On Wednesday 13 November, Simon Spillett Quartet – £20

“Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb” – The Guardian

Over his twenty-five year career Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it’s possible to wear within jazz; multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal’s Album of The Year), quartet and big band leader, recording artist, author, historian, record producer, archivist, magazine columnist and latterly blogger.

However, for all these varied skills he identifies most strongly as a powerfully swinging, straight-ahead tenor saxophonist, one capable of taking the audiences who hear him on a roller-coaster ride encompassing everything from energetic bebop to heartfelt balladry.

Excellence attracts excellence. Pete Whittaker is his pianist, Alec Dankworth his bassist and Peter Cater is his drummer.

We usually see Pete as an organist. Tonight he will be on piano, the instrument that he played before Jimmy Smith got him. The intensity of listening to his colleagues is sky high. While he is the ideal accompanist, his solo work is superb.

Alec is an award-winning jazz bassist and composer who, in addition to leading several groups of his own, has worked with an amazing list of artists including Van Morrison, Stephane Grappelli, Abdullah Ibrahim, and The Dave Brubeck Quartet. He is known for his energetic stage presence, versatility of style and some of the most imaginative bass solos around! John Fordham says, “elegant stability, big sound, sure beat, and thoughtful spontaneity”.

Peter has dedicated his life to a career in music and describes himself as “exactly the musician my 6 year old self dreamed of being”. He continues to be in the top division of UK jazz drummers, having been voted 5th in the world in 2015.

The band will draw unashamedly on the classic sounds of British modern jazz from the 1950s and 60s, in particular the repertoire of the iconic UK saxophone legend, Tubby Hayes.