Fleece Jazz

On Wednesday, 8th July, The Greg Abate Quartet – £20

Greg Abate Alto Sax/Flute

Chris Ingham Piano

Simon Thorpe Bass

Alfonso Vitale Drums

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“Greg Abate is one of the most appealing saxophonists on the scene today … the result is that he plays music with sweetness and daring.” New Jazz Recordings

We are delighted to welcome back to Fleece Jazz the legendary US saxophonist, Greg Abate, together with some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians. The quartet led by Greg in 2025 blew us away so much that we had to have them back as soon as possible.

Greg is based in the USA, a celebrated New England saxophonist and flautist with an assertive style on alto saxophone, rooted in bebop. His fluent and muscular playing encompasses a classic approach to the material in the style of Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley and Phil Woods. As well as his touring work, Greg is also a composer, an arranger, a Grammy-nominated recording artist and an educator of some considerable note, serving as an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College.  He has had an impressively diverse international career: from 1972-’74, he played lead alto for the iconic Ray Charles Orchestra, followed by a spell playing tenor sax for the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra. Since then, he has had an outstanding career as a band leader in his own right with more than 24 recordings featuring notable greats such as Phil Woods, Kenny Barron, and Red Rodney.

Bandleader, composer, singer, presenter and superb pianist Chris Ingham will be with us. Chris is a club favourite. I think this is partly because he thinks deeply about the music he is playing. He seems to give us the lyrics through his fingers.

Simon Thorpe, too, returns with the quartet and is one of the UK's best-known and most versatile jazz bassists, nominated in 2016 and 2017 for a British Jazz Award.  He has worked with many of the great UK and US names in jazz, recording and touring with Bobby Wellins, Stacey Kent, Bheki Mseleku, Alan Barnes, Elaine Delmar, Scott Hamilton, Benn Clatworthy and Ray Gelato.  He runs several of his own bands and is also known as a composer and arranger.

Again, Alfonso Vitale completes the quartet as before. Alfonso started playing the drums at the age of three and became a regular fixture at local jazz club ‘La Sosta’, sitting in with visiting veteran stars like Bobby Watson, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Steve Swallow and others. Soon after moving to the UK, he found a comfortable footing on the London scene before visiting New York which enabled him to hone and extend his skills.

This promises to be a special jazz gig for a summer’s evening!

“Abate is not content to rely on stock bebop riffs … his work has a feeling of constant invention and creativity.” Chicago Tribune

“Abate’s musical style can be seen as a distillation of swing’s easy-going vibe and bop’s
more animated groove. He has developed a unique voice.”   METRO San Jose, CA

On Wednesday, 22nd July, Clark Tracey’s Jazz Champions – £25

Clark Tracey Drums

Art Themen Saxes

Simon Allen Saxes

David Newton Piano

Andrew Cleyndert Bass

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“One of the most impressive jazz drummers in Britain today.” The Times

The Jazz Champions were established by Clark Tracey to showcase some of the finest talents in the UK jazz scene.  The ensemble not only pays tribute to Clark's late father, Stan Tracey, but also performs beloved jazz classics, creating a fresh sound that resonates with audiences.

A five-time winner of the Best Drummer category in the British Jazz Awards, Clark Tracey is an excellent, highly experienced drummer, bandleader, composer and arranger who originally featured with the band of his late, great father, Stan Tracey CBE.  Clark has built a reputation since the early '80s as a scout for future jazz talent: Guy Barker, Alex Ridout, Daniel Casimir, Zoe Rahman, and Mark Armstrong are just a few whose talent he nurtured.

Awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to music and the promotion of jazz, Clark's latest band features a truly impressive group of top-class British jazz players. Formed in April 2024, the Jazz Champions are made up of some of the most experienced musicians on the UK scene.  Finding a niche in the market for a band of world class performers of a certain generation, the quintet has been experiencing sell out houses and stand out reviews.

Art Themen is an exciting, playful and inventive saxophonist and has been a beloved character on the British jazz scene for a staggering 60 years. He has featured in the bands of Mike Westbrook, Michael Garrick, Graham Collier, Alexis Korner, and Stan Tracey. Tenor saxophonist Simon Allen leads his own quartets and quintets and is a member of the Laurence Cottle All Star Big Band and Colin Towns Mask Orchestra. He was first spotted in the ranks of the youth band Pendulum by Clark more than 30 years ago. David Newton has been voted Best Jazz Pianist no fewer than 16 times by UK jazz audiences who adore his dynamic and lyrical playing. He has been best known by his work as an accompanist for singers such as Marion Montgomery, Tina May, Annie Ross, Claire Martin, and Stacey Kent with whom he spent 10 years recording and touring the world. Bassist Andrew Cleyndert began his career working in the bands of Don Weller and Bobby Wellins and has since flourished on the UK jazz scene and beyond. He was also a regular sideman for Stan Tracey with whom he recorded for 30 years and later became first choice accompanist to international soloists such as Bud Shank, George Coleman, Lee Konitz, and James Moody.

“A terrific ensemble of seasoned exponents of post-bop music. For me Tracey is a world-class musician whose mature and distinctive artistry – his own “snap-crackle” – is right up there with the likes of Philly Joe Jones and Roy Haynes. Clark Tracey is also a great bandleader, able to engage both easily and warmly with audiences while offering them the most intelligently programmed music selected from many a realm of jazz.”

Jazz Journal, 2024