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2002 |
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Wed 6 March |
Damon Brown's International Quintet |
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The GF will resound to echoes of the great Blue Note record era when leading British trumpet player Damon Brown fronts his International Quintet.
The band includes USA piano star Bruce Barth who has played with Gil Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Joshua Redman, James Moody, George Russell and other world jazz names and has appeared on 25 CDs.
Damon Brown himself unlike many other contemporary trumpet players manages to escape the shadow of Miles Davis - if anything he is reminiscent of his namesake the late, great, Clifford Brown. Damon goes for the same warm accessible sound particularly on flugelhorn which like most jazz trumpeters he also plays. His arrangements of standards and his own compositions, sounding like they ought to be standards, form the quintet's repertoire.
The quintet is justifiably described as 'international': Damon Brown is British but now lives in Spain the original home of saxman Perico Sambeat now living in New York. Drummer Stephen Keogh, from the Irish Republic, also plays with bands led by Peter King and Gordon Beck. The only other Brit in the quintet is much-in-demand double bass player Mark Hodgson who works with top people around Europe and with American celebrities, for example Randy Brecker, Cedar Walton, Larry Coryell and Bobby Watson.
"An exciting new voice in European Jazz" Dave Gelly - The Observer
"One of the UK's most versatile musicians." Chris Parker - The Times
"Outstanding playing and composing. Fresh, original and to the point." Ian Carr - Recording artist, jazz writer and biographer
8:30pm. Admission: £10, members £8
Venue: Goodfellowship Inn. Directions
BAND'S INFORMATION
With his debut album "A Rhythm indicative" Damon Brown burst onto the British jazz scene. Critics and audiences were unanimous; here was a new voice in jazz, music for the head and the heart. That was 1998.There have followed four more tours of the U.K. with his quintet and performances at clubs and festivals around the world (Ronnie Scott's in London, The Jamboree in Barcelona, The Red Sea International Jazz Festival in Israel, The Edinburgh Jazz Festival in Scotland amongst others). As a sideman Damon has become increasingly in demand, notably touring with many of the greats such as Dave Liebman (ex Miles Davis) and Gary Smulyan (Dave Holland). His latest album, released by Ronnie Scott's to coincide with his appearance at the club, has been received with similarly enthusiastic reviews. Subsequently he was invited to be the guest solo artist at the Tel Aviv International Festival 2000. The key to Damon's success lies in the quality of his live performances and also in the accessibility of his compositions. While rooted firmly in the classic blue note sound of the 1950s the music transcends musical boundaries and reflects his unique background. He has recorded and toured with such diverse figures in modern popular music as Rubin Wilson, Desmond Decker, Paul Weller, Weldon Irvine, Rico, Fred Wesley and a host of others. In March, the band featuring Perico Sambeat on alto saxophone and New York star Bruce Barth on piano, tours the U.K. and Ireland.
BRUCE BARTH: Since moving to New York in 1988, Bruce Barth, has distinguished himself as an original and compelling pianist, formidable composer and arranger as well. His subtle touch, strong rhythmic concept, and interesting harmonies are all part of a warm personal approach to the piano that can best be heard on his trio and quartet recordings for Enja and Double-Time Records. Within a few months of moving to New York, Barth joined up with many talented young musicians, playing jam sessions most days. Within his first year and a half, he recorded and toured Europe with Vincent Herring's quintet, and toured Japan with Nat Adderley. Soon after he worked briefly with Stanley Turrentine. In 1990, Bruce joined Terence Blanchard's quintet, touring and recording extensively with the band for the next four years. He appears on five of Blanchard's CDs, and several film scores, including 'Malcolm X'. In 1993, Barth released his first CD as a leader, 'In Focus' on the Enja label, and 'Morning Call' followed in 1995.both CDs made the New York Times top-10 list, with 'Morning Call' receiving Billboard and CD Reviews honours as well. Barth has subsequently recorded three albums for Double time records with his now regular quartet featuring, Steve Wilson, Ed Howard and Billy Drummond. Bruce has had the opportunity to work with such musicians as Gil Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Art Farmer, Slide Hampton, James Moody and George Russell. He has also performed with The Mingus big Band, Tom Harrell, Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, David Sanchez, Kevin Mahogany, John Patitucci, Toots Thielemans, Nancy Wilson, Joshua Redman and Dave Holland, and can be heard on more than Twenty-five CDs as a side player.
PERICO SAMBEAT began his musical studies at the age of six with the piano and later he passed to the flute and the saxophone. In 1982 he moved to Barcelona, where he finished his classical studies and attended the "Taller de Músics" jazz school, studying harmony with Ze Eduardo. He has played with his group in Jazz Festivals and Clubs all over Spain and Europe. In 1991 he moved to New York, where he had chance to play with great musicians such as Jimmy Cobb, Lee Konitz, Joe Chambers etc. He has worked professionally with Steve Lacy, Louis Bellson, Daniel Humair, Jimmy Owens, Fred Hersch, etc. Besides Europe, he has toured Angola and Brazil with Bernardo Sassetti, Argentina and Mexico with his own quartet, and Hong Kong and United States with Guy Barker.
MARK HODGSON was born in Kendal, England, in 1971. Mark began playing the Double Bass aged seventeen after playing the Electric Bass in various Pop and Fusion bands since his early teens. In 1995 Mark moved to London to study Double Bass, composition and Piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, receiving a prodigious scholarship from the patrons of the School. Since leaving the Guildhall Mark has become one of the most in-demand Double Bass players on the European scene, playing and recording with artists including… Randy Brecker, Cedar Walton, Eddie Henderson, Larry Coryell, Bobby Watson, Greg Osby, Bill Charlap, Scott Hamilton, James Williams, Louis Stewart, Bruce Barth, Joe Temperley, Gary Smulyan, Gordon Beck, Jean Toussaint, Ingrid Jensen, Tommy Smith, Rick Margitza, Peter King, Georgie Fame, Jon Gordon, Tim Garland, Roger Kellaway and Gregory Hutchinson. In 1998 Mark was asked to join Bill Bruford's 'Earthworks' with whom he has recorded two CDs and made extensive tours of Europe, Asia, Africa and the U.S.A. Mark has played at jazz festivals all around the world and in some of the world's most prestigious jazz clubs, including 'Birdland' and 'The Knitting Factory' in New York, 'Ronnie Scott's' in London, 'The Blues Alley' in Washington, 'Yoshi's' in San Fransisco and 'Catalina's' in Los Angeles. Mark's most recent recordings include: 'Gift' (Ashbrown Productions) with Bill Charlap, Louis Stewart and Stephen Keogh; 'The Sound of Surprise' (Discipline Global) with Bill Buford's Earthworks; 'Artfully' (Urban Beauty Records) with The European Piano Trio featuring Bill Charlap, Stephen Keogh & Mark Hodgson.
STEPHEN KEOGH - Drums: born in Ireland February 12 1963; studied piano, cello, flute and percussion at Royal Irish Academy Of Music. Later studied privately in London and then in New York at the Drummers Collective. Played as percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and with various contemporary music ensembles from 1978 - 1988. Also played with Irish and visiting jazz artiste's during this time incl: Sonny Fortune, Dave Leibman, Eddie Locklaw Davis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Pat La Barbera, Louis Stewart, Pepper Adams, James Moody etc... Moved from Dublin to London in 1988. This move led to tours and recordings etc. with many of Britain and Americas leading jazz artistes incl: Alan Skidmore, Stan Tracey, Peter King, Charles McPherson, Art Farmer, Jason Rebello, Jean Toussaint, Benny Carter etc... Moved to barcelona in 1990. Since then has been working in Spain, Europe and Far East with many different groups and musicians among which are: James Williams, Deborah Brown, Perico Sambeat, Johnny Griffin, Gordon Beck, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Harrold Land, Kirk Lightsey etc. Recently he has been touring with the Peter King Quartet and Quintet, and the Gordon Beck Trio in Britain, Europe and the Far East, also playing with Herb Ellis, Mark Turner, and touring with Brad Mehldau in Britain and Ireland. Stephen's most recent recordings include: Lush Life (Miles Music) Peter King Quintet; "Gift" (Ashbrown Productions) with Louis Stewart ~.guitar, Bill Charlap ~ piano and Mark Hodgson ~ bass; "Artfully" (Urban Beauty Records) with the European Piano Trio featuring Bill Charlap ~ piano, Mark Hodgson ~ bass, Stephen Keogh ~ drums.