Jazz musician Chris Ingham and folk musician Chris Wilbraham cast their expert eyes over the local music scene
JAZZ with Chris Ingham: cjr.ingham@outlook.com/www.chrisingham.co.uk
Friday, October 18
KING OF SWING: PETE LONG PLAYS BENNY GOODMAN (Diss Corn Hall, 7.30pm, £18, thecornhall.co.uk, 01379 652241) Acclaimed musical director of the Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra and one the country's most exciting clarinettists salutes the irresistible swing of Benny Goodman. With Chris Ingham (piano), Malcolm Creese (bass) and Richard Pite (drums).
Sunday, October 20
IVARS GALENIEKS MEMORIAL JAZZ JAM (Yalm Food Court, Norwich, 7.30pm, £6.50, norwichjazzclub@ gmail.com) In honour of the late, great Latvian bassist who was a stalwart of the East Anglian jazz scene, with the Simon Brown Trio and guests.
Wednesday, October 23
BRYAN CORBETT QUINTET (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £20, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) Sounds from classic Blue Note records with Bryan Corbett (trumpet/ flugelhorn), Chris Bowden (alto sax), Paul Deats (piano), Tom Hill (bass) and Andrew Wood (drums).
Thursday, October 24
JOSEPHINE DAVIS SATORI (Hidden Rooms, Cambridge, 6pm and 7.30pm, £15 & £20, cambridgejazz.org, 01223 514777) Dynamic ensemble led by award-winning saxophonist and composer Davis, weaving contemporary jazz with a hauntingly evocative folk influence. Also featuring Alcyona Mick (piano), Dave Whitford (bass) and Jay Davis (drums).
Friday, October 25
ALLISON NEALE QUARTET (Hunter Club Arts Centre, Bury, 7.30pm, £18, headhunterslive.org, 07799 650009) US-born, London-based saxophonist Allison Neale is a fine exponent of the melodic, West Coast style evoking the collaborations between altoist Paul Desmond and guitarist Jim Hall, with Colin Oxley (guitar), Jeremy Brown (bass) and Matt Fishwick (drums).
FOR THE DIARY
Sunday, October 27
JE SUIS SWING (Maddermarket Theatre Bar, Norwich, 7.30pm, £17.30, norwichjazzclub.co.uk) French and American standards with a Hot Club feeling featuring Julie Hewitt (vocals), David Rees (vocals), Zak Barrett (clarinet), Simon Hurley (guitar), Robert Ford (guitar), Andy Staples (bass), Simon Brown (piano), Alex Best (drums).
Friday, November 1
ELECTRIC ALCHEMY (St Peter’s By the Waterfront, Ipswich, 7.30pm, £17.30/£14.50, stpetersbythewaterfront. com) A dynamic fusion of classical, jazz, Indian and gypsy music with Marianne Olyver (acoustic and electric violin), Oliver Steggles (electric guitar), Tristan Stocks (vocals), Jeffery Wilson (saxophone), John Human (piano/keyboard), Jonathan Woolston (bass) and Sirishkumar Manj (table).
Friday-Sunday, November 8-24
CAMBRIDGE JAZZ FESTIVAL (Various venues in Cambridge,cambridgejazzfestival.info) Concerts, workshops, hangs, jams and more, for over two weeks. Highlights include Pat Metheny, Tim Garland’sLighthouse Trio & Britten Sinfonia and Dennis Rollins with the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra.
Sunday, November 10
PETE LONG SALUTES BENNY GOODMAN (Venue 16, Ipswich, 2.30pm, £15, ipswichjazzandblues.com) An electrifying romp through the classic Benny Goodman small group repertoire of the 1930s and early 40s, plus an opening set from FNY with Yula Andrews (vocal), Felix Serrano (guitar) and Neil Bateman (sax).
Wednesday, November 13
SIMON SPILLETT QUARTET (Stoke By Nayland Golf Club, 8pm, £20, fleecejazz.org.uk, 01787 211865) Reliably exciting hard bop from author/saxophonist Spillett with Rob Barron (piano), Alec Dankworth (bass),Pete Cater (drums).
FOLK with Chris Wilbraham: chris.wilbraham@tinyonline.co.uk
This week’s article comes from the pen of David Bartlett of Bury Folk Collective and Sound Tradition, a local a capella folk group with an international reputation:
Bert Jansch and the Gateway to Folk
I recently viewed a Danish documentary on YouTube , called Folksangere, about the 1967 London Folk scene. Interviews with guitarists in English, Danish voice-over, black and white. Brilliant footage. In one scene, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn are working on the later-to-be Pentangle track Bells. This may have been filmed in their Somali Road flat in Camden where they lived just upstairs from some other folk heroes of mine: Young Tradition. The flat is mayhem – a young woman sits nearby with a newspaper crossword; could she be Annie Briggs? Jansch’s fans include Neil Young, Jimmy Page and Johnny Marr. And rightly so. Some say he was a flawed genius. When interviewed he appears unforthcoming, hesitant, shy, even vulnerable. Although uncomfortable on stage, this solitary man wanted to express himself through his unique singing voice, creative guitarwork and engaging songwriting.
Bert’s original intention was to become a gardener. From apprentice nurseryman to guitar teacher he then started playing local clubs and eventually London beckoned. “Strolling down the highway, I’m going to get there my way” (Jansch 1965). It begs the question: what does lead people into the folk movement? Especially, perhaps, the shyer, younger ones. For me it was the history and the playing of Jansch’s close friend John Renbourn. I studied classical guitar and my teacher was a huge Renbourn fan. Trying to echo Renbourn’s technique, perhaps like Jansch, I needed a chance to express a shy inner self; to be creative behind a guitar, perform, play, sing and meet like-minded people. What about you? What is the way in? The folk portal may be likened to a barely visible garden gate; seldom opened, overgrown and easily passed by unnoticed. The flagging number of younger folk audiences is of growing concern. A project called ‘Access Folk’ has been set up to increase and diversify participation in folk singing in England. In a related survey among younger participants, the word ‘folklore’ was readily associated with Taylor Swift who released an album called Folklore in 2020. It’s an opening of sorts. Professor Fay Hield, who leads Access Folk, suggests the young are increasingly attracted by Morris dancing, the idea of ceremony, ancient Pagan festivals, folk festivals, and Midsummer celebrations. Their way in is through folklore; actual singing is less fashionable and has been dropped in most school curricula. The progressive Morris side Boss Morris, a favourite among younger fans, aims to increase social engagement and interest in dancing performing live at festivals and community events. Charlie Cooper’s Myth Country, a three-part investigation on BBC iPlayer into folk traditions, myths and legends, follows in the wake of programmes such as The Detectorists promoting the British countryside and its traditional folk charm. So all’s not lost. Bert is still rightly revered by many and perhaps some gardening’ is in progress to reveal the Folksong gateway to a younger audience. Let’s hope so.
Here are next week’s gigs:
Friday, October 18
Risbygate Sports Club, 8pm, Milkmaid Folk Club, Ray Cooper. £12.
Pakenham Church, 7pm, Lady Maisery, support from The Larks. £20.
Sudbury Arts Centre, 8pm, The Sam Chase Trio. £18.
Fisher Theatre, Bungay, 8pm, Terence Blacker. £15.
Wingfield Barns, 7.30pm, Jack Rutter. £14.
The Swan, Needham Market, 8pm, Causton and Walker.
Saturday, October 19
Locks Inn, Geldeston, 8pm, Songs of the Heron. £10.84.
Sunday, October 20
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 5-8pm. Folk session.
Monday, October 21
Colchester Arts Centre, 8pm, Jim Causley & Miranda Sykes: Ghosts, Werewolves & Countryfolk. £18.50.
Wednesday, October 23
John Peel Centre, Stowmarket, 7.30pm, Rona Mac. £6.
Friday, October 25
Wingfield Barns, 7.30pm, Hannah Scott. £14.
The Swan, Needham Market, 8pm, Jeremy Harmer.
