herman, Tony Bennett, Warren Vache and George Wein’s Newport Jazz Festival All Stars. Now based in Italy, Scott regularly tours across Europe and beyond, playing mainstream jazz and standards of the highest quality.

Scott Hamilton with  John Pearce (piano), Dave Green (bass) and Steve Brown (drums)

NB:This session will be £15

Nat Steele’s 'Sonny Rollins and the Modern Jazz Quartet'  two week UK tour features US tenor saxophone giant Grant Stewart, alongside his MJQ quartet, paying homage to the classic 1956 Prestige album of the same name.

Nat's recently released debut quartet album 'Portrait of the MJQ' received rave reviews in the jazz and national press, including 5 stars in BBC Music Magazine ('Jazz Choice' of the month). Canadian born Grant Stewart has won the prestigious Downbeat Magazine award 8 years in a row.

Review:
Forbes Magazine (2018 London Jazz Festival).......another tribute to a jazz great was easily one of top gigs of the festival. Canadian born jazz saxophonist Grant Stewart was an excellent addition to vibraphonist Nat Steele's quartet who performed a fantastic gig featuring the music of Sonny Rollins. Their take on the classic 1956 Prestige album "Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet" was part of the annual Bopfest, running alongside the London Jazz Festival. Grant Stewart’s tenor is tight, rich and his  interpretation of bebop has often been compared to Sonny Rollins while Nat Steele has been described by Clark Tracey as "one of the best vibes players this country has ever produced." Together, along with the admirable contributions from Gabriel Latchin, Dario di Lecce and Steve Brown, they performed one of the best gigs of London's annual jazz festival.

Expect swinging bebop and straight-ahead jazz from this world-class quintet.

Grant Stewart (saxophone), Steve Brown (drums), Dario di Lecce (bass), Gabriel Latchin  (piano) and Nat Steele (vibraphone).

NB:This session will be £12.50

Rod Kelly started his jazz career playing trumpet in the Midlands before moving to London in the sixties and forming a Mainstream and later Bebop sextet which featured BBC Jazz Club Producers  Robin Sedgely (tbn) and Roger Eames (bs). As Rod says "this inside access to the corridors of jazz power led instantly to absolutely nowhere!".
He played with Bobby Wellins for a year and New York Pianist Errol Clarke for 2 years and in 1978 was playing regularly at Ronnie Scotts. Moving to the South West he supported George Shearing on a rare British concert. Eventually He moved back to the Midlands and swapped to playing piano in the early nineties, forming his own band and finding himself much in demand. Rod is also a published novelist and playwright.

Martin Veasey trombone

It has been said that David Newton is 'one of our nation’s treasured pianists'. The man has a lovely touch, that is for certain.

He’s been the accompanist of choice for vocal royalty for years, and it’s easy to hear why: Newton’s musical responsiveness is as impressive as his re-harmonization and arranging skills at the piano. It can be a fine line between clever and stupid when it comes to re-setting musical chestnuts to the jazz format, but Newton bridges that gap by a good mile or more. He’s the kind of pianist every drummer and bass player could wish for.

Tonight he is joined by John Pearce on violin

and completing the line-up Clive Morton (bs), Terry Howard (dms)