News

HOOP – Secret Sessions album on Ubuntu Records – launch concert at London Jazz Festival

26 Aug, 2021

Very excited about the long-awaited launch concert for HOOP at the Spice of Life in Soho, London, November 21st 2021 – part of the Secret Sessions project created and curated by incredible musician Paul Booth – being released on Ubuntu Records, and featuring an incredible lineup I’m very proud to be part of… Paul Booth, Tom Walsh, Nichol Thomson & Chris Allard. With Laurence Cottle & Ian Thomas.

https://www.ubuntumanagementgroup.com/news/2021/8/23/ubuntu-music-to-release-second-secret-sessions-album?fbclid=IwAR0OxmSF6stD_D14M_ho9mzuj9QK4rGsXFsP76RNxxuCs-4N-ycfDlu15YQ

More details to follow.

Jim Watson Quartet, ‘a tribute to Chick Corea’

23 Jun, 2021

Looking forward to playing at the Ipswich Jazz festival at the beautiful

St Peters by the Waterfront

SUNDAY27TH JUNE2:15–3:45PM 

The Jim Watson Quartet will perform a tribute to the late Chick Corea.

All the musicians are well known on the national jazz scene, playing with well-known jazz stars. It promises to be a fitting tribute to the genius of Chick Corea and some of the best contemporary jazz that he composed.

Jim Watson– organ Jim studied at Leeds College of music and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has worked with Manu Katche, Kurt Elling, BBC Big Band, Chrissie Hynde, Marti Pellow and Guy Barker. He has his own album ‘The Loop’, released on Reese records.

Paul Booth– saxophone Paul was born in the North East of England and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He has performed with Steve Winwood, Geoffrey Keezer, and Van Morrison. He is the winner of the prestigious Clifford Brown/Stan Getz fellowship, and leads his own bands, one of which is the acclaimed Bansangu Orchestra.

Chris Allard– guitar Chris is regarded as one of the UK’s finest contemporary jazz guitarists/composers; he has performed and recorded with Jacqui Dankworth, Gwylim Simcock, Omar Kamal, Charlie Wood, the BBC Big Band, and Jamie Cullum, among others. He is also a Professor of Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Nic France – drums Nic has been a stalwart of the London music scene for many years, he has played with a variety of artists from all different genres, most notably Tanita Tikaram, Loose Tubes, John Taylor, Allan Holdsworth, David Gilmour, and Robert Wyatt. He is currently a Professor at Goldsmiths College London.

Tickets: £10  Buy Tickets

 

https://www.ipswichjazzfestival.org.uk/2021/xhosa-cole-trio/

 

GUITAR FEST live streaming gig 05/12 2-3pm

3 Dec, 2020

nice gig at the GUITAR FEST
this Saturday 2-3pm UK time, streamed live on Youtube here:
3) Saturday 5th – Chris Allard & Ross Stanley
Session at 2pm (UK Time) https://youtu.be/D-ELM7q9WJU
Chris Allard on guitar
Ross Stanley on piano
It’s free!
But it’s possible to make a donation, which you’ll see on the page.
I’m always delighted to play with Ross Stanley – one of the finest pianists in the UK.
We’ll be playing a selection of mostly jazz-related music from around the world by composers such as Enrico Pieranunzi, Jobim, Bill Frisell,
and a couple of originals.
I’d really appreciate your listening in, and letting anyone know who might be interested to watch this…
This from the organiser (the magnificent guitarist Nicolas Meier):
Dear music lovers, fans, musicians, friends and family
 
TIME NOW FOR THE GUITAR FEST (Dec 3-13th, 2020)
16 guitarists / 13 concerts
Chris Montague, Hannes Riepler, Ant law, Giorgio Serci, Matt Chandler, Carl Orr, Nigel Price, Clement Regert, Dominic Ashworth, Pete Roth, Dave Preston, Pete Oxley, Chris Allard, Maciek Pysz, Francesco Lo Castro and Nicolas Meier
 
The Guitar Fest starts on Thursday Dec 3rd at 8pm with my World Trio. Then many great, exciting and talented guitarists will follow up, program below (Dec 3-13th, 2020)
Find all info, links for the concerts at
Join us and enjoy the music!!!

Charlie Wood at Ronnie Scott’s November 1st

13 Oct, 2020

Line-up: CHARLIE WOOD keys/vocals; CHRIS ALLARD guitar; DUDLEY PHILLIPS bass; NIC FRANCE (drums)Charlie Wood is a singer/songwriter and keyboardist whose work incorporates elements of jazz, blues, traditional r&b and popular music.

Wood’s most recent album, a mixture of new originals and classic soul/blues/r&b songs entitled “Tomorrow Night”, was released in November 2018.  “Privacy Policy”, an organ trio album with guitarist Chris Allard and drummer Ralph Salmins, will be released later this year.

“Remember the first time you heard Dylan, or Springsteen, or Costello, or Waits?  Charlie Wood delivers that same jolt.” ~ JAZZ TIMES

“Charlie Wood embodies hepcat worldliness and barroom empathy; he’s got style but also the wisdom that gives it heftiness.” ~ JAZZ REVIEW

Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Charlie headed down the Mississippi to New Orleans at seventeen, spending a few formative years soaking up the music and culture of the Big Easy and playing keys with local favourites like Charmaine Neville.  He returned to Memphis in his early twenties to join the band of legendary blues guitarist Albert King, with whom he toured the US and Europe.

Having established a musical reputation for himself, Charlie took up a long-standing residency with his Hammond organ trio at King’s Palace on Beale Street.  The gig became known to touring musicians and locals alike, attracting impromptu sit-ins from B.B. King, Georgie Fame, Joey DeFrancesco, George Coleman, Mulgrew Miller, Alvin Batiste, and many others.

In October 2014, Wood became the 136th recipient of a Brass Note on Beale Street, the Memphis equivalent of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Other recipients include such musical luminaries as Elvis Presley, Al Green, and Isaac Hayes.

Wood is an accomplished and prolific singer/songwriter with numerous original releases under his belt, including “Southbound” and “Who I Am” on Ben Sidran’s GoJazz label and “Flutter and Wow” on Memphis-based Archer Records.  His original song “Promised Land” won the 2016 U.S.A Songwriting Competition, Jazz category.

www.charliewood.us

www.perdido.co.uk

https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/performances/view/6039-charlie-wood#

Suffolk Jazz School Guitar Workshop

4 Jun, 2020

Tuesday 16th June 7pm – 8.30pm.

Looking forward to teaching this jazz guitar workshop – organised by the marvellous Suffolk Jazz School.

‘Guitarist Chris Allard will Improve your jazz guitar playing, drawing on material from greats including Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny. We will work through, break down and interpret key phrases by several of the most important and influential figures in jazz guitar history, making sense of the harmonic and rhythmic content and demonstrating how to incorporate this material into your own playing.’

One of the few good things about the current Corona Virus pandemic is the opportunity for amateur players to study with top jazz musicians.
Suffolk Jazz School is running a series of one and half hour interactive workshops with our tutors and other great jazz musicians using Zoom. Please share this with others who may be interested.
Because we have a good tutor/participant ratio so you can participate with the tutor, we are limiting numbers to 20 per workshop, so apply early to avoid missing out.
For each workshop you will be sent study materials beforehand. Each workshop, (except George Double’s workshop on 14th July), costs just £10 – a bargain to be able to work with such fine musicians.
People have different musical skill levels at these kinds of events and we try to include everyone as much as possible – and if you feel it’s too easy or difficult for you, please be patient as lots of ground will be covered during the workshops. And it’s also an opportunity for us all to learn from each other. George Double’s rhythm and drumming workshop is limited to a maximum of six participants and the cost is £15.
To apply, send an email to neil@neilbateman.co.uk stating which instrument you play and which workshop(s) you want to do and also send your payment to our account: Suffolk Jazz School Ltd. Starling Bank, Sort Code 60-83-71. Account no: 40427688. Please give your name as a reference and say which workshops(s) you are applying for.

 

 

Upcoming gigs

Dreamweavers

Tony Woods