Alina Bzhezhinska Harp 

Tony Kofi Sax

Joel Prime Percussion

“Among the best contemporary harpists […] a modern-day supremo” Evening Standard

“There is so much respect in jazz circles for Tony Kofi” Jazzwise

Seamlessly blending the ethereal sounds of the harp with the soulful melodies of the saxophone, with the addition of a wide array of percussion, this remarkable jazz duo-turned-trio create a musical experience that transcends boundaries.  Their collaboration started in 2017, when they appeared as a quartet at the Barbican as part of the celebration of the music of Alice and John Coltrane during the 2017 EFG London Jazz Festival, receiving a Jazz FM Award nomination for Best Live Experience of the Year. Their performance then and now is a testament to the power of harmonious fusion, as they draw inspiration from jazz traditions while infusing their performances with innovation and improvisation. Together, they craft enchanting narratives through their music, captivating audiences with each note and ensuring that their jazz legacy continues to evolve in exciting and unexpected ways.

Undoubtedly one of the leading harpists in the world today, Alina Bzhezhinska is a one-woman powerhouse on a mission to bring the harp to the fore of contemporary sound.  Since her award-winning appearance in 2017, her recordings and concert performances have affirmed her as an important and original artist.  From Royalty to the jazz greats of today, Alina Bzhezhinska has performed at the late Queen’s 80th Birthday and before King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand; she has also collaborated with world-class artists such as Kamaal Williams, DJ Spinna (NYC), Slide Johnson (Paris), Tony Kofi and Shabaka Hutchings.

Bzhezhinska is a creator of a unique international formation, the Hip Harp Collective. She also runs a charity to support her home country, Ukraine.

Saxophonist Tony Kofi first came to prominence in the 1990s as a member of The Jazz
Warriors and Gary Crosby’s Nu Troop. Subsequently, as well as leading his own groups including the Monk Liberation Front, he played with Billy Higgins, Clifford Jarvis, Courtney Pine and David Murray’s iconic US band the World Saxophone Quartet (the first UK born musician in the group). And, in addition to multiple BBC Jazz Awards, he’s also a Parliamentary Jazz Award winner and a MOBO nominee. Alina and Tony have known each other since 2015 and their musical partnership has produced three albums, including their latest Altera Vita. In their own words, the album is described as “resonating deeply with the musical style of our hero”, the late US saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, who influenced their “artistic journey through Jazz”. With Tony’s West African and Alina’s Eastern European roots also informing the compositions, the music aims to bring “solace and elation to those who listen in these uncertain times.” Downbeat Magazine awarded the recording five stars, commenting, “Wow… a powerful, moving, take-your-breath-away masterpiece”.

Percussionist, Joel Prime, was an original member of the quartet that first appeared live in
2017 (along with Larry Bartley) and has continued to work with Alina Bzhezhinska since. On a kit from the age of three and playing regular gigs at 11, Joel had drumming prowess that was immediately evident. But natural flair merely introduced him to the possibilities of percussion. A solid regime of practice developed his sparkling technique, and Joel’s acquired skill through hard work and persistence became his entrée card to a world of musical diversity. Indeed, his versatility across congas, drum kit and all manner of Afro- Cuban and Brazilian percussion now sees him performing with a vast array of ensembles
across many musical styles.

 ‘…Bzhezhinska shares with Alice (Coltrane) a mastery of the jazz harp.’                                                                        ★★★★★ The Times

Paul Higgs Trumpet/Flugel 

Natalie Rozario Cello

Andy Watson Guitar

Chris Ingham Piano

Jerome Davies Bass

George Double Drums

“Paul is the most versatile musician I’ve ever met. Playing, directing, composing, arranging – you name it, Paul has it superbly covered. He seems to “get” music the way other
people breathe.” – Matthew Scott, Head of Music, National Theatre

“Mellow and melodic – refreshing ideas beautifully played.” -Dave Gelly: Observer Paul Higgs is a highly accomplished and respected trumpet player with an impressive career in many fields, including performing, composing and arranging music for film, TV and theatre. After early life as a leading musician in NYJO, Paul was a Musical Director for many years for the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company. Paul has established himself as a versatile musician, equally athome playing jazz, classical, or contemporary music.
His exceptional talent has seen him perform in major venues around the world, including the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Berlin Concert Hall and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. He has played and recorded with many orchestras, including the BBC Philharmonic. In addition to his impressive orchestral work, Paul is also a highly sought-after solo performer and has released several critically acclaimed albums showcasing his virtuosic playing and impeccable musicianship.

Paul’s biography is a wonderment.

Pavane is a musical form and at this gig, Paul’s superb band. It is a delight to have a cellist again, so we are greatly looking forward to hearing Natalie. She, Andy, Chris, Jerome and George were with us in 2019, and it was an unmissable show.

Dean Stockdale Piano 

Tim Williams Guitar

Gavin Barras Bass

Gaz Hughes Drums

“Stockdale’s approach is undoubtedly eclectic but already has its own identity and produces jazz of excellent quality” Jazz Journal

After a UK tour last year performing the music of legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, the Dean Stockdale Quartet returns to perform a new set to mark the centenary of his birth.  Considered a virtuoso and one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won eight Grammy Awards, as well as a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and received numerous other awards and honours.  The show focusses on special new arrangements of Oscar’s music, in particular his original compositions and music from his most popular albums, showcasing his infectious swing and piano virtuosity, plus music from the quartet’s album ‘Celebrating Oscar’. 

Dean Stockdale is a highly regarded jazz pianist, arranger and composer based in the North of England who is known for his sensitive, swinging style. He regularly appears around the UK with his trio and some of the best names in UK jazz. His biggest influences in jazz are the piano styles of Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Gene Harris, Mulgrew Miller and Erroll Garner. Dean continues to be in demand as a performer with his trio and quartet, and as pianist for touring jazz artists, accompanist for vocalists and as a teacher and session pianist. 2021 saw the release of his second trio album entitled ‘Promise the Moon’, which was featured on BBC Radio 3, Jazz FM and BBC Introducing.

Gavin Barras studied music at the University of Manchester, receiving private tuition from Roberto Carillo-Garcia and Corin Long. While studying classical music Gavin continued developing his love for jazz and received lessons from Steve Berry in jazz bass. Gavin has played with musicians such as saxophonists Tim Garland, Dave O’Higgins, Iain Dixon and Ed Jones; trumpeters Neil Yates and Steve Waterman; pianists Les Chisnall, Dan Whieldon, Rick Simpson and Zoe Rahman, to name but a few.

Gaz Hughes is a renowned jazz drummer and band leader, who first gained wide public
attention as the original drummer in the Matthew Halsall Band. He has
played a significant role in the early recordings of the Gondwana label
and has been a highlight on the album “On The Go”, which
won the Best Jazz Album of the Year at the Gilles Peterson Worldwide
Awards in 2012, and was nominated for the Best Jazz Album MOBO Awards in
2011.

Tim Williams is a Manchester-based guitarist who has also worked with both Gavin Barras and Gaz Hughes as part of the latter’s quartet. The addition of Williams has been
described as “a very welcome bonus as he added even more colour and variation
to the music and also proved to be a highly capable guitar soloist” according to
Ian Mann in a review of the Gaz Hughes Quartet.

 “Stockdale’s playing is consistently engaging and uniformly excellent” Ian Mann

Tristan Banks Drums 

Paul Booth Tenor sax

John Crawford Piano

Davide Mantovani Bass

“Impressive sense of immediacy” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ BBC Music Magazine

For three decades, drummer Tristan Banks has been a first-call sideman for ‘glitterati’ across jazz, pop and soul music.  Since 2021, confirming his deep jazz roots, he has also been curator and venue manager at The Verdict Jazz Club in Brighton, restarting the venue after its closure due to the global pandemic of 2020.  The Verdict has already received a nomination for Parliamentary Jazz Award Venue of the Year 2022.

In 2023, Ubuntu Records boss Martin Hummel, an admirer of both Banks’ versatility and his jazz soul, offered him his long-anticipated debut with the release of ‘View from Above” to critical acclaim. Though predominantly jazz-led, elements of Latin and fusion influences can be detected, though this never betrays the core purpose.  The music is a unique combination of high-octane virtuosic performance and sublimely melodic composition.

Banks brings together his long-standing musical friends including multi-sax virtuoso Paul Booth.  From his early acclaim as a prize-winning saxophonist, Paul has continually refined and expanded his talents as a solo artist, composer, arranger and bandleader, whilst establishing an elite reputation as a first-call sideman for major contemporary music artists including Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, Gregory Porter, Eddie Henderson, and so many more.

John Crawford was born in London of English/Spanish Parents. His father played Blues piano, and this is the first thing he learnt to play. His mother introduced him to Latin music of all kinds, and he has gone on to perform at Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Royal Festival Hall, the 606 club, and Royal Albert Hall amongst others.

Davide Mantovani is known on the scene as a bass player whose flawless technique never gets in the way of his natural feel & groove.  He has proven himself in the short time he’s been in the UK playing with Monica Vasconcelos, Ingrid Laubrock, Ian Carr’s Nucleus, Carol Grimes, Great Spirit, Roberto Pla and Antonio Forcione amongst many others. 

 “A band of craftsmen playing the forms of acoustic jazz they relish, and their pleasure in that is infectiously palpable” John Fordham (Jazzwise)

Chris Coull Trumpet

Andreas Panayi Saxophone

Terry Seabrook Piano

Dan Sheppard Bass

Peter Cater Drums

The band play a broad array from the much loved recordings of Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, to name a few from the golden era of the ’50s and ’60s.

Chris Coull is a trumpeter well known in the UK and overseas for his lyrical be-bop playing and band leading. His influences include Clifford Brown and Miles Davis with a good dose of Freddie Hubbard and even a little Wynton thrown in the mix. Past excursions have seen him play at the Royal Albert Hall, Isle of Wight Festival, Jazz At The Lincoln Centre, Appleby Jazz Festival, Love Supreme Festival, to name but a few. As a side man, he has played alongside Alan Barnes, the late great Johnny Dankworth, heavyweight American sax player Jerry Weldon, and Richard Johnson.

Andy Panayi is an exceptionally gifted jazz musician, skilled in performance, composition and arranging. He plays all the flutes and all the saxophones and currently leads his own groups, both jazz and classical. He also writes commissioned works and compositions & arrangements for his own ensembles. Andy has performed and recorded with many singers such as; Shirley Bassey, Jessye Norman, Paul McCartney, Seth MacFarlane, Elaine Paige, Salena Jones, Elvis Costello, Georgie Fame, Peter Skellen, Zoot Money, Irene Reed, Elaine Delmar, Helen Shapiro, Madeline Bell & Patty Austin to name a few.

Terry Seabrook (Cubana Bop), Dan Sheppard and Peter Cater are a superb back line.

Joanna Eden Vocals

Mark Crooks Saxophone

Chris Ingham Piano

Joe Pettitt Bass

George Double Drums

albert

“One of the finest combos in the country and a seriously talented vocalist . . . . . a great evening that satisfied both jazz and movie buffs. Quite a trick.” JAZZ JOURNAL

Jazz At The Movies is a unique jazz group who put an irresistible spin on classic movie themes and soundtrack songs from silver screen sources, both familiar and obscure. With music from many films including The Pink Panther, Gilda, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Aristocrats and The Fabulous Baker Boys, and songs by Burt Bacharach, John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, Stephen Sondheim, John Dankworth, and many others.

Presented by musical director and pianist Chris Ingham, Jazz at the Movies features evocative vocals by acclaimed singer Joanna Eden, bewitching saxophone and clarinet from Mark Crooks and a world-class rhythm section in Joe Pettitt and George Double.

Chris Ingham is a widely acclaimed pianist and singer, composer, producer and author.  He formed his Jazz Quartet in 2013 and has led over 150 performances of his Hoagy Carmichael, Dudley Moore and Stan Getz repertoire projects all over the UK.

Joanna Eden is a singer songwriter who grew up in the heart of England listening to UK artists playing American blues, jazz and pop.  Mojo magazine describes her songwriting as having ‘melody, mystery and bite’. With six solo albums to her credit, she is considered one of the finest singer pianists in the UK, with a style that covers a broad spectrum.

Mark Crooks works in a wide variety of musical settings including jazz, big band and classical. He has performed with artists ranging from Tony Bennett to Sir Simon Rattle, Lady Gaga to Dame Cleo Laine at venues from Ronnie Scott’s in London to the Lincoln Center in New York.

Joe Pettitt is not only a bassist but a musical director and educator from London.  He is the bandleader of the Len Phillips Big Band, a south London based 17-piece band whose members have worked with Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles, Bing Crosby, Freddie Mercury, Noel Gallagher and Robbie Williams, to name a few. George Double 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. 

“Eden’s honeyed vocals…great diction and innate jazz timing, ringing out clear as a bell” MARLBANK