Music

Winter draws on but the jazz should keep you warm as the evenings close in, so, get yourself up and out to hear some of this country's top jazz stars in action.

A difficult choice faces you on Thursday 4th when Bernie Farrenden invites down an 'all star' line-up of top British jazz players to the East Close Hotel in Hinton.

Saxophone in spotlight

On the same evening The Lighthouse in Poole present 'Stomping At The Savoy' with Martin Litton's Red Hot Peppers, The Alex Welsh Memorial Band and the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra – the choice is yours!

The town of Wimborne features heavily this month and, in particular, the Tivoli Theatre where The Pasadena Roof Orchestra perform on the 5th; Claire Martin appears on the 11th, and John Etheridge and John Williams feature some guitar magic on the 20th.

With a dozen records for Linn to her name, the hip and hard-working Claire Martin is approaching her professional prime. Limber and relaxed on stage, she has a sophisticated vocal technique, a keen ear for worthy new songs, a winning way with audiences and, most importantly, a jazzer's urge to swing at all times and to deliver each phrase in a gutsy, unpredictable way.

John Etheridge is not just another great guitarist, he is a master of the instrument and he knows how to use it to best effect in an enormous range of settings. He is fast, a great chord man, inventive but subtle, as good with a pick as finger style, as at home on acoustic as on electric guitar.

Critically, he knows what to leave out, when to use nuance and suspense and when to let rip. Taste and talent are the indisputable hallmarks of this incredibly accomplished and well-rounded musician who reads, and responds to his fellow musicians and his audience equally well.

Just up the road from Wimborne is Verwood a town that feature TWO regular monthly jazz venues.

So, on the 5th, Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits play the West Moors Country Park Lodge whilst, on the 25th, Gerry Brown and The Mission Hall Band play the Hub.

The month rounds off with another Bernie Farrenden venture, time to celebrate both Halloween and the fact that Bernie has been presenting high quality jazz in the area for 24 years (without a break).

On the 30th, Alan Barnes is Bernie's special guest. In 1988 Alan was asked to fill the chair recently vacated by Bruce Turner in the Humphrey Lyttelton band where he stayed until 1992.

Between 1987-97 he also found time to lead the Pizza Express Modern Jazz Sextet with Gerard Prescencer and Dave O’Higgins. Alan has enjoyed a prolific career as a sideman, playing and recording for many bands.

He broadcast regularly over a ten-year period with the BBC Big Band and Radio Orchestra and has toured and recorded with big band leaders, Dick Walter, Kenny Baker, Bob Wilber, Don Weller, Stan Tracey and Mike Westbrook. Alan recorded his first record date as co-leader in 1985 with Tommy Whittle – 'Straight Eight' and as leader of his own quartet in 1987 - 'Affiliation' with pianist David Newton, an association that goes back to their college days.

Since leaving the Lyttelton band, Alan has concentrated on his freelance career. In 1993 he again recorded with Newton resulting in the duo album 'Like Minds' and the quartet, quintet and sextet album 'Thirsty Work', which featured fellow reedmen Andy Panayi and Iain Dixon.

Throughout the 90s he co-led a quintet with blistering be-bop trumpeter Bruce Adams, recording 2 CDs 'Side- Stepping' and 'Lets Face the Music'. Other bands he has toured and recorded with include the Gary Potter quartet, playing the music of Django Reinhardt, the Tina May Trio with Nikki Iles, Bill LeSage’s Genetically Modified Quintet, and Spike Robinson's Tenor Madness. 

And that's only a part of what's out there for YOU to enjoy – see the full listing at www.jazzdates.co.uk