Fleece Jazz

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

albert

“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

On Wednesday, 12th August, Chris Ingham’s “Steely Jazz” Quintet – £25

Chris Ingham Piano/Guitar/Vocals

Paul Higgs Trumpet/Piano/Melodica

Harry Greene Tenor sax/Guitar

Geoff Gascoyne Bass

George Double Drums/Vocals

albert

“Excellent interpretations...full of compositional and improvisational riches” Jazz Journal

The songs of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen – better known as Steely Dan – stood apart in 1970s rock: cryptic lyrics, sophisticated detail and deep roots in “the best jazz players of the ‘50s and ‘60s”. 

Steely Jazz reimagines this opulent songbook, illuminating singular melodies, rich harmonies and small-group jazz possibilities. Featuring well-known pieces (Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Josie, Reelin' in the Years), alongside classic tracks and deep cuts from the masterpiece albums Aja, Gaucho, Countdown To Ecstasy, Katy Lied et al, Steely Jazz is a fresh, exciting celebration of two giants of 20th Century popular music.

Rated by The London Evening Standard as “one of Britain’s best singer-pianists", Chris Ingham has performed over 250 festival and club performances of his repertoire shows and has released four acclaimed CDs: Hoagy, Dudley, Stan and Hoagy II. He is musical director of film song quintet Jazz at the Movies and classic modern jazz sextet Rebop. Chris is also a record producer, author and TV composer.

Arranger and trumpeter for NYJO for many years, Paul Higgs has worked as a musical director at the RSC and National Theatre, as a TV and film composer and a record engineer and producer. One of the UK's most resourceful and expressive jazz trumpeters, Paul has worked with Nancy Wilson, Shorty Rogers and John Dankworth.

Multi-instrumentalist Harry Greene has performed alongside Cory Wong, Mica Paris, PBUG, Ricky Wilson, Prince’s side-woman Marva King and was part of the Royal Albert Hall “Ronnie Scott’s at 60” gala. He is co-leader (with singer Ashton Jones) and musical director of Funk Soul Orchestral who have performed sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s and venues throughout the UK.

An arranger, composer, bassist and producer of renown, in a 35-year career Geoff Gascoyne has worked with Michel Legrand, Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, Sir Willard White, US3, Sting, Charlie Watts, Benny Golson, Bill Bruford, Jacqui Dankworth, John Martyn, Dianne Reeves, Guy Barker, Claire Martin, Eartha Kitt and played a major part in the rise of Jamie Cullum with whom he worked exclusively from 2000 to 2007.

Friend of Fleece Jazz, George Double drums with Art Themen’s Organ Trio, John Etheridge’s Blue Spirits and many of Chris Ingham’s projects including Rebop and Jazz at the Movies. He has worked with Dame Shirley Bassey, Grammy Award Winner Jack Jones, Marc Almond, Mica Paris, Ruthie Henshall, Paul Jones and Kym Mazelle and has played on West End shows Wicked, Guys and Dolls, Avenue Q, Sinatra and Anything Goes. He is also a respected published drum educator, notably for Trinity College, London.

“Ingham brings it off...A valid adjunct to the originals, wonderful songs carefully turned so as to catch the light from a different angle, in the process drawing out their humanity.” Richard Williams, The Blue Moment

“Thoroughly enjoyable… everything is replete with feeling”   UK Jazz News