Popping into my local, so to speak…
Like so many seaside towns, Southend-on-Sea is wearing the malaise of over a decade’s austerity and *cough* certain political decisions, its High Street sprouting vape and phone shops while big names soldier on forlornly among the bleak and empty shopfronts. One of those was given a new lease of life recently as The Ironworks, an arts centre, small-gig venue & community hub, which is set to close because of funding hurdles. Given the optimism that came with recently-conferred City status, this sits uneasily. However, there’s a little flutter of good news on the jazz front. The Jazz Centre UK has managed to secure its base at the town’s Beecroft Gallery with a 15 year-lease and continues its weekly Saturday afternoon gig programme (programme link below). So after sadly packing my tenor at our final Ironworks gig, I nipped up the High Street to catch the Mick Foster Quintet with Jonny Ford.
This was in association with Susan May and her Spike’s Place programme, an entirely mainstream set from acclaimed baritone player Mick Foster, who’s also a much-respected teacher in the area. His love of Gerry Mulligan was to the fore, using a number of his classic arrangements (“Jersey Bounce” and “All The Things You Are”), the trumpet parts being taken by the remarkably fluid tenor of Jonny Ford who excelled himself on “Body and Soul”, where that sound we heard was Coleman Hawkins’ ghost, smiling appreciatively. Simply beautiful, mature playing with a commanding, ringing tone.
No surprises in a set-list aimed squarely at an established audience, though Bronisław Kaper’s “Invitation” and Mick’s own composition, “The Grasshopper” drew much approbation. Some superbly lyrical guitar solos came from the masterful Dominic Ashworth (enjoyably so on Tenor Madness, giving the horns a run for their money) and stalwart underpinning from Tom Farmer’s bass and Tristan Mailliot’s kit. Mick’s baritone has the gentle giant quality in tone and attack, something that extends to his affable contact with the audience: a fine player, arranger and host.
Nothing to write home about? On the contrary, everything to write home about. So, while we’re here, let’s have one of those affable rounds of applause for Southend’s latest solos…
Stalwart programmer, contemporary jazz historian and drummer Trevor Taylor (who’s appearing at the Jazz Centre 9 March) continues to mount his great Jazz 825 programme at the Royal Hotel on Wednesday nights; and the Southend Jazz Co-op is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary of weekly workshops and occasional gigs, albeit at Hadleigh Old Fire Station, a few miles out of Southend High Street. It’s led by another of the area’s excellent jazz teachers, John Seeley (and, full declaration: I don my L-plate there every Saturday to try and get to grips with 2-5-1s…) As I proofread this, I hear that BBC Radio 3 is revamping its schedules to include a weekday nightly hour of jazz, fronted by Soweto Kinch, and produced by Southend-based Karen Pearson of Folded Wing.
All that said, the City of Southend finds itself unable to support initiatives such as The Ironworks and like so many local authorities, is having to make unpleasant choices about its investment in culture. What a pity. Grateful the Jazz Centre is here, but not at the expense of the Ironworks. It shouldn’t be either/or. But while all this goes on, Southend – or indeed the world – is a better place because people like Mick Foster live here.
SET LIST
Fascinatin’ Rhythm – Gershwin
Jersey Bounce – Wright-Plater-Bradshaw-Johnson arr. Mulligan
Invitation – Bronisław Kaper
All The Things You Are – Kern arr. Mulligan
Moonlight in Vermont – Blackburn-Suessdorf
Tenor Madness – Rollins
What Is This Thing Called Love – Porter
Recado Bossa Nova – Ferreira
Body and Soul – Green
The Grasshopper – Foster
One Response
Just seen there’s a possible threat to Jazz 825 at the Royal Hotel. Residential development and soundproofing are not music to any jazz promoter’s ears… https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24122523.southend-jazz-club-lose-home-royal-hotel-flats/