Fleece Jazz

On Wednesday 13 November, Simon Spillett Quartet – £20

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Simon Spillett Tenor Sax 

Pete Whittaker Piano

Alec Dankworth Bass

Peter Cater Drums

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"Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb" - The Guardian

Over his twenty-five year career Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it's possible to wear within jazz; multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal's Album of The Year), quartet and big band leader, recording artist, author, historian, record producer, archivist, magazine columnist and latterly blogger.

However, for all these varied skills he identifies most strongly as a powerfully swinging, straight-ahead tenor saxophonist, one capable of taking the audiences who hear him on a roller-coaster ride encompassing everything from energetic bebop to heartfelt balladry.

Excellence attracts excellence. Pete Whittaker is his pianist, Alec Dankworth his bassist and Peter Cater is his drummer.

We usually see Pete as an organist. Tonight he will be on piano, the instrument that he played before Jimmy Smith got him. The intensity of listening to his colleagues is sky high. While he is the ideal accompanist, his solo work is superb.

Alec is an award-winning jazz bassist and composer who, in addition to leading several groups of his own, has worked with an amazing list of artists including Van Morrison, Stephane Grappelli, Abdullah Ibrahim, and The Dave Brubeck Quartet. He is known for his energetic stage presence, versatility of style and some of the most imaginative bass solos around! John Fordham says, "elegant stability, big sound, sure beat, and thoughtful spontaneity".

Peter has dedicated his life to a career in music and describes himself as “exactly the musician my 6 year old self dreamed of being”. He continues to be in the top division of UK jazz drummers, having been voted 5th in the world in 2015.

The band will draw unashamedly on the classic sounds of British modern jazz from the 1950s and 60s, in particular the repertoire of the iconic UK saxophone legend, Tubby Hayes.

On Wednesday 27 November,  Art Themen at 85; “Live in Soho album Tour” – £20

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Art Themen Saxes

Pete Whittaker Organ

George Double Drums

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Described by THE OBSERVER as "One of the tiny handful of undeniably perfect jazz musicians”, Art remains as brilliant and inimitable as ever.

An exciting and inventive saxophonist, Art Themen has been an appealing presence on the British jazz circuit for over 60 years. A previous winner of the tenor sax category in the British Jazz Awards, recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and shortlisted for the Jazz Instrumentalist of the year in the recent Parliamentary Jazz Awards, this living legend has famously combined his role as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with saxophone duties in the bands of Alexis Korner and Stan Tracey (the ‘Godfather of British Jazz’) as well as recordings with Joe Cocker, Jack Bruce and even Bing Crosby.

Pete Whittaker, Hammond star, is always a delight. Originally a piano player, he migrated to organ after hearing the classic 1950s & 1960s Jimmy Smith records and after immersing himself in the sound world of Larry Young, Groove Holmes, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff etc. Despite his deep love of the vintage Hammond tonewheel consoles, Pete has always had one eye on the digital clones, though none have impressed him as much for authenticity as the Crumar Mojo which he now plays on the vast majority of his gigs and several recent recordings.

George Double's playing and recording credits include Dame Shirley Bassey, Grammy Award Winner Jack Jones, Marc Almond, Mica Paris, Ruthie Henshall and Kym Mazelle. His West End and touring theatre record includes stints on Wicked, Guys and Dolls, Avenue Q, Sinatra and Anything Goes. He is active on the British jazz scene and appears regularly at Ronnie Scott’s club in London and elsewhere as a freelancer (with Chris Ingham, John Etheridge, Art Themen, Digby Fairweather, Derek Nash and many others). He is also curator of Hadleigh, Southwold and Frinton Jazz Clubs.