CONCERTS AUGUST to DECEMBER 2009 - AT HANLEY CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 12th THE BOB WILBER/ROSSANO SPORTIELLO QUARTET
At 8pm inc. DAVE GREEN and STEVE BROWN
Tickets £14 (Members £12)

Photo: Paul Dunleavy

Bob Wilber, clarinet, saxes; born 1928 New York City . After studying clarinet as a child he began leading his own band and while still a teenager became a student of Sidney Bechet. He recorded with Bechet, grew adept on the soprano saxophone and was clearly at home in a traditional jazz setting. During the late fifties and on through the sixties Bob played and recorded with distinguished leaders such as Bobby Hackett, Benny Goodman, Sidney Bechet, Jack Teagarden and Eddie Condon. At the close of the sixties, at this time playing alto saxophone, he became one of the original members of The World's Greatest Jazz Band. In the early seventies he teamed up with Kenny Davern to form Soprano Summit, a band that brought him to the attention of new audiences worldwide. This group stayed in existence until 1979 and soon afterwards he formed the Bechet Legacy Band, recording extensively, often on his own record label, Bodeswell.

Active in jazz education, Bob has also been musical Director of the Smithsonian Jazz Repertory Ensemble, the house band for some of the Duke Ellington Conventions and has written for films, most notably the recreation of Ellington's music for The Cotton Club (1984). He continued leading his Bechet Legacy Band throughout the eighties, making records including a fine set which set out to recapture the essence of the King Oliver Band, and accompanying his wife, singer Joanne ‘Pug' Horton. He also recreated a Benny Goodman band for anniversary performances of the legendary 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert and published his autobiography Music Was Not Enough (in collaboration with Derek Webster). He re-united with Kenny Davern in the nineties for concert appearances including memorable performances for ‘The Friends' in Upton in 1993 and 1995 at Hanley Castle High School . Bob last appeared in Upton in August 2006 at The Memorial Hall leading a Quintet including his one time local pupil Nik Payton, now resident in Brazil and an accomplished musician in his own right.

Rossano Sportiello, piano; born 1974 Vigevano, Italy, Rossano graduated from the Italian Conservatory and began his musical career at the age of 18 by joining the Milano Jazz Gang, one of Europe's historic bands. Even before the French Institution, L'Academie du Jazz recognised his work on solo piano as the ‘Prix du Jazz Classique 2005' or magazines such as Jazz Classique and Jazz Hot printed rave reviews about him, he was an emerging talent on the international jazz scene. An accomplished stride pianist, he grew up listening to Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller and Ralph Sutton, whom he met shortly before the elder's death. However his pianistic style also pays homage to the swing and bop eras. He cites Earl Hines, Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell, Tommy Flanaghan, Ellis Larkins, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans as a few of his influences. Rossano has performed with many of the world's finest jazz luminaries such as Scott Hamilton, Gerry Mulligan, Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Ken Peplowski, Jake Hanna, Dick Hyman, Dan Barrett and Rebecca Kilgore.

Now resident in New York , he regularly makes tours to Europe and highlights include the 2006 ‘International Stride Piano Summit' in Germany with Dick Hyman, Chris Hopkins and Bernd Lhotzky, as well as performances at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland , the Nairn Festival in Scotland and the Norwich Jazz Party, England . In the USA he has played at New York area venues such as Town Hall, Lincoln Centre and the United Nations, at the ‘March of Jazz Party' at Clearwater Beach , Florida and the San Diego Jazz Party. His solo piano recordings include In the Dark , Piano on My Mind and Heart and Soul . In 2007 he also recorded People Will Say We're In Love with vocalist/bassist Nicki Parrrott. Rossano received a rapturous reception at his first visit to Hanley Castle High School in September 2008 in the company of Simon Thorpe and Steve Brown. Photo: Rossano Sportiello/Steve Brown/Simon Thorpe at Hanley Castle High School September 2008

Dave Green, bass; born London 1942, he started on tea-chest bass in local skiffle groups before buying his first double bass at fifteen. Local gigs followed, often with neighbour Charlie Watts and trumpeter Brian Jones. Turning professional in 1963 he worked with Keith Ingham and with multi-instrumentalist Pete Shade. He then joined the Don Rendall Quintet until 1969, by which time it had become the Don Rendall-Ian Carr Quintet. In 1964 he worked with Benny Goodman on TV and in 1965 he joined Humphrey Lyttelton remaining with the band for eighteen years, but managing to combine playing with Stan Tracey and accompanying visiting American musicians. He left Humph in 1983 but continued to work with Tracey into the nineties. He has worked with many musicians in all styles of jazz and is currently playing in the Big Chris Barber Band. Add to this his tours with Charlie Watts to the USA, Brazil and Japan, his being part of the Scott Hamilton Quartet for the last fifteen years and it's easy to see why he has become one of the most respected bass players in the world. Has played many times in various groups at ‘Friends' concerts over the years.

Steve Brown, drums; born Manchester 1968, he started playing drums at age fifteen and has become one of the most sought-after drummers in the country. He studied in New York in the early nineties with Carl Allen and John Riley and played some dates with Harry Allen. As part of the Jim Hunt Quartet he was a finalist in the European Jazz Competition in Germany . He also worked in the far east with Dave Newton, as well as playing in Spain and France . He moved to London in 1996, made his first recording the same year and his career took off. He has worked with almost every major British artist and accompanied many visiting American musicians including Kenny Davern, George Masso and Warren Vache. In addition to being part of Scott Hamilton's Quartet since 2000 he is a member of John Bunch's British Trio and has recorded albums with both these groups. His other studio credits include recordings with Stacey Kent, Dave Cliff, Dave Newton and various Alan Barnes groups for Alan's Woodville label.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25th THE KEN PEPLOWSKI/ALAN BARNES QUINTET
At 8pm inc. JOHN PEARCE, ALEC DANKWORTH & MARTIN DREW
Tickets £14 (Members £12)

Photo: Paul Dunleavy

Ken Peplowski, clarinet, saxes; born Cleveland , Ohio 1959. ‘When you grow up in Cleveland playing in a Polish polka band you learn to think fast on your feet' says Ken, who played his first pro engagement when still in elementary school. Ken and his trumpet playing brother, Ted, made many local radio and TV appearances and played for Polish dances and weddings virtually every weekend all through high school. By the time he was in his early teens he was experimenting with jazz by playing in the school ‘stage' bands and also by jamming with local jazz musicians. After a year at college, Ken joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Tommy Morrow, learning the discipline that goes with playing one-nighters every day for 48 weeks of the year. He also met Sonny Stitt during this time, studied with him and described him as an inspiration to all who make a living on the road. In 1980 Ken moved to New York and was soon playing in all kinds of settings from Dixieland to avant-garde jazz. In 1984 Benny Goodman came out of retirement with a new band hiring Ken to play tenor sax. He says ‘I love all kinds of music, if something interests me I try to put my own spin on it without thinking or worrying about playing in any particular style. Basically I like a challenge, I'm a sucker for a good melody and I love playing for audiences big or small'. And he has certainly achieved these goals, be it in small clubs, the Hollywood Bowl, headlining in Las Vegas, the Newport Jazz Festival, European festivals or at home in NYC doing everything from playing on the soundtracks to Woody Allen movies to taking the role of music director for interactive French and Italian cookbooks (‘Menus and Music').

Photo: Paul Dunleavy

Alan Barnes, clarinet, saxes; born Altrincham 1959. Started on clarinet at age twelve and studied at Leeds College of Music from 1977 until 1980, before moving to London . Played in The Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1981 to 1983 as well as appearing with The Midnight Follies Orchestra. Joined Tommy Chase Quartet for three years from 1983 and worked with Bob Wilber's Big Band including at the Nice Festival. In 1988 joined the Humphrey Lyttelton Band for five year spell and at the same time worked with the Pizza Express Modern Jazz Sextet. Freelanced with various groups in the nineties including co-leading quintet with Bruce Adams which continues to this day. He continues to lead his own quartet, work in duo with Dave Newton and lead his own larger groups as well as a longstanding association with writer/lyricist Alan Plater, which has produced a number of shows and recordings including Beiderbeck and All That Jazz!, Songs for Unsung Heroes and The Seven Ages of Jazz . Early in 2000 he toured the USA for ten weeks as part of his friend Warren Vache's eleven piece band. Never one to be idle he also now runs his own recording label, Woodville Records, on which he has produced a number of critically acclaimed albums.

John Pearce, piano; born Essex 1944. Had classical piano lessons from the age of eight until fifteen and became interested in jazz as a twelve year old. He played his first gigs locally in Essex before turning professional in 1968 working in Geraldo's Navy aboard the Carmania and then joined the QE2 for her maiden voyage to New York in 1969. He had a long association with the liner and accompanied an array of cabaret artistes. From 1975 to 1985 John was a member of the Ray Ellington Quartet and during the same period became a regular session player working with the BBC Radio Orchestra, Jack Parnell's Orchestra, Robert Farnon, Billy May as well as touring with the James Last Orchestra. His jazz work has taken him all over the world and he has accompanied a multitude of instrumentalists and singers including Kenny Davern, Warren Vache, Anita O'Day and Peggy Lee. He has been a member of Scott Hamilton's Quartet since 2000 and is one of the countries most respected and versatile musicians.

Alec Dankworth, bass; born London 1960. At age seventeen studied bass at Berklee College , Boston , USA. In 1980 he joined the Cleo Laine/John Dankworth Quintet touring the USA, Australia and Europe. A collaboration with sister Jacqui Dankworth has encompassed tours of Hawaii, the Far East and Beirut. Alec joined Van Morrison in 1995 touring USA and Europe and recording three albums and in 1998 joined the Dave Brubeck Quartet performing Quartet, Pops and Choral concerts in USA and in UK. In 1999 played the New Orleans Heritage Festival, Carnegie Hall. a live webcast from Birdland Jazz Club, New York and a European tour with Dave Brubeck. In 2001 left the Brubeck Quartet and is now based in London working again with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine and the Tina May Quartet. Formed his own trio in 2002 featuring Phil Robson, guitar and Julian Arguelles, saxes, an acoustic trio performing an eclectic mixture of originals and standards.

Martin Drew, drums; born Northampton 1944. Started out on drums at age six, playing his first professional engagement at thirteen. Studying with the late George Fierstone gave him a solid and technical background that has proved invaluable over the years and which he still strives to improve on. He is recognised as a dedicated, experienced and respected musician constantly in demand to play with the world's leading musicians. He played with the late Ronnie Scott for twenty years from 1975 to 1995 and from 1974 to 2004 toured and recorded in Canada, USA, South America, Japan, Australia and Europe with the legendary piano genius Oscar Peterson, sharing the stage at various times with Joe Pass, Niels Pederson, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Clark Terry, Ella Fitzgerald and many other stars of the jazz world. His current projects include The New Jazz Couriers paying tribute to the music of Tubby Hayes, Michael Brecker, Ronnie Scott, Victor Feldman, Jimmy Deuchar and Clark Terry.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31st THE SAMMY RIMINGTON INTERNATIONAL BAND
At 8pm Tickets £12 (Members £10)

Photo: Brian Felgate

Sammy Rimington has dedicated his life to playing New Orleans music. He started playing professionally 49 years ago at age eighteen when he joined Ken Colyer's Jazzmen. Since then he can be heard on a staggering 140 LP's and more than 100 CD's and has performed and recorded with many of the great names in New Orleans style jazz including George Lewis who was his friend and teacher, Percy and Willie Humphrey, Doc Cheatham and Henry Red Allen. In 1965 Sammy toured with the legendary December Band with Kid Thomas, Jim Robinson, Capt. John Handy and Sammy Penn and he was a member of Louis Nelson's New Orleans All Stars who toured Japan in 1987, 1988 and 1989. He formed his own band in 1979 performing since then at festivals and clubs in Europe and USA . A many times visitor to ‘Friends' concerts in Upton-upon-Severn .

Personnel: Sammy Rimington, clarinet, saxes; Fredrik John ( Sweden ), trombone; Emile Van Pelt (Holland), piano; Eric Webster, banjo; Keith Minter, drums; Trefor Williams, bass .

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20th THE PETE ALLEN JAZZ BAND
At 8pm Tickets £12 (Members £10)

Pete Allen Jazz Band at Breda International Jazz Festival 2008

Pete Allen is regarded as one of Europe 's most talented and exciting masters of the clarinet. In 1976 he joined Rod Mason's band and two years later formed his own professional band. As a boy Pete grew up with jazz and studied the music of the all time great players, especially American legend Ed Hall. Over the years Pete has appeared on many radio and TV shows and for over five years presented his own jazz programme for BBC radio. The band also made thirty appearances for ‘Pebble Mill at One' for BBC television. He has topped the bill in those magical homes of jazz in the USA , St. Louis , Sacremento and of course, New Orleans , where he was awarded Honorary Citizenship for his services to jazz music. In the mid- eighties he was chosen to lead the Worldwide All Stars at the Jazz Jubilee in Sacremento. More recently he has been selected to play for the European Top Eight Jazz Band in Germany on a number of occasions.

Personnel: Pete Allen, clarinet, saxes, vocals; Ken Reece, trumpet; Graham Woodhouse, trombone; George Cooper, piano; Richie Burns, drums; Neil Burns, guitar/banjo; John Benson, bass.

SATURDAY DECEMBER12th GRESTY/WHITE RAGTIMERS
At 8pm-11.30pm CHRISTMAS PARTY including buffet supper served 8.50pm
Tickets £16 (Members £14)

Upton Jazz Festival 2008

Originally formed in 1985 to pay tribute to the great Muggsy Spanier the band has broadened its repertoire to play jazz from the golden age of Dixieland to become one of the most popular bands on the club, concert and festival circuit in the UK . In addition recording for the New Orleans based Jazzology label has led to numerous appearances at jazz festivals in the USA and an early appearance at the Nice International Jazz Festival led to invitations to play throughout Europe . After playing as guest with the band, renowned US Dixieland trumpeter Wild Bill Davison's comment was ‘Geez, these guys have got it!' The band has been a frequent visitor to Upton festivals since its inception and has appeared at ‘Friends' concerts in 2007 and 2008 with guest pianist from the USA John Royen.

Personnel: Alan Gresty, trumpet; Brian White, clarinet; Geoff Cole, trombone; Goff Dubber, reeds; Colin Bray, piano; Tony Bagot, bass; John Petters, drums.

Facilities at concerts include licensed bar, tea/coffee free of charge, club style & tiered seating (except Christmas Party – all at tables).
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 (WR8 0BL) 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