Thursday, 27/06/24

ALLISON NEALE: AN EVENING OF WEST COAST JAZZ

American-born altoist Allison Neale’s beautifully-crafted lines evoke the spirit of Paul Desmond and Art Pepper, with whom she has a particular affinity. For this special project, Neale and guitarist Colin Oxley recreate the magical pairing of Paul Desmond (best known for his long-standing association with Dave Brubeck) and Jim Hall (guitarist with Sonny Rollins). Drawing from these influences, they explore their own unique musical partnership while staying true to the nature of the original recordings, beautiful in their simplicity and elegance. A strong advocate of the melodic West Coast style, Allison has performed alongside leading international artists such as Adelaide Hall and Bud Shank, US tenorist Scott Hamilton, and more recently, in collaboration with New York guitarist Peter Bernstein, who appears on her critically acclaimed new CD ‘Quietly There’. 

Thursday, 25/04/24

Alan Barnes, Robin Aspland, Jeremy Brown & Steve Brown

Alan Barnes on sax virtually needs no introduction, he’s been top of the tree for decades. As well as being a key figure in the history of UK jazz having recorded and worked with the likes of Stan Tracey, Kenny Baker, Mike Westbrook, Van Morrison etc etc he has won more awards than you can count on your fingers and toes! He’s also a very funny chap indeed.

Robin Aspland on keys is one of the finest pianists ever to herald from these islands. Yes, he’s that good. As well as the thousands of concerts with the ‘who’s who’ of the jazz scene, he’s also the number 1 call for the BBC Big Band.

Steve Brown is on drums. There are a select few people who stay clear of social media yet are known throughout the scene. Steve has been the first call for visiting US artists for decades and continues to be hugely popular with his infectious smile, magnificent playing and encyclopaedic knowledge of the music.

And last but by no means least we have Jeremy Brown on double bass. Jeremy is a professor of jazz at the Royal Academy of Music. He has also worked with a list of jazz stars as long as your arm, including Peter King, Julian Joseph, Art Farmer, Brad Mehldau and anyone who’s anyone here in the UK.

Tuesday 13th June 2023

NIGEL PRICE ORGAN TRIO

Also a longtime Epsom resident, Nigel is a highly skilled guitarist as well as an accomplished composer whose swinging bebop approach combined with flawless control is a delight to hear. He has played on more than 50 albums, spent ten years with acid jazz outfit the Filthy Six, was a member of James Taylor’s jazz/funk band for 3 years and has played at Ronnie Scott’s over 600 times.

As leader, he has recorded 10 albums, including six with his own Organ Trio which received the Parliamentary Jazz Award for 'Best Jazz Ensemble' and the British Jazz Award for 'Best Small Group'.  

Sharing the stage with Nigel were his highly-regarded A-list rhythm section of Ross Stanley (Hammond Organ) and Joel Barford (Drums).

Tuesday 9TH MAY 2023

NEIL ANGILLEY TRIO

Pianist & Composer Neil "has long been one the UK's best-kept secrets in the Jazz world", declared Blues & Soul Magazine.

Completing his Trio were Davide Mantovani (Babba Maal, Jim Mullen, Andy Sheppard) on Bass and Davide Giovannini (Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood) on Drums.

Their live show was spellbinding, not only impressing you with their instrumental virtuosity but also 3 part vocal harmony which adds a unique dimension to the sound only created by this Trio. They brought tantalisingly infectious rhythms from Brazil and Cuba to the audience. They have released 5 albums: ‘Havana Club’, ‘Chango’, ‘The Lake District’, ‘Yambou’, and ‘Live At The 606 Club’.

They work regularly in the London Jazz scene and across the U.K. performing at Ronnie Scott's, The Stables, and 606 Club. During a recent tour in Italy they appeared at 'Trieste Loves Jazz' International Jazz Festival.

Tuesday 21ST MARCH 2023

Emma Rawicz

SATURDAY 11TH MARCH 2023

NIGEL PRICE, LAURA KLAIN, MIKELE MONTOLLI, FRODE KJEKSTAD

Nigel Price sent out an SOS on Twitter: "Hey, does anyone need a top flight jazz band on 11/03? The planets have aligned to have a couple of really special musicians in the UK that night and they're both up for playing a gig! I have an unexpected night off too. Could be London or somewhere close... Do message me. Ta."

We checked that the Oaks Room was available, and then set to work ... we needed to design artwork, get a poster printed and installed on the High Street, make tickets available for sale and then sell 70 tickets, check that our contact could supply the necessary lighting and audio equipment ... oh, and Nigel still needed to find a bassist! All within 12 days. But we did. And what a blast this special Saturday evening gig was!

The planets had aligned furthermore, providing us with the very same rhythm section that kicked everything off for us in the Oaks Room in June 2022 - Italian drumming sensation Laura Klain was on another short visit to the U.K., and double bass virtuoso Mikele Montolli was also drafted in to make a return visit to Epsom (the latter fresh from a recent trip to Tokyo, as well as arriving straight from an afternoon gig in London).

Celebrated Norwegian guitarist Frode Kjekstad was a delight and such warm company with engaging conversation - not to mention an absolute demon on the guitar. He and Nigel curated a wonderful setlist for the audience, taking us on a journey through standards like "Moon Song", "Night And Day" and "Body And Soul" as well as the Wes Montgomery classics of "Road Song" and "Jingles".

But possibly the pinnacle of the concert came from hearing Frode's original compositions come to life. "Brooklyn Bound" and "A Piece Of The Apple" also gave us some the strongest solos from the guitar duo. Nigel's solo during their performance of Eddie Harris' "Cold Duck Time" was a personal highlight too.

During our conversation in the interval Frode delighted in telling me that his own Trio back in Norway are "banging". Did that translate perfectly? Perhaps we'll have to encourage them to come play at Epsom Jazz Club sometime to find out..

TUESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2023

EMMA SMITH

Emma Smith's "star is on the ascendant".

A bold self-penned quote within her biography, a lyric from the opening track "I Don't Care" of her album "Meshuga Baby", and also just a plain fact.

She has an admirably high level of ambition, a thoroughly natural and charming stage presence, and also adores our precious jazz music.

So perhaps it should not have surprised us when Emma replied to our invitation with "I would absolutely love to bring what I do down to Epsom! Let's talk dates!".

It being pianist Jamie Safir's second visit eased some of our nerves, but this was always going to be a special night. All four of these performers are phenomenally talented and hugely in demand but the capacity audience in attendance were fully aware as they enthusiastically showed appreciation to the Quartet for taking the time to visit their hometown.

A wonderful rendition of George & Ira Gershwin's "But Not For Me" opened the show, swiftly followed by characterful performances of "I Don't Care" and "Makin' Whoopee". This evening there were no run-of-the-mill numbers, everything was marvellously and emotively personal.

The penultimate song of the first set is best described by Nigel Price, who was in attendance: "She did 'There's No Business Like Show Business'. Down tempo, poignant and with a preamble about the bullshit they tried to feed us about artists 'retraining' in IT etc. Just brilliant."

Signed copies of her Vinyl were snapped up during the interval before launching into the second set with "Too Close For Comfort". A Smith/Safir original composition also sparkled in this half; "Sit On My Knee And Tell Me That You Love Me" can't help but raise a smile everywhere it's performed.

Emma confidently commanded the stage throughout the evening with her powerful vocals, but also generously afforded her loyal band of Jamie Safir, Conor Chaplin & Luke Tomlinson numerous solo opportunities.

Just a few weeks later Emma was invited to perform with Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra at their two London shows (Ronnie Scott's & Royal Festival Hall). We wish her hearty congratulations, continued success in all that she sets out to accomplish, and eternal gratitude for accepting our invitation.

TUESDAY 17th january 2023

L'Esprit du Jazz

"Spring comes early for Epsom & Ewell jazz fans" was our marketing strapline. Just as the freezing Winter temperatures returned we launched into our rather preemptively titled Spring programme of concerts!

But not to worry, the venue's heating was on and The Oaks Room was full to capacity. We were thrilled to commence the New Year with a Sold Out performance. Word had spread and the exciting L'Esprit du Jazz quartet had duly enticed locals and other live music enthusiasts out of their cosy homes and into Epsom's newest Live Music forum.

Led by highly respected accordionist Karen Street, L'Esprit du Jazz explores French Musette, the music of Brazil, the world of Tango alongside original compositions and favourite jazz standards. Add into the equation that bassist Charlie Pyne is also their vocalist on a number of tunes, and this foursome were incredibly scintillating to listen to.

Beautiful versions of classics "The Way You Look Tonight", "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and "East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)" were intermingled with original compositions by guitarist Sam Dunn and also by Karen Street herself.

The opening set's finale, however, brought drummer Katie Patterson to the fore. The Canadian-born musician teased the audience at first with a two-minute solo introduction to "Dulzura". Originally composed by Clare Fischer this quartet's arrangement was wonderful, permitting moments of pure melodic bliss as well as injections of virtuosic improvisation.

Tuesday 15th November 2022

What a way to finish off Epsom Jazz Club's first year of gigs!

The Tobie Carpenter Organ Trio (TCOT) delightfully entertained the Tuesday night audience with witty and inventive covers of standards including "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)", "When You're Smiling" and "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You", alongside a fabulously clever Beatles medley.

Guitarist Tobie Carpenter was on fine form leading the Trio throughout the evening, and Jamie Safir was just masterful on the organ and particularly strong during the opening number of the second set, "Night Train". Drummer Tim Giles was clearly relishing being sat between his bandmates as they all traded solos, and within several tunes effortlessly took command of the fluid tempo changes.

Tuesday 20th September 2022

Just 71 minutes.

That's how long it took British pianist, composer and bandleader, Gabriel Latchin to respond with an enthusiastic "Yes!" after an email invitation was despatched to him back in the summer.

What Epsom Jazz Club didn't know at the time was that he and his family now lived in Scotland. Oh, how's that going to work, then?

It would be fine, as merely two days before the intended September date Gabriel already had plans to be in the South of England to perform at the Isle of Wight Jazz Weekend as part of jazz vibraphone player Nat Steele's Portrait Of The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ).

Phew! Turned out nicely.

The ever-growing Epsom Jazz Club audience were thrilled with the booking. The Trio performed wonderfully varied sets featuring unique versions of songs by Bossa Nova pioneer João Gilberto, a beautiful reworking of "They All Laughed" by the inimitable Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, and Latchin's own composition "Carlora" (a dedication to his parents).

American jazz bassist Christian McBride is quoted as saying "Gabriel is an excellent musician and one hell of a nice guy". No-one could possibly argue with that.

He's made a name for himself as one of the UK’s finest musicians, known for his effortlessly swinging feel, deep repertoire and compelling performances, and Epsom's Tuesday night crowd lapped the three musicians up.

Pianist Gabriel Latchin was accompanied on stage by the rock-solid Jeremy Brown on double bass and long-standing collaborator Josh Morrison on drums. A truly wonderful Jazz Trio and understandably a number of the audience were keen to purchase and take home a personalised CD.

Gabriel's latest album "Viewpoint" was released in April 2023, entirely comprised of original compositions. A fabulous fourth album from his Trio for us to now play on rotation alongside the first three "Introducing", "The Moon And I" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas".