Big band to bring Jimi Hendrix experience

A JAZZ musician from Henley, whose love of music stems from hearing his brother’s Jimi Hendrix album, is coming to the Kenton Theatre.

Denny Ilett, 57, and his 16-piece Electric Lady Big Band will perform some much-loved Hendrix classics.

He says: “I was born on October 5, 1966, on the day that the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the original line-up, had their first play together, so that’s my little connection to Jimi.

“My father, Denny Ilett Snr, was a trumpet player and he actually played in a soul band in the Sixties that did a lot of support tours with people like Jimi Hendrix and James Brown and Cream and all these big acts at the time. Unfortunately, he passed away in June last year.

“I grew up with the music because my brother, Steve, had a Jimi Hendrix record that I heard coming out of his bedroom and I just thought, ‘What the hell is that?’ and I just got these shivers. That’s why I play the guitar, because of hearing Jimi Hendrix coming out of my brother’s bedroom.

“The big band was formed in 2018 and was commissioned by Bristol Jazz Festival because it was the 50th anniversary of a Jimi Hendrix album called Electric Ladyland.

“So, I was commissioned to write a big band interpretation of it. I orchestrated the whole thing for this 16-piece ensemble and we played the album in sequence.

“When we got to the end of the gig, we had had such a good time, we all looked at each other and said, ‘Oh, shall we actually do this again and keep it going?’ That was 2018 and we did a few festivals and were just getting it off the ground and then the coronavirus lockdowns happened, so then it went on ice for a bit.

“When we were allowed to go back to studios, we all got together and did another album of various bits of Jimi Hendrix music that we liked and that’s where we’re at now.”

Born in Seattle, America, in 1942, singer-songwriter and legendary guitarist Hendrix started out playing with the Isley Brothers’ backing band and Little Richard.

In 1966, he moved to the UK, when Chas Chandler of the Animals became his manager, where he had three top 10 hits in quick succession, Hey Joe, Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary. He died at the age of just 27 in London.

Denny says: “The focus is not me as a guitar player, it’s not a thing where I stand in front and play a load of widdly guitar solos while the band back me. All the focus is on Hendrix as composer and less about the kind of rock star image thing, it’s focusing on his compositional skills.

“Just before Hendrix passed away, he was asked about what his next musical plans were and he did actually say that he wanted to have a big band that he could write and conduct for, so that was the inspiration.

“He didn’t obviously live to see that through, so this is our little tribute to what Jimi wanted to do as the Seventies started. A lot of people love Hendrix anyway, but a lot of people also like big bands and the power that you get from all of those horns.

“The band has 12 horn players and then it’s based around the rhythm section, which was what Jimi Hendrix’s band was, just a trio with guitar, bass and drums.

“We also have trombones, four trumpets and four saxophones. It’s a hand-picked band in that not only are these guys really good section players, they’re good at playing the harmonies, and really top drawer soloists as well. Everyone gets their chance to interpret Jimi their way as the concert goes on.”

In addition to arranging the music, Denny sings and plays guitar. On trumpet are Simon Gardner, Noel Langley, Jonny Bruce and Tom Gardner; on trombone are Ian Bateman, Patrick Hartley, Raphael Clarkson and Sarah Williams; on saxophone are Ben Waghorn, Iain Ballamy, Ruth Hammond and Kevin Figes; while Laurence Cottle is on bass, Dan Moore is on keyboards and Daisy Palmer is on drums.

Denny, who was born in Woodley and grew up in South Oxfordshire, moved to Henley last January, having spent many years living in Bristol.

He says: “I co-founded and ran Bristol Jazz Festival, which I did for 10 years. The big band has just been at Ronnie Scott’s in London and last year we did Cheltenham Jazz Festival and we’re doing Swansea Jazz Festival and we’re going to do another album later this year.

“I’m now trying to get an event going, Henley Jazz Festival, on Sunday, June 16, which will be at Henley Rugby Club.

“The Kenton concert is a bit like a homecoming. I do have friends here, such as musicians Art Themen and Andy Crowdy. I was with Art when he played the Crooked Billet last week. He’s great.

“I used to go and see him as a fan when I was a teenager and it’s just amazing now that I play with him — I still have a little starstruck vibe when I’m with him, even though he’s now a friend!”

• The Jimi Hendrix Experience, performed by the 16-piece Denny Ilett’s Electric Lady Big Band, is at the Kenton Theatre on Thursday, May 16 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £27.50. For more information and to buy tickets, call the box office on (01491) 525050 or visit thekenton.org.uk