CONCERT JAZZ Events -
Chiltern Hundreds Area

CONCERT JAZZ Event
was LIVE @ Thame Snooker Club -

Took Place on Wed 8th August 07 Gig-26
St Andrews Court
Wellington Street
THAME
OX9 3WT

The Peter King Trio
UK Sax Supremo - World Class Virtuoso

Featuring:-
Peter - Alto Saxophone - he also plays Tenor and Soprano Saxophones,
Mike Gorman - Electric Organ - (replacement for Nick Kacal on Bass)
Keith Michael - Drums
This is excellent Contemporary Jazz Trio are taking time off from their tour with Harvey Thompson Vocalist to grace our podium with their creative presence.. A rare chance to hear Peter strut his stuff with support from the excellent Mike Gorman on Organ and with sympathetic rhythm from Keith michael!   He is a walking authority on Charlie Parker and his  own compositions in homage to the master are a sheer tour de force. - Jazz Eddie

Gig Poster A4 view in Print mode

PETER KING, in the words of one critic, “the finest alto saxophonist that Britain has ever produced, and one of the finest in the world today” (Dave Gelly, 'The Giants of Jazz', Aurum Press, 1986), has been a major influence on the British Jazz scene ever since he played, (at the age of eighteen!), the opening of RONNIE SCOTT'S, London's internationally famous jazz Mecca. “Had Ronnie Scott's Club died over night and been heard of no more it could still have justified its existence by pointing to a discovery like Peter King.” (Benny Green, 'Jazz Decade, ten years at Ronnie Scott's', King's Road Publishing Ltd. 1969).
“A wonderful musician ...PETER KING of course is a master of his instrument. People are aware of that here .. (In America), .. as well as in England”. (ELVIN JONES, ‘Jazz U.K. Sept 2001).

Although he now concentrates on his work as a solo artist and with his regular Quartet, Peter has worked and with such legends as Bud Powell, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Milt Jackson, Lalo Schifrin, Frank Foster's ‘new' Count Basie Band and the Ray Charles Orchestra. He has also recorded with Hampton Hawes, Al Haig, Philly Joe Jones, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, and many others, including Red Rodney, who said this of Peter.. “He's got that natural growl in his playing –yet he's soft and beautiful when he wants to be.” Peter has also worked with many great singers, such as Ernestine Anderson, Joe Williams, Anita O'Day, and made albums with Jon Hendricks and Jimmy Witherspoon. He has also accompanied artists as diverse as Tony Bennett, Marlene Dietrich, James Brown and Lauren Bacall. King is also known for his recorded work with the pop group, 'Everything but the Girl' and as featured soloist and Musical Director of the Charlie Watts Quintet. Peter can also be seen in films such as ‘Blue Ice' starring Michael Caine and the new hit movie, ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley', staring Mat Damon and directed by the Oscar winning Anthony Minghella. Peter also can also be heard playing on Mike Figgis' film ‘Time Code' particularly over the opening titles.

Peter King plays Charlie Parker's Grafton Sax at Christies

As a featured performer, Peter has long been a favourite of European jazz festival audiences. Peter has been a special guest of Lalo Schifrin with various Symphony Orchestras at concerts in Germany and Switzerland and joined him in Israel for a concert in January 2000 with the Israeli Philharmonic. Peter was the only non-American artist invited to perform at the Gem Theatre in Kansas City during a week of celebrations in honour of Charlie Parker in March 1999.

In the summer of 1999, Peter played and performed his first ‘ ACTING ' role in the Julian Barry play ‘LENNY'. The work involved being on stage throughout the play and acting in several small scenes, as well as his playing in a searing bop group of jazz all stars. Directed by Sir Peter Hall and with Eddy Izzard in the title roll, LENNY is about the life of Lenny Bruce and received rave reviews when it opened in London's West End. In March 2000 he toured with Benny Golson and his tribute band, ‘ROOTS'.

A prolific composer and arranger, his most ambitious work to date is probably "Janus", a BBC commission, featuring his own Quartet and the "Lyric String Quartet". He has many albums to his name, including ‘Tamburello' (which won the Best CD of the Year prize at the ‘BT British Jazz Awards'. The latest CD's, “Lush Life” and ‘Footprints', are now available on the same Miles Music label. Peter's latest project is a full length two act Opera, ‘Zyklon'. He received much encouragement and support in this from Sir Peter Hall and Julian Barry, who has written the libretto. (A shortened version is to be performed at the City University of New York on 13 Dec 2004).

In the Autumn of 2001 Peter went on the road again with the new Charlie Watts Tentette, for which he wrote several arrangements. As well as playing two weeks at Ronnie Scott's, the band played at the Blue Note in Tokyo and New York. In October 2002 Peter visited Russia for an extensive and highly successful solo tour. This was followed by a return trip in Aug 2003 when his Quartet played at the Moscow Summer Festival, where Peter was presented with a special LifeTime Achievement award.

Peter  has composed a full length two act opera, "Zyklon", with the  libretto by Julian Barry. A short workshop version was performed at the City University of New York on 13 Dec 2004 and received a standing ovation.

Gene Lees
"I hear both Trane and Bird in his playing, but he is better than either of them."
Elvin Jones
 ”A wonderful musician, Peter King, of course, is a master of his instrument. People are aware of that here in America as well as in England”
Lalo Schifrin
"Peter King is one of the best musicians in the world." . . . who travels very comfortably in the language of jazz and at the same time, classical music. “I feel very lucky to have met and to have worked with Peter”.
”Congratulations (on your opera) ‘Zyklon’.  “I was very impressed with your avant-garde writing techniques, and at the same time, your sense of drama”.
George Coleman
“ ...a great musician”
Nat Adderley
-“..World’s great Altoist, My man!”
 

Mike Gorman
was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. After completing a Music Degree at University College Salford, he gained experience working on the thriving Manchester music scene.
Mike moved to London in 1995, to attend the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since then he has established himself as one of the UK's leading jazz pianists and organists, making regular appearances with many of the country's leading jazz musicians in London and throughout the UK.
He has also worked with several prominent US musicians, as well as touring and recording with major international acts Incognito and Us3.
Mike released his debut album "The Maze" on the label 33 Records in March 2002. The Album received much critical acclaim and was named Jazz CD of the Month in the Nov '02 BBC Music Magazine  Mike is involved with many ongoing bands and projects.

Keith Michael  Keith - before leaving UK in 1981, played jazz in and around London with a number of players, including Lol Coxhill, Simon Picard and Veryan Weston. based in Amsterdam, spent several years involved in theatre, modern dance and mixed media performance groups & projects. Touring in Europe and Australia. Moved to Asia in '87; in India played with several groups / projects, incl. "East-West", w/Sarod master Usmahn Kahn. Zen Samba, w/Alryio Lima (Weather Report): in Thailand, Korea and Japan, playing with numerous players incl. Randy Cannon, Dave Sills, Dan Phillips, Ed Jones, Damon Brown, Toku, Aoyagi Makoto, Yosuke Onuma, Shinji Nakamura, Paul Jackson, Harvey Thompson, Kuwana Masahiro, Kojima Yoshinobu. Baba Takayoshi, Philip Strange.

Performance Repertoire
Set 1
Speak Low
In Your Own Sweet Way
Body & Soul
How Deep is the Ocean - Mike Gorman Solo
Mr PC - Coltrane

Set 2
Giant Steps
Weaver of Dreams
Wouldn't it be Lovely - Mike Gorman Solo
Lush Life - Billy Strayhorn
Yes or No - Wayne Shorter

Did you attend this event? Want to add your own review or comment?

Great gig last night Eddie, thanks! - Didn't Mike Gorman do well covering the bass, his brain must have been in hyperdrive!
Beautiful sax from Peter! - . An education for me. - Warren

 

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Last modified: 18/02/2012