Fleece Jazz at Kersey Mill News

Daves Blog - 15 November 2008

Sam Crockatt is a new saxophonist to me (and to the club), and one I definitely want to hear again. I enjoyed the range of tone colour he got, his generous leading, and his own writing. I am afraid that a small percentage of the audience finds new writing difficult, which is a pity. Sam's is very accessible, tuneful, and sometimes very funny. His standard and ballad playing is particularly good.

This was one of those listening bands - you could feel the listening happening on the stage. As to the individuals, Gwilym is always inventive, with a left hand to die for. Ollie is a favourite - solid and inventive, Ben Reynolds was a delight; he played the room, used a fairly minimal kit but got a huge range of sound out of it and the few pots and pans he used to augment the tone colour.

I still wonder what we can do about audience sizes. Because we use the arena form (audience on 3 sides), it looks comfortable. But there are still a lof of people out there missing out on the music.

There is a change in our programme, as you know, with Liane Carroll on Friday the 2nd of January, (at 8pm, please note), no gig on the Saturday the 20th of December, and the exciting Derek Nash, of Protect the Beat and Jools Holland fame, on Saturday the 27th of December, also at 8pm.

Fleece Jazz at Kersey Mill News

Fifteen years of the very best in modern jazz every Friday night at 8.30pm.Please join us at our new home, with excellent facilities and food. Phone 01787 211865 for tickets

Kirk Lightsey - Friday, 21 November 8.30 - �13

Piano jazz legend Kirk Lightsey defines himself as a Detroit pianist incorporating a Bud Powell awareness with an Art Tatum styling together with a bebop feeling. A pianist of immense accomplishment and versatility Kirk has worked with scores of major jazz stars including Yusef Lateef, Betty Carter, Bobby Hutchinson, Sony Stitt, Chet Baker, James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, Harold Land, Kenny Burrell, Dexter Gordon and Benny Golson. Kirk’s main influences are Hank Jones and Tommy Flannagen. The trio is completed by two of the very finest musicians on the current music scene, Steve Watts bass and percussionist / drummer Dave Wickins.

Sarah Jane Morris - Friday, 28 November 8.30 and Saturday, 29 November 8.30 - �15

Sarah Jane Morris is a truly amazing singer and songwriter who shows a gleeful disregard for the boundaries between genres. Jazz, soul, pop and contemporary classical are all to be found in her amazing three and a half octave range. Sarah Jane brings with her the stellar band of Martyn Barker drums, Tim Cansfield guitar, Tony Remy guitar and Henry Thomas bass. Look out for the new album, 'Migratory Bird' recorded with guitarist Marc Ribot and another planned CD release early in 2009 called, 'Where It Hurts'.
"When that throaty, extraordinarily-deep voice comes booming out of that pale auburn-haired face, it’s a bit like the possession scene from the Exorcist" (Evening Standard)

Food at Kersey Mill on gig nights

There is a change to the Mill food menu. After consultation with the customers, Kersey Mill will be providing superior pub food, rather than the "bistro" menu they had provided. It will be less expensive, but of the same quality.

Derek Nash and Friends - Christmas addition to the programme

Our end of season Christmas gig on Saturday 27 December sees the return of the wonderful Derek Nash - a more exciting and engaging saxophonist you will not find. He brings with him Ben Waters on keyboards, Geoff Gascoyne on bass and Sebastian De Krom on drums. It sure ain't dinner jazz. This gig starts at 8pm.

Liane Carroll gig - Change of Date

The Liane Carroll gig originally scheduled for Saturday 27 December 2008 will now be held on Friday 2 January 2009. This gig is pretty well sold out, but note please, that it starts at 8pm.

Student Reduction in Price

We have a new policy of offering tickets to full-time students with a �5 per ticket reduction (proof of status required) Friday 12th September, 8.30 p.m. Kersey Mill, Kersey, Nr Hadleigh - Box Office 01787 211865

Mick Hutton at the Hole in the Wall, no longer at the Minories

Mick and friends are at the Hole in the Wall on Tuesday Nov 4th.

Deborah Winter writes:

Thanks to those who turned out to support us at the Minories. We have put on 14 promotions and have generated over 6,000 pounds of musicians wages and I only made a loss twice (one of which was Saturday). I've decided to take a break because of the sheer slog of having to sell so many tables to cover the expenditure of a band. Every month I am contracted in to 4 - 500 pounds of band and sound engineer fees. When there is a loss, it is me who bears it. I am also tired of being sandwiched between the conflicting interests of greedy proprieters and musicians. All venues used to date have complained about the audience not eating or drinking enough. Although all three venues used to date conceded that the evenings were profitable, they all complained that they were not profitable enough! It is therefore with a sad sense of regret that I am going to take a break from the interminable slog. Thanks for those who supported us monthly and were generous with raffle money. We could not have lasted as long as we did without you! Debs