This weekend is the final one of the season. Karen Sharp will be leading the last “Jazz on a Summer’s Day”. The quartet is made up of Karen Sharp on Saxes; Nikki Iles on Piano; Steve Brown on Drums and Dave Green playing Bass. All are well known to visitors of the stable, with international reputations.
Throughout the Music in the Garden season a life size picture of Sir John Dankworth has added something special to the events. He has looked on, with the smile that so many of us remember with affection. On Saturday he will look on as the rest of the family perform. Cleo, Alec, Jacqui, Emily and some friends will play their very own special tribute.
Unsurprisingly the concert sold out early. If you are going – have a great afternoon – if not – at 3pm – remember a great man, and rejoice in the fact that he has left a legacy, not only in his music – but in his talented family.
The penultimate Jazz on a Summer’s Day will feature the Mark Nightingale Quartet. Mark will be leading on the trombone – with Graham Harvey on piano; Laurence Cottle on bass and Ian Thomas on drums. Tantalisingly, the programme promises us “a special guest on Saxophone.
Mark started playing the trombone aged nine – and has played in the Midland and National Jazz Orchestras. He attended the Trinity College of Music. He has been described as “one of the busiest session-musicians on the London scene, but also become highly respected and sought after internationally as a jazz trombone soloist.”
There’s a website dedicated to trombones – with a page about Mark accessible here.
Tickets can be purchased via the Stables – the booking page can be reached here.
Apart from the excellent music, and some dancing – one of the delight’s of this year’s Music in the Garden has been the intros from Dame Cleo. I thought I’d video one of these – and got an added bonus – Dame Cleo dancing with a friend. Enjoy –
It was sunny, but not too hot, at the first performance of Sunday afternoon. Sadly, due to teaching and other commitments, I wasn’t able to attend the garden last weekend or this Saturday – so it was especial anticipation that I awaited the Black Umfolosi 5. Fantastic voices – some superb dancing (and the ladies seemed to like the “topless” gumboot dance”
I was able to take some videos of the audience singing and clapping along.
Sunday looks to be a first class day in the garden – and I’m looking forward to the afternoon there. The first session features the world famous acappella and dance group from Zimbabwe, the Black Umfolosi 5. There is some excellent background information about the group on the Stables website.
The group’s website can be accessed here. You should visit the page of videos as a taster. The “Gumboot Dance” is very popular.
Tickets for the concert (£12) can be ordered here.
The term “Dixieland” applies to a particular style of jazz – is the generic name for the confederate states of the South – and according to Richard Cook’s “Jazz Encyclopedia” the name originally referred to the estate of slave trader Jonathan Dixie. [other theories say the name came from the British born surveyor Jeremiah Dixon – who with Charles Mason defined the northern boundary of the “South” by the famous Mason-Dixon line; whilst the 10 dollar notes (dix – it was a french speaking area!) privately issued by banks in southern Louisiana [New Orleans] area are said by some to be the reason why that area become nicknamed “Dixieland”].
On Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm the Dixieland Allstars will be performing at “Music in the Garden”. Led by Enrico Tomasso (trumpet) the Allstars include Roy Williams (trombone), Trevor Whiting (clarinet & tenor sax) Nils Solberg (guitar), Colin Good (piano), Jerome Davies (bass) and Richard Pite (drums). It has been written of them – “They play tunes associated with Louis Armstrong, Eddie Condon, Jack Teagarden, Bix Beiderbecke and Muggsy Spanier. But not only that, the group also play pieces from other jazz favourites – all done in their ‘jam session’ style – almost more reminiscent of a jazz club than a concert. They call it Dixieland but whatever you want to call it, it swings and will make your feet tap while putting a smile on your face.”
This coming Saturday the 11.30 jazz session features a tribute to Sir John Dankworth by American jazz instrumentalist Bob Wilber. Bob plays clarinet, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone and tenor saxophone. He was taught by Sidney Bechet – and has played with Eddie Condon; Benny Goodman as well as Bechet.
The quartet also includes Richard Busiakiewicz (piano), Dave Green (bass) and Bobby Worth (drums).
There is a very interesting interview Wilber gave in 1998 which can be accessed here.
Tickets ( £11 in advance, £12 on the door – or a day ticket for £20 which includes the afternoon session with the Dixieland Allstars) can be ordered here.
Two of the great Twentieth Century violinists, Yehudi Menuhin & StéphaneGrappelli, will be remembered in Sunday afternoon’s concert. Peter Fisher & Chris Garrick will be revisiting some of the pieces that Menuhin & Grappelli’s jazz collaboration produced – including Jealousy, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square and Lady Be Good.
Peter Fisher is internationally renowned. He has a long connection with the Stables and the Dankworth family. John Dankworth composed his piece Mariposas for Peter’s Wigmore Hall debut in 1996. Chris Garrick attended Wavendon music camps and is now regarded as one of the most exciting young violinists. His website is accessible here.
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