COOKHAM FESTIVAL 2009 

A Celebration of Arts and Music

Friday 24 April 2009 - Monday 4 May 2009

2009 Cookham Festival Highlights

AN EVENING OF MODERN JAZZ

26 April 2009 - PINDER HALL

The Vasilis Xenopoulos Quintet

COOKHAM FESTIVAL SWINGS AT THE PINDER HALL

The modern jazz evening on Sunday April 26^th was a swinging success with over 130 people sitting in the Pinder Hall in a cabaret atmosphere with tables and candles.  Vasilis Xenopoulos, a 29 year old tenor saxophone star brought his quintet from London.  Vasilis is Greek and studied at Berklee College, Boston.  Other alumni include Quincy Jones, Diana Krall and Branford Marsalis.  The quintet plays a wide range of jazz including standards like ‘Caravan’ and ‘Sunny Side of the Street’ as well as blues and funk.  Unusually they have a male singer, Michael L Roberts, who has a cool and hip style influenced by Jon Hendricks and Mark Murphy and makes skilful use of the microphone -a rare ability!  His scat singing and interplay with Vasilis’ tenor was outstanding – these young men really enjoy the music.  The international contribution was added to by the Hammond Organ player, Sam Gamberini, who comes from Italy.  A rare instrument in groups, the organ gives great depth to the ensemble as well as an emphatic bass line.  The other players were a fine guitarist, Nigel Price and a lively drummer, Chris Nickolls.  The evening was compered by local jazz trombonist, Clive Burton, who runs a regular evening at the Hedsor Social Club every Thursday.  The hall was transformed by skilful use of lighting by Dennis Boothman.  The evening was another outstanding success for the Festival.

Thanks to Gerry Clarke whose photos of the evening can be seen (and purchased) at http://www.clarkphotography.co.uk/Jazz/