Norwich Jazz Club Weekender

by Deborah Cleland-Harris 22 August 2016

Back for its third year, the Norwich Jazz Club’s Jazz Weekender from the 2nd to the 4th of September is yet again attracting big names from the jazz world. Expect everything from bebop, to swing, Latin, as well as some fantastic jazz workshops. With this three-day event rearing its head, we spoke to a couple of the jazzers soon to hit the stage at Open and other local joints. “If you like Herbie Hancock's Head Hunters, Weather Report or early Jamiroquai, then you’ll definitely like our quartet!” says Tom O’Grady from electro-funk band Resolution 88 – and he has a whole lot more to tell us. We also chat with jazz crooner James Tormé, son of the legendary Mel Tormé and grandson of Thora Hird, and find out more about his thriving singing career in the US and here in the UK.

Tom O’Grady – Resolution 88

How long has Resolution 88 been going and how did you all meet?

I started the band in June 2012, just as I left a Maths teaching job to become a full time musician. I already had an idea who I wanted in the band, based on friends in the music scene in Cambridge. I was very lucky that they all agreed to play!

Can you tell me a bit about each of the members, what instruments they play and what they bring to the quintet?

Currently, our band is predominantly a quartet of permanent members along with a guest percussionist for quintet gigs. For this Norwich gig, we have Chris Brice guesting, an exciting up-and-coming percussionist – he's very much in the vein of our drummer, Ric Elsworth. Both guys studied classically and cover everything from kit to tuned percussion. Rounding out the permanent members of the band, we have Tiago Coimbra, a long-time friend and musical collaborator of mine, and Alex Hitchcock on sax, another good friend and rising star on the London jazz scene. In terms of what everybody brings to the band, Ric is a real musical force on kit – he’s a very spontaneous, powerful player and instigates dynamic changes and follows ideas freely. Tiago is very well known for being one of the grooviest bass players around and he also brings his Brazilian heritage to the music. And with Alex, the first time I ever met him was on a function gig and I was immediately taken aback by how fluent his playing was – not only that, I love his tone on the tenor. Since he joined, the band has felt much more close-knit and committed. That's why it's such a pleasure that with our second album Afterglow, we have a studio recording that features Alex's playing.

How has your funk sound evolved?

There are some common themes that link our most recent songs to our very first efforts – first of all, the instruments we use are a defining part of our sound. Our music has definitely evolved though – part of that is that my composing has developed as I've done more and learned from my band members about what works and what doesn't. It's a combination of dictating the concept I have in my head for a particular song then trusting each member of the band to do their own thing with it. I hope that the end result, though, is something that each of us can present as a sincere reflection of our individual sounds as musicians.

What is your musical background? Have you always played the keyboard?

I grew up with the piano and along with the Rhodes, it's what I love to play. I learned to play from the age of four with my Mum and then with a family friend who was a concert pianist. In my parents' house Dad would always be listening to or playing solo piano repertoire, whether it was Liszt, Ravel, Chopin, Brahms etc. I also played the trombone fairly seriously all the way through University, so I got plenty of experience counting bars' rest. I only really discovered jazz, funk and the Rhodes through hearing Jamiroquai and then Herbie Hancock – and that was in my early teens. I then began to teach myself jazz theory and pick up things by ear.

Who are your funk jazz influences?

My main influence is definitely Herbie, although I have some more modern influences such as Kaidi Tatham (a musical pioneer who was instrumental in the whole 'broken beat' movement) and Dan Goldman, who's a good friend but also mixes all our music. He's a master of keyboard instruments; not only can he play like nobody else, he also has a really deep understanding of all the different keyboards.

What has been your most notable musical experience?

The most memorable musical experience I've had so far was playing the piano solo from Heart's Desire on stage with Don Blackman – another of my heroes. Don sadly passed away a few years ago and I dedicated our first Resolution 88 album to him. Don was one of the most complete musicians I've ever heard or met – and he was a very warm, funny, humble man in person. We became friends over the course of a few years and then one year, at the Jazz Cafe, he called me up on stage to play with him. I didn't realise that it was the last year I'd ever see him.

Are you looking forward to performing at the Norwich Jazz Festival?

We're really looking forward to come to the Norwich Jazz Festival – Norwich is the hometown of our original saxophonist, George Crowley. I've played in Norwich once or twice before in different bands and, as much as this will probably grate with some people, I'm a big Alan Partridge fan!

James Tormé with the Tom Dunnett Big Band

You live in the US but you seem to come over to the UK quite regularly?

I spend my time 50/50 between the US and London/Europe. It all began four years ago when I was invited to do a concert on Radio 2 with the BBC Concert Orchestra in honour of the late Ray Charles at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Gregory Porter and Madeline Bell were my co-stars. Actually I'm doing one or two of the numbers from that show at the Norwich Jazz Festival.

You’ll be “celebrating the greats” with the Tom Dunnett Big Band – can you tell me a bit about this collaboration please?

Yes – Tom and I worked together before when I performed a special concert with the SWR Big Band & Syd Lawrence Orchestra in the UK. We relate to each other a lot musically so it's a total joy to work together on this.

You definitely take after your father Grammy Award Winning legend Mel Tormé with your velvety voice – did he encourage you to follow in his footsteps?

No not really! Although he was more than aware of my musical talent, a life like his of living out of a suitcase, banging your head against a wall as a music artist was nothing he envisioned, or hoped, for me. I think he coined the phrase ‘absence makes the heart go wander’. But I just can’t help being in music. And if you’re lucky enough to identify something you love, and you have a bit of talent, you should go for it. Anyway to answer your question, I’d like to think he'd be proud of the work I do. I have felt his presence several times during performances, which I tell myself is a good sign..

You’ll be “celebrating the greats” Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Mel Tormé and more. You’ve met some of the “greats” in real life – can you name a few and do you plan to sing any of their songs at the Norwich Jazz Festival?

In terms of the show, this is something I have wanted to put together for a long time – a celebrating of a 'generous helping' of the recording artists, songwriters and arrangers that have shaped my musicality, and consequently my career. That said, we do change who we salute a bit for every show (to keep an element of surprise), but among the people we'll be celebrating are Buddy Rich, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Peggy Lee, Ella FitzGerald, Ray Charles, Fred Astaire, (my father Mel Tormé of course!), Shorty Rogers, Marty Paich, Nelson Riddle and many more. It's such fun to do this. I spent time with several growing up. The CTG tour has been amazing. We've been able to do it all over the world. So needless to say I'm very grateful for that. We all are.

You’re also the grandson of the legendary actress Thora Hird (She’s loved in the UK), what was she like as a grandmother?

Just the way you'd think. Super loving but also down to earth – she could tell you off if you needed it. But she could also make you feel so good. It all balanced out. In the end, I've drawn enormous pride and inspiration from her amazing career just as I do from those of my mother (actress Janette Scott) and father. I'm a product of all of them (all of it) if you think about it.

Are you looking forward to performing at the Norwich Jazz Festival?

I’ve never been to Norwich before so I’m so glad to finally be making it into that neck of the woods. My brother Tracy is a huge fan of Norwich FC so I'm gonna try to get him a shirt! Seriously though, I've known about the festival for a few years now, and I must say I'm grateful to my buddy Brandon Allen (saxophone genius) for recommending me to Simon Brown, the festival director. Pretty much my favourite thing to do (in the world) is singing with a great big band so this is a gig that I'm really looking forward to.

To find out more about the festival and tickets visit norwichjazzclub.co.uk