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Each week we’ve been having a jazz quartet with a special featured guest and an ever revolving rhythm section. This Friday we’re exited to be having the great Zee Gachette playing a late night set treating us to her unique take on jazz standards. Zee is an outstanding international singer, songwriter, musician and producer and having witnessed her hosting a night performing her own material, I was bowled over by her sheer intensity and spontaneity and have to agree when Jimmy Page described her as “A force of nature”. It’s going to be interesting to see what Zee does with these jazz tunes – expect plenty of free-styling, turning things upside down, scatting, quirky reharmonisations, an amazing rapport with the audience and sheer power and emotion. It’ll certainly keep Loz Thomas (Drums), Terry Pack (Double Bass) and myself (Guitar) on our toes. Zee will also be bringing down her guitar – and maybe some percussion! It’s at Doug Ellingford’s new bar Brighton Blue Note under the Greenhouse effect, Hove which has really taken off since opening. The entry is under the Greenhouse, 63 Church Rd, Hove, BN3 2BD. Just follow the steps down from the street past all the jazz graffiti into the underground lair – it’s free entry all night with the band kicking off 11pm although the bar will be open from early spinning jazz classics. Closing time 4am. Here’s some info on Zee from wikipedia.
Z*[1] left Trinidad at 18 years old to pursue her musical career in London. She started busking and doing gigs, and was soon signed to the President of A&M Records (now part of Island Records). However, the company went into liquidation prior to the album release.
Z* gathered a serious underground following with her residency at the Vibe Bar[2] on Brick Lane (London), as the ringleader and curator of Entry Level & Worship. Curating and introducing the audience to artists such as Shingai Shoniwa (The Noisettes), Nemo Jones (Faithless) and Keziah Jones.
It was through these residencies in 2002 that Z* was introduced to two times Danish Grammy nominee and dance music producer, Morten Varano (Murena Records,[3] Voodoo Recordings & DRAMA!king). He was then responsible for pairing Puddu Varano[4] with Z-Star (otherwise known as Lady Z) for the 12 inch release of “Blue Sky White Sand” which hit the number one slot on UK and Danish Radio 1 DJ favourites’ list. Shortly after, Lady Z and Morten decided to create SlowTrainSoul (originally named SlowTrain).
Their first album, “Illegal Cargo”[5] (licensed to Tommy Boy Records in the States and Playground in Europe) was favored by the Los Angeles radio stations and venues, and had tracks featured on many HBO TV Series including Six Feet Under, Ugly Betty, Californication[6] and CSI: Miami. In addition, tracks were aired in France, theNordics, Russia, Italy, Greece, Spain…gathering an underground following, which now spans far beyond Europe into Korea, the Philippines, Canada and Australia.
In 2003, shortly after the release of her first SlowTrainSoul album, while performing her acoustic soul jazz material in Rome, she was spotted by Francesca Bianchi (currently Gabin’s Manager) of EMI. Within weeks, the president of EMI (which later became Virgin EMI) signed Z-Star for a four album global deal. The first single was “Lost Highway”, and the album was “Who Loves Lives” (co-produced with her bass player, Vezio Bacci) in 2004.
She performed on Top of the Pops, Festival Bar, MTV Live and major festivals as well as receiving national radio airplay.
Next came the second SlowTrainSoul album “Santimanitay” (licensed to Quango in the States).
Many people will be familiar with the music from hearing tracks from both albums on compilation albums such as Buddha Bar, Nirvana Lounge and Hotel Costes.
In 2009, Z* returned to her acoustic roots and recorded her fifth album “Masochists & Martyrs” – inspired by and dedicated to her mother, Schultzi. The songs depict how love shapes us and ultimately how love reveals the masochist and martyr within us all. Released on her independent label, Muthastar Records, set up with business partner, Lucy Anderson. The album has been deemed “a creative masterpiece” by Blues&Soul magazine.[7]
Recently touring Europe and Russia, as well as collaborating with world champion loopmaster and beatboxer Shlomo, performing with Nigel Kennedy at BergenFest, Polish Woodstock and Ronnie Scotts as well as on his new Sony/BMG album, Arthur Brown (musician) at the Ray Davies Meltdown at Southbank Centre, and Jarek Smietana.
In 2001, Z* had a role in Mannafest’s production of “The Mango Lick” (a combination of poetry, music and theatre) directed by Rayshell, performing alongside Umar Bin Hassan[8] (The Last Poet’s) and musicians, Marque Gilmore and Michael Mondesir. In 2002, Z* performed at the Royal Albert Hall in the celebrity cast of “The Vagina Monologues” alongside Isabella Rossellini, Myeera Syal and Beverley Knight. As well as playing a striking femme fatale role in Oliver Ashton’s dance short “The Jaffa Man” previewed in 2003 on BBC1 and at many film festivals nationwide.
Z-Star’s influences have been cited as Nina Simone, The Doors, Peter Green &Fleetwood Mac, Yusef Lateef, Meshell Ndegeocello, Miles Davis, Joan Armatrading, Bob Marley, Lauren Hill, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Keziah Jones, Johnny Cash, Ástor Piazzolla, Shuggie Ottis, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Alice Coltrane,Chris Pierce, Cat Stevens, Terry Callier, 4 Hero, Fink, Mos Def, Zero 7, Massive Attack, Thomas Dybdal, Shadow, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and Belo Velos.
Z* has written, recorded and performed with Terry Callier, Nigel Kennedy, Keziah Jones, Richie Havens, Meshell Ndegeocello, Max Sedgley,[9] George Benson, Sinéad O’Connor, Matthew Herbert, Natacha Atlas, Youssu Ndour, Angelique Kidjo, Noel Mckoy, Omar, Youssu Ndour, Baby Charles and Isabella Rossellini. Many collaborations with Sunlightsquare over the years, in 2008 their cover of Pastime Paradise was featured by Gilles Peterson on his Radio BBC1 show, and Sunlightsquare have remixed Z-Star’s 2011 UK summer single, Tension.
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Paul is a highly respected teacher and offers guitar lessons in the Brighton & Hove area. He tutors a range of students. He is a trained teacher holding a PGCE teaching certificate and works for the local council music services teaching whole class music and guitar and bass lessons in local schools. Paul is a guest lecturer at Brighton jazz school.
Amongst Paul’s students are professional performers and advanced players in the Jazz and classical fields of music. Many players have come for lessons to prepare for auditions for London Universities on Jazz degrees and for final performances on the Jazz course atChichester college. You will receive thorough, concise yet fun guitar lessons adapted in a way for you to excel in your chosen area of playing.
For those students wishing to pursue the formal grades, Paul is able to tailor guitar lessons accordingly and has had a 100% pass rate with students so far.
Paul will help you make sense of complex jazz and classical music by breaking it down into easy to follow steps and manageable goals.
Topics covered generally include….
I have met many promising young guitarists at a popular night I run called the Brunswick jazz jam who are local or staying in Brighton whilst studying at Brighton institute of modern music. Many of my jazz guitar students have gone onto University to study jazz and it’s great seeing the improvement when they return for holidays. I have taught many jazz guitarists for preparation for auditions on Jazz courses in London and also for preparation for the final performance at Chichester college on the Jazz course. Many of my guitar students now have the ability and confidence to go out and play professionally themselves in jazz duos, trios and full on jazz bands and I have seen some brilliant performances in Brighton and Hove lately. I also encourage my students to play at the jazz jam session I run at the Brunswick, Hove to get used to playing as part of a jazz band and in public.
Other students, going down the more classical guitar route have passed their graded exams. With the classical guitar lessons I teach technique, theory and how to memorize classical guitar pieces by understanding the underlying structure of the tune regarding key centres, identifying chord inversions and chord progressions and how the melody lines relate to the harmony. These lessons which will stand you in good stead if you are looking to play guitar professionally at weddings, events, parties and functions.
Rob Leake grew up in the North-East and began gigging in and around Newcastle after leaving school. In 1995 he left to go to college at Leeds College of Music. The next 3 years provided a great period of study and playing that ultimately lead to a move to London. Here, Rob landed gigs with Polar Bear, Oreille and extensive work on the salsa scene. The influence of this period was formative. A visit to Hastings brought him into contact with the legendary saxophonist Trevor Watts. Following extensive rehearsals and study with Trevor, Rob toured Europe and the USA with the Celebration Band: a continuation of’ Moire Music’ featuring 4 saxophones and a heavy ‘World music’ component.
Rob is now based in Hastings and enjoys a varied life of playing, teaching and family. Rob’s music is firmly rooted in jazz, but reflects his passion for ‘World’ influences such as Latin and Funk. Rob’s debut album, ’Present Time’, was finished in 2010 and is all of the above. It features Liane Carroll, Pete Wareham, James McMillan, Terry Pack, Nick Peck and Jim Whyte. Currently, I am part of The Paul Busby Big Band, The Hastings Horns, Chacon y su Timba among others.
On drums making his Debut at this venue we have Jim Whyte. Born in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1970, Jim Whyte’s musical interest never got fully underway until his Secondary School days, where he first indulged his passion for composition and songwriting. As a student of the Scottish jazz vibraphone and tenor sax player Jimmy Feighn, Jim began performing at the age of 16, as a tuned percussionist with the Clydebank Burgh Band; a championship Scottish brass band at the time.
In 1989 he began a degree course in music at Salford University. It was during this time that Jim decided to move away from orchestral percussion and concentrate on drum-kit.
Jim spent 5 years as a drummer on the jazz scene in Manchester, alongside contemporaries such as Dave Hassell, Steve Brown, Steve Gilbert and Luke Flowers (Cinematic Orchestra). And played with many of the top jazz musicians in the area, such as; Mike Gorman, Mike Outram, John Ellis, Andy Schofield, Les Chisnall, Steve Berry, Stuart McCallum, flugal horn player Richard Isles and legendary guitarist Mike Walker.
In 1996 he moved to London, and was awarded a scholarship to attend the post-grad jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. It was here that he had the opportunity to perform with great jazz musicians such as Kenny Wheeler, Carla Bley, John Taylor, and James Williams.
In 1998 Jim formed his own hybrid jazz/folk/rock quintet, which has featured legendary British jazz musicians such as saxophonists Stan Sulzman and Julian Seigal, Partisans bassist Thad Kelly, vituosic guitarist Mike Outram, Eryl Roberts on drums and percussion, and Jim on drums, piano, guitar and vocals.
In 2006 on the Scottish scene in Glasgow, Jim formed his latest quintet ‘Sonic Butterfly’ and recorded the debut album with some of the finest young musicians on the Scottish jazz scene, including guitarist Kevin Mackenzie and saxophonist John Burgess. During all this time, Jim was also very active as a singer/songwriter, writing mostly for guitar and voice and began performing them on the Glasgow singer/songwriter scene, as a way of developing his own sound on drums and in composition, and to which he still performs at present.
Jim lives In Brighton, East Sussex, and is currently involved in a number of musical projects, eg: the alternative jazz trio ‘Full Circle’, Afro/Jazz group ‘The London Bridge Ensemble, Brighton based Indie band ‘The Miserable Rich’, electro/folk/rock group ‘Oddfellows Casino’, the reformed 1970’s prog rock band ‘Marsupilami’, his own Scots/Russian collaborated project ‘Under the Saltire’,and also works on the Brighton music scene, as an in-demand jazz drummer and session musician, among various other projects, including his own group ‘Sonic Butterfly’.
In his career so far Jim has played and performed with many great jazz and musical names including; Scottish jazz saxophone legend Bobby Wellins, pianist Nikki Iles, saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, American saxophonist Frank Perowski, Scottish jazz piano legend Brian Kellock, pianist Liam Noble, Pete Wareham (Acoustic Ladyland), Keith Emerson (ELP), Dame Evelyn Glennie, jazz singer Anita Wardell, legendary saxophonist Julian Arguelles, trombonist Mark Bassey, Guy Garvey (Elbow), Martin Slattery (The Hours) Australian singer Trudy Kerr, saxophonist Geoff Simpkins,The Ryan Quigley Big Band, guitarist Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra), Andrew Philips and Marcus O’Dair (Grasscut), 1970’s Prog Rock band Marsupilami, as well as the great James Brown’s band, including performances on radio, television and at some of the finest venues and festivals across the country and around the world.
Jim currently plays on vintage Slingerland drums, and uses Zyldjian, Sabian and Istanbul cymbals, and Vic Firth sticks.
Returning to Brighton Blue Note, on double bass we have Terry Pack – with a career that spans the decades he has played with a multitude of bands across the world. He is also a profilic composer – check his latest album “Palimpsest” featuring an all star cast of UK talent.
I’ll be on the guitar and am really looking forward to playing in this combo! It’s at Doug Ellingford’s bar “The Brighton Blue Note” under the Greenhouse Effect, 63 Church Rd, Hove, BN3 2BD. Band starts at 11pm til late, free entry all night! Bar open until 4am.
