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CONCERT JAZZ Events -
Chiltern Hundreds Area


CONCERT JAZZ Event
'Jazz on Cue' 

LIVE
@ The Snooker Club

St Andrews Court
Wellington St
THAME
OX9 3WT

Took place on 13th December 06 and featured

The Jo Caleb Quartet

More Vibrant , Better, Cheaper & Much Safer Than a Trip to London's Jazz Haunts
Venue Details

Gig-18
'Jazz With Balls'

Featuring :-
Jo Caleb - 7 String Guitar outstanding rising star known for his chordal 7-string style.
Graeme Blevins - Sax top Australian musician of International fame and stature.
Larry Bartley - Bass wonderful bassist and exciting soloist.
Troy Miller - Drums
superb drummer who toured with Roy Ayers band,
With Special Guest !!
Elisa Caleb - on Vocals


Jo Caleb - Outstanding young seven-string guitarist leads his own trio - intellectual, inspired and refreshingly creative. "This studious-looking and reticent young guitarist is clearly about to snap at the heels of the UK jazz-guitar generation before him, which includes Mike Walker, Phil Robson and Mike Outram." John Fordham, The Guardian  Jo Caleb is one of the few professional 7-string guitarists in the UK. He is an experienced solo guitarist with a huge solo repertoire. Because of this, he has become a fine accompanist for vocalists, saxophonists and other solo instruments - due in part to the extra bass string which allows him to add a warm depth to his music, but undoubtedly the result of his attentive ear, creative chordal playing and considerate accompanying.  As a band leader, Jo performs typically with a trio or quartet, preferring the expressive environment frequently associated with smaller jazz bands.  Jo is married to Lisa a fine jazz Singer with a great future - catch em at the 'Good Yarn' in Uxbridge on Tuesdays evenings for a feast of Jazz, food and beer.  Or the excellent George IV Jam he organises in Chiswick Last Monday in the Month
Jazz Eddie - watching Jo is fascinating,  he continually searches and strives for the perfect chord to blend in with the lead soloist's direction as they explore the harmonics of a Number.  He moves effortlessly between finger and pick styles and can soar during his solos.   Don't be fooled by his youthful appearance - he has a wealth of experience to impart to his audience.

Graeme Blevins was born in Perth, Western Australia. In 1998 he was accepted into the National Academy of Music’s Jazz Program studying with Graeme Lyall. He appeared at the 1998 Jazz Yatra Festival in India with the Perth Jazz Orchestra, and Graeme also completed a short student exchange to the Royal Academy of Music (London) in 1999, studying with Stan Sultzmann, Julian Arguilles and Richard Addison (Royal Philharmonic) and also studied briefly with Claude Delangle (Paris Conservatoire). He graduated from The West Australian Conservatorium of Music in 1999 with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) degree, and won the Wyllie Scholarship for most outstanding graduating student.  Since 2000, Graeme has performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, in both jazz and classical capacities and more recently has performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. In 2001 he was awarded the West Australian Music Industry Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Jazz in Western Australia. He also toured the East Coast of Australia with Hip Mo Toast, Frames of Minds and ‘K’ appearing at the Wangaratta International Jazz Festival.  In 2002, Graeme was commissioned to compose a work for brass ensemble and church organ for the Fremantle International Jazz Festival and began teaching saxophone at the West Australian Conservatorium of Music. Graeme was a finalist in the Wangaratta International Saxophone Competition, and in 2003 spent time in New York Studying with Seamus Blake and Chris Potter. In October 2004 he was awarded a scholarship to the Red Bull Music Academy for Music Production. This has led to many compositional projects and recording sessions with such artists as Metro Area (New York), Domu (Bakura, UK), Michele Amador (San Fransisco) and Dave Jones (Phuturistix, UK) Spiritual South (Brixton, UK)  Since relocating to London in 2004 Graeme has performed with Bobby Watson and the Organics (Cork Jazz Festival), Guy Barker, the James Taylor Quartet, Matt Wates, the Endymion Ensemble, the Back to Basie Big Band, the BBC Big Band and is a member of the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, the Delta Saxophone quartet, Planet Rescue and Elettrorganica. Graeme currently works as a freelance musician in London as well as in continental Europe and is working towards the release of his debut Album. 

Larry Bartley has become one of the most sought after bass players on the London jazz scene. Bands and musicians he's worked with include Courtney Pine, Jean Toussaint, Denys Baptiste, Byron Wallen and Jason Yarde. He has also toured with several musicals and dance collaborations, such as 'The Nat King Cole Story','Grapevine,the Music of Motown', Jonzi D's 'Airplane Man' and performed with dancer Sharon Wrey's at the Royal Opera House in 2000. Larry's playing is featured on many recordings by some of London's best-known jazz players,such as Courtney Pine (Back In The Day), Denys Baptiste (Be Where You Are), Alex Wilson (Afro - Saxon) and Byron Wallen (Indigo).His playing can also be heard on Ingrid Laubrock latest album 'Some Times'. He has recently released his own debut album `Along This Way'

Troy Miller , a multitalented drummer, music director and composer had humble beginnings, firstly playing drums in a family band and at church, and later on as a teenager reached the finals of the BBC 'Young Musician of the Year' competition. After graduating from the Guildhall School Of Music in 1999 where he now occasionally teaches, Troy started playing with Jean Toussaint and soon after with Soweto Kinch with whom he has recorded 2 albums. Between 2004 and 2006 Troy toured with American Vibes Legend Roy Ayers with whom he has traveled all over the world including Europe, Japan, Australia and the States. Don Blackman is another American from the Jazz Funk Scene whom Troy has toured with recently. Other Artists whom Troy has worked with include: Roachford, Jocelyn Brown, Mica Paris, Omar, Kyle Eastwood, Marcus Printup, Guy Barker, Julian Joseph and Gary Bartz to name a few. Troys debut album '40 Days' was released in June 2006 under J'Noir Records and features veteran UK and US talents including Jean Toussaint, Jason Rebello, Eric Revis and Marcus Printup as well as long standing partners, Michael Olatuja, Femi Temowo and Karim Merchant. It also features vocalists Eska Mtungwazi, Xantoné Blacq and Anna Omak. His latest project has been writing for the Prague Philharmonic strings who also appear on the Album.Troy Miller is the skins of choice for Soweto Kinch and Roy Ayres apart from driving Killer Shrimp with great feeling and when needed, delicacy. Troy with Femi Temowo Video

Special Guest for all you Vocal Enthusiasts

Elisa Caleb - Elisa began singing at a young age in school choirs and at church. Having spent many of her early years in Barbados, her style is creatively rhythmic. When she came to London, her love for music grew. At 14, she began listening to Jazz continually studying the tracks of her favourite vocalists; Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.  Music had still always been for enjoyment and though she took up the violin as a child, her first love remained singing. During college, she sang in a gospel group, sang backing vocals, joined the college choir. It was here that she met her future guitarist husband Jo Caleb, supporting guitarist Femi Temowo, bassist Michael Olatuja and pianist Jonathan Idiagbonya - a fellowship that promised to be uniquely special.  She began working with the Jo Caleb trio in 2000, primarily as a manager and agent booking them into various venues and clubs . Her exposure to the Jazz Scene, however, was about to take a new turn when prompted to perform jazz rather than merely enjoying it as a listener.
Jazz Eddie - Elisa is a fine young vocalist with natural talent and good microphone technique. She delivers finely honed renditions of the more difficult material from the Great American Songbook and displays a maturity far beyond her years.  Her voice is destined to develop greater charm as the Timbre advances and she currently delights the Jazz audiences both aurally and visually.  Currently appearing regularly at the Jam Sessions at The George IV, Chiswick and also with her husband Joe Caleb (fine young but mature guitarist and composer) on Tuesdays at The Good Yarn in Uxbridge.  Catch these refreshing performances by Elisa while you can get close to this emerging British Talent.  She is but a break away from Intergalactic Stardom.

Your Reviews -

Very good Eddie …well done Andy

Hi Eddie, Enjoyed the music last night - I like to be involved but not lead a jazz session ( American Song book) - Rick -

Hi Ed  Thanks for organizing last night.  It was a good evening.  I thought the venue was really good too.  Jill X

Eddie - Very enjoyable evening and excellent music. It is good to hear this new generation of British (apologies to Graeme!) jazzmen. Highly educated and talented individuals and music well put together from an occasional working group. Do you ever get reviews – I’m thinking of Alyn Shipton, the bassist and Times critic, who I know, and lives in Wheatley. Might well be appropriate to get him to review/comment at some stage and, more importantly to give some recognition to you for your ‘labour of love’ Regards Paul


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Last modified: 18/02/2012