Martin Taylor. Picture by Richard Ecclestone.
MUSICTOP jazz guitarist Martin Taylor has been announced as one of the main acts appearing at Newport’s Jazz Weekend 2012.
The event, which runs from July 20 to 22, also features popular trumpeter Digby Fairweather as the weekend’s resident artist.
Martin Taylor will be performing on Sunday, July 22, and also hosting a guitar masterclass during the same afternoon.
He is widely regarded by his peers as one of the leading jazz guitarists in the world.
For 11 years he played with Stephane Grappelli, who described him as 'a great artist, rich in talent and elegance’.
Guitarist Pat Metheny said of him: "Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He’s unbelievable."
Martin Taylor has Island links — in his late teens, following a season on the QE2, he was persuaded by Phil Thomas to join his band at Pontin’s Little Canada holiday complex at Wootton Bridge. The band also contained local musicians Pete Kelly and Tim Marshall.
Last year, Tim made contact with Martin and he agreed to appear at the Jazz Weekend.
Another major coup for the weekend is the appearance of New York-based Keith Ingham, a pianist recently described by Digby Fairweather as 'one of the best in the world’.
Keith, from London, moved to New York in 1978 and has played and recorded with a host of famous names, including Benny Goodman, Peggy Lee and Eddie Condon. He is much in demand in New York and his appearance in July is bound to be popular.
Another well-known guest is Terry Lightfoot, who made his professional debut as a bandleader in 1956, and since then has established an international reputation as a clarinetist, saxophonist and vocalist of the highest calibre.
He was prominent in the traditional jazz revival in Britain in the 1950s and reached a much wider audience during the 'trad’ boom of the early 1960s.
Terry will appear on Saturday, July 21, with his drummer Bobby Orr, a well-known name from the London jazz scene of the 1950s and 60s, who served as a house drummer at Ronnie Scott’s, backing players such as Dizzy Gillespie, Zoot Sims and Milt Jackson.
Other leading musicians already confirmed include Mark Nightingale (trombone), Simon Allen (saxes), Jo Fooks (saxes), Georgia Mancio (vocals), Nick Millward (drums), Andy Urquhart (trumpet) and Dave Sheppard (clarinet).
The Island’s own popular vocalist Edana Minghella will appear with her quintet on the Sunday.
Other local names on the main bill include Gary Plumley (saxes), Nette Woods (vocals), Sandy Suchodolski (bass) and Mike Whitehead (bass).
The event is entirely non-profit making and there is a link with the Earl Mountbat-ten Hospice.
Many Island musicians, including the event organisers, have volunteered to play free of charge in order to support the event and the hospice, and a number of musicians, including those on the main bill, have offered to donate some or all of their appearance fees to the hospice.
"The aim is to start what will hopefully be a sustainable, friendly annual event and a unique opportunity for Islanders to see a wide range of top-quality musicians over the space of a single weekend," said Newport Jazz Weekend chairman Bill Wills.
There will also be a 'fringe’ of local musicians appearing in venues around Newport. The fringe acts and venues have yet to be finalised but full details of the line-up will be on the website www.newportjazzweekend.co.uk very soon and in the County Press once finalised.
Tickets will be available from the County Press shop, but reservations and enquiries about particular gigs can be directed to w.g.wills@hotmail.co.uk or call 01983 523879.
Any offers of assistance or sponsorship/support are also welcome and individual gigs can be sponsored.