| 26th January: The Rosetta Bones |
| This Five piece Trombone ensemble consists of some of UK's Top Jazz Trombonists, including Adrian Fry, Chris Lowe, Lee Hallam, Geoff Baxter and Jimmy Adams, with a stellar rhythm section consisting of Nick Ramm on piano, Nick Walsh on double bass and Nick Smalley on drums. It has been regularly said that the trombone is the closest of all the 'jazz' instruments, in pitch and timbre to the human voice and with the superb arrangements of Kai Winding, Mark Nightingale, Bob Florence, Alan Hare and Chris Lowe, a rare treat is in store. Not to be missed. |
| 2nd February: Liz Fletcher with Jim Mullen and Mick Hutton |
| Join us for a relaxing evening featuring the stunning, sensual and irresistibly stylish vocals of Liz Fletcher. With hints of Peggy Lee, Annie Ross, Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald, Liz is a true Jazz diva, unmistakably original and expressive with vulnerability and poise that defies analysis. A musicians favorite she has recorded with Alan Barnes and worked with Gilad Atzmon, Jim Mullen and many others she headlines at the Ealing Jazz Festival and you can listen for her voice and lyrics in Olive Hodges prize winning film 'Garbage Warrior' where she worked with prize winning composer Patrick Watson. |
| 9th February: Killer Shrimp |
| Killer Shrimp is a new project co led by two of the UK's leading jazz musicians trumpeter Damon Brown and saxophonist Ed Jones. They are joined by the awesomely talented rhythm section of bassist Mark Hodgson and drummer Alyn Cosker. They are recent winners of the Parliamentary Jazz Award Best Jazz Ensemble 2007 and their debut album 'Sincerely Whatever' was also nominated for Best Jazz CD 2007. |
| 16th February: Pete Long alto and clarinet |
| Pete was recently involved in live and studio work with Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, the BBC Radio Big Band, arranging for and directing the poll-winning 9;20 De-Luxe. 10-piece swing band and re-creating the music of Dizzy Gillespie in quintet and big band formats. In the course of playing with Jools, Pete has worked with a diversity of popular icons from Vinnie Jones to Lionel Richie and The Blind Boys Of Alabama to Sting. He has also arranged music for Sir Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, Jane Horrocks, Ray Davies and Marianne Faithfull. |
| 23rd February: Alexander Stewart with Alex Webb trio |
| “23-year-old vocalist Alexander Stewart… a new name for many in the audience but already a seasoned performer, Stewart navigated through the demanding Strayhorn songbook with unerring skill and youthful energy and charisma…” Jazzwise.com, Nov 2010 on the Strayhorn the Songwriter concert in the London Jazz Festival 2010. “A razor-sharp group including Empirical saxist Nathaniel Facey and Jazz Jamaica bassist Gary Crosby, with swinging horn charts by Frank Griffith… he's on his way” The Guardian. “Bucket loads of originality and creative flair” British Jazz Blog |
| 13th October: Christian Brewer alto |
| Christian Brewer is an exciting, lyrical bop alto player who has been on the London jazz scene for many years. His groups have featured regularly at clubs such as Ronnie Scotts, (London) the Jamboree (Barcelona); the Hotclub (Lisbon) as well as International jazz festivals across Europe. His CD “introducing Christian Brewer” and “SEESAW” were both runner up in the International Jazz competition in Granada , Spain in 2004 and 2005. |
| 1st March: Don Weller and Willie Garnett |
| Don Weller is one of those, along with Stan Tracey, Peter King, Bryan Spring and Evan Parker, who have been at the forefront of the British Jazz scene for over 30 years. Tonight is heard together with the great Willie Garnett another veteran of the British Jazz Scene. Willie has played alongside many of the American visiting players like George Coleman, Ben Webster and Sonny Stitt, and also recorded with the Rolling Stones. Tonight promises to be an exciting tenor feast. |
| 8th March: Christine Tobin Band ‘The Vocal Session’ featuring Phil Robson, guitar and Dave Whitford, double bass |
| Irish-born singer-songwriter Christine Tobin is based in the UK and spends her time between London and the beautiful Kent coast. Her style, although rooted in jazz, is steeped in the singer-songwriter tradition and draws on a broad range of influences from West Africa to Brazil (Oumou Sangare, Fela Kuti, Elis Regina etc) Her sound is rich, authentic and deeply expressive and was described by The Guardian as “Tobin’s 24 carat voice” while praising her both for the poetry of her compositions and her golden voice. In 2008 she was named Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards. |
| 15th March: Karen Sharp tenor and baritone |
| Karen has worked in Humphrey Lyttelton’s band for the past four years, and with her own band has has played at top festivals and jazz clubs in the UK abroad including the Silda Jazz Festival-Norway, Edinburgh Festival, Swanage Jazz Festival, Hamburg Feast of Jazz, Newbury Festival, Oundle Festival, Bures Jazz Festival, Coventry, Isle of Wight, Isle Of Man and Keswick Jazz Fesitivals. Karen’s debut CD ‘Till There Was You’ for ‘33’ Records 2002, was featured several times on BBC Radio Two and Jazz FM. 2006 saw the launch of a new project entitled ‘A Tribute To Al And Zoot’ with fellow tenor player Robert Fowler and now Karen is currently busy promoting her new album ‘Wait And See’. “…an extraordinary talent.” Phil Collins, BBC Radio 2. |
| 22nd March: Julian Stringle clarinet |
| “Stringle’s clarinet sound is exquisite; it has freshness, sparkle and a flute-like softness. At times he makes the clarinet sound re-invented. This breathtaking young clarinettist offers a future for the instrument in the jazz front line.” John Fordham, The Guardian. “Julian Marc is now one of the world’s great clarinet players – right up there with Eddie Daniels!” Jim Mullen “Julian is an immense talent! Probably the best clarinettist to emerge in British jazz for several decades. His playing has ‘world class’ written all over it.” Sir John Dankworth |
| 29th March Benn Clatworthy tenor |
| “A fixture in Los Angeles area clubs since 1980, Benn Clatworthy was originally heavily influenced by late-'50s John Coltrane but would soften his tone and sometimes sound a little like Warne Marsh with touches of Sonny Rollins. He debuted on record in 1990, with his Discovery release Thanks Horace (which also features pianist Celia Coleman) and, in 1995, released While My Lady Sleeps on his own label (featuring Cedar Walton as a guest).” Scott Yanow. |