Bryan Corbett Trumpet/Flugelhorn

Chris Bowden Alto sax

Paul Deats Piano

Tom Hill Double Bass

Andrew Wood Drums

“Corbett’s playing is rousing and fierily expressive and his band are right on top of it.” Jazzwise

“The Bomb” – Courtney Pine

“Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion, Blue Note Records is loved, respected, and revered as one of the most important record labels in the history of music, designed to serve the uncompromising expressions of hot jazz or swing. Direct and honest hot jazz is a way of feeling, a musical and social manifestation”

During a successful engagement as ‘Curator / Featured Artist’ for the Birmingham Jazz ‘Legends’ festival, trumpeter Bryan Corbett put together a series of concerts with a ‘Blue Note’ theme featuring ever popular and critically acclaimed music from the likes of Blue Mitchell, Horace Silver, Art Blakey and Donald Byrd. Known for his lyrical tone and powerful stage presence, Bryan is not only a great performer of the jazz standards repertoire, but he is also an artist who pushes the boundaries. He has toured and performed around the globe as a guest artist with world-renowned stars such as Ben E King, US3, The Brand New Heavies, Tony Christie and Ruby Turner as well as with his own bands at festivals, concert halls and clubs throughout the UK. 

Saxophonist Chris Bowden works as an arranger and performer with a highly individual style. He first came to prominence with his 1996 funk/acid/Latin-jazz ‘Time Capsule’. Pianist Paul Deats is a member of the house trio of the Nottingham-based Jazz Club, Peggy’s Skylight. Paul is the co-founder of the club and has been described as “a powerful and intense player . . . lyrical and thoughtful” ; Andrew is one of the most in-demand live and studio drummers in the East Midlands. Bassist and occasional vocalist Tom Hill is an expatriate American who has become a huge favourite with Midlands jazz audiences. He is a superlative bass player and a supremely versatile musician who leads his own bands (Straitjackets and ZZ Bop) and has been the first-call bassist for performers such as Peter King, Brandon Allen and Sam Crockatt.

Drawing from this pool of local, national and internationally renowned musicians, Bryan presents an evening of finest quality jazz; it is an immense pleasure to welcome him back to Fleece Jazz.

“Corbett’s own playing was imperious, with a beautiful tone on both trumpet and flugel and a high degree of fluency.” – Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann 2023

John Etheridge Guitars

Pete Whittaker Organ

George Double Drums

“Blue Spirits Trio”, featuring Pete Whittaker and George Double, came about through John’s love of the perennially attractive combination of Electric Guitar and Organ. Blue Spirits have a take on this well-known combination in a way that connects with the bluesier, intense side of John’s playing. There are plenty of typical swing elements, augmented by soulful ballads and fiery funk outings. The aim is to groove and move!

John’s history includes playing with Grapelli, heading Zapatistas, duos with John Williams, and his own bands. As well as  a world class player, he is a classy raconteur. 

Pete is a piano player who migrated to Hammond organ after hearing the classic 1950s &1960s Jimmy Smith records. He is a Hammond star.

George’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.

This band has been popular on the club circuit for many years and always delivers.

Gaz Hughes Drums

Andrzej Baranek Piano

Gavin Barras Bass

“They rarely deliver anything less than excellence and today topped just about everything that had preceded it. I feel sad for the squares who weren’t there” – Bebop Spoken Here

“Incredible” – Ginger Baker

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.

Andrzej Baranek has performed with many UK jazz stars including Dave O’Higgins and Enrico Tomasso. He is one of the most in-demand accompanists about.

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.

Jon Lloyd Saxes

John Law Piano

Nick Pini Bass

Alex Goodyear Drums 

This UK based group presents vibrant European Contemporary Jazz, played by a quartet of superb musicians…

The leader and composer is tenor and soprano saxophonist Jon Lloyd. Jon has been part of the UK jazz and free music scene for several decades, and has now turned his attention to European contemporary jazz, writing vibrant, melodic and emotionally direct jazz compositions. The quartet comprises the virtuosic John Law (Congregation, Re-Creations) on piano, Nick Pini (Jonathan Gee, Iain Ballamy) on double bass and Alex Goodyear (Yetii) on drums. 

“Lloyd’s tunes are steeped in the ECM aesthetic, and he and long-time collaborator John Law on piano make it sound like the only music you ever want to hear.” – John Turney, London Jazz News (Swanage Festival, July 2023)

This tour we are playing music from our new Ubuntu release “Earth Songs” for the first time! 

“We present melodic, exciting and engaging compositions written by me specifically for this quartet. The members of this group have a wealth of experience across jazz and contemporary music and interpret my pieces perfectly; with intelligence, energy, sensitivity, respect and enormous skill. – Jon Lloyd, October 2023

Here is an excellent review of the band.

Chris Ingham Piano

Paul Higgs Trumpet

Simon Thorpe Double Bass

George Double Drums 

“A vibrant and moving homage.” – Downbeat

Classical organist, violinist, singer, beloved and endearing comic performer, a star of stage and TV in the ‘60s and a Hollywood movie star from the ‘70s . . .

Dudley Moore was not only blessed with all these varied talents and attributes, but he was also one of the UK’s most dazzling, swinging jazz pianists, and a composer of wit and depth – something that has sadly been overlooked for far too long. This has now been redressed, thanks to long-time Dudley Moore fan, pianist Chris Ingham.

The Chris Ingham Quartet revisit the Dagenham-born musician’s fabulous 1960s Decca jazz trio albums, the groundbreaking satirical revue ‘Beyond The Fringe’, the TV show ‘Not Only, But Also’ and the brilliant movie soundtracks for ‘Bedazzled’ and ‘30 Is A Dangerous Age, Cynthia’, in an evening packed with music and anecdote, with pianist and raconteur Chris very ably setting the 1960s scene, placing Dudley’s music in period context.

Joining Chris on trumpet is Paul Higgs, 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. Simon Thorpe is one of the UK’s best-known jazz bassists who 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. 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.

“Unfailingly tuneful and spiced with gentle harmonic guile . . . Dudley would have been delighted.” – The Observer

“. . . a worthy tribute to one of the British jazz piano greats.” – Bebop Spoken Here

“Classy product . . . with plenty of the right kind of swing.” – Jazz Journal

”Swing, humour and poignancy . . . a jazz joy.” – MOJO

Basil Hodge Piano

Tony Kofi Saxophones

Stuart Fiddler Guitar

Mike Edmunds Bass

Winston Clifford Drums 

Telling the story of jazz from where it really came from, we’re proud to present the Basil Hodge Quintet featuring two of the UK’s busiest and most exciting jazz performers, the irrepressible Tony Kofi on saxophone and the uber-cool Basil Hodge on keys.

Jazz Africa is Basil Hodge’s exciting new project. It is the story of the diversity and inclusivity of jazz from across the African continent, where you’ll hear the roots of blues, jazz and almost all of today’s modern musical sounds. This five-piece band will perform a range of music from Africa so you will hear Jazz fused with a mixture of Afrobeat, Township and Funk rhythms from such artists as Abdullah Ibrahim (formerly Dollar Brand), Manu Dibango and Fela Kuti.

Basil Hodge has been leading bands since the mid-90s and played in various R’n’B and Gospel bands in the UK and abroad. He has performed at a range of prestigious venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and the Royal Festival Hall. Tony Kofi is a British Jazz multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents, a  player of the alto, baritone, soprano, tenor saxophones and flute. Having ‘cut his teeth’ in the “Jazz Warriors” of the early 90’s, this award-winning saxophonist has gone on to establish himself as a musician, teacher and composer of some authority. His credits now range from the brooding South African soundscapes of Abdullah Ibrahim to the ferocious aesthetics of The World Saxophone Quartet and Ornette Coleman.

Guitarist Stuart Fiddler gravitated to jazz from a rock and blues background and makes judicious use of his various effects combining slippery jazz chording with the twang of rock. Mike Edwards is a highly accomplished electric and double bass player with a diverse range of musical influences.  Winston Clifford is one of the most in-demand drummers on the jazz scene to date. His playing is free from the usual restraints of stylistic expectations and a true reflection of listening and responding “in the moment”.

Expect breath-taking musicianship and driving rhythms as these excellent musicians also show off their fine percussion skills and some inevitable in-the-aisle dancing. This is one for families of all ages and heritages!

Please note that this gig will start at 8:15pm, doors at 7:45pm.

Noel McCalla Vocals

Derek Nash Saxophones

Neil Angilley Keyboards

Tim Cansfield Guitar

Laurence Cottle Bass

Nic France Drums 

We are sold out for this gig, folks.

Celebrating the genius of Stevie Wonder throughout his entire career, the mesmerising vocalist, Noel McCalla, and award-winning saxophonist, Derek Nash, together with a band of top musicians play a wide-ranging back-catalogue of Stevie Wonder’s classic hits from ‘For Once in My Life’, ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ through to hits from ‘Talking Book’, ‘Innervisions’, ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ and “Hotter than July’. From dance floor classics “I Wish’ and ‘Superstition’ to beautiful arrangements of ‘My Cherie Amour’ and ‘Overjoyed’.

Noel McCalla’s long association with the brilliant Morrisey Mullen Band earned him acclaim as “one of Britain’s best Soul Singers” (Blues and Soul Magazine) and, for more than 19 years, Noel’s searing, soulful vocals were featured with the iconic Manfred Mann’s “Earth Band”. 

Derek Nash has played with Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra since 2004 and is also a member of the Ronnie Scotts Blues Explosion. He has won several British Jazz Awards throughout his career fronting Sax Appeal, his Acoustic Quartet and the funk band, Protect the Beat.

The all-star band features musicians whose credits include Bill Withers, The Bee Gees, Gary Moore, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. Neil Angilley was keyboard player with Grammy nominees ‘Down to the Bone’ and has co-written and played on many of their No.1 albums. Trinidadian Tim Cansfield is a self taught musician; this enigmatic and self-effacing genius has played with the Bee Gees, Steve Winwood, Billy Preston, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox, Seal and many more. Jonathan Noyce has been a member of Jethro Tull, a sideman to the late great blues guitarist Gary Moore and is a member of French Superstar Mylene Farmer’s band. Nic France has been one of the UK’s most in-demand drummers performing with, among others, Ian Carr’s ‘Nucleus’, Ronnie Scott, John Taylor, Jim Mullen, Bobby Wellins, Mose Allison, Billy Cobham, Django Bates and John Parricelli. He was also a founding member of ‘Loose Tubes’. 

“Rarely have I heard the music of Stevie Wonder interpreted with such finesse, energy and all-round brilliance.” – The House of Soul.

Pete Long Alto Sax

Ryan Quigley Trumpet

Chris Ingham Piano

Malcolm Creese Bass

George Double Drums 

The leader of Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, Peter Long together with Ryan Quigley front an exciting salute to a legendary team of jazz brothers; dazzling virtuoso alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and ingenious soul-jazz architect and cornetist Nat Adderley.

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet featured Cannonball on alto sax and his brother Nat Adderley on cornet. Cannonball chose to play the alto despite his first love being the tenor because saxophones were in short supply in 1942 when he started playing at the age of 14. He developed a hard, explosive style, an influence from listening to Charlie Parker. Together with his brother, Nat, the famous quintet played a lot of blues-, funk- and gospel-influenced jazz based on what they heard being played by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.

Pete and Ryan are lovers of the music of the quintet and are the ideal musicians to play it today. Pete studied at the Royal London College of Music and after a couple of years joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, playing all five saxophone parts, solo flute, bass guitar, and on one rather messy occasion, the fourth trumpet. In future years, he went on to play with the award-winning sax quartet, Itchy Fingers, working with Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield and Chick Corea amongst others. A five-year stint playing and arranging for Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra saw him work with Tom Jones, Norah Jones, Solomon Burke, Dr. John, Lulu, Georgie Fame and Lionel Richie to name but a few. In recent years, Pete’s career has been divided into education, working in master classes and as a soloist with young musicians all over Britain. It is, however, as a bandleader and orchestrator that Pete spends most of his time currently.

Ryan Quigley is an award-winning jazz and lead trumpet player and an in-demand studio musician, composer, arranger and educator. His recording and touring work includes dates with Quincy Jones, Ron Carter, Aretha Franklin, Harry Connick Jr, George Michael, Gregory Porter, Beverley Knight and Tom Jones.

Our friends Chris Ingham and George Double are always welcome at Fleece Jazz for their virtuosic playing and for themselves.

“Pete Long is a national treasure” – The Observer
“Quigley…bright, inventive and vivacious” – The Jazz Mann

Here is a link to a video with music of the two Adderlies.

Kevin Flanagan Saxophone

Martin Hallmark Piano

Tiago Coimbra Bass

Derek Scurll Drums 

Q3 was formed in 2013 and brings together some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians in an exciting blend of superbly crafted original music and virtuosic performance. The music combines jazz, funk, latin and fusion elements with intricate melodies, influenced by Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, Marcus Miller and Robert Glasper.

Nigel Price says “Martin Hallmark – pianist and composer, leads this tight unit, comprised of master multi saxophonist Kevin Flanagan, super groovy Tiago Coimbra on 5 string electric bass and [our drummer for this gig is multi instrumentalist Derek Scurll]. The album of instantly accessible, mostly funk/fusion original compositions is recorded in crystal clear quality and played deftly with passion as well as eyebrow raising virtuosity from these gifted, empathetic musicians. There are moments of beauty too, especially on the waltz – ‘Tarka and the Mount’. A fine body of work from a great band.”

Martin is the driving force here: many of the compositions and all of the arrangements are from his pen. Kevin’s quartet was our Christmas gig in 2019, and the gig was adored by our audience.

Trish Clowes Tenor sax

Ross Stanley Hammond Organ

Chris Montague Guitar

Joel Barford Drums

“a rich mix of cinematic landscape evocation, funky guitar grooves, dreamy reveries spun off minimalist patterns and fluently uncliched improv” – Album of the Month & 4 STARS for ‘A View with a Room’ from John Fordham, The Guardian

“brilliant” – Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 6 Music

“A high intensity, mercurial workout” – Downbeat Magazine on ‘Ninety Degrees Gravity’

My Iris is an intense and thrilling band that represents the front rank of the contemporary UK jazz scene. Lauded for her imaginative approach to improv and adroit writing, saxophonist Trish Clowes provides her bandmates Ross Stanley (on the mighty Hammond ), Chris Montague (guitar) and Joel Barford (drums) with a unique platform for individual expression and group interplay, delivering driving grooves and lingering melodic lines, seamlessly morphing between earthy restlessness and futuristic dreamscapes.

The band has toured internationally and made broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and Radio Bremen. Notable recent performances include Wigmore Hall (where Clowes is an Associate Artist), Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Rochester International Jazz Festival (Made In The UK showcase), Toronto International Jazz Festival, Galway Jazz Festival, and the Barbican (London Jazz Festival). In May 2023, they were joined by Dave Douglas for a special gig at the 606 Club in London, playing a mixture of Douglas and Clowes’s compositions.