Moray Jazz Club

Great evening with the House Band and the wonderful Pamela Nairn. Colin Henderson [Alto and Baritone Sax], Graeme Nairn[ Guitar], David  Swann [Bass Guitar], Nigel Mackenzie [Drums] and Pamela Nairn [Vocals]

Wide ranging numbers tonight including- ‘Out of nowhere’, ‘I love being here with you’, Lulu’s back in town’, ‘Turn the tables on me’, ‘Sir Charles Dawston’s robins nest’, ‘Like someone in love’, ‘Mucho besame’, ‘Dream your troubles away’, ‘Will you still be mine?’, ‘My funny valentine’, ‘Always true to you in my way’, ‘Let’s settle down’, ‘Dont get around much anymore’, ‘They can’t take that away from me’ and ‘Got to take a sentimental journey home’.

Lovely music but minus Colin’s flute playing, hope you get it fixed soon.

Colin Henderson- Baritone and Alto Sax & Flute, Jon Hall -Keyboard, David Swann- Double Bass, Nigel Mackenzie- Drums

Great evening of jazz standards and humour thrown in for free.  The House Band were on form with a superb sound much appreciated by the audience.

I should care (Sammy Kahn)

Blue bossa (Kenny Doran)

Day by day (Axel Stordahl)

Bemsha swing (Thelonious Monk)

The gravy waltz (Ray Brown)

Softly as the morning sunrise (Sigmund Romberg)

Yesterdays (Jerome Kern)

I’m beginning to see the light (Duke Ellington)

Young and foolish(0 (Albert Hague)

Pick yourself up (Jerome Kern)

Stella by starlight (Victor Young)

My foolish heart (Victor Young)

There will never be another you (Chet Baker)

Israel ( John Carisi)

Bye bye blackbird (Ray Henderson)

 

Matthew Kilner(Tenor Sax), Neil Birse (Keyboard), Pete Lowit(Double Bass) and Fraser Peterkin (Drums).

Well, what an evening of jazz! It was an absolute delight to see these musicians after such a long absence and to be treated to an evening of superb music. Although Matthew quite rightly said they had not played as a band before, this did not matter one jot as their musicianship was of such quality you would think they had been playing together for decades. There was such an easygoing understanding between them that complimented a sharpness and focus especially in solo sections. All four seemed to be on fire, performing live post Covid was like a release of pent up jazz expressionism.  The audience were truly appreciative and look forward to their return.

Solar (Miles Davis)

Some time ago (Bill Evans)

Mr Night (John Coltrane)

Secret love (Sammy Fain)

Polkadots and moonbeams(Jimmy Van Heusen)

Impressions (John Coltrane)

Some day my prince will come (Larry Morey)

Speak low play high (Kurt Weill)

Niama (John Coltrane)

Maiden voyage (Herbie Hancock)

If I should lose you (Ralph Rainger)

Nothing personal (Ron Groblich)

 

We welcomed back tonight our House Band with Colin Henderson [ Alto and Baritone Sax and flute], Graeme Nairn [Guitar], Jon Hall [Keyboard], Nigel Mackenzie [Drums] and Dave Swan [Bass Guitar].

The Band played a number of classics from jazz greats such as Sigmund Romberg, George Gershwin, George Benson, Dave Bailey, Fred Coots, Cole Porter and  Karl Snessdorf. Great evening, many thanks fellas.

The House Band welcomed three guest musicians this evening- James Steele [ Alto and Baritone Saxophone], David Swann[Bass] and Nigel McKenzie [Drums]. Joining them were stalwarts Graeme Nairn [Guitar] and Jon Hall [Keyboard].

A superb evening of diverse music ranging from some classic jazz standards through to one or two unfamiliar numbers. There was a really great tonal quality from these musicians with the rhythm section gelling well with guitar and saxophone.  James Steele is an exciting saxophonist who puts a very personal stamp on his music, we look forward to seeing more of him at MJC.

1 ‘Autumn Leaves’ [Joseph Kosma] 1945

2 ‘Round Midnight’ [Thelonious Monk] 1944

3 ‘Bluesette’ [Toots Thielemans] 1962

4 ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ [Ray Henderson] 1924

5 ‘This I dig for you’ [Hank Mobley] 1960

6 ‘Lover Man’ [Jimmy Davis] 1944

7 ‘Hackensack’ [Thelonius Monk] 1965

8 ‘In walked Bud’ – after Bud Powell [Thelonius Monk] 1947

9 ‘Take Five’ [ Dave Brubeck] 1959

10 ‘ Black Orpheus’ [Luis Bonfa] 1948

11’The saga of Harrison Crabfeathers [Steve Kuhn] 1972

12 ‘Misty’  solo Graeme Nairn [Erroll Garner] 1954

13 ‘Have you met Miss Jones?’ [Richard Rodgers] 1937

14 ‘Equinox’ [John Coltrane] 1960

15 ‘Nardis’ [Miles Davis] 1958

16 ‘Billy’s Bounce’ [Charlie Parker] 1945

 

Live music returned to Moray Jazz Club on Thursday 16^th September, what a relief and an absolute joy to welcome back MJC House Band led by the wonderful Colin on Baritone and Alto Saxophone and flute. Colin was joined by Graeme on guitar, Jon on keyboard, Bill on bass guitar and a warm welcome to new drummer/percussion- Duncan.

The Club members and visitors really appreciated the commitment the band made to go live after only several rehearsals and for Duncan to step in at short notice. It made us all realise how much we had missed live music, the banter and ribbing; it all put a smile on our faces. Colin & Co played a great variety of jazz standards including:

‘I should care’ [Axel Stordahl & Paul Weston]

‘Favela’ [Antonio Carlos Jobim]

‘Bags Groove’ [Milt Jackson]

‘I hear a raphsody’ [Fragos,Baker & Gasparre]

‘The gravy waltz’ [Ray Brown]

‘Polkadots and moonbeams’ [Bill Evans]

‘It’s you or no one’ [Dexter Gordon]

‘Chucho’  [Paquito de Rivera]

‘If I should lose you ‘ [Chet Baker]

‘Some day my prince will come’ [Miles Davis]

‘Black Nile’ [Wayne Shorter]

‘Time after time’ [Chet Baker]

‘Have you met Miss Jones?’ [Richard Rodgers]

We look forward to the coming weeks with our House Band stalwarts and guest musicians from Aberdeen and beyond.

Good to welcome back  some familiar faces and friends of MJC as a quartet. With Brian Keddie(Trombone), Colin Black (Acoustic guitar), Bryan Chalmers (Bass guitar) and Finlay Grant (Drums), we knew we would be in for a great evening of music.

‘Killer Joe’ [ Benny Golson] ; ‘There will never be another you’[Harry Warren   ];  ‘Gentle rain’ [ Luiz Bonfá]; ‘Naima’ [John Coltrane];  ‘Stompin at the Savoy’ [ Edgar Sampson]; ‘Waves’ [Antonio  Carlos Jobim ];   ‘’Moonlight in Vermont’ [ Karl Suessdorf and John M. Blackburn ];  ‘Favela’ [  Antônio Carlos Jobim ]; ‘Witchcraft’ [ Cy Coleman ]; ‘Stella by starlight’ [ Victor Young]; ‘ Midnight Blues’ [Kenny Burrell].

A great evening of music with the return of the Elaine Crichton Trio. We have not seen Elaine since last August when she brought along a young talent on the keyboard by the name of  Neil Birse. What a revelation Neil has been, returning to MJC on no less than six occasions. Elaine and Neil were accompanied on Double Bass by the perennial and  superb  Pete Lowit. All three were a showcase in how a trio can work seamlessly.

Elain took us on a musical journey via the ‘Elaine Crichton Songbook’ with a wonderful and diverse mix of songs including: ‘you’ll going to hear from me’ [André Previn]; ‘You don’t know what love is’[Gene De Paul]; ‘Love me or leave me’(Walter Donaldson]; ‘Blue Champagne’[ Grady Watts]; ‘When the sun comes out’[Luca Manning]; ‘Social call’ [John Hendricks]’; ‘I’m hip’[Blossom Dearle]; ‘Let there be love’[Nat King Cole];  ‘Jump for joy’[Duke Ellington]; ‘Thou swell’[Richard Rogers];  ‘When sunny gets blue’[Marvin Fischer];  ‘Til there was you’[Meredith Wilson];  ‘If I should lose you’[Ralph Rainger]; ‘Pennies from heaven’[ Arthur Johnston];  ‘It’s a pity to say goodnight’[Billy Reid].

Thank you for an evening of  superb music Elaine and best wishes for your move down to Edinburgh. If you can tear yourself away from the jazz scene there, you will be warmly welcomed back to MJC in the future.

It was  a real pleasure to welcome to Moray Jazz Club on Thursday 20^th February The Louise Balkwill Trio. Louise’s  original line up including Tim Quicke had to be changed at the last minute as Tim unfortunately had a cycling accident in London [Best wishes for a rapid recovery Tim].  Stepping in as replacements were the wonderful Aberdonians  Pete Lowit [Double Bass and Neil Birse [Keyboard].

Louise took us on a fabulous musical journey with her rhythmic easy going jazz style that had the DNA of  Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday coursing through the songs including some great jazz standards:

‘Pennies from heaven’ [Arthur Johnson]; ‘Can’t we be friends?’[Kay Swift]; ‘Embraceable you’[George Gershwin]; ‘Exactly like you’[Jimmy McHugh]; ‘You’d be so nice’[Cole Porter]; ‘I’ll be seeing you’[Sammy Fain]; ‘Long John blues’[Terra Hazelton]; ‘Shake it but don’t break it’[Scott Hamilton]; ‘Tea for two’ [Vincent Youmans]; ‘Two sleepy people’[Hoagy Carmichael]; ‘ A foggy day’[George Gershwin]; ‘Shiny stockings’[Frank Foster]; ‘Moody’s mood’[Eddie Jefferson]; ‘Love you madly’[Duke Ellington] and  ‘Red top’[Ben D. Kynard].

Thank you Louise,Neil and Pete for a great evening’s entertainment combining wonderful singing, music and amusing anecdotes. We look forward to your return, in Neil and Pete’s case, next week!