As a culmination of the Day of Music on 17 May, the concert by Westerham resident Michael Coates on saxophone, with Geoff Eales on piano, Paul Morgan on bass and with vocalist Jenny Howe could not have been surpassed. An enthusiastic (and in parts knowledgeable!) audience filled St Mary’s for two hours of jazz “from the Great American Song Book”. From the slow and emotional “Look of Love” to the upbeat “Sweet Georgia Brown” the quartet kept the audience tapping their feet and moving to the rhythms, while the repartee between the four kept the laughs and smiles permanently on their faces. Watch out for a return of this charismatic foursome.
Michael Coates (saxophone) moved to London from Toronto, Canada in 1992 and within a few weeks was becoming known at jam sessions in the West End. He has since appeared in dozens of venues on the London jazz scene including Ronnie Scott’s club in Soho. In 1998 Michael collected BBC’s Jazz Soloist of the Year award, and recorded as a featured soloist with the BBC Radio Big Band. In that same year Michael released his debut CD “This Is” featuring his original compositions.
Jenny Howe (vocals) joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra as a vocalist in 1992 and toured extensively with them in the UK and abroad, appearing several times at Ronnie Scott’s. She recently recorded an album “Second Take” with pianist/composer Chris Lee featuring revoiced arrangements of songs from artists such as Bob Dylan and The Beatles.
The Welsh pianist / composer / improviser Geoff Eales has enjoyed an incredibly varied career in music. At Cardiff University he studied composition under Professor Alun Hoddinott and piano with Martin Jones. He was awarded a Ph.D for his large-scale work, An American Symphony, and his chamber setting of the Dylan Thomas’ poem, In the Beginning for tenor, horn and piano. Other early works include a piano concerto, string quartet, brass quintet and A Sussex Rhapsody, the latter commissioned by the BBC. As well as his love of contemporary classical music, Geoff is passionate about jazz.
Paul Morgan (bass) went to the Leeds College of Music on a jazz course in 1976. From 1979 to 1982 he worked with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and became the Principal Bass with the BBC Radio Orchestra.Paul work has worked, and continues to work, with all types of groups and big bands. He joined the Don Lusher Big Band in 1986 and continued to work with this band up to Don’s demise. He grew up accompanying many visiting American and other international artists at Ronnie Scott’s Club, the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, Southampton, and many clubs and concert halls around the world. Paul has played bass for musicians such as Zoot Sims, Peggy Lee, Ronnie Scott, and many other artists.