JaHezrtzs Club Sundays7.45pm Download edition Sept to Dec A jazz musician is a juggler ‘who uses harmonies instead of oranges. Benny Green ’ Herts Jazz has a long and rich history, stretching back to the late 1960s when regular presentations began at the legendary pub, The Bell, in Codicote. Distinguished local saxophonist Jimmy Skidmore’s quartet took up residence and were soon joined by a whole host of celebrated guest artists and groups, including Stan Tracey, Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott, each delivering the best of British jazz. As the club expanded from its simple beginnings, its reputation and guest list became Hawthorne Theatre and Studio is international, attracting American star guests ranging from Jimmy Witherspoon to Sonny Stitt. unique as a jazz venue offering: With its ever- burgeoning status, it was no surprise that the club • Performances in a comfortable, intimate space eventually outgrew its pub-jazz origins and up until 2009 it moved • Fully licensed bar with a range of alcohol from venue to venue whilst continuing to thrive. Matching this, the including real ales music presented was a similarly fluid mix of modern jazz styles, both imported and home-grown. The club also prided itself in giving early • Humphrey’s Coffee Shop serving an exposure to young British jazz musicians who would eventually grow assortment of Starbucks’ tea and coffee, and a to become some of the leading jazz lights of their generation, variety of snacks including Alan Barnes, Dave Newton, Gerard Presencer and Clark Tracey. Beloved by musicians and with a faithful, knowledgeable and • Ample free car parking next to the venue attentive audience, Herts Jazz became one of the best known gigs on the circuit, a fact that made its sudden and ironic end – in its 40th • Full disabled access year – all the more lamentable. D R L N L However, with an almost inevitable appropriateness, it fell to one of E W S G THE I the club’s best-loved artists to regenerate its fortunes and since 2010 D CAMPUS Herts Jazz has risen again under the watchful eye of Clark Tracey, HAWTHORNE THEATRE keen to upkeep this most valuable of musical continuums. At Campus ow to H RD E West, the club boasts not only an acoustically ideal performance IDG BRIDGE R BR D space and a sympathetic amplification system, but ample parking, a s 5 d u 9 1 n 0 licensed bar, food, disabled facilities and warm, friendly staff. fi B Y e 0 atr A he 0 T W e 1 orn D K R R th is CHURC A w a dio A H R H Y D P Stu E Although the venue may have changed, the guiding principle is the nd L a n Y y L D elw A A W R in V W same; to present the best in modern jazz, played by artists of world ted , K itua City R R s A n E e E rd P T class. A glimpse at the programme in the early months of 2011 gives Ga is N A A It Y . L e A hir s W d T r W o RD F evidence enough, boasting appearances by veteran campaigners like D rtf by T e le F O H N ib O A s R s R R e C c C O c Y O a , E G Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins and Brian Dee as well as new exciting 4 B ily L R s n R N a tio A S e B B c O n O (Ju L d t T voices such as Dylan Howe and Zoe Rahman. The vibrancy, diversity roa jus U il – R d ra M an O and rich creativity of jazz in the 21st century is well represented and in om R A1M) s fr E ute D a venue ideal for both performers and audience its accessibility has 25 min tion, ALE ss Sta s Cro on. never been greater. King Lond Simon Spillett Book your tickets online at www.hertsjazz.co.uk www.welhat.gov.uk/cw Hawthorne Theatre and Studio The Campus, Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL8 6BX Tel 01707 357117 All concerts start at 7.45pm Tickets unless stated otherwise: Herts £13 on the night £11 concessions / online £8 members JazzClub £5 students / under-21s Annual Membership: £40 single What’s On Sept to Dec Sundays 7.45pm £60 joint 11 September 9 October established himself as an Pete Ibbetsons drum Alan Skidmore Quartet Jure Pukl Quartet important talent, although he Described by the press as “a Alan Skidmore tenor Jure Pukl tenor does return to Britain on a regular precociously talented modern Steve Melling piano Jim Hart vibes basis. www.bennclatworthy.com jazz pianist who plays with Arnie Somogyi bass Michael Janisch bass spacious and fractious beauty – a Clark Tracey drums Herbert Pirker drums 6 November rising star”, we're delighted to Drawing on his earlier and chief Multi award winning Pukl is one of Steve Melling/ finally present Will at Herts Jazz in inspiration, John Coltrane, the most profilic and creative Clark Tracey Special a gig postponed from last season. Skidmore's full-throated tone, saxophonists of the younger Septet www.willbutterworth.com dazzling technique and sheer gut- Slovene jazz generation, working Steve Melling piano feel musicality makes him a most with artists such as Maceo Parker, Clark Tracey drums 4 December remarkable and exciting tenor Esperanza Spalding, Aaron Simon Allen alto Stan Tracey Quartet “A player who never fails to move and Goldberg, Jeremy Pelt and Dave O'Higgins tenor Child's Xmas” (Narrated lift an audience. orchestras like European Jazz Mark Armstrong trumpet by Ben Tracey) www.alanskidmore.info Orchestra, European Movement Martin Gladdish trombone Stan Tracey piano Tickets £16/£13/£10/£5 Jazz Orchestra and Vienna Geoff Gascoyne bass Simon Allen saxes Saxophone Quartet. Following a 30 year musical Andy Cleyndert bass 18 September www.jurepukl.com partnership, Steve and Clark Clark Tracey drums Gary Willcox Quartet formed this septet last year and Ben Tracey narrati on Gary Willcox drums 16 October released a CD this year with Performing his first compositions Chris Biscoe saxes Simon Spillett/Danny original compositions by its in 15 years, Stan Tracey CBE Alcyona Mick piano Moss Jr Quintet members. Strong material unveils his latest jazz suite, based Pat Bettison bass Simon Spillett tenor performed by a terrific line up on “A Child's Xmas In Wales” by Graduating from the Guildhall Danny Moss Jr bass ensures a great evening. Dylan Thomas. Coinciding with School of Music in 1995, Gary has John Critchinson piano www.stevemelling.co.uk the launch of their new CD, the since performed with Jim Mullen, Dave Chamberlain guitar Tickets £16/£13/£10/£5 quartet is joined by Stan's Stan Sulzmann, Iain Ballamy and Clark Tracey drums grandson, Ben Tracey, in Europe with Zsolt Bende. With Tour De Force Simon Spillett 13 November who will be narrating. this amazing group he plays tunes makes a welcome return to Herts Nigel Hitchcock Quartet www.stantracey.com by Monk, Ellington, Mingus plus Jazz, this time featuring Australian Nigel Hitchcock alto Tickets £16/£13/£10/£5 originals. www.myspace.com/ bassist Danny Moss Jr on a UK Graham Harvey piano garywillcox tour. With Dave Chamberlain Laurence Cottle bass 11 December switching from bass to guitar for Ian Thomas drums Stan Sulzmann's Neon 25 September this tour, they are also joined by One of the most gifted talents to Stan Sulzmann saxes Anita Wardell the eminent Critchinson and emerge in British jazz, Hitchcock Jim Hart vibes Anita Wardell vocals Tracey. www.simonspillett.com makes a welcome return to the Kit Downes piano/keys Robin Aspland piano English scene, having spent the Tim Giles sdrum Jeremy Brown bass 23 October last decade in Scotland. He brings Sulzmann is without question one Tristan Maillot drums Derek Nash Quartet with him regulars from his original of the most highly respected Award winning Anita Wardell Derek Nash saxes line up for what will be a superb musicians in the UK today, is noted for her vocal Dave Newton piano event in our calendar. admired by musicians and improvisations and her vocalese Geoff Gascoyne bass www.nigelhitchcock.com audiences for his instantly lyrics to instrumental solos. Anita Clark Tracey drums recognisable sound and is a musician who uses the voice Celebrating the release of his new 20 November boundless creative imagination. as her instrument, displaying quartet CD “Joyriding”, Derek is a Jean Toussaint Quartet Stan is a source of inspiration to precision and agility, mixed with member of the Jools Holland Jean Toussaint saxes many of Britain's emerging young heartfelt emotion. Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, has Andrew McCormack piano musicians. www.anitawardell.com led Sax Appeal for over thirty Larry Bartley bass www.stansulzmann.co.uk years, fronts the funk/fusion band Troy Miller drums 2 October Protect the Beat, and is a member Gifted, London-based US tenor 18 December Tommy Smith's Karma of the Ronnie Scott's Blues saxophonist Toussaint's enviable Xmas Party Tommy Smith tenor Explosion. www.dereknash.com CV includes stints with Art Art Themen, Bobby Wellins, Steve Hamilton keyboard Blakey's legendary Jazz Don Weller, Simon Spillett saxes Kevin Glasgow bass 30 October Messengers, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Newton piano Alyn Cosker drums Benn Clatworthy Quartet Max Roach and McCoy Tyner. His Arnie Som ogyi bass Leading Scottish saxophonist Benn Clatworthy saxes melodic post-bop approach and a Clark Tracey drums Tommy Smith takes Karma in a John Donaldson piano reedy tone cuts through and Our closer for the season brings new direction with a brand new Simon Thorpe bass illuminates the most hackneyed together some of the most band and new music focusing on Josh Morrison drums blues phrase.