Monday June 19th 2000 7.30pm
'The Passion' hosted in the main Stag Theatre auditorium. £10 (c £8) adults & £8 (c £6)
THE PASSION is the new female vocal group that is taking the country by storm. Audiences have been stunned by their amazing compositions and soulful voices. Setting new standards in song writing and live performances. Soon to be released, their debut cd "Listen To My Heart", recorded at Real World Studios. The Passion was formed earlier this year and came into being after the three members (Sara Colman, Jacqueline Dankworth and Liane Carroll) performed together in what was meant to be a 'one off' gig. The chemistry between the girls was very special and the gig was a great success. It was then that they realised they had hit upon something unique and decided to call themselves The Passion. Since then things have taken off for the trio of singer/songwriters, and in between gigs they have been recording an album which is due for release shortly. The Passion fuses three dynamic song writing and arranging styles with three powerful voices. Some of the names I have heard used to describe them include Carol King, Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos, but I think you'll agree when you hear them, that they are originals.
There will he an opening set featuring two local young musicians from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Steve Holness, the NYJO pianist and Hattie Webb, an NYJO vocalist, who will be accompanied by the Listening Room house band of Tom Herbert, bass and Patrick Levett, drums.

 

Saturday June 24th 2000 7.30pm
Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone with The Guildhall School of Music and Drama Big Band and Jazz Singers in St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks. £10 adults.

Although resident in England since 1952 and often thought to be an English musician, Kenny Wheeler was born in Canada in 1930. He began playing in his hometown of St. Catherines, encouraged by his father, a trombonist. His formal studies include composition with Rodney Bennett and William Russo. His earliest influences included Buck Clayton and Roy Eldrige but, by the time he left for London, he was looking towards bebop, Miles Davis and Fats Navarro particularly. After his arrival in London, Wheeler balanced commercial dance band work with gigs alongside modernists like Joe Harriott and Ronnie Scott, and in 1959 joined the Johnny Dankworth band in time for their breakthrough Newport Jazz Festival appearance. He consequently came to be one of the major solo voices in the Dankworth orchestra, and during the end of his stay recorded his first album as a leader Windmill Tilter (Fontana), which featured compositions for big band based on Cervantes’ Don Quixote stories. Kenny is an active music educator as shown by his presence on the faculty at the Canadian Banff Workshop and by his involvement in international seminars. In spite of his severe self-criticism and his almost legendary aversion to recognition, Kenny Wheeler remains one of Europe’s most sought-after trumpet and flugelhorn players. ( Biography courtesy of ECM ).
The Guildhall School of Music & Drama is a conservatoire whose purpose is to provide and develop the highest attainable quality of creative education, training and research in musical and theatrical performance in order to fulfill the needs of the individuals and communities it serves. The School is regarded as a major force in the national and international worlds of performing arts training. They offer several courses. All are flexible, lively and challenging. They prepare students for a professional career in music, drama and technical theatre. The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, owned and funded by the Corporation of London and renowned as a centre of excellence, is part of the Corporation's ongoing commitment to the development of the arts and the international cultural scene in the Square Mile.

 

Saturday July 1st 2000 7.30pm

Stan Tracey's 'Under Milk Wood' in the Aisher Hall, Sevenoaks School. £10 adults.
Internationally renowned jazz pianist, composer and arranger, Stan Tracey is generally regarded as one of Britain's greatest living jazz musicians. His career spans over 40 years, and entrenches back to the formative days of modern jazz in this country. In 1960 he began a seven year stint as resident pianist at Ronnie Scott's Club, playing with every visiting musicians from the USA. During that period Stan formed his quartet and big band, and in 1965 he reached a wide audience with the immortal "Under Milk Wood Suite", a lyrical setting to Dylan Thomas's play for voices. The following year he produced "Alice in Jazzland", another literary inspired work. Stan's originality has been recognised with about 15 commissions, and he has recorded about 45 albums of mainly his own compositions. Stan has achieved many rare distinctions, being the subject of an Omnibus programme on BBC2, documenting Stan's rise to the status of Britain's most respected jazz musician. As well as touring throughout Britain and Europe, Stan has taken the quartet on a highly successful British Council sponsored tour of Greece, Yugoslavia, the Middle East and South America. He also played at festivals in India and Australia. In 1989 Stan and his quintet performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival and in Hong Kong. Official recognition has come in the form of the BASCA Award (for services to the British Music Industry) and honorary membership of the Royal Academy of Music. Stan received the Melody Maker annual award several times for his work as a pianist, composer and arranger, and of course the O.B.E. In 1985 Stan was voted International Jazz Musician of the Year. In 1989 Stan received the Guardian/Wire Award for the best composer of the year. In 1990 We Still Love you Madly was voted the best album of the year. Stan's work "Genesis" received great appreciation and praise.