Friday, 23rd February 2007

Bobby Wellins Quartet

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.00pm Tickets £12

Bobby Wellins (tenor saxophone), John Chritchinson (piano), Arnie Somogyi(double bass), Buster Birch (drums)

Bobby Wellins, one of the finest tenor saxophonists in the world today, makes a very welcome return to the Club after a gap of some three years, bringing with him a superb rhythm section led by another great favourite, pianist John Critchinson.

Bobby's professional career dates back over 50 years, making his first recording in 1956 with Buddy Featherstonhaugh's quintet, which also featured Kenny Wheeler on trumpet. Following on from this he joined drummer Tony Crombie's band, followed by spells with Johnny Dankworth and Tubby Hayes' Big Band as well as forming his own quartet in the early 1960's. He then teamed up with Stan Tracey, recording the acclaimed Under Milk Wood suite in 1965- chosen by JazzUK magazine, following a poll of readers, as the all-time favourite British Jazz album in 1998. It is a testament to the musical creativity of Bobby Wellins and Stan Tracey that despite the thousands of recordings made in the intervening 33 years, Under Milk Wood was chosen. Over the years, Bobby has made many other fine albums with a number released in the 1990's with his own quartet to critical acclaim.

For this evening's concert, Bobby is joined by a great rhythm section led by the ever-popular John Critchinson (piano) with the very fine bassist Arnie Somogyi and, for the first time at the club, drummer Buster Birch.

"Bobby Wellins has one of the most beautiful tenor saxophone sounds in the history of the instrument" (The Observer)

"A Bobby Wellins tenor sax performance so sublime you feel it should be displayed in Tate Modern" (The Guardian)

Friday, 30th March 2007

The Matt Wates Sextet

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.000pm Tickets £12

Matt Wates (alto saxophone), Steve Kaldestad (tenor saxophone), Martin Shaw (trumpet/flugel horn), Leon Greening (piano), Malcolm Creese (double bass), Steve Brown (drums)

The Matt Wates Sextet is currently one of the 'hottest' small groups in British Jazz, winning Best Small Group in the British Jazz Awards in 2001 (Matt himself won Rising Star Award from 1997-99) and the band is currently featured at many jazz festivals around the country. Having won a scholarship to Berklee College, Boston in the late 1980's, Matt went on to play with Humphrey Lyttelton, Duncan Lamont and Don Weller before forming his own band, his fluent and lyrical playing being likened to Paul Desmond and Cannonball Adderley.

This current sextet was formed in 2001 and the personnel have remained fairly consistent. As well as Matt, it now consists of the very fine Canadian tenor saxophonist Steve Kaldestad (who was taught by Lee Konitz), the redoubtable Martin Shaw on trumpet who has been a member of the band since it was formed, highly regarded pianist Leon Greening with the superb Malcolm Creese (double bass) and Steve Brown (drums) completing the line-up.

In style, the sextet resembles many of the great small bands of the '50's and '60's, such as those of Horace Silver and the West Coast bands. Each of the band's seven albums, the most recent being 'Plum Lane', takes inspiration form the past, without trying to replicate it.

"Matt Wates is a bit of a phenomenon….a marvellous alto player who has managed to keep this band afloat relying purely on creativity and musicianship" ( Dave Gelly, The Observer)

Friday, 20th April 2007

The Simon Spillett Quartet

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.00pm Tickets £12

Simon Spillett (tenor saxophone), John Critchinson (piano), Andy Cleyndert (double bass), Spike Wells (drums)

Back by popular demand! Simon Spillett stormed into our jazz club in March 2006 and created such a wave of excitement around the place that we had to ask him back as soon as we could. Simon is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest musicians to emerge on to the British jazz scene for over a decade. His playing encompasses superb technique, great tone, melodic invention and a driving sound that reminds you of the late master of the tenor saxophone, Tubby Hayes.

Simon turned professional in 1996 aged 21, having studied for two and a half years with the great saxophonist and clarinettist Vic Ash. His influences, apart form Tubby, include many of the great jazz names- Getz, Coltrane, Ronnie Scott, Peter King amongst many others. In addition, Simon has developed his skills as a composer and his new CD "Introducing Simon Spillett" has been highly rated by jazz critics.

A great front man needs a great rhythm section behind him and we have such a band tonight. John Critchinson (piano) and Andy Cleyndert (double bass) are two of the best in the business and were first choice for Ronnie Scott for many years and Spike Wells was Tubby Hayes' drummer from 1968-73, so we can rest assured that the evening will be fired up right from the start.

"Simon Spillett is, in my opinion, the best I have heard live in 25 years.. a natural player with that elusive ingredient to move the audience with the emotion he transmits" (Jazz Journal International).

Friday, 18th May 2007

Peter King with the Frank Harrison Trio

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.00pm Tickets £12

Peter King (alto saxophone), Frank Harrison (piano), Aidan O'Donnell (double bass), Steve Keogh (drums)

In the words of one jazz commentator Peter King is "the finest alto saxophonist that Britain has ever produced, and one of the finest in the world today" (Dave Gelly), and has been a major influence on the British jazz scene ever since he played (at the age of eighteen!) the opening of Ronnie Scott's, London's internationally famous jazz Mecca: "Had Ronnie Scott's Club died overnight and been heard of no more it could still have justified its existence by pointing to a discovery like Peter King." (Benny Green).

Tonight, Peter King is playing with Frank Harrison - one of the very best young British pianists to emerge over the past few years. Frank has been a regular member of Gilad Atzmon's band for several years. In addition, he has led his trio, releasing a successful debut album in 2006. Completing the line-up will be top young bassist Aidan O'Donnell with one of the best drummers around in Steve Keogh.