Jazz musician Chris Ingham and folk musician Chris Wilbraham cast their expert eyes over the local music scene
JAZZ with Chris Ingham: cjr.ingham@outlook.com/chrisingham.co.uk
Sunday, February 2
JOSEPHINE DAVIES’ SATORI (Miestones Jazz Club, Hotel Hatfield, Lowestoft, 7pm, £14/£7, milestonesjacclub.co.uk, 07789 320168) Continuing the first Sunday in the month series, the long-established Milestones Jazz Club presents award-winning saxophonist and composer Josephine Davies with Oli Hayhurst (bass) and Angus Bishop (drums).
FOR THE DIARY
Sunday, February 9
DIRT ROAD BAND (Venue 16, Ipswich, 2.30pm, £15/£7.50, ipswichjazzandblues.com) Powerful blues from former Dr Feelgood guitarist Steve Walwyn, plus Specials bassist Horace Panter and ex-Badfinger drummer Ted Duggan.
Tuesday, February 11
DEAN & EMILY MASSER (Maddermarket Theatre Bar, Norwich, 8.30pm, £18/£9, norwichjazzclub.co.uk) Former saxophone stalwart of the Norwich scene Dean Masser returns with his daughter and rising star vocalist Emily for an evening of hard swinging standards, with Simon Brown (piano), Simon Wood (bass) and Tom Jiggins (drums).
Wednesday, February 12
CHRIS COOULL’S BLUE NOTE SEXTET (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £22, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) A broad array from the much-loved recordings of Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordan, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, to name a few from the golden era of the '50s and '60s. With Chris Coull (trumpet), Andreas Panayi (saxophone), Mark Bassey (trombone), Terry Seabrook (piano), Dan Sheppard (bass) and Peter Cater (drums).
Saturday, February 15
ADRIAN COX & DENNY ILETT (Hadleigh Town Hall, 3pm & 7.30pm, £20, georgedouble.com) Former Kansas Smitty’s clarinettist Cox meets the fabulous blues-flavoured guitarist Ilett, plus Chris Ingham (piano), Joe Pettitt (bass) and George Double (drums). A matinée and evening show.
Thursday, February 20
JONATHAN GEE TRIO (Hidden Rooms, Cambridge, 7.30pm, £22 & £16.50, cambridgejazz.org, 01223 514777) Pianist Jonathan Gee combines three of his recent shows in one, with re-imagined Beatles and ‘80s tunes alongside Gee originals. With Tristan Mailliot (drums) and Mikele Montilli (bass).
Friday, February 21
FLANAGAN (Hunter Club Arts Centre, Bury, 7.30pm, £20, headhunterslive.org, 07799 650009) Mark Flanagan, long-time guitarist in Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, brings his own delightful trio comprising Adam Double (bass/vocal) and George Double (drums/vocal) to showcase original, heartfelt blues/roots/Americana songs.
Sunday, February 23
GRAHAM CLARK (Yalm Food Court, Norwich, 7.30pm, £13, norwichjazzclub.co.uk) Monthly music shows at Norwich’s Yalm Food Court continue with jazz violinist Graham Clark joining Simon Brown (piano), Simon Wood (bass) and Tom Jiggins (drums).
Wednesday, February 26
TRISTAN BANKS’ VIEW FROM ABOVE (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £20, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) infectious acoustic jazz with Latin and soul flavours played by a troupe of top session and jazz musicians. With Tristan Banks (drums), Paul Booth (tenor sax), John Crawford (piano) and Davide Mantovani (bass).
Friday, March 7
A BRIEF HISTORY OF JAZZ (Diss Corn Hall, 7.30pm, £18, thecornhall.co.uk, 01379 652241) A delightfully entertaining presentation led by Paul Higgs – former musical director for the National Theatre and RSC and one of the UK’s finest jazz trumpeters. With Chris Ingham (piano), Malcolm Creese (bass) and Neil Bullock (drums).
FOLK with Chris Wilbraham: chris.wilbraham@tinyonline.co.uk
I was reminded last week why it is worth recording songs, having often questioned committing a lot of time and money to producing CDs that may or may not sell well enough to recoup the investment made, or impress enough to gain the hoped for gig opportunities.
In the late 1980s my mate Phil Kelly formed a band at Aston University with Jim Fewtrell and a drum machine. They earned the name The Trophy Cabinet thanks to them both having large sticky out ears. Before leaving Aston, they performed on Birmingham’s Indie music scene.
In 2006, by now married with two young children, Phil’s career in medical publishing was halted by a terminal diagnosis of Myeloma, a type of blood cancer, and was given a prognosis of five years. Health insurance meant he didn’t have to work. In 2010, he revived his band to occupy his mind and feed his passion for music. He scored a gig supporting The Wedding Present at The O2 Oxford and I blagged a spot playing slide guitar with Phil and Jim and Steve Burholt on keyboards, to an audience of friends wearing black t-shirts with a massive white ear on the front.
The Trophy Cabinet expanded over the next few years, gaining a drummer, my friend Liz on vocals and mandolin and, for one song, Phil’s wife Julie on French horn. Practice and gigs led to Jim and Phil organising professional recording sessions in Oxford. Treatment kept Phil going and he schemed more recording sessions, gigs, CD covers embellished by photographs taken by Rankin and while on dexamethasone fell victim to a vista print habit that left him with a large car magnet and a box of badges, all emblazoned with the ear symbol. After several years of successful gigs at places like Oxford’s Jericho Tavern, where Radiohead played in their early years, he gave up herding six widespread musicians and the band returned to its original line-up.
Now, as I listen while doing my chores, a week after Phil’s battle with cancer is finally lost, I am reminded of the huge value to me and the rest of the band these CDs have, loaded with Jim’s complex, finely crafted, unfailingly musical and beautifully recorded songs. Phil’s bass playing is deep and proud and the case decorated with images of us from 10 years ago, invoking memories of a 41-year friendship and musical adventures some can only dream of.
Phil was a brilliant friend. Funny, positive and brave.
The music and images can be found on Spotify if you are interested
Next week’s gigs:
Friday, January 31
The Greyhound, Chevington, Chris Longman & Emma Goodman, 7.30pm. No charge.
Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club: Showcase with Anna Kent, Martin Baxter, Rhys Wilson. £9.
Saturday, February 1
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 7.30pm, Man The Lifeboats. £17.
Monday, February 3
Colchester Arts Centre, 8pm, Songs of The Folk, support from Gwendal Moele and Paul Riley. £12.
Tuesday, February 4
Queens Head, Hawkeden, 7.30pm, Acoustic Open Mic hosted by The Emergers.
Wednesday, February 5
Risbygate Sports Club, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm, Bury Folk Collective, Contemporary Night: Giles Washburn, Cotton Fields, Celtam, Amy Pearl. £2.
The Bell Hotel, Thetford, 7.30pm, Open Music Night.
Banham Barrel, 8pm, Later with James Viera.
Thursday, February 6
The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm, Fairport Convention. £35.
Friday, February 7
Risbygate Sports Club, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm, Milkmaid Folk Club: Sound Tradition, support from Flight. £12.
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 7.30pm, Howie Lovett & Balkan Hill – Mid Suffolk Folk Night. £18.
Quay Theatre, Sudbury, 7.30pm, The Big Yellow Tambourine Man Band play the songs of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. £18.
Hadleigh Folk Club, Ansells House, Bryan Causton and Penni McLaren-Walker + Phil Lyons. £8.
Golden Hind, Cambridge, 8pm, Cambridge Folk Club: Open Stage with special guests Kaszak and Afifi. £3.
