8th September: Anita Wardell Band ‘The Vocal Session’
The Guardian proclaimed her “a model of the Jazz singer's art, highlighting her clarity, improvisational skills and emotional resonance.” In 2004 she teamed up with tenor saxophonist Benn Clatworthy and recorded If You Never Come to Me. The recent signing to Specific Jazz (a division of Proper Records) and the winning of the prestigious BBC Jazz Award for Best of Jazz 2006 are now propelling Anita into the major artist arena. Noted, her first release for the new label (released in July 2006), is a collection of well known material from the Blue Note era to which Anita has penned many of her own lyrics.It has already received much radio play and 4 and 5 star reviews from UK and European jazz publications.
15th September: Gilad Atzmon alto/clarinet with John Turville trio (Admission £10)
Gilad was born in Israel in 1963 and had his musical training at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem. He toured with Memphis Slim and supporting many international jazz names such as Jack De Johnette, Michel Petrucciani, Richie Beirach and many others. As a member of the Blockheads, Gilad has also recorded and performed with such as Ian Dury, Robbie Williams, Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney. His recent project is Gilad with Strings… a tribute to Charlie Parker which has received huge critical acclaim all over the World.
22nd September: Simon Spillett/Danny Moss Jnr Quartet
Tonight’s all star line up features award winning tenor sax player Simon Spillett, with top visiting Australian bassist Danny Moss Jnr, along with guitarist Dave Chamberlain (known to many as one of UK’s finest bass players!) and premier UK drummer Matt Home. This quartet is guaranteed to swing hard, a night not to be missed.
29th September: Bob Martin with Dave Cliff trio
After his musical training in the USA Bob toured and recorded extensively with the Buddy Rich Orchestra and went on to perform with many of the greats, such Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Ekstine, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Junior etc. He has lived in London since 1997 and can be heard regularly playing alongside Peter King, Don Weller, Alan Barnes and many more of the UK’s finest jazz musicians. Tonight he is heard with award winning guitarist Dave Cliff and his trio.
6th October: Jacqui Hicks Band
Jacqui worked with Shakatak, currently tours with The Count Basie Orchestra and many others, with film credits, an incredible radio and recording CV she is a very busy Lady Of Jazz. In fact Jacqui is a consummate and competent musician and as a more than competent reed player it is her technical knowledge of the idiom that makes her such a firm favorite with other brilliant players, she is a vocalist that fully understands the machinations of Jazz.
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.
20th October: Henry Lowther trumpet
Over the last thirty years Henry's work on the British jazz scene reads like a ‘Who's Who’. He has played regularly with, amongst many others, Gordon Beck, Michael Garrick, Graham Collier, Mike Gibbs, Pete King, Loose Tubes, John Surman, John Taylor, Stan Tracey and Kenny Wheeler. He is one of only two or three players in the world to have had the honour of playing lead trumpet with both Gil Evans and George Russell. More recently he can be heard with the Frank Griffith ‘Nonet’ on their latest CD release.
27th October: Dave O’Higgins tenor with his trio
Award winning saxophonist (British Jazz Awards - Best Tenor Sax). Whilst still studying he started his own jazz quartet and began gigging with NYJO, John Dankworth & Cleo Laine and Icelandic jazz-funk band Mezzoforte. Sketch Book (Jazzizit) is his tenth solo cd and features Dave alongside one of New York’s finest tenor saxophonists, Eric Alexander. He regularly features as a part of the Ronnie Scotts Allstars and the BBC Big Band. “A stunning player in the neo-bop vein, with an apparently effortless flow of coherent ideas, beautiful time and a highly developed harmonic sense.” Jazz Guide.
Tom Cawley, piano, Dave Chamberlain, bass and Sebastiaan de Krom, drums.
3rd November: Georgia Mancio Band ‘Vocal Session’
Georgia is one of the UK’s most important new artists. First prize winner of The Brussells young jazz singers award, she has performed with Bobby Mc Ferrin, Lianne Caroll, Norma Winston and Ian Shaw. Last time she performed at the Club she completely stunned us with both her own arrangements and her multi lingual presentation.
10th November: Jo Fooks tenor
One of a new breed of lady saxophonists who are to be taken as seriously as the men. In 1992 Jo won The Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year. After recording her debut album “Here and Now!”, Humphrey Lyttelton invited her to join his eight-piece band, which she worked with for many years to great acclaim. Alongside performing in this band Jo also recorded and worked with Acker Bilk and played alongside Tina May, Joe Temperley, Scott Hamilton, Elkie Brooks and many others. Softly spoken and beautifully played.
17th November: Gabriel and Mike Garrick
A father and son night… legendary Mike (piano) is featured with his son Gabriel (trumpet). Gabriel has worked with John Dankworth Generation Band, Mike Garrick Jazz Orchestra, Derek Nash's Sax Appeal Big Band, Len Phillips Big Band, Pete Cater Big Band, Gerard Presencer Big Band, and Big Band Metheny. Tonight is a rare treat to hear him alongside his highly respected father Mike, a legend of the British Jazz.
24th November: Stan Sulzmann/Jim Hart quartet
featuring Larry Bartley bass and Enzo Zirilli drums
Jim and Stan both play in the band ‘Neon’ in which they collaborate with Gwilym Simcock. Jim was the winner of a 2007 British Jazz award, the 2006 British Jazz award for Rising star and the 2006 Worshipful company of musicians Bronze medal. Stan has been at the forefront of European contemporary jazz for many years and his talents have been sought by a host of discerning musicians,including Gil Evans, Mike Gibbs, Kenny Clarke/ Francy Boland and Michael Brecker. Tonight they lead an all star quartet playing great standards.
1st December: A VOCAL REBIRTH OF THE COOL
featuring Trudy Kerr, Georgia Mancio, Brigitte Beraha, Daniela Clynes, Mark Jennett and Malcolm Earl Smith
The classic Miles Davis album Birth of the Cool has always been one of my favourites. I love the unusual instrumentation of the frontline and the beautiful dense harmonies. The idea of having a vocal group to sing the frontline has always been an ambition of mine. Expect some 6 part vocal arrangements as well as duets and solos from these talented singers.
8th December: Mark Lockheart tenor and soprano saxes
Mark Lockheart is one of the most distinctive and creative musicians on the current British music scene. As a saxophonist and composer, his work often defies categorisation and crosses the boundaries of the jazz, new music and folk worlds. “Lockheart is a consummate saxophonist and a original and versatile composer” The Rough Guide to Jazz.
Lockheart came to prominence in the mid 80s with big band Loose Tubes, since then he has led his own groups, In Deep Quintet and Perfect Houseplants as well as being a regular member of Alec Dankworth's group and Seb Rochford's Polar Bear. A new seven piece band entitled “Ellington In Anticipation” and featuring many of Duke's famous melodies makes it debut at this years London Jazz Festival. Tonights see Mark performing his favourite standards with an exciting young rhythm section of Chris Eldred (piano), Loz Garrett (bass) and David Elliot (drums).
15th December: Steve and Matt Fishwick with Adrian Fry and Pete Whittaker
Tonights features an All-Star band… Steve and Matt Fishwick were both from Manchester. They left there in 1994 for London to study at the Royal Academy of Music. Steve won the 2002 British Jazz Awards Rising Star prize and in the same year toured the UK with Alan Barnes in place of the great US trumpeter Conte Candoli who sadly and unexpectedly passed away. He leads a quartet with his brother Matt, and co- leads a quintet with Welsh saxophonist Osian Roberts, with whom he recorded an album in NYC with legendary American pianist Cedar Walton and bass great Peter Washington and brother Matt, released in September 2009. Tonight the brothers are heard alongside top keyboardist Pete Whittaker and the great British trombonist Adrian Fry.
22nd December: Alan Barnes alto, baritone and clarinet
Twice winner of the BBC jazz award for best instrumentalist, Alan plays Alto and baritone saxophones and clarinet. Playing mostly carefully chosen standards his main criteria is that the music should swing like mad. He has played with Charlie Watts, Bryan Ferry and Bjork to name just a few and regularly appears in the Michael Parkinson big band. He is also the boss of Woodville Records which have released some of the finest British jazz around.
29th December: Willie Garnett Big Band ‘The Xmas Party’
Lesley Christiane is featured singing tonight with the great Waddock’s Orchestra led by the fantastic Willie Garnett! The band features top players from the London scene including Alex Garnett, Mike Coates, Chris Lowe, John McNichol etc and will be playing arrangements by Sammy Nestico, Don Menza, Kenny Woodman, Frank Toms, Oliver Nelson, Kelvin Christiane, Benny Goodman plus many more. A fun night for all.
