New Year's Jazz.

I'm still recovering - last night we went to our Jazz Club at The Red Lion, Isleworth. It was something of a struggle to get there - the weather is extremely cold and frosty and I wasn't too well.

But part of the reason we went was to see old friends, exchange some late Christmas cards and wish everyone a Happy New Year. It was nice.

Trevor Tomkins was on Drums as usual. You can't see much of him here but far right is Ross Stanley and acclaimed keyboards player and in demand accompanist and session player.

Playing Sax is Dave Lewis and doing it quite dreamily too. next to him is Jim Mullen (of Kokomo, Morrisey/Mullen and Average White Band fame) in good form on the guitar. 

I was struggling with the photos - it was a bit too crowded to get close enough.

And it hurt!

But we made it home through the frost, even if I've had to pay for it later.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

At the Red Lion with Lisa and Courtney.

On Monday we were back at The Red Lion, Isleworth for some of my favourite players;

On the far right is Ross Stanley on keyboards. You rarely see him on my photos because he plays in the corner. He's a regular at Ronnie Scott's in his own right and very much in demand as a session musician for the big names, when they are in town.

Dave Green is one of my favourite bassists while Trevor Tomkins is hidden away on drums.

I'm not a fan of the trombone in jazz, played here by Mark Nightingale, it usually means the music is 'traditional' and that's not me.

On saxophone we had the amazing Stan Sulzman, described by the BBC at the moment as 'legendary', because he's due to do a BBC Radio 3 recording in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, as it's in Scotland we can't make it.

We spent the evening wit Lisa and Courtney, Robyn's friends from Philadelphia and then it was time to say goodbye - here's Robyn's selfie from the station;



Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Ed Jones in full flight.

I like this photo, it's Ed Jones full of action on the saxophone at The Red Lion Jazz club. We don't see him often but he plays a fine Sax when he comes round!

We had another good night; Trevor Tomkins on drums, Dick Pearce on trumpet, Simon Thorpe on bass and the incomparable Ross Stanley on keyboards.

It's an early start tomorrow morning for us - we're off to St. Peter's Hospital to join the picket line for the Junior Doctors.

I hope you will show your support for this cause too.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Christmas Jazz.

This week we went to our Jazz club for the last time before Christmas. Christmas cards were handed out and we gave two special friends some home made ginger beer to sya thank you.

It was a lovely night with a Christmas tree in the corner of the pub and everyone in a happy mood.

We had a tight four piece - this is Mike Coates on Sax;

Jim Mullen was in fine form on Jazz Guitar - he's a big name on a number of scenes - he's a session musician has played with some big Funk bands and has a jazz pedigree too.

My friends make fun of me - he has a habit of inserting little segments of other songs into what he's playing.

Musicians respect the cleverness of it, everyone in the room thinks it's neat; it drives me mad.

Just to pull my leg, Robyn kept a tally; Jim put 30 'quotes' into songs during the evening.

Normally I'd be irritated but tonight I was just mellow.

There was 'The Christmas Song' and 'White Christmas.

Ross Stanley exchanged his normal keyboards for an electric organ - he just hit those notes so well. Trevor Tomkins was just fine on drums.

As I said, it was a good night.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Stan Sulzman at the Red Lion, Isleworth.

After another really frustrating day when the phone didn't ring we needed to escape. We went to The Red Lion in Isleworth for some Jazz.

In the corner here on drums is Trevor Tomkins, on Bass Alec Dankworth while on Keyboards is Ross Stanley;

All three are very highly regarded musicians in their own right; all three are busy session players, regulars at Ronnie Scotts and appear on numerous CD's.

The main reason I was there was for Stan Sulzman, a very fine saxophonist, he always cheers me up;

But my problems are starting to mount up and my heart wasn't really in it.

Still a good night - it's hard to be sad when you're listening to good music with friends.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me; neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Monday, Monday.

After a Soho Sunday spent with 'Smooth Jazz', we were back to normal on Monday night at our Jazz Club; The Red Lion Isleworth.

 

You couldn't say that these three were anything but smooth either; on Drums Trevor Tomkins, Bass Dave Green and the incomparable Ross Stanley on Keyboards.

 

Ross is a regular at Ronnie Scotts and top of the list as a London session player.

 

Dave Green is probably my favourite bass player while T.T.? he's just great.

  

 

The main attraction for me was Stan Sulzman on the Sax - as good as ever and very inventive playing 'Laura'.



 

 

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 



Stan Sulzman at the Red Lion.

 

 

Monday came and I hurt my back again. I just about made it to my jazz club at the Red Lion. It certainly hurt, unlike the music.

 

Mark Nightingale was late; his car broke down. I didn't mind because the trombone isn't my favourite jazz instrument even though mark plays it well.

 

I also prefer quartets - it's just me.

 

Anyway, who could resist Stan Sulzman? He's a fine saxophonist and with Ross Stanley on Keyboards you have a world class group; Ross is a world famous session player and accompanist with his own quartet.

 

Alec Dankworth on bass with Trevor Tomkins on drums made for a fine evening, even if for me all the fun was in the first half.

 

My back? That bad news is going to mess up everything but that can wait for tomorrow.

 

Neil harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

 

Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

Chilling.

That’s Jazz!

Monday night. Chilling with Charley Parker and Horace Silver and a premier line up of musicians from Britain and the States.

 

This is Stan Sulzman from America, a big man who plays a very delicate saxophone.

 

And that’s Quentin Collins, the renowned trumpeter playing flugelhorn.

As if that wasn’t enough, on keyboards was Ross Stanley a constant feature on the London jazz scene and a busy accompanist and session player. On the back row Trevor Tompkins on Drums and Dave green on bass.

Nice night.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

The Doctors prescription pad.

Monday night not so well, not so happy.

I needed to book myself an appointment at the Jazz Doctors.

Mmmmh this could be serious – what started off as a complaint has turned into a condition. Doctor, what can I do?

I went to my jazz club. I was even early – but so was everyone else. It was packed.

 

Not in shot was Ross ’12 gigs a week’ Stanley on keyboards – star of Ronnie Scotts, many bands and countless session jobs around London. He was on great form.

On guitar – Nigel Price

 

The only Jazz guitarist I can stand – the only one who actually understands how the instrument works in jazz.

Vasilis Xenopoulos on Sax was great, all night long.

 

Trevor Tomkins drums and Steve Watts bass combined perfectly with Ross or Nigel in the quiet, cool sections.

‘Gentle Rain’ was one of those and was as smooth as the title suggests while ‘The Groove Merchant’ just grooved.

It got better and better.

The Nigel Price composition ‘Straight, No bounce’ was a mixture of Thelonious Monk’s ‘Straight No Chaser’ and Charlie Parker’s ‘Billy’s Bounce’ ending up with what was really just a boppy mash-up.

Moanin’ by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (Mmmmmh) and Dizzy Gillespie’s Groovin’ High were great. There were a number of standards in between – it all added up to a really great night – just what the Doctor ordered.

I wrote these notes down on a Cancer Research notepad I had with me. It had ‘Every Moment Counts’ at the top of each page. Gedddit? I did.

Click on a picture for a slideshow and better quality pictures.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:    helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Nitrous oxide.

Monday night and I’ve dragged myself to The Red Lion, Isleworth. Apart from trying to see Ginge the Cat I’m there for the first of three fantastic weeks of jazz, three of the best line-ups of the year.

Tonight there was Ross ‘twelve gigs a week’ Stanley, on keyboards, Trevor Tomkins on Drums and Andrew Cleyndert on Bass. On the front line we had Stan Sulzman on Sax:

And Tim Hart on vibes;

The first number lasted 20 minutes the second 10. After half an hour of thoughtful reflective stuff, Tim Hart fired up his Vibraphone for the third. Hit the nitrous oxide!

We ranged through Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk with a fast blues to finish at the end of the evening. I love Parker’s Amous Amouche which I know well but have never been able to spell.

Look at those hands blurring;

 
Next week apart from an impressive list of musicians, the great Art Themen is on Sax. He plays every three months and every time I catch him it’s a big deal for me – those nights count off some tough periods I’ve got through.

Next Monday is going to be just about the toughest so far for me, and by coincidence it’s Art Themen night again. So I’m particularly looking forward to getting myself to the club, whatever happens.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)