Friday, 29th September 2006

Dick Pearce with PD3

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.00pm Tickets £12 (Friends of PJC £10)

Dick Pearce (trumpet/flugelhorn), Pete Downes (guitar), Andy Coe (double bass), Tim Bruce (drums)

The new season at the Club kicks off with the very welcome return of Dick Pearce who has teamed up with a vibrant trio- PD3, led by guitarist Pete Downes. Dick Pearce is one of the very best trumpeters this country has ever produced and was featured in Ronnie Scott's band for nearly a decade (and was in Ronnie's sextet when they played the first concert at PJC in 1992). For many years Dick has led his own quartet as well as guesting with just about everyone on the British jazz scene. Dick Pearce and PD3 have been working together for several years developing their own unique sound and feel to the music. The band blend their own original compositions with totally fresh and inspired versions of well known songs and jazz standards. As well as the more classic approach to the jazz music played, Dick Pearce and PD3 also cross over to the jazz/fusion genre which can draw in a wider audience as seen in the great reviews they got when they played to the vast crowd at the Glastonbury Festival in 2005. PD3 is led by Pete Downes who is a completely self-taught guitarist and has played widely in the UK and Europe. He has released 3 solo albums as well as two trio CDs, featuring Andy Coe (double bass) and Tim Bruce (drums), who complete the band line-up tonight. Dick Pearce and PD3 have recently recorded an album together which should be available at the concert. A great night in prospect with the melodic, haunting tone of trumpeter Dick Pearce and the contemporary sound of PD3.

Friday, 27th October 2006

Protect the Beat

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.000pm Tickets £12 (Friends of PJC £10)

Derek Nash (saxophone), Winston Blissett (electric bass), Tim Cansfield (electric guitar), Arden Hart (keyboards), Darby Todd (drums)

Hold on to your seats and get ready to take off with this powerhouse band that Hold are guaranteed to get you right in the groove from the first few bars. Not only does this band appeal to the jazz audience but anyone who enjoys soul, R & B, funk, groove and whatever else will find this outfit gives them something special and to hear them live is an unforgettable experience. We booked them in 2005 as a dep. for Avishai Cohen's band who were unable to appear at the Club and right from the start, the audience were blown away and captivated by the pure excitement and dynamism of the band. As we unable to advertise the band when they first appeared, we decided to re-book them as soon as possible and give many more people the chance to see them live. Protect the Beat are led by the exciting Derek Nash on alto saxophone, a very fine musician who founded Sax Appeal and is featured regularly in Jools Holland's band. The rhythm section features musicians who are well known in jazz outfits as well as bands such as Massive Attack, Annie Lennox, Nik Kershaw plus many others and, as a result, are in heavy demand. We are very lucky to have been able to book the full band for tonight's concert and judging by the standing ovation the band got last time they played, you will need to be at the Club early to be sure of a seat as the concert should be a sell-out.

As their CD says... 'it ain't dinner jazz'

Saturday, 4th November 2006

Colin Watling, Nick hill and Nick Page Quintet

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.00pm Tickets £6 (Friends of PJC £5/ Students £3)

Colin Watling (tenor saxophone), Nick Hill (trumpet), Nick Page (guitar), Jim Richardson (double bass), tbc (drums)

PLEASE NOTE - THIS CONCERT TAKES PLACE AT THE KEY THEATRE FOYER BAR

For a one off, come to the newly refurbished Key Theatre and have a superb evening of jazz in the company of some of the best musicians around. We thought it would be great to have one of our concerts at another venue in town and the Foyer bar at The Key provides a great ambience to listen to a swinging night of top jazz. Nick Hill needs no introducion as one of the finest trumpet/flugelhorn players around. Nick has developed his own unique sound, coupled with a vast knowledge of the jazz repertoire. Colin Watling is rated by many as one of the most exciting tenor saxophonists on the circuit with his melodic, swinging sound. Nick Page is an outstanding guitarist, who is first choice for many top jazz musicians. The band is completed by Jim Richardson (double bass), who has played with all the great names in British jazz with our drummer tbc.

Parking is available just outside The Key Theatre, as many of you will know, and we've also reduced our ticket prices and with the capacity of the Foyer Bar limited to about 100, it might be wise to get down early or you'll miss 'the fireworks' inside The Key!

Friday, 24th November 2006

Stan Sulzmann and John Parricelli Quartet - Ronnie Scott Memorial Concert

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.00pm Tickets £12 (Friends of PJC £10)

Stan Sulzmann (tenor saxophone), John Parricelli (guitar), Lawrence Cottle (electric bass), Ian Thomas (drums)

This evening promises pure quality from start to finish with four musicians who are all very highly rated by jazz audiences, critics and musicians
alike. Stan Sulzmann is without question one of the most highly respected saxophonists in the UK today, admired for his instantly recognisable sound and boundless creative imagination and is a source of inspiration to many of Britain's emerging young musicians. Sulzmann's career stretches back to the 60's, when as part of a uniquely talented crop of British musicians, he played with Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor and Gordon Beck amongst others. Since that time, Stan has played with the likes of Gil Evans, Michael Brecker and Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band as well as leading his own trio and quartet for many years. Further special innovative musical partnerships have developed with pianist Nicki Iles and our other special guest tonight, guitarist John Parricelli. John Parricelli began his musical career in 1982 and became a founder member of the progressive band, Loose Tubes. Since then, he has pursued a varied career working with many top musicians such as Lee Konitz, Paul Motian, Andy Sheppard and Ian Bellamy plus many others. Alongside this, John has recorded with M People, Mike Oldfield and Shara Nelson to name a few. The band is completed by two exceptional musicians- Lawrence Cottle on electric bass and Ian Thomas on drums.

Sunday, 17th December 2006

Esther Miller Sextet - THE CHRISTAMAS CONCERT ! ! !

Doors open 7.30pm
Music starts 8.00pm Tickets £15 (Friends of PJC £12)

Esther Miller (vocals), Karen Sharpe (tenor saxophone), Steve Waterman (trumpet), Steve Melling (pianist), Zoltan Dekaney (double bass), Stephen Keogh (drums)

Our special Christmas concert presents Esther Miller, one of the very best young female vocalists on the International scene together with her very fine band which features some top instrumentalists. Esther was brought up in South Africa and her love of music came from a mixture of studying the songs of Nat King Cole and also singing in church choirs. While she was studying medicine at Cape Town she decided that jazz was where she really wanted to be and decided to dedicate herself to singing, turning professional shortly afterwards. Initially, she sang with many of the top names on the South African jazz and music scene and recorded her first CD, which was very well received by the critics . After moving to the UK, she quickly established herself and began working with the likes of Alan Skidmore, Dave O'Higgins and Herb Ellis. She has appeared regularly at the Birmingham International & Cork Jazz Festivals, as well as touring regularly in the UK and Europe. For this evening's performance, Esther brings her regular sextet with the sensational Karen Sharpe on tenor saxophone and star trumpeter Steve Waterman, both great favourites at the Club. Completing the sextet will be Steve Melling (pianist), Zoltan Dekaney (double bass) and Stephen Keogh (drums) - all highly rated.

Why not visit Esther's fantastic web site www.esthermiller.co.uk

Advance tickets will be available for the Christmas concert, which invariably sells out early- so make sure you're not left out in the cold !