Programme – Lowestoft Jazz Weekend

Days

Hours

Minutes

Jim Mullen & Nigel Price

Friday 5th - The Seagull Theatre

In conjunction with saxophonist and longtime collaborator Dick Morrissey, guitarist Jim Mullen spearheaded the British jazz-fusion movement of the 1970s. Born November 26, 1945 in Glasgow, Scotland, Mullen acquired his first guitar at age eight, soon after discovering jazz through an older friend. Although he later studied journalism, he remained a fixture of the local jazz circuit, ultimately forming a group with tenor saxophonist Malcolm Duncan and keyboardist Roger Ball. Mullen relocated to London in 1969, joined Pete Brown’s Piblokto!, and then signed on with Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, cementing his credentials in the nascent jazz-rock culture. Stints with Vinegar Joe and Kokomo followed, and in the early 1970s he also collaborated with Duncan and Ball in their blue-eyed funk unit the Average White Band. Via the AWB, Mullen met Morrissey, a veteran of the much-respected jazz-rock vehicle If. In 1977, they teamed as a duo for Up, embracing everything from bop to pop to funk and found favor with listeners on both sides of the jazz-rock dyad via acclaimed efforts such as 1979’s Cape Wrath. In all, Morrissey and Mullen co-headlined six albums, which increasingly veered towards the mainstream, but never earned the American commercial foothold that would have vaulted their career to the next level. Morrissey and Mullen finally split following 1988’s Happy Hour, and Mullen went on to work with vocalist Claire Martin. He also headlined a series of LPs including Rule of Thumb and Soundbites. An in-demand sideman, Mullen backed American giants including Mose Allison, Jimmy Smith, and Terry Callier. In the summer of 2000, he reunited with Morrissey, just months prior to the Morrissey’s death from spinal cancer.

Source: Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Understated virtuosity that marks out the best and most mature players.

The Guardian

Over a career spanning more than 25 years, award winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price has become widely acknowledged as one of the hardest working musicians in the business.

Musically, his blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues sensibility and his mastery of chording continue to delight audiences and fellow musicians alike. His career highlights include a support show for Gladys Knight at The Royal Albert Hall and an appearance on Van Morrison’s recent album Keep Me Singing.

Starting his professional career in his early 20s, Nigel toured Europe with various reggae and funk bands before settling on a solo guitar career and turning his attention to jazz. Citing early influences as Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Nigel honed his craft by attending gigs and sitting in with the players of the time.

Nigel has played on more than 50 albums including 5 as a leader, spent ten years with acid jazz outfit The Filthy Six, was a member of James Taylor’s band for 3 years (with whom he recorded 5 albums) and performed with the legendary David Axelrod. He has also taught at The International Guitar Foundation at King’s Place, London.

He has worked tirelessly to organise his own tours (including a 56 date tour in late 2016) and has picked up a Parliamentary Jazz Award (Best Jazz Ensemble, 2010), a nomination for a British Jazz Award (Best Guitarist, 2014) and a British Jazz Award (Best Guitarist, 2016) along the way.

Nigel is a regular performer at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club where he has made more than 500 appearances. He released his fifth Organ Trio Album

Heads & Tales Volume 2 in late 2016 to great critical acclaim. He is currently planning a further tour due to start in 2018.

For me, this is how jazz should be; communicative and inclusive. Jazz performed this way feels like a gift, a ‘here, this is for you’ scenario.

Denny Ilett, London Jazz News

Jacqui Dankworth & James Pearson

Saturday 6th - St Margaret’s Church

Jacqui Dankworth is one of the most highly regarded vocalists in the UK. Known primarily as a jazz singer, Jacqui’s unique musical palette also draws on folk, soul, classical, blues, and other influences. Her concert appearances and numerous recordings showcase her virtuosic, seemingly effortless mastery of a variety of genres.

Recent recording projects include “Rocking Horse Road”, an album project with The Brodsky String Quartet (2022, Chandos Records) and filming/recording at Abbey Road Studios with artist Sonia Boyce for the original performance art piece “Feeling Her Way”, which won the Golden Lion at the 2022 Venice Biennale and is currently touring the UK and Canada.

Television appearances include the BBC TV’s “Jazz 625: One Night Only” with Gregory Porter, Joshua Redman & others, as well as live performances and interviews on BBC Breakfast, the Paul O’Grady Show, and The One Show.

Jacqui made her Edinburgh Fringe debut in 2023 with her one-woman show “Siren Songs” (***** from Louise Rogers,Three Weeks). Other notable concert appearances include New Year’s Eve with the Liverpool Philharmonic, a special performance of her “Songs Of Stage and Screen” programme with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, a headline concert at Cadogan Hall in London with members the RPO and the BBC Big Band, and as guest vocalist on Radio 2’s Friday Night Is Music Night. Jacqui appeared as Eleanor in The Opera Company’s production of Alban Berg’s “Lulu” (entitled “American Lulu”) with the London Sinfonietta, with tour dates including the Edinburgh Festival, the Bregenzer Festspiele in Austria, and the Young Vic in London.

Jacqui is also an accomplished actor, having performed leading parts with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and in London’s West End. Highlights include the part of Cinderella in Steven Sondheim’s London premier of “Into The Woods”, “Sophisticated Ladies” (a celebration of the music of Duke Ellington) and “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” with the RSC.

Jacqui appeared as Rosa in the second series of “The Borgias” starring Jeremy Irons (Showtime TV) and made a cameo appearance in the film “Les Miserables” directed by Tom Hooper. In Oct./Nov. 2021 Jacqui appeared in a new musical adaptation of “Indecent Proposal” at Southwark Playhouse, London.

Jacqui is constantly touring with her own band and has performed and recorded with a diverse array of celebrated musicians, including the Carducci String Quartet, Courtney Pine, Marvin Hamlisch, Paloma Faith, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Gretchen Parlato, Clare Teale, Georgie Fame, David Gordon, Charlie Wood, Gregory Porter, The London Symphony Orchestra, and legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea.

Jacqui was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to music.

One of our finest singers, regardless of category

Clive Davis, Sunday Times