Bexley Jazz Club

This evening will be very special - presented by CHRIS HARE who instigated and directed the Lewisham Jazz Festival throughout the 80s - sponsored by Citibank - with an 800 seater theatre staging such as Buddy Rich, George Shearing, Peggy Lee, Wynton Marsalis, Sarah Vaughan, Roberta Flack etc. The Festival won 4 major Awards and was broadcast around the world.

This evening Chris will present vocalist VERONA CHARD - together with his unique memories and anecdotes gathered throughout his 40 years in jazz and entertainment.

VERONA met Humphrey Lyttleton in 2005 through jazz pianist Ted Beament - when Humph asked Verona to feature on the "Jail Break" track for his "Sad Sweet Songs & Crazy Rhythms" album.

Accompanying Verona this evening will be an all-star Trio :

JOHN HORLER/keyboard - ALEC DANKWORTH/double bass and WINSTON CLIFFORD/drums

http://www.veronachard.com
http://www.johnhorler.co.uk
http://www.alecdankworth.com
http://www.ukjazz.net/winston-clifford

JOE MUDELE'S "BLUE ROOM SEVEN" led by COLIN HICKMAN

"Mudele's Blue Room" first opened its doors on Garrick Street on 29th November 1952 with Joe's group playing Monday, Friday and Saturday evenings - packed every evening - until eventually taken over by the owner of Studio 51. In the late '40s Joe also played in the Dankworth Seven.

Hence - before Joe died on 7th March 2014 he and Colin talked about setting up this event at Bexley to commemorate the above. Colin did so and it'll now be performed regularly in loving remembrance of JOE MUDELE who played bass at this Club for over 20 years - subsequently taking on the running and organisation of the Club 14 years ago - together with his wife, Jan Mudele - who makes certain Bexley Jazz Club remains one of the best in the country.

As always COLIN HICKMAN will lead - having made all of the Arrangements for the following superb lineup.

ENRICO TOMASSO/trumpet
MICHAEL COATES/alto
DAVE BLACK/tenor
COLIN HICKMAN/baritone
JOHN PEARCE/keys
PAUL MORGAN/double bass
BOBBY WORTH/drums

http://www.purejazz.co.uk/coates/biography-html
http://www.triorecords.co.uk_morgan.html

PAUL HIGGS presents "A Brief History of Jazz"

Paul Higgs is renowned as one of the UK's leading trumpet players and composers.

In this Show Paul presents a musical tour of the history of jazz, playing hits by the legendary greats - Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker and Miles Davis - amongst others. He takes you from the early styles of New Orleans, Swing and Bebop, through to cool jazz, modal and latin.

Paul has performed with Johnny Dankworth, Lulu, Tony Hatch, John Williams, Peggy Lee and Nancy Wilson. He has also performed in many concert venues around the world, including our own Ronnie Scott's, Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room and regularly receives a standing ovation.

His understanding of musical genres and composition, coupled with his exceptional skills as a performer ensure that he is very much in demand.
supporting Paul this evening will be :

SIMON WALLACE - keys
ANDY CLEYNDERT - double bass
JEFF LARDNER - drums

http://www.paulhiggs.co
http://www.simonwallace.org
http://www.jefflardner.co.uk

GUNTHER KURMAYR - has spent many years touring the world with the Ray Gelato Giants. Tonight he leads his top notch trio on a journey through the Great American Songbook, shining new light through old windows and infusing timeless standards with a uniquely impressionistic classical style.

With Gunther this evening is MANUEL ALVAREZ on Double Bass

RICHARD PITE - a drummer who has made a speciality of vintage drumming techniques during the early days of the 20s and 30s through to the great names of the swing era - Jo Jones, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa. Richard also plays tuba and double bass and, in his spare time, is Director of Music at Boisdale.

ALAN BARNES plays music that was radical 50 years ago - hard urban post bop - but he infuses it with so much passion and energy you could believe it was minted on the spot - which is always part of the story of jazz (John Walters, The Guardian).

Alan is a multi, multi Award Winning Saxophonist - having won over 25 British Jazz Awards and twice been made British Jazz Musician of the Year.

Alan's superb, top class Trio this evening will be :

JOHN CRITCHINSON/keyboard......DAVE GREEN/double bass.......DAVE BARRY/drums

http://www.alanbarnesjazz.com
http://www.johncritchinson.com
http://www.triorecords.co.uk/dave_green.html

Peter Vacher says :

"MARK CROOKS is a star on the Clarinet.....he pops up all over the London scene". Mark is a member of the superb Back to Basie Orchestra and the John Wilson Orchestra - and although Mark has worked in a wide range of musical settings he is, undoubtedly, most at home in the jazz world.

This evening Mark will be accompanied by a superb Trio :

JOHN PEARCE/keyboard.....DAVE CHAMBERLAIN/double bass.....ROD BROWN/drums

http://www.davechamberlain.biz

MARK NIGHTINGALE....ANDY PANAYI....SIMON WOOLF......STEVE BROWN

"It would be impossible to find 4 more polished players on today's London Jazz Scene and, crucially, four who play together with such relaxed empathy" ....Dave Gelly

This long standing Quartet continue to delight audiences and to push the boundaries of the pianoless quartet. With three strong composers there is a wealth of original material - but the band also draws upon the original Gerry Mulligan Quartet repertoire.

A superb evening is in store.

http://www.mark-nightingale.co.uk
http://www.andypanayi.co.uk
http://www.woolfnotes.co.uk

DEREK NASH is back at Bexley once more and this time with :

NIGEL PRICE on guitar

GEOFF GASCOYNE - double bass

and

MATT HOME DRUMS

............should be a lot of fun - come and join us !

http://www.dereknash.com
http://www.geoffgascoyne .com
http://www.nigelprice.biz
http://www.matthomedrums.wordpress.com

PHILIP ACHILLE makes his first appearance at Bexley this evening - a superb musician presenting jazz with the Chromatic Harmonica - another 'first' for Bexley.

Philip has been classically trained, from a very young age, by one of the great masters - James Hughes.

Although a dedicated jazz musician, Philip has also played to a packed Royal Albert Hall - and plays double bass.

With Philip this evening will be ROBIN ASPLAND....GEOFF GASCOYNE.....ROD BROWN

http://www.philipachille.com/index.html
http://www.geoffgascoyne.com

ALAN BARNES plays music that was radical 50 years ago - hard urban post bop - but he infuses it with so much passion and energy you could believe it was minted on the spot - which is always part of the story of jazz (John Walters, The Guardian). Alan is a multi, multi Award Winning Saxophonist - and, as always, we're simply delighted to welcome at Bexley.

BRIAN DEE accompanies on keys this evening - he who has pretty much 'done it all' from Harry Klein & Vic Ash Jazz Five to Bobby Wellins - Tommy Whittle - the bands of Ken MacIntosh, Eric Winstone - touring with Tubby Hayes.
Brian is also a superb accompanist - having worked with Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee and Elaine Delmar.

With DAVE GREEN and CLARKE TRACEY - we're assured of yet another great evening of Jazz.

http://www.alanbarnesjazz.com
http://www.clarketracey.com

It's exciting for us at Bexley Jazz Club to be presenting the reformed MJQ Celebration this evening.

As ever, the Band brings together some of the best in the younger generation of British Jazz Musicians who give a fresh take on the famous Quartet - but performing very much the recognised repertoire.

NAT STEELE/vibraphones has recently taken on the mantle of running the band due to Jim Hart's conflicting commitments - added to the fact that Jim is now living in France.

Hard swinging GABRIEL LATCHIN will replace Barry Green on keyboards.

As ever - we welcome MATT RIDLEY on bass and STEVE BROWN on drums.

http://www.natsteele.com
http://www.gabriellatchin.com
http://www.mattridley.co.uk

The wonderful jazz singer - ANITA WARDELL - will, once more, ripple like a sophisticated summers evening
accompanied by none other than DEREK NASH - leader of SAX APPEAL - featured Saxophonist with Jools Holland and, of course, "YOU'VE GOT TO 'DIG IT' TO DIG IT - YOU DIG ?". Apart from their musicianship - both Anita and Derek are supreme 'Entertainers'.

This evening they will be wonderfully supported by ROBIN ASPLAND on keys - JEREMY (JEZ) BROWN/bass and EMILIANO CAROSELLI/drums.....Anita says "he swings !"

http://www.anitawardell.com
http://www.dereknash.com

YET ANOTHER STELLAR EVENING AT BEXLEY JAZZ CLUB .... WITH

ANDY PANAYI - an exceptionally gifted jazz musician - playing all the Flutes and all the Saxophones.
Andy has performed and recorded with such as Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney, Salena Jones, Elvis Costello, Elaine Delmar, Helen Shapiro - to name but a very few. Other 'household' names include Scott Hamilton, Kenny Baker, John Dankworth (Andy was a winner of the John Dankworth Solo Award), Don Lusher, Stan Tracey, Ken Peplowski etc etc. We are delighted to welcome him back to Bexley.

On Keys this evening will be the one and only DAVID NEWTON - so well known and loved by us at Bexley.
On Double Bass will be PERCY PURSGLOVE - appearing for the first time at Bexley.
On Drums will be ANDREW BAIN - also with us this evening for the first time.

http://www.andypanayi.co.uk
http://www.davidnewton.biz
http://www.percypursglove.com/about
http://www.andrewbain.org

MARTIN SPEAKE "... is one of the most interesting and rewarding alto saxophonists now playing jazz in any Continent"....Thos Conrad, Jazz Times.

This evening Martin is supported by RICK SIMPSON on keys - a jazz pianist who in 2008 won a Yamaha Scholarship Prize for outstanding jazz musicians. He also teaches alongside such luminaries as Steve Waterman, Alan Barnes, Mark Hodgson etc.

On Bass will be CALUM GOURLAY.
On drums will be JAMES MADDREN - who is also part of the quartet on Julian Arguelles new album 'Tetra'.

http://www.martinspeake.com
http://www.ricksimpsonjazz.com
http://www.whirlwindrecordings.com/james-maddren

TED BEAMENT is one of the finest pianists that Britain has to offer. As well as being a great band player, Ted is equally at home performing as an innovative soloist or providing an excellent accompaniment for any vocalist. As well as being part of the great Humphrey Lyttleton Band for many years, he has played alongside many fine soloists such as Spike Robinson, Al Cohn, Don Rendell to name but a very few.

Ted has performed world-wide and yet manages to maintain his superb musicianship around Britain and on the London jazz scene - of which he is such an integral part.

Supporting Ted this evening will be MURRAY SALMON on Bass and LES CIRKEL on Drums.

MARLENE VER PLANCK SINGS TO US THIS EVENING BACKED BY HER TRIO :

JOHN PEARCE/KEYS - PAUL MORGAN/BASS - BOBBY WORTH/DRUMS

There are songs and singers ..... and then.....there is MARLENE VerPLANCK....who may be the most accomplished interpreter of popular modern material performing today.

From Big Bands to Studio work, Radio, TV, Clubs and Concerts - Marlene VerPlanck has done it all.
She has the kind of skill which makes her voice a fourth instrument onstage. Marlene clearly loves what she does and still, after all these years, projects the young, unjaded quality of a performer who still wants to share.

We are so fortunate to be able to share an evening with MARLENE VerPLANCK - the Ultimate Professional.

Such talent and skill demands top class backup - and so this evening Marlene's Trio is :

JOHN PEARCE/keyboards - PAUL MORGAN/bass - BOBBY WORTH/drums

http://www.marleneverplanck.com

SIMON SPILLETT - described by the late Humphrey Lyttleton as "Formidable" - is with us this evening leading his own superb Quartet featuring :

JOHN CRITCHINSON on keyboards
ALEC DANKWORTH on double bass
CLARK TRACEY on drums

Apart from performing as a powerful jazz saxophonist - Simon has also published a definitive biography of the UK Jazz legend TUBBY HAYES - "The Long Shadow of the Little Giant" - together with booklet essays for over 70 albums.

http://www.spillett.com
http://www.johncritchinson.com
http://www.alecdankworth.com
http://www.clarktracey.com