JIM MULLEN ORGAN TRIO (FEATURING NIGEL PRICE) & SARAH JANE MORRIS
AT THE SOUTH COAST JAZZ FESTIVAL
Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham, Sussex - 28th January 2017
AT THE SOUTH COAST JAZZ FESTIVAL
Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham, Sussex - 28th January 2017
With two highly successful years behind them, Claire Martin OBE along with Saxophonist and Educator Julian Nicholas took the bold step of extending their eclectic jazz festival to two full weeks and three venues for 2017. Things kicked off with the highly exciting fusion giants ‘Incognito' who brought their crowd pleasing brand of Soul, Funk and Jazz to the launch concert at The Old Market Theatre in Hove way back on 17th December. The festival proper utilised the critically acclaimed Verdict Jazz Club in Brighton for nine gigs, alongside The Ropetackle Arts Centre just down the coast at Shoreham-by-Sea for the headline concerts, workshops and DJ sessions.
First up during my visit on the second Saturday was The Jim Mullen Organ Trio. Glasgow born Jim Mullen has been at the top of the guitar tree for many decades and has lead the critics poll on numerous occasions. From his early days with Brian Augers Oblivion Express, The Average White Band and the famed duo Morrissey/Mullen he has proved to be one of the most creative and lyrical improvisers on his instrument we have yet produced. Although with various line-up's The Organ Trio itself has been in existence since the late nineties enjoying critical acclaim wherever they have played. Very sadly it was announced two weeks before the concert that Jim Mullen had been taken seriously ill and would be unable to perform. The organisers were very fortunate in being able to recruit at short notice the poll winning guitarist Nigel Price who plays in a similar lyrical style and is engaged on a country wide tour with his own Organ Trio. On this occasion he was joined by the highly experienced pairing of Mike Gorman on organ and drummer Tristan Maillot.
First up during my visit on the second Saturday was The Jim Mullen Organ Trio. Glasgow born Jim Mullen has been at the top of the guitar tree for many decades and has lead the critics poll on numerous occasions. From his early days with Brian Augers Oblivion Express, The Average White Band and the famed duo Morrissey/Mullen he has proved to be one of the most creative and lyrical improvisers on his instrument we have yet produced. Although with various line-up's The Organ Trio itself has been in existence since the late nineties enjoying critical acclaim wherever they have played. Very sadly it was announced two weeks before the concert that Jim Mullen had been taken seriously ill and would be unable to perform. The organisers were very fortunate in being able to recruit at short notice the poll winning guitarist Nigel Price who plays in a similar lyrical style and is engaged on a country wide tour with his own Organ Trio. On this occasion he was joined by the highly experienced pairing of Mike Gorman on organ and drummer Tristan Maillot.
Their fifty five minute set proved, if proof were needed, that Nigel Price has technique to spare and an overwhelming ability to both approach and develop a composition in a very personal way. This was clearly shown in the way he approached two Jobim classics. The opener ‘Triste' was taken as a medium paced swinger and not a bossa nova as the composer intended, with extended melodic lines above the subdued organ contribution and imaginative drumming of the two remaining members of Jim Mullen's Organ Trio. In contrast the evergreen standard 'One Note Samba' by the same composer was interpreted as intended with the guitarist exploring every possible corner of this compulsive melody. It seems that all things are possible for this musician at present as we were further staggered by his extreme versatility in the building of a completely new compositions from the chord structures of two well known standards 'Body And Soul' and one of the most recorded songs of all time, Gershwin's 'Summertime from 'Porgy And Bess. The whole set was about quality, rather than quantity there being only five numbers, all delivered superbly with perhaps the very best being an interpretation of 'Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most'. This is a much underrated piece by Tommy Wolf in 55, with compelling lyrics added by Fran Landesman and inspired by the opening lines of T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land and proved to be the ideal vehicle for the low tempo intense guitar investigation given to it alongside organ and drums that provided a perfect backdrop for the entire set.
Vocalist Sarah Jane Morris, who first came to the public's attention via The Communards and The Jazz Renegades, has been described as ‘alternative' by some but has always been at home across a wide range of genres including Rock, Soul, Jazz and Funk. She has fourteen albums to her credit as a leader and in addition is a song writer of some note, her lyrics often taking few prisoners. Her latest offering 'Compared To What' in duet with Antonio Forcione has further increased her prominence. For the Shoreham show she was joined by two fine guitarists Tony Remy and Tim Cansfield.
There is no time to draw breath or to divert your eyes from the stage when this lady is in residence. She takes full control from the start and demands the full attention of the audience with her highly intense vocals, imposing presence and sheer class in everything she does. Her set at the festival contained mostly blues tinged and what we used to call 'protest songs’ penned by herself and Tony Remy. Her vocal range and sheer power are both phenomenal allowing her to project her stark and sometimes uncomfortable messages at full impact. Both guitarists play 'Spanish style' amplified instruments with her co composer delivering some breathtaking solo passages throughout. Three great modern rock anthems were included in the set, Sting's ‘Fragile', the John Lennon classic ‘Imagine' and Janice Joplin's screaming anthem 'Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart'. All received the full treatment with the singers own additional lyrics only adding to the dramatic impact. The encore and long standing ovation as the set closed was fully deserved.
It had been another night of contrasting music of the highest level, something we have come to expect, at the highly successful South Coast Jazz Festival.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
There is no time to draw breath or to divert your eyes from the stage when this lady is in residence. She takes full control from the start and demands the full attention of the audience with her highly intense vocals, imposing presence and sheer class in everything she does. Her set at the festival contained mostly blues tinged and what we used to call 'protest songs’ penned by herself and Tony Remy. Her vocal range and sheer power are both phenomenal allowing her to project her stark and sometimes uncomfortable messages at full impact. Both guitarists play 'Spanish style' amplified instruments with her co composer delivering some breathtaking solo passages throughout. Three great modern rock anthems were included in the set, Sting's ‘Fragile', the John Lennon classic ‘Imagine' and Janice Joplin's screaming anthem 'Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart'. All received the full treatment with the singers own additional lyrics only adding to the dramatic impact. The encore and long standing ovation as the set closed was fully deserved.
It had been another night of contrasting music of the highest level, something we have come to expect, at the highly successful South Coast Jazz Festival.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
