Friends of the Upton Jazz Festival

CONCERT DATES TO JUNE 2008

All concerts at HANLEY CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL

THURSDAY MAY 1st
THE SCOTT HAMILTON QUARTET At 8pm
Tickets £12 (Members £10)

Personnel:
SCOTT HAMILTON, tenor saxophone, born in 1954 in Providence , Rhode Island . Experienced jazz at first hand from an early age from his father's extensive record collection and tried out several instruments in childhood, drums at 5, piano at six and took clarinet lessons at eight, the only formal tuition he has ever had. Even at that age he was attracted to the sound of Johnny Hodges but he was sixteen before he started playing saxophone seriously. He moved to New York in 1976 at age 22 and was befriended by Roy Eldridge. Eldridge was Scott's champion, but pulled no punches, and could be extremely critical, something which Scott has always been grateful. In December of 1976 John Bunch arranged his first recording date and for him joining Benny Goodman with whom he continued to work at various times until 1980. In 1977 he formed his own quartet which later became a quintet with Bunch added and began recording for the Concord label. More than forty albums later he is still recording for Concord including several with his British group of John Pearce, Dave Green and Steve Brown. From his base in London Scott now tours all over Europe playing festivals including Brecon where he is one of the patrons and club dates including regular visits London's Pizza Express Jazz Club. He returns to America three or four times a year to play major festivals and jazz parties there.

MIKE GORMAN, piano/organ, second visit to Upton (his first was with the Pete Cook Septet back in September 2001 for those with long memories!). Born in Sheffield he completed a Music Degree at University College , Salford and gained experience playing in the Manchester music scene. Mike moved to London in 1995 to attend The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since then he has established himself as one of the UK 's leading jazz pianists and organists, making regular appearances with many of the country's leading jazz musicians in London and throughout the UK . He has also worked with several prominent US musicians as well as touring and recording with major international acts Incognito and US3.

STEVE BROWN, drums, Manchester born he started playing drums in 1983 at age fifteen and has developed into one of the most sort-after drummers in the country. He studied locally and by 1992 was playing with visiting American's including saxophonist Harry Allen when he toured the area. Further studies in New York followed in the early 90's with Carl Allen and John Riley. As part of the Jim Hunt Quartet he was a finalist in the European Jazz Competion in Germany and he also worked in the Far East with Dave Newton as well as playing in Europe . He moved to London in 1996, made his first recording and his career took off. Steve has worked with many visiting American musicians since then and his other studio credits include albums with Stacey Kent, Dave Cliff, Alan Barnes and Dave Newton.

GIORGOS ANTONIOU, bass

FRIDAY MAY 16th
THE FRYER-BARNHART INTERNATIONAL ALL STAR JAZZ BAND At 8pm
Tickets £12 (Members £10)

Eighth visit for one of the most popular traditional bands on the UK jazz scene. First formed in 1998 the band continue to delight audiences during their annual tours. Led by the irrepressible duo from the USA, Jeff Barnhart on piano and Jim Fryer on trombone, the band features the cream of the Midlands jazz masters (plus Annie from Yorkshire!), an evening of top class entertainment not to be missed.

Personnel: Jeff Barnhart (USA), piano and vocals; Jim Fryer (USA), trombone and vocals; George Huxley, reeds; Gordon Whitworth, trumpet and vocals; Brian Mellor, banjo, guitar and vocals; Annie Hawkins, bass and Nick Ward, drums.

THURSDAY JUNE 5th
THE SWEDISH JAZZ KINGS with ROY WILLIAMS At 8pm
Tickets £12 (Members £10)  

Third visit for this classic jazz band from Sweden, last her in 2002. The band was formed in 1985 by Tomas Ornberg first as a studio band to recreate the music of Clarence Williams for American record producer Bob Erdos. Since then the band has united with several of Europe's top musicians to play classic jazz from the 1920's with Bent Persson acquiring a reputation as one of the finest exponents of the Louis Arnstrong style as set down in his CD compilations Louis Armstrong Hot Choruses Vol I & II. The band has toured extensively in Europe, Australia and Japan.

Personnel: Tomas Ornberg, clarinet and soprano saxophone; Bent Persson, trumpet and cornet; Roy Williams, trombone; Keith Durston, piano; Bo Juhlin, sousaphone and Olle Nyman, banjo and guitar.

Facilities at concerts include licensed bar, tea/coffee free of charge, club style & tiered seating.
Easy parking and level access to all facilities.
Seats unreserved (except large parties by arrangement), doors open 1 hour before start of concerts.
Hanley Castle High School is in Church End (cul-de-sac) off B4211 approximately 1 mile north of Upton-upon-Severn.

For membership details, tickets or advance reservations contact Paul Lawrence (Sec.)
Court Cottage, Lockeridge Lane, Upton-Upon-Severn, Worcester, WR8 0RP
TEL. 01684 593794

1.

Reduced price ticket for jazz concerts held during the year at monthly intervals - £2 off.

2.

Reduced price Upton Jazz Festival ticket - £2 off Day ticket or £3 off Weekend ticket (off advance prices).

3

Entry in 300 Club Draw with prizes of £50, 8 of £25 and 2 jazz CD's monthly PLUS STAR PRIZE of £100 at June and December draws.

4.

Regular newsletter giving details of concerts, results of 300 Club Draw and other local jazz events.

5.

Opportunity to attend the A.G.M. in January and have your say on the affairs of 'The Friends'.