[Dixielandjazz] The Merseysippi JB >> Famous Again !

[Jazzjerry at aol.com]

In a message dated 30/7/03 4:21:58 pm, roadie at btinternet.com writes:


> Best band - Guy Barker's International Septet
> International artist - Esbjorn Svensson Trio
> Lifetime achievement - George Shearing
> Best CD - Exile by Gilad Atzmon's Orient House Ensemble for Exile
> Best vocalist - Claire Martin
> Rising star - Jamie Cullum
> Jazz heritage award - The Merseysippi Jazz Band
> Best instrumentalist - Brian Kellock
> Best new work - Interrupting Cutler by Brian Irvine
> Jazz innovation - Byron Wallen
> Services to jazz - Tony Dudley-Evans
> 

Hi John,

Actually only the last three are new names to me. Mr Dudley-Evans is the 
artistic director of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival (found by google!)

Google returns the following for Byron Wallen "A powerful composer, Byron 
Wallen's intuitive and spiritual leaning shine through
his "Tarot Suite", an enticing piece of music that draws inspiration from the 
..."

and for Brian Irvine the following:- "Although Brian's written for solo piano 
and for small groups he's at his maverick best when he has a big band at his 
mercy.
 His scores are both complex and uplifting, and his singular approach to 
arranging and conducting give rise to a staggering synthesis of ensemble and solo 
playing."

Brian Kellock on the other hand is, or so I gather from Roy Williams who 
played a gig with him in Edinburgh on Monday night, a great Fats Waller buff, and 
the others are thankfully on the main stream of jazz rather than the screech 
and fart end of the market although Gilad Atzmon was playing hard bop on two 
saxes at once the last time I saw him at Rackheath Green Man.

Getting a "Jazz Heritage Award" makes them sound like an ancient monument! 

Cheers,

Jerry