A night of jazz with Jim

ANICE bit of new year jazz is coming to Norden Farm next weekend.

Promising sublime music in an intimate club style setting, Jim Mullen will be picking with his thumb rather than a plectrum for the gig.

The Glasgow-born jazz guitarist has been a fan of jazz ever since he was eight.

He says he was attracted by the spontaneity of the music.

He says: “The radio was always on and it became my connection to the outside world.

“I was very fortunate in being exposed to the golden age of songwriting, getting to hear all the standards – the Gershwins, the Cole Porters and the Irving Berlins, from guys like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra.”

Jim has recorded as part of The AllStars, a collective of session musicians on their album All About the Music. It was produced by

Paul McCartney and also featured special guests Jocelyn Brown, Hamish Stuart and Angelo Starr.

The guitarist was one half of the pioneering jazz funk band Morrissey-Mullen. The British jazz-funk/fusion group of the 1970s and 1980s were considered one of the most popular jazz groups in London.

He has also won many British music awards including Best Guitar in the British Telecom Jazz Awards (1994, 1996 and 2000), and he has toured and recorded extensively around the world.

Jim is supported in this clubstyle presentation of Jazz in the Studio by one of Ronnie Scott's favourite rhythm sections: Alex Hutton (Piano), Andy Cleyndert (Bass), and Clark Tracey (Drums).

The guitarist will come to Norden Farm Centre for the Arts on Friday, January 11 at 8pm. Tickets are £15 (£13 conc), £5 under 16s.