CLAIRE MARTIN & JIM MULLEN/ RACHAEL CALLADINE/ SAMARA
And finally, we finish our Festival with a night of very old friends, who also happen to be some of the finest musicians in the UK. I first met Claire Martin as a young (very young!) singer back in the late 1980's, just before we moved to Lots Road. Clearly talented even then she has since developed in to one of the finest jazz vocalists to have come from this country in the last thirty years. Variously described as “..the outstanding voice of her generation” and “a born musician” this award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist has no less than four British Jazz Awards and 17 albums, including numerous “Best Album” choices, to her name. Her CV by now is too vast to list easily here, but it includes work with the likes of Kenny Barron and Bill Charlap as well as performances with the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the BBC Big Band and the BBC Concert Orchestra, and not forgetting her memorable duo with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett which lasted for many years until his untimely death in 2012. A consummate artist and performer Claire is a great and truly supportive friend of the Club and, with her husky, perfectly controlled voice, flawless time and impeccable taste she never fails to impress. Claire will be performing a duo with another old friend of the Club, the great guitarist Jim Mullen. A multi award winner (receiving a special Parliamentary Jazz Award in October of 2017), Jim is widely regarded as one of the finest Jazz guitarists in Europe. Originally from Glasgow he made his name playing with a number of seminal bands through the 70’s and 80’s including Brian Auger’s “Oblivion Express”, The Average White Band and his own highly acclaimed jazz/funk band “Morrissey-Mullen”. A highly prized sideman as well as leader Jim also includes work with the likes of Mose Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon, Georgie Fame and Gene Harris on a stellar CV. This will also feature electric bass virtuoso Laurence Cottle, best known for his high profile '80s session work with Eric Clapton, Sting and Black Sabbath. clairemartinjazz.co.uk/
Following on from them will be the enormously welcome return of singer Rachael Calladine, who was, for many years through the 90's and 2000's, a mainstay of the Groove and Latin nights here at the Club. A well known face on the UK jazz and soul scene Rachael established her credentials as one of the UK's top jazz and soul vocalists with numerous appearances at the likes of Ronnie Scott's, Pizza on the Park, the London Jazz Festival and the Jazz Cafe as well of course here at the Club. She is also well known to hip hop/jazz fans as the ex lead vocalist with the band Us3, with whom she toured Europe extensively. Since 2009 Rachael has been based in Dubai, where she continued to work at the highest level, including appearances at Dubai International Jazz Festival, Dubai World Cup, Taste of Dubai, The Chillout Festival and The Middle East Film Festival. As a songwriter Rachael has also had a healthy presence on iTunes for some time, with a catalogue of internationally released material, 3 solo albums and high profile compilations. Her association with the Club is a long one, including a lengthy stint as the lead singer with what is effectively the Club "house band", Samara, and it is with real delight that we welcome her to the last night of the Festival with her power band of Mike Gorman-piano, Winston Blissett-bass; Davide Giovannini-drums and Pete Eckford-percussion. Rachael has just told me that she is now settling back in the UK, so this promises to be the first of hopefully an ongoing series of concerts here at the Club that we can now expect from this very special singer.
And finally to Samara. Traditionally we like to end these Festivals with a set from this great Brazilian/Jazz Fusion band and tonight is no exception. The band features Liliana Chachian, considered to be one of the finest Brazilian vocalists currently working in Europe with an unerring gift for melody and phrasing, along with pianist Neil Angilley (Vanessa Mae, Shirley Bassey, “Down to the Bone”), bass player Dill Katz (Nucleus, Paraphernalia, District Six)and drummer Nic France (Dave Gilmore, Pink Floyd, Bill Withers) along with myself on flute and sax. The music is an infectious blend of Brazilian Samba, jazz/Latin and Soul, and everyone has a great time. And given Rachael spent so long performing with the band back in the day, I have a sneaking feeling we may end up with a Special Guest as well!
“Claire Martin...a meticulous blend of brilliant material and flawless craftsmanship New York Observer; “Jim Mullen…one of the great Jazz guitarists working today” Jazzwise; “great funky jazz singer Calladine” Time Out;“Samara….Cracking Latin-jazz quintet led by 606 proprietor Steve Rubie on flute and alto saxophone…explores….Latin jazz classics in great rhythmic style” Time Out; “Liliana has a glorious voice. Sensual, shapely and beguiling...” Guardian