1st August 2012
Brendan Youngs and his band of top rate jazz musicians will be moving the celebrated Monday Jazz Jam to an equally celebrated Norwich pub, the Cottage in Silver Road, NR3 4TB, which runs up from Barrack Street, the northern part of the inner ring road. This jam is one of the best known in the eastern counties and widely rated by the jazz community.
The Cottage is a great and friendly pub and far more suited to the relaxed mood of the jam; it was CAMRA’s city pub in 2011. Also good news, the jam will be on every Monday from 6th August, so do try to get to as many of these gigs as you can – from 8.30pm to 11pm, though it is wiser to get there a bit earlier as the band gets setup from around 8.00 and you can chat to Brendan if you want to play. Whether you do or just want to listen to some fine jazz standards, swing and post bop classics, then we hope we will see you there. The pub is run by Sally and her team, who will make you very welcome – plus mine hostess offers a range of up to ten different real ales, some great Belgian beers, single malts …. or soft drinks, teas and coffees for those of us driving!!!
Anyone who wants to play and who is at least a moderate level will get a chance to join in – either on a number they chose or with other players, depending on the numbers of us wanting to show off our talents. Age is irrelevant as we have jammers from their early teens through to their late eighties; the essentials are commitment, enthusiasm and a passion for our kind of music!
If you have not been to the jam before, the band is first class and can play almost anything. You might find it easiest to make your tune choice from the common Real Books. If you prefer, bring your own charts. If it is your first venture ask one of the other jammers if you can join them. Good reading is not essential but a good jazz ear is.
Brendan leads from a great upright bass, with the famous Lee Vasey, taking a night off from his big band, on a stunningly melodic lead guitar. Mark Jolley adds a highly distinctive electric violin to the frontline with more than an echo of Stéphane Grappelli; Ian Hireson plays a beautiful rhythm guitar, laying down an invaluable guide to the chord changes for improvising players. (Also he can even sell you the real Books in C Eb and Bb, if you do not have those, as he can get them at better prices than retail.) On drums is Matt Furness who drives the whole group on with his ability to match the mood to the playing – close your eyes though, as you would never guess he is veteran of many years … but still only 14!
When you are invited up to play, you will choose the number, set the tempo and agree with Brendan the intro – count in, four bars or whatever – then play the head, take the first chorus, followed by Mark and Lee each with their own solo chorus, before you lead the band out with the head. Simple! Sskgieeghhsk!
Also, Paul Barnes has mentioned the jam more than once on his excellent BBC Radio Norfolk programme ( broadcast across the eastern counties) from 11 pm each Saturday night to 1 am on the Sunday, when he plays the best of jazz, swing and related rhythm with some of his own polished rhubarb. If you cannot listen then, the show is available on line for seven days via the BBC’s great ‘Listen again’ facility
See you at the Cottage this coming Monday …… If you feel lost, ask for Brendan or me or any members of the band ……..
Roger Haywood