Jazz on a Monday Afternoon: February 2023

This week's wonderful live session was brought to us by U3AC member John Tyson who, among other things, is a prominent jazz musician who plays in the UK, Europe and around the world. John works with and has organised the musicians here today which is also a salute to a well-known Cambridge Jazz musician, Martin Kemp who sadly recently passed away. Martin (Josh Kemp’s father) has previously performed at U3AC. He is sadly missed by us all and during a busy life Martin worked with the University, Practised in Law and was a leading member of the Cambridge music scene.

John Tyson – Drums

Apart from a long and successful business career, John has built in parallel and continues, a long and successful music life playing Jazz, Blues & Latin Jazz. In the late 1960’s whilst studying ‘risk engineering’ in London, he was the ‘go to’ rehearsal drummer for the Dudley Moore Trio at Abbey Road Studios in London and following the death of Duke Ellington in 1974, John, who was then based in Central Africa, was the drummer called in by the Ellington Band for two concerts during the bands last ‘hurrah’ tour through Central Africa. Over the years John has played at Ronnie Scott’s, the Jazz Café in London and continues to do gigs throughout the UK and Europe and from time to time in the Caribbean, North & South America.

Josh Kemp -Tenor Sax

Saxophonist and Composer Josh is an in-demand player on the UK Jazz scene and has released five CDs and completed five UK tours. He is a versatile player, at home from Mainstream to Contemporary Jazz, Salsa to Jazz-Funk. He plays at jazz venues across the UK including Ronnie Scott’s and undertakes extensive work as an educator.

Ruth Applin – Singer/Pianist

Ruth began her professional career after graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. She combines her smooth distinctive voice with a swinging and sensitive piano style, covering songs from the Great American Songbook to Stevie Wonder. Her rich vocals and swinging piano-playing are reminiscent of great singer/pianists such as Nat King Cole, Nina Simone and Diana Krall. Ruth has performed in many of the most prestigious venues around London and the UK, including The Ritz and Dorchester Hotels and at Ronnie Scott’s.

Louis Thorne - Double Bass

Louis is a Cambridge based musician who has played professionally for the past twenty-five years performing gigs throughout the UK plus session work, composing and teaching.

Chris Ray – Guitar

Chris is a London based and in demand hard-swinging and melodic guitarist, known for his bluesy playing style, and versatility across many styles & genres.

Monday, 6th February

Memorable Gigs - Mike Morrish

Intro Track

Art Pepper – ‘Donna Lee’, from ‘Arthur’s Blues’, 1981

Track List

1. Modern Jazz Quartet – Summertime, from ‘Porgy and Bess’, 1966

2. Mike Westbrook – Awakening, from ‘Celebration’, 1967

3. Roland Kirk – Lovellevelliloqui, from ’The Inflated Tear’, 1968

4. Duke Ellington – Things ain’t what they used to be, from ‘70th Birthday Concert’, 1969

5. George Melly – Dr. Jazz, from ‘Nuts’ , 1972

6. Buddy Rich – Away We Go, from ‘Take It Away’, 1968

7. Frank Sinatra – That Old Black Magic, from ‘Twenty Golden Greats’, 1961

8. George Russell – War Gewesen, from ‘So What’, 1983

9. Joe Henderson – Miles Ahead, from ‘So Near, So Far’, 1993

10. Stan Tracey – Some Other Blues, from ‘Live at the QEH’, 1994 (5.48) CD Required

11. Don Grolnick – Spot That Man, from ‘Nighttown’, 1991

12. Ray Brown – One For Hamp, from ‘Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone’, 2002

13. Charles Lloyd – La Colline de Monk, from ‘Rabo de Nube’, 2007

14. Tomasz Stanko – Oni, from ‘Wislawa’, 2012

Monday, 20th February

British Jazz - Alan Murphy

Monday 13th February

Live Session

Monday, 6th February

Memorable Gigs - Mike Morrish

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