Come on down to the lovely St James Chapel. 3 of our local musicians will be set up to play some standards for you.
If you fancy joining in, bring an instrument, some charts, and come and chat to one of us.
If you have never played jazz or improvised but wondered about it this is your chance to find out. Come along and play or watch and listen, entirely your choice. Ask questions, challenge your assumptions, make suggestions. A completely open forum for you to discover what makes jazz(ers) tick.
And its all completely free as part of Oke Jazz Fest
On Sunday 17th May we have award winning jazz vocalist, lyricist and educator TRUDY KERR giving 2 workshop sessions in the day, and leading a vocal performance session in the 5pm to 8pm slot.
On Saturday 16th May we move into vocal territory with the soulful LOUISE PARKER. with Marcus Vergette on double bass, Will Butterworth on keyboards and Eddie Kingdom on drums
Friday 15th May we have an internationally recognised true master of the piano CRAIG MILVERTON with MIKE OUTRAM on guitar and JOHN DONNELLY on bass presenting their TRIBUTE TO OSCAR PETERSON
Yvette Andrewartha (vocals) Martin Jenkins (keyboards) and Nigel Wayne (Saxophone) will be giving lyrical and melodic renditions of great jazz classics in the gorgeous surroundings of this fabulous historic building in the centre of Okehampton.
Hot House Combo will be making a very welcome return. Jive Swing Trad and uptempo fantabulousness.
All Saints Church Hall in Okehampton which has plenty of room and hard floor for dancing.
More details to follow
The Moor Jazz Trio featuring Mary Morris on vocals, Jonny Monument on keys and Jo Baker-Teixeira on trumpet. Mary fronted the band at Okehampton Show back in August, and in St James Chapel on Edwardian Night and was very well received. A wide range of beautiful and lyrical numbers will be played and sung for your enjoyment with the enthusiastic support of Jonny (Moon Jazz Crediton) and Jo (Eddie Kingdom Collective, Jive Junction, TNT Blues Collective). This will be a fun afternoon of great jazz standards delivered in their own unique style.
Pete Canter (saxes and flute) with James Clemas on keys and vocals.
Pete Canter is a highly accomplished jazz saxophonist and flautist as well as an upright bass player and composer of original jazz and contemporary music. Pete first played on the 1980s London jazz scene, then in Wales, before moving to the Southwest in 2001. He has established himself on the local jazz scene and further afield as a fine player, composer and band leader responsible for a string of creative projects. Pete has recorded several well received jazz albums and has played at major U.K. festivals including Cheltenham and Teignmouth Jazz Festivals. He hosts the highly successful monthly session Jazz at The Mermaid in Exeter. “…..an inventive soloist with a distinctive sound……” Ian Mann, The Jazzmann.
James Clemas, a graduate of Leeds School of Music, is one of the most versatile and in-demand pianists in the South West, who plays across a wide range of music genres. He is equally at home in a modern jazz context, a trad band or a Whitney Houston tribute band. He is a highly rhythmic and inventive jazz soloist and also has a superb singing voice.
Pete and James are long term collaborators who have done many, many jazz gigs together.
This time in Okehampton, they will be venturing out as a duo, Pete on sax and flute, James on keys and vocals. Expect choice swing and latin jazz standards, soaring improvisation and dynamic interaction between these two fine musicians.
The welcome return of this fabulous big band from Exeter, entertaining us with swing funk and soul big band music arrangements from the best of the best, including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Joe Zawinul’s Weather Report, Chick Corea, Gordon Goodwin and so many more. Launching the Cottles Club back in Sept 2024, EJO halped us get off to a blisteringly good start, so expect powerful and great music from across the big band spectrum.
Steve Waterman, Trumpet, has played with some of the biggest names in Jazz, is a professor of jazz trumpet at Trinity College of Music, and is one of the top trumpet players both UK and Internationally. Ralph Freeman is a pianist, composer, artist. Founder of St Ives Jazz Club, Ralph performs with his own ensembles and various original projects, and has worked with many of Britain’s leading jazz musicians both at the Club and in London.
Will Butterworth is “a brilliant pianist showing stunning displays of virtuosity and a remarkable talent” (The Jazzman). London Time Out describes Will as “a precociously talented young modern jazz pianist who plays with spacious and fractious beauty. A rising Brit Jazz piano star”. Tonight Will will be joined by Marcus Vergette on double bass and Preston Prince on drums.
Indulge in the world of Jim Mullen, a true luminary in the realm of jazz guitar, as we bring you an exceptional musical experience. Hailing from Glasgow, Mullen's virtuosity has earned him a revered place among Europe's most distinguished jazz guitarists, a sentiment echoed by Jazzwise, labelling him as "one of today's pre-eminent jazz guitarists." Recipient of numerous accolades, including the prestigious Honorary Parliamentary Jazz Award in 2017, Mullen's legacy is etched through his illustrious collaborations and solo endeavours. His musical journey has intertwined with iconic bands of the '70s and '80s, such as Brian Auger's "Oblivion Express," The Average White Band, and his own highly acclaimed jazz-funk sensation "Morrissey-Mullen." For this very special evening, Jim Mullen takes the lead alongside accomplished British pianist and organist Tom Ball and the rhythmic finesse of drummer Tristan Maillot. Together, they delve into the classic Organ trio format, delivering an electrifying set that seamlessly weaves original compositions and carefully chosen jazz standards. The result is a captivatingly harmonious meeting point of tradition and innovation. Join us on this auditory journey as the trio of hugely experienced and skilled jazz musicians craft a musical tapestry that resonates with the heart of jazz.
Music has been with Neil since early childhood. As is the way with the arts, he does a number of different disciplines within music playing soprano, alto, and tenor saxes and clarinet as well as running various groups including a big band, jazz bands, a clarinet group and workshops (usually with a improvisational slant). Neil also regularly arranges and composes and partakes in quite a bit of band leading. Neil’s influences and interests lie primarily in jazz but also classical music, but he also loves working with salsa, funk, soul, motown, blues and more. Neil will be ably supported this evening by James Clemas on keyboards, Joe Gass on double bass, and Eddie Kingdom on drums.
The Hot House Combo are a staple in the South West scene because they play such fantastically enjoyable music. This will be a fabulous evening of high energy jive and swing delivered with passion and enthusiasm and a shedload of entertainment. Make sure you’ve got your dancing shoes on, and lets raise the roof. Exuding a giddy blend of vintage charm and captivating rhythms, The Hot House Combo will transport you to the colourful and carefree foot-tapping era of yesteryear. Inspired by the great musicians of the 1920s, '30s and '40s, this upbeat, exciting 4 piece perform songs they love and they create new ones in the same style! Their passion and energy will have you struggling to sit still - and they wouldn't want you to anyway! So, fasten your swing seat belt - you're in for a thrilling ride!
Hilda Clemas has a distinctive vocal and wide dynamic range. Capable of great power, she has a deft touch, imbuing standards such as "Desafinado", "Corcovado", "It's only a Paper Moon", and "I'm beginning to see the Light " with a silky smooth and an occasionally husky edge. When the moment is right - such as Hilda and James' boisterous take on Route 66 - she can really swing in style.
Such assured performances didn't arrive overnight. Born into a Scottish musical family in Dundee, Hilda started singing in bands at the age of 16, fronting jazz funk and soft rock bands before focusing on jazz. Hilda Clemas has performed with amongst others Sir Tim Rice, Transfixion, Pete Allen, Mike Bolton, Trichord, Martin Dale, The Cougars, dance music act Magnetic Soul and 80's Jazz Funk Band Tiamo.
Supporting Hilda will be the articulate and sophisticated keyboard playing of James, with Ralf Dorrell on bass and Eddie Kingdom on drums. This will be an evening of jazz standards sung and played with individual style and superb skill.
