A good jazz deal if ever there was one.
If you live a bit of a distance away, there is a special hotel deal. A double occupancy room, breakfast, and, oh yes, two jazz tickets, all for £119 is a pretty good deal. This is subject to availability. Call the hotel on 01206 262836.
Sarah Jane Morris and Antonio Forcione – 14 September 2018
We were very late getting into our rooms for this gig, so Samuel and I worked our butts off solidly until the audience started to come in. The sound check ended at 7:29:30. There was just enough time before the gig to eat and to finish some details, and then Sarah Jane Morris and Antonio Forcione came on to stage to totally take over our consciousness. It was half way through the second set that I realized that I wasn’t taking notes… The first thing one was conscious of was the sheer power and emotion of Sarah’s presentation. The second…
Georgia Mancio Quartet – 24 August 2018
What a happy band! Georgia Mancio‘s quartet were such a joy. Georgia at the top of her form, Kate Williams‘ elegance on piano, Georgia’s brand new husband Dave Ohm stonking on drums and the young and brilliant Conor Chaplin on bass. The music was a mix of joy and sorrow, covers and her own work. The latter included several pieces composed by Alan Broadbent, with Georgia’s lyrics. If you missed the gig (or even if you haven’t) you can get a taste of their Songbook on youtube. There are very few singers who have superb intonation and articulation, and still…
Fletch’s Brew – 10 July 2018
I had to get up very early Saturday morning to pick my wife up from Heathrow, so I was unable to stay for the second set of this marvelous gig.. I will chronicle the gig as best I can. The gig was led by the indomitable Mark Fletcher on the drums. We got to see the wonderful young trumpeter, Freddie Gavita in a different guise from the gig he gave us with his own band. Laurence Cottle is a supreme bassist, this gig, on the 6 string bass guitar. Ross Stanley arrived with a keyboard, not the advertised organ, but…
Rob Barron Quartet – 27 July 2018
What a day. Four and a half hour drive to Heathrow (my wife almost missed her flight), four and a half hour drive straight to the club, arrived 5:30, leaving poor Gerry to do all the work. Ran the sound check on empty. Along comes 8pm, and the quartet starts to play. This tight, accurate, quietly impassioned band woke me up in the first few bars, and enthralled me throughout. We had Rob Barron‘s quiet intensity on piano, Nat Steele‘s perfect melding on vibraphone, Jeremy Brown innovative on bass, and Josh Morrison’s excellent drumming. The music was entirely standards. The…