Hello everyone – we have another great bunch of gigs lined up for you this month. We’re really happy being back in our regular room, and the staff at the Parakeet have been so helpful, and we’re really grateful to them for making the transition so smooth. One piece of housekeeping – to avoid any confusion we are now officially “Jazz at the Parakeet.” This is reflected in our social media, website (http://www.jazzattheparakeet.com) and posters. As ever a massive shout out to Osian Roberts for the incredible design! Hopefully we’ll see you at a gig very soon.

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5th June – Felix Ambach Trio

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/583034/

Felix Ambach (NY) – Drums, Composition
Julius Gawlik (Berlin) – Clarinet
Roger Kintopf (Cologne) – Bass

Built on year long friendships the band came together during the pandemic in 2020 with a lot of time to rehearse and work on an unique bandsound. While respecting the jazz tradition the band goes from a classical chamber music sound to a raw traditional swing sound. The joy of communication through music and establishing a common groove and freedom sets the basis of the trio’s playing. The trio is the winner of the German Youth Jazz Prize 2021 and the scholarship programme jazz@undesigned 2021. In summer 2023 the band will tour together for the release of their first album, “Live”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCAnSV6ATf0&t=160s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bftwi1iTkCE

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12th June – Kieran McLeod Trio

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/583105/

Kieran McLeod – Trombone
George Crowley – Tenor Saxophone
Dave Hamblett – Drums

Trombonist Kieran McLeod, explores the traditions of Jazz alongside the voices of George Crowley on Tenor Saxophone and Dave Hamblett on Drums. The listener is invited to become the fourth member of the band as the trio builds a harmonic world with powerful rhythms to get lost inside of. The band will be performing Kieran’s original and high energy music so expect interweaving melodies that take influence from New Orleans to Scotland and from Cuba to South Africa. This is deeply acoustic music built to resonate within you.

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19th June – Alexander Bryson Trio

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/583107/

Alexander Bryson – Piano
Jeremy Brown – Bass
Matt Fishwick – Drums

Alexander Bryson is a leading British jazz pianist based in London. He has appeared at internationally prestigious venues including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Washington DC’s Blues Alley and the 606 Jazz Club, and at the Cork, Derry and London jazz festivals. A sought after sideman, he has worked with renowned jazz artists including Grant Stewart, Chris Cheek, Alex Garnett, Steve Fishwick, Ossian Roberts, Allison Neal, Benoit Viellefon and many others.

Before pursuing a career in Jazz, Alex trained classically, receiving a bachelor’s degree in classical piano from Trinity College of Music in London in 2010. In 2013 he moved to New York City to pursue a Masters degree in classical performance at Mannes College, The New School for Music in New York, and an advanced diploma at the Aaron Copeland of School of Music, Queen’s College.

During classical studies in New York Bryson regularly attended the workshops of Barry Harris, and received lessons with Jeb Patton, Michael Weiss, Antonio Hart and Dennis Mackrell. His first work as a jazz musician was in the Marie-Claire Giraud Quintet, alongside Dwayne Clemons, Murray Wall and Luke Decker. After this he soon became a jazz pianist full-time, played at Arturo’s, The Metropolitan Room, Cleopatra’s Needle, The Cotton Club, The Flatiron Room and at Blues Alley, in Washington DC.

Now back in London, Bryson has recently released his much anticipated debut album ‘The Alexander Bryson Trio’ on Hard Bop Records, which launched at a sold out show in Soho’s Pizza Express Jazz Club.

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26th June – Laura Klain Quartet: Shorter In Blue

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/583114/

Vincenzo Saetta – Alto Sax
Ivano Leva – Piano
Daniele Brenca – Bass
Laura Klain – Drums

Laura Klain was born in Toulouse, France. At the age of 7 she began studying ethnic percussion in southern Italy, developing a great technique especially on frame drums and tammorras and starting work as a professional musician.

At the age of 13 she joined the Eugenio Bennato Taranta Power group as first percussionist and toured with this band for 4 years around the world, playing for many festivals and big venues, including the Cairo “Opera Theatre”, ìParco della Musicaî in Rome, ìTabarka Festivalî in Tunisi, ìMedFestî Greece, Kosovo, Galles, Spain, Algeria and many other countries. During this period she also recorded for singers and songwriters Eugenio Bennato and Pietra Montecorvino. In the same period she had the opportunity to play with many great artists from the ethno-wolrd music scene like Trilok Gurtu, Hasna El Bechaira, Fathy Slamama, Il Cairo Opera Orchestra, Alfio Antico, Antonio Infantino and many others.

At the age of 16 Laura left the World music scene to shift from percussion to the drums. That change was the start of her artistic way to Jazz music. She went deep into Jazz drums studying with drummer Roberto Gatto at Rome Conservatory and attending masterclasses and workshops with many jazz international stars, including Peter Erskine, Jorge Rossy, Greg Hutchinson, Jeff Ballard, Antonio Sanchez, Aaron Goldberg, Larry Grenadier, Mark Turner, Peter Bernstein, Gege Munari, Andy Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Gary Novak, Mark Guiliana, Johnathan Blake, Nasheet Waits, David Kikoski, Eddie Gomez, Francisco Mela, Dave Liebman, Flavio Boltro, Avishai Cohen, Joshua Redman, Scott Colley.

From that period she toured with several bands joining festivals and clubs all over Italy including ìInternational Jazz Festivalî in La Spezia with Aldo Bassi trio and LSJO Orchestra, ìTiberio Nicola Awardsî and ìEmpoli Jazz Festivalî with Max Ionata feat. Leonardo Corradi and Piero Angela trio. In 2014 she was chosen as ìLucca Jazz Donna Music Festivalî testimonial, opening the event with her own Quintet. She also appeared in some radio and TV shows with Fiorello and Renzo Arbore.

She is now working as leader and sideman with many projects touring all over Italy and Europe. Since 2016 she has co-led the Two Late duo with organist Alberto Gurrisi, playing more than 100 concerts with this project including Tanjazz Festival (Marocco), Torino Jazz Festival, Piacenza Jazz Festival and many other italian clubs as a duo and as a rhythm section for guests like Daniele Scannapieco, Giovanni Amato, Michael Rosen, Nico Gori, Alessio Menconi and others.

Laura also played with Fabio Zeppetella, Marco Panascia, Michael Rosen, Giovanni Amato, Daniele Scannapieco, Antonio De Luise, Pippo Matino, Pietro Ciancaglini, Paolo Benedettini, Diego Borotti, Shareef Clayton, Alessio Menconi, Mauro Battisti, Humberto AmÈsquita, Max Ionata, Maurizio Urbani, Matteo Prefumo, Domenico Sanna, Giuseppe Bassi, Renzo Arbore, Piero Angela, Marco Ferri, Silvia Manco, Andrea Santaniello, Francesco Puglisi, Vittorio Silvestri, Andrea Rea, Massimo DíAvola, Seby Burgio, Stefano Nunzi, Luca Biggio and others.

The calendar means we have FIVE fantastic gigs for you in May. A big thank you to the staff at the Parakeet for being so helpful as we return to what we think is the finest listening room in North London. Please continue to spread the word amongst your friends and on social media, it really helps us out. One tiny change going forwards – we’ve made the difficult decision to put our ticket prices up ever so slightly to £12 general admission and £7 musician/student. This is partly to reflect a slight increase in the costs of our website/design etc, and also so that we can continue to pay our artists what we hope is a fair amount for their performance. We think this still stacks up as the best value jazz you’ll find anywhere on a Monday night and hope that you’ll keep up your invaluable support!

Monday 1st May – Rachael Cohen

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/579850/

Rachael Cohen – Alto Saxophone
Artie Zaitz – Guitar
Jack Garside – Bass
Jason Brown – Drums

Rachael, a London-based alto saxophonist and composer, is one of the brightest emerging stars of her generation. Her skills as a composer and improviser have gained her a great deal of attention in the UK and beyond.

2012 saw Rachael record her critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Halftime’ on Michael Janisch’s Whirlwind Recordings, which catapulted Cohen’s reputation to one of the premier new voices of her generation in the UK’s jazz and improvised music scene. Featuring top UK guitarist Phil Robson, ‘Halftime’ was highly praised nationwide and overseas upon its release in 2013 with four star reviews from major publications and earning her a spot in MOJO magazines top ten Jazz albums of 2014.

Rachael has since toured and continues to work extensively across the UK with her own projects and has come to be a mainstay at London clubs such as Ronnie Scott’s and the Vortex as well as having her residencies at other clubs throughout London.

“Cohen takes a softly devious approach reminiscent of Lee Konitz – but, as with the canny Cool School veteran, the quietness is deceptive and the subtlety is in the weighting of phrases and the hipness with which she plays off the rhythm section.” – The Guardian

Monday 8th May – Robbie Ellison Septet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/579852/

Steve Fishwick – trumpet
Adam Bishop – alto sax
Ed Parr – trombone
Fraser Smith – tenor sax
Tom Smith – bass clarinet
Darren McCarthy – bass
Robbie Ellison – drums

(The below write-up is verbatim what Robbie sent us!)

At some point over the last year, there occurred three historically improbable events:

1. Robbie Ellison – up to then merely a young drummer to be found playing all over London, the UK and throughout Europe as an in-demand (though perhaps overly-opinionated) member of the contemporary, swinging jazz community – worked out how to use musical notation software.
2. Following on from this considerable breakthrough, he managed to persuade (no doubt with various unsavoury bribes and dubious promises) the most clotted, most decadently calorific cream of the London bebop scene to get together and play his newfangled conceptions; and to lend to them each individual’s renowned improvisatory flair. These compositions and arrangements draw upon a diverse range of influences including the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Tadd Dameron, Mary Lou Williams, Gil Evans, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton as well as classical composers Chopin, Mahler and Schoenberg among others.
3. As if this pair of minor miracles weren’t enough, the same motley collective has proceeded to find numerous of the country’s finest jazz venues in which they can give voice to this music…
   So come check it out.
   
   Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@beachdadbenjamin/videos

Monday 15th May – Nigel Price/Alban Claret Quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/579854/

Nigel Price – Guitar
Alban Claret – Guitar
Mikele Montolli – Double Bass
Matt Fishwick – Drums

UK guitarist Nigel Price hooks up with the fiery French guitarist Alban Claret. With the awesome Matt Fishwick on drums and the virtuoso double bass player Mikele Montolli this newly formed quartet will be making it’s mark on the scene.

They will playing selections from their album ‘Entente Cordiale’, which is comprised of compositions by some of the most important 20th century figures in jazz such as Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Sam Jones and Bill Evans.

Monday 22nd May – Matt Anderson Quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/579856/

Matt Anderson – Tenor and Soprano Saxophones
Alberto Palau Garcera – Piano
Will Harris – Double-Bass
Jay Davis – Drums

London-based saxophonist and Dankworth Prize-winning composer Matt Anderson presents his third album, The Town and the City, which follows 2018’s Rambling also by this long-running quartet. The title refers in part to the diverse influences on the music, such as from the whole spectrum of the jazz tradition and various rhythmic traditions from around the world, but also more pastoral, spacious and folk-influenced sounds. This reflects Matt’s upbringing in the rural North Yorkshire Moors juxtaposed with his love of jazz and experience of living in the urban melting pot of London, which is also where this band was formed.

The son of a music teacher and based in Leeds for a time, Matt has lived in London since 2015. Becoming part of the fertile jazz scene in the capital, he has since performed with artists/bands such as Greg Hutchinson (with the Jiannis Pavlidis Quintet), Ivo Neame, the Gareth Lockrane and Calum Gourlay big bands, Jamie Doe’s Magic Lantern and Hannes Riepler. He also teaches at Leeds Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music.

Alberto Palau is an immensely talented pianist from Valencia, Spain. Now based in London, his experiences living in Boston and New York and working with artists such as Perico Sambeat and Charles McPherson make him much in-demand from leading British musicians. Jay Davis is one of the busiest drummers on the London scene, featuring for example in the Alex Hitchcock Quintet, Big Bad Wolf and his own group BadTrad. Will Harris’ remarkable bass playing has put him in high demand in the South-West where he has been based for many years, and after spending time in London he has become an increasingly popular choice of bassist in the capital as well.

Working together frequently over the past seven years, the band have developed a deep connection, touring extensively in the U.K. as well as appearing at the Bimhuis, Amsterdam; Jamboree, Barcelona and Jimmy Glass, Valencia.

Monday 29th May – Zoe Francis/Jim Mullen/Ross Stanley

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/579858/

Zoe Francis – Voice
Jim Mullen – Guitar
Ross Stanley – Hammond Organ

Blue Town Trio featuring Zoe Francis vocals, Jim Mullen, guitar and Ross Stanley, Hammond organ will be performing songs from Zoe’s new album “Somewhere in the Night”. Inspired by her love of the Blue Note, Larry Young, Grant Green recordings, this is Zoe, Jim and Ross’s 2nd album together. Zoe is a class act, known for her impeccable taste in material. Jim and Ross are two of the finest musicians on their instruments. Expect to hear classic songs with fresh arrangements and tempos! Zoe’s beautiful voice set against the rich layers of sound from Ross’s Hammond and Jim’s melodic blues lines make this trio sound like a mini orchestra!

PETER BERNSTEIN – “This is a great record that stands out in it’s beauty and courage.”
JAZZ JOURNAL- “A breath of spring…..great interpreter of the American Songbook.”
JAZZ RAG MAGAZINE – “She is totally a jazz singer, her lyrical phrasing is masterfully varied from chorus to chorus.”

Hello everyone – this is an exciting month as we’re back to our spiritual home at the Oxford Tavern (freshly painted a vivid green and renamed the Parakeet.) We do want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at the Assembly House for being so helpful and accommodating when we needed a venue in a hurry! We think the line-up here is pretty exciting, so please tell your friends, spread the word on social media and book your tickets as soon as you can.

3rd April – John Williamson
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/577023/

Alex Hitchcock – Tenor
Jonny Mansfield – Vibraphone
John Williamson – Bass
Jay Davis – Drums

“Razor sharp reactions to a constantly-shifting musical landscape… promised much and delivered in spades” — Bebop Spoken Here
Johnjosephwilliamson.com

Bassist John Williamson extends his chordless trio (renowned tenor player Alex Hitchcock and in-demand drummer Jay Davis) with the addition of the extraordinary vibraphonist Jonny Mansfield, in advance of the band’s first recording in the middle of the year.

Originally from Saltburn-by-the-sea, John has performed with many of London’s finest, and is known for a versatile and musical approach in both straightahead and contemporary settings. Combining influences from Lee Konitz to Charles Mingus, his compositions draw on a wide experience in music and a ruthlessly focused melodic instinct, creating lines that are “detailed and hugely compelling… so much more than what appears on the page.”

Set for June 2023, the upcoming recording is backed by funding from Help Musicians, with legendary pianist and composer Nikki Iles enlisted as producer.

10th April – Mark Kavuma
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/577026

Mark Kavuma – Trumpet
Noah Stoneman – Piano
Lorenzo Morabito – Bass
Jason Brown – Drums

Born and partly raised in Uganda, Mark Kavuma is a prominent young Trumpet player on the British jazz scene. In addition to leading his own outstanding band ‘The Banger Factory’, Kavuma has featured as a guest soloist alongside Wynton Marsalis and his Jazz at Lincoln centre orchestra, as well as touring extensively with the legendary Malian singer-songwriter Salif Keita. Kavuma’s voice is anchored firmly in the African American hard-bop tradition whilst simultaneously being unflinchingly contemporary.

17th April – Sean Fyfe
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/577035/

Sean Fyfe – Piano
Dave O’Higgins – Tenor Saxophone
Luke Fowler – Bass
Matt Fishwick – Drums

One of the busiest pianists in London, Sean is a presence on the piano that is virtuosic and tasteful. Drawing heavily on the hard-bop era of jazz, he has developed a unique style on the instrument and in his musical writing. The evening’s programme contains a mix of Sean’s original compositions and arrangements of well-known standard jazz repertoire. Sean is joined by his fiery quartet: Dave O’Higgins (tenor), Matt Fishwick (drums) and Luke Fowler (bass).

Sean has worked with a number of American musicians including Joe Farnsworth, Alex Claffy and Evan Sherman, as well as some of Canada’s top musicians such as Andre White, Dave Laing, Adrian Vedady, Dave Laing and Jesse Cahill, as well as UK musicians Josh Morrison, Matt Home, Jeremy Brown and Alex Garnett. Sean’s playing draws heavily on the music of Cedar Walton, Bill Evans, Bobby Timmons and Wynton Kelly.

24th April – Immy Churchill
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/577037/

Immy Churchill – Voice
Scottie Thompson – Piano
Dom Howard – Guitar

Immy, Scottie and Dom will be sharing their love of songs and stories through singer-songwriters, folk music, jazz composers (Ralph Towner, John Taylor, Nikki Iles), jazz standards and Immy’s own compositions. It will be an intimate evening of storytelling through song.

Immy Churchill is a jazz singer and singer songwriter studying at The Royal Academy of Music. As a member of The London Vocal Project, Immy has played with the likes of Norma Winstone and Dave Holland and has recently been involved in Jon Hendricks’ Miles Ahead. As a soloist she has performed in The London Jazz Festival with her trio and also alongside Liane Carole. Recently, she has performed with her own band at The Vortex as well as performing in other original music projects at Ronnie Scott’s. She has sung with a range of ensembles at venues such as ‘The Green Note’, ‘The Royal Festival Hall’, ‘Pizza Express Live’, and ‘The King’s Place’ as well as touring around Europe with the Lukas DeRungs Quintet… she looks to embrace not only the lyrical quality of being a singer but also the joys of singing wordlessly and improvising. Her influences range from Joni Mitchell and James Taylor to Ella Fitzgerald and Norma Winstone, providing her with a wide breadth of musical knowledge that sets her apart as a vocalist.

Scottie Thompson is a pianist and composer from Portsmouth. He has performed music in a vast variety of styles in major clubs, venues and festivals across the UK such as Ronnie Scott’s, 606, Vortex, Jazz Cafe and Buckingham Palace. He is currently a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studies piano under Kit Downes, Gwilym Simcock and Nikki Iles and composition with Pete Churchill. Aside from performing, Scottie has won multiple composition awards, with some of his arrangements having been played on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM in recent years.

Dom Howard is a guitarist from Cambridge and is currently studying the Jazz course at the Royal Academy of music in London. Dom draws on rock, classical music and a variety of improvised music into his playing and composing. He has played and recorded in a variety of ensembles from solo electric guitar, trios, combos and big band settings as well in a prog metal/post-rock band ‘Influx of Insanity’ from 2016-21 who won multiple competitions and have released several self produced and studio albums.

Hello everyone, thanks for the great start to the year so far! Here’s what is coming up this month – we’re pretty excited about it. As ever, please spread the word by telling your friends and sharing our social media posts, it really helps.

Monday 6th March – Sean Gibbs Quintet
www.wegottickets.com/event/573960/

Sean Gibbs: Trumpet
Riley Stone-Lonergan: Tenor Saxophone
Rob Brockway: Piano
Calum Gourlay: Bass
Tim Giles: Drums

Sean Gibbs is a London based trumpeter/composer, known for his work with the likes of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and Calum Gourlay Big Band. Tonight he will be performing material from his quintet album ‘When Can I See You Again?’, released with Ubuntu Music. This has received wide critical acclaim, including a five star review in BBC Music Magazine. It has also been featured heavily on Jazz FM and BBC Radio 6. The album is made up of original music of Sean’s, steeped in the jazz tradition, with a focus on lyrical melodies, hearty grooves and a deep connection to the blues.

London Jazz News – “When I spot trumpeter Sean Gibbs in a band my spirits lift; I know there will be spot on ensemble playing and expertly-turned, beautifully toned solos”

Herald Scotland – “Gibbs’ music has bags of personality and his soloing is full of ideas, now cool and reflective, now fast and assertive, now downright mischievous.”

Monday 13th March – Raible/Gradischnig Quintet plays Elmo Hope
www.wegottickets.com/event/573962/

Steve Fishwick – Trumpet (UK)
Herwig Gradischnig – Tenor Sax (Austria)
Claus Raible – Piano (Germany)
Giorgos Antoniou – Bass (Switzerland)
Matt Home – Drums (UK)

The band co-led by pianist Claus Raible and Austrian tenor saxophonist Herwig Gradischnig has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe since 2015, paying tribute to the late great American jazz pianist and composer Elmo Hope
Their two CD’s “Searchin’ For Hope” and “The Music Of Elmo Hope Vol.2” have achieved high acclaim in music publications including JazzWise (UK) and Jazz Journal.

About the band members..

Trumpet player Steve Fishwick, born in Manchester is widely considered to be one of the finest trumpet players ever to come from the UK and is rapidly gaining a worldwide reputation thanks to his flawless technique and his beautifully flowing and harmonically rich improvisations. He is one of a growing number of trumpet players who have been heavily influenced by the melodic approach of the late great Kenny Dorham; a figure often overlooked in the pantheon of Jazz trumpet legends. Steve graduated from London’s Royal academy in 1998 with a bachelor of music degree and has since played with a variety of leading musicians from the UK, Europe and further afield, including Sir john Dankworth, Stan Tracey, BBC Big Band, Peter King, Anita O’ Day, Ron Carter, Peter Erskine, George Mraz, Dado Moroni, Tony Lakatos, Tardo Hammer, Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski to name a few.

Austrian tenor player Herwig Gradischnig is based in Vienna and until 2007 was a member of the prestigious Vienna Art Orchestra. He has also appeared alongside Randy Brecker, John Swana, Benny Bailey, Conte Candoli, DuskoGoykovich, Ingrid Jensen, Vincent Herring, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Cobham and Jorge Rossi. He has played in the big bands of Quincy Jones, Al Porcino, NDR Big Band, the Don Ellis Tribute Orchestra, Concert Jazz Orchestra of Vienna and Thomas Gansch.

German-born pianist Claus Raible got fascinated by Jazz as early as in his primary school days through listening to various radio programs. By about age sixteen, while still at high school, Claus had his first professional performing appearances, both as a sideman as well as a leader. Still in his early twenties, while carrying on his musical studies at academic level, Claus had the chance to perform with such stellar musicians as Art Farmer, Andy Bey, Mark Murphy, to just name a few. In 1992, Claus moved to New York City where he formed the Claus Raible Sextet which featured Brad Leali, Mike Karn, Shawn McGloin. As a sideman he started appearing with musicians such as Ben Dixon, Manny Duran, Jimmy Lovelace, Jon Faddis, and later took master classes from pianist Dr. Barry Harris who has been a great influence on his writing and arranging.

Bass Player Giorgos Antoniou hails from Athens and now resides in Basel, Switzerland since 1994. Since then he has undertaken freelance work with some notable names of the Swiss jazz scene and a ten years association with the German pianist/composer and band-leader Joe Haider, with whom he performed and recorded extensively.

Drummer Matt Home born in Huddersfield in 1973. Starting drumming at the age of 7, Matt was a 1994 graduate of Leeds College of Music and did his first professional performances aged 17. He has played, toured and recorded with many leading UK and European musicians including Peter King, Dusko Gykovich , Alan Barnes, Stacey Kent, Cleo Laine, Brandon Allen, Anita Wardell, Claire Martin, Nigel Price and Alex Garnett. He has also performed with US musicians such as Barry Harris, Cyrus Chestnut, Eric Alexander, Grant Stewart, Scott Hamilton, Gary Smulyan, Herb Geller, Lanny Morgan, Danny Moss, Jim Snidero and Spike Robinson.

Monday 20th March – Heidi Vogel
www.wegottickets.com/event/573964/

Heidi Vogel – Voice
Ivo Neame – Piano
Larry Bartley – Bass
Jason Brown – Drums

Vocalist with The Cinematic Orchestra since 2006, Heidi appears on their albums “To Believe”, “Live at the Royal Albert Hall”, “Late Night Tales” and has opened for Erykah Badu in Dubai, performed at Montreux Jazz festival for Quincy Jones and appeared live on The Jimmy Kimmel Show on ABC, as well as performing at The Sydney Opera House and with The Krakow Symphony Orchestra, The Heritage Orchestra and The London Metropolitan Orchestra.

Heidi performed with The Cinematic Orchestra concluding a 2019 USA tour at the prestigous Los Angeles Walt Disney Hall where she performed with Patrick Watson, Moses Sumney, and Miguel Atwood Ferguson.

Heidi has also performed at festivals such as:
Cape Town Jazz Festival, Sonar Japan, Fuji Rock, Coachella, Glastonbury, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Blue Note Jazz Festival, New York Film Festival, Central Park Summerstage, BBC 6 Music Festival.
Heidi performed as a soloist for the 2019 BBC Proms at The Royal Albert Hall for a recital of The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington.
Heidi’s performance with pianist Monty Alexander received rave reviews.

She has also performed/recorded with:
Thundercat, Cleveland Watkiss, Banda Black Rio, Simoninha, The Brand New Heavies, ‘Lil Louie Vega, Bobby Mcferrin, Isaac Hayes, Austin Peralta, Ig Culture, Sean Khan for his album with Hermeto Pascoal, F-ire Big Band, Alex Wilson Salsa Orchestra, Chick Corea, Shlomo, Eska, Soweto Kinch, Tawiah, Roots Manuva, Ty and Terry Walker to name just a few.

Heidi’s debut album “Turn up the Quiet”, received impressive reviews from Jazz Wise Magazine, Jazz Times Magazine, as well as support from Jamie Cullum, Benji B, Osunlade and many others.

The album presents Heidi performing Brazilian Bossa nova and jazz classics. A contrast to her work in EDM house classics, as well as broken beat, hip hop and drum and bass.
“…Surely one of the great jazz voices of modern times…” – Vamos London
“…She’s got an extraordinary voice….an incredible range to her voice and such a texture to it as well. You’ll really enjoy the album, keep an eye out for Heidi Vogel” – Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2)
“…From her towering opening performance, Heidi Vogel says everything in the right key…. Vogel’s voice is an extraordinarily rich and complex instrument, one that you can easily fall in love with…” – Jazzwise Magazine

Monday 27th March – Alex Western-King
www.wegottickets.com/event/573966/

Alex Western-King – Tenor Saxophone
Alex Garnett – Tenor Saxophone
Sam Leak – Organ
Jay Davis – Drums

“Young monarch of swing” – JazzWise Magazine
“Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, but saying its own thing… a pleasure to listen to. A night of seriously good music” – London Jazz News

Alex Western-King is an award-winning musician who is generally considered to be one of the most talented saxophonists of his generation. With an impressive CV and a band comprised of some of the most in demand jazz musicians in Europe, Alex is rapidly positioning himself at the forefront of the jazz scene.

This band augments swingin’ jazz standards, injecting them with fresh creativity and infectious energy. Locking horns with Western-King in this two-tenor quartet is Alex Garnett, one of the leading saxophonists in the UK and Mainland Europe for over 2 decades. “A first call sideman to the stars” (JazzWise Magazine), Garnett is instantly recognized by his dark, husky sound.

Described as “masterly and hypnotic” (All About Jazz), Sam Leak provides the perfect harmonic support to compliment this fiery front line. A “precise, attentive and an exciting soloist” (Sussex Jazz Magazine), Jay Davis provides driving energy on drums.
With tunes from legendary artists Miles Davis, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn, Joe Lovano, Chick Corea and Booker Little among the bands own original compositions, this is not one to be missed.

Dear audience, happy New Year and welcome back. As usual we have taken a break for January, and are ready to return to our temporary home (the Assembly House, just 100m away from our regular venue in Kentish Town) with some truly great gigs for February.

As always, the night is run voluntarily and relies entirely on ticket sales to pay the artists — please tell your friends and continue your kind support of the night. It is really special to be able to see this calibre of jazz in a small, listening room for a great price.

All being well we will be back at our regular venue in April. Keep an eye out for news. Without further ado, see the listings and ticket links below. At time of writing some lineups are still to be finalised, including our astonishing first gig (13th February) when the world class vibraphonist and composer Jim Hart is in town and has kindly agreed to open our 2023 programme.

13th Feb — Jim Hart SOLD OUT!!!! No tickets available on the door.

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/571333

The world-class vibraphonist and composer Jim Hart is in London briefly and we’ve managed to grab him for a very special gig. Jim will be bringing an all-star band of London-based colleagues and we can’t wait. Don’t miss the chance to hear the vibraphone played in an intimate listening room by one of the true masters!

Jim Hart is one of the most in-demand musicians on the European jazz and alternative music scene, as a soloist and sideman on drums and vibraphone. His background in both jazz and classical music – combined with his interest in the traditional music of Latin America and West Africa and its part in contemporary improvised music – has helped to define his creative personality, melding a distinctive and strong sense of harmony, melody and rhythm.

As a bandleader, he has recorded six albums of his own music which have enjoyed radio airplay and have been critically acclaimed worldwide. Hart leads Cloudmakers Trio and Cloudmakers Five and his eminence across Europe includes a pivotal role in the Marius Neset Quintet (vibes, marimba and percussion), Daniel Erdmann’s Revolution (vibes) and Vula Viel’s exploration of the rhythmic systems of Ghanaian traditional music (drums).

Downbeat magazine has listed him in both readers’ and critics’ polls – in the ‘vibraphone’ and ‘rising star’ categories – over the last five years; and Cloudmakers Trio’s studio album ‘Abstract Forces’ made their 2014 ‘album of the year’ list. He has been the recipient of multiple British jazz awards, the Worshipful Company of Musicians bronze medal and was nominated for ‘musician of the year’ in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

“One of the UK’s most creative new jazz artists.”
– The Guardian

“Outstanding”
– Financial Times

“One of the brightest stars on the UK and European Jazz scene.”
– John Surman

“Hart has developed an impressively individual voice.”
– Jazzwise Magazine

20th Feb — Artie Zaitz

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/571335

Extraordinary guitarist Artie Zaitz brings a swinging band to our temporary home at the Assembly House (just 100m from our normal venue in Kentish Town).

Line-up TBC

27th Feb — Vittorio Mura

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/571337

The stunning New York based saxophonist Vittorio Mura is in town with two of London’s finest, Will Sach (bass) and Will Cleasby (drums).

A graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the City College of New York, Vittorio Mura has studied with some of the world’s finest musicians, including Jason Rigby, Steve Wilson, Nasheet Waits, Jean Toussaint and Mike Williams.

Currently based in New York City, Mura is known for his lyrical playing with an emphasis on interplay, improvisation and risk-taking; whilst being deeply inspired by the lineage of the tenor saxophone.

He has performed at various venues in NYC, including Minton’s Playhouse, and extensively throughout the UK and Europe, including the Vortex Jazz club, Ronnie Scott’s, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Cheltenham, Manchester, Glasgow and Trondheim jazz festivals.

As a sideman, he has featured on records by the David Ferris Septet (Alphabets, 2018), Tom Syson Group (Green, 2017), and the Birmingham Jazz Orchestra (Rough Boundaries, 2016).
His latest recorded output is with the collaborative international quartet Quiet People, who released their eponymous debut album in June 2020.

Currently Vittorio is working on a follow-up Quiet People album, as well as a debut with his newly formed quartet.

“…without [a] doubt one of the finest musicians to be riding the crest of the new wave of improvisers coming out of Birmingham. Definitely one to watch….” – Percy Pursglove

DECEMBER 2022

Hello everyone. A few thank yous to round out the year — to the amazing bands who played in our recent London Jazz Festival gigs, and throughout the rest of this year. And to all of you, the audience, for continuing to support the best independent jazz night in the UK by buying tickets, telling friends, and sharing posts. AND, to the Assembly House, Kentish Town, for providing a perfect and perfectly-located temporary venue while our regular one is refurbished. Jazz at the Oxford is run entirely voluntarily, with ticket money going directly to the artists — please keep up your great support.

We usually do not run gigs in January. Plans for the restart will be finalised as we await more details on the date of completion for the refurbishments, at which point we expect to be back at the Oxford Tavern. As usual, keep an eye out on our social media and website.

Here are December’s bands. Come along, tell your friends and help us see out 2022 with a bang.

5 Dec — Tara Minton Quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/564593

Tara Minton – harp/vocals
Ed Babar – double bass
David Ingamells – drums
Emma Rawicz – sax

Tara Minton is an Australian born harpist, vocalist and composer. She is proudly endorsed by Camac Harps and holds a master’s degree in jazz performance from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Sought after as both a harpist and vocalist, Tara has worked with Björk, Tom Walker, ESKA, Stan Sulzmann, Geoff Gascoyne and the Australian World Orchestra. She leads her own original project as a harpist/vocalist and sings with “The Blues and Roots Ensemble” – a London based nine-piece band and charity celebrating the music of Charles Mingus.  
  
In 2020 Tara released her critically acclaimed album ‘Please Do Not Ignore The Mermaid’ exploring themes of climate change and mer-myth. She consolidated the album’s success with an intimate duo album released in January 2022 – ‘Two For The Road’ with bassist Ed Babar. The album was produced by Geoff Gascoyne and features Stan Sulzmann on tenor saxophone. This Summer Tara made her Ronnie Scott’s headline debut, and her BBC Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall with the Australian World Orchestra. 
  
Tara is a passionate music educator and advocate for the harp in jazz and improvised music. When not playing or teaching, Tara co-hosts ‘The Jazz Podcast’ with saxophonist Rob Cope, which was recently nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Award.    
  
“An otherworldly collection that brings the harp centre stage” – The Sunday Times   
 
“Irresistibly seductive” – Jazzwise 
 
https://taraminton.com

12 Dec — Harrison Dolphin’s Music Band 

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/564722

The outstanding young guitarist Harrison Dolphin leads a star-studded sextet.

Zhenya Strigalev – alto sax
Miguel Gorodi – trumpet
James Wade-Sired – trombone
Harrison Dolphin – guitar
Lorenzo Morabito – bass
Adam Merrell – drums

19 Dec — Casares/Barry/Chaplin/Pitarch

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/564724

Two of London’s finest, Will Barry (piano) and Conor Chaplin (bass), present an international lineup for a very special final gig of 2022! They are joined by the saxophonist Lluc Casares and drummer Andreu Pitarch. Don’t miss it!

Hello everyone! It’s been a fairly dramatic couple of weeks at Oxford HQ with the sudden closure of the venue and the scramble to sort something new out. We’re really happy to report that the Assembly House 200m up the road has stepped up, and we’ll be kicking off there this coming Monday (31st) with Jack Garside leading an outrageous quartet. Tickets here: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/558771

Here’s what’s coming up in November – it features a three-gig extravaganza week for the EFG London Jazz Festival. Please note there is no gig on Monday the 21st, as with the stress of the new venue hunt and the inevitability of that week suffering from a post-festival hangover, we are having a week off! We’re back for the last week of the month and will continue into December.

The change of venue coming right before the biggest month of music we’ve ever put on obviously does make us feel a little more precarious than we might like, so we would really appreciate seeing your faces and your bums on seats at these gigs. The new room is a tiny bit smaller, so we would encourage booking in advance to guarantee seeing the gigs. The LJF gigs are already selling quite fast and we don’t want any of our regular supporters to miss out! Spread the word, share far and wide on Instagram and Facebook, and encourage anyone who might be interested to sign up to the newsletter.

Thanks as ever for being such great supporters of proper grass-roots music.

Monday 7th – David Ferris Septet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/561349

David Ferris – Piano, composition
Hugh Pascall – Trumpet
Richard Foote – Trombone
Chris Young – Alto Saxophone
Nadim Teimoori – Tenor Saxophone
Nick Jurd – Bass
Euan Palmer – Drums

This band was originally formed in October 2016 by pianist, composer and Jazz at the Oxford denizen David Ferris, featuring some of the Midlands’ best musicians. The music written for this band draws from his experience of playing in large fully-orchestrated groups, and smaller more improvised settings, and focuses on melody and warmth, with influences ranging from John Scofield to Fred Hersch to The Beatles.

Their debut album “Alphabets” was released in February 2018, featuring the Estonian singer Maria Väli, and for this gig they’ll be debuting some new music.

Monday 14th – Sam Jesson’s Magpie Trio
(EFG London Jazz Festival)

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/551291

George Crowley – Tenor Sax
Tom Farmer – Double Bass
Sam Jesson – Drum Kit

All star acoustic saxophone trio reworking the glorious compositions of Wayne Shorter’s from his electric era, from groove heavy Weather Report bangers to the soaring melodies from seminal albums Atlantis and Joy Rider.

United by their love for the tradition of legendary jazz trios from Ahmad Jamal to Sonny Rollins, Oscar Peterson to Dewey Redman, the trio wind their way through many gems of the jazz canon – some lesser known than others – sometimes deconstructing and breathing new life, sometimes paying homage to classic arrangements, with a devoted focus on making music that feels honest and joyous.

This gig is part of a national tour in which the trio take on the electric work of Wayne Shorter, in music written for Weather Report and seminal solo albums Atlantis and Joy Rider.

Wednesday 16th – Alexandra Ridout/Iver Cardas
(EFG London Jazz Festival)

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/551307

Alex Ridout – Trumpet
Iver Cardas – Guitar
Conor Chaplin – Bass
TBC – Drums

Alexandra Ridout, Jazz Trumpeter, UK, is currently studying her Masters Degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She recently went on European Tour with the Grammy nominated, Blue Note signed all star band Artemis.

Alexandra was crowned the winner of the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016 and noted in ‘The shape of jazz to come: who to look out for in 2018’ in Jazzwise magazine.

In 2018 Alexandra won The British Jazz Awards ‘Rising Star’ category. In October 2019 Alexandra was named one of ‘London’s Most Influential People’ under 25 and was a Parliamentary Jazz Awards nominee in 2020.

Alexandra joined British jazz luminary Clark Tracey’s latest Quintet in 2017 who performed regularly promoting their most recent album ‘No Doubt’.

She has performed with ECM artist Kit Downes, and world renowned Jason Brown.

She was chosen for the JEN Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo 2021.

Alexandra released her debut EP ‘Remote Duets’ in 2020.

She has featured on various albums.

Alexandra fronts her own Quintet, who have recently recorded their debut album.

In 2022 she performed around Europe with award winning pianist Pablo Held and with Star Bass player Orlando Le Fleming’s band ‘Romantic Funk’.

Alexandra performed at the Jazz Gallery in New York with Dayna Stephen’s Custom Deluxe.

She has been invited to perform at the Festival of New Trumpet Music in NYC 2022.

Friday 18th – Stan Sulzmann Quartet
(EFG London Jazz Festival)

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/551309

Stan Sulzmann – Saxophone
Will Barry – Piano
Steve Watts – Bass
Kai MacRae – Drums

‘But a shining light of the whole attractive enterprise is the presence of Stan Sulzmann, who seems to sound more personal and hauntingly moving than ever.’ John Fordham, Jazz UK

A veteran of the UK jazz scene, Stan Sulzmann has a rich and varied career that has included playing with musicians as diverse as Kenny Wheeler, Larry Grenadier and Gwilym Simcock, as well as a prolific output as bandleader.

Always moving forward, Stan’s Neon Quartet sees him amongst some of the UKs most sought-after young musicians, and their latest album “Subjekt” explores Stan’s ever-developing musical influences. Stan is also a highly respected composer and arranger; his vibrant big band arrangements have excited and inspired people for the last 25 years, and in 2013 Stan was commissioned to write an original piece for the London Jazz Festival.

Highly in demand as a sideman, Stan has worked with a host of musicians, including: John Taylor, Jim Mullen, Nikki Iles, Mike Gibbs, Marc Copland, Allan Botchinksy, European Jazz Ensemble, Kit Downes, Michael Brecker and Gil Evans.

‘It simply doesn’t get any better than this’ John Kelman

Monday 21st

NO GIG

Monday 28th – Sam Norris Quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/561352

Sam Norris- alto sax
Jay Verma- piano
Will Sach- double bass
Harry Ling- drums

‘An extraordinary technique and improvisational flair for one so young’ (Ronan Guilfoyle).

Sam Norris is an award-winning London-based alto saxophonist, flautist and composer with a forward-thinking outlook.

Originally from Cambridge, UK, Sam has been moved from an early age by deeply expressive improvisers with their own musical language. Among the most formative influences on his playing and composing have been John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Lee Konitz and Eric Dolphy. The study of these musicians’ work, combined with a parallel interest in twentieth-century classical music, has led him to develop a musical vocabulary which is resolutely his own.

The Sam Norris Quartet (SNQ) brings together three of Sam’s favourite musicians on the London jazz scene- pianist Jay Verma, bassist Will Sach and drummer Harry Ling- to perform his original compositions. High-energy and uncompromising, their music takes the listener on a journey through carefully crafted forms, thoughtful solo interludes, and passages of free improvisation.

November listings are about to be published, but here’s an important notice.

Until the end of 2022, gigs will take place upstairs at the Assembly House (Kentish Town, 2 mins from the Oxford) while the Oxford is being refurbished. This applies both to the regular Monday nights, and to the Mon/Wed/Fri (14/16/18 Nov) gigs during London Jazz Festival week. There is no gig the Monday after LJF (21 Nov). The next gig at time of writing is the great Jack Garside (31 Oct), which is the first at our temporary home. Watch the mailing list, website and socials for full listings soon.

This has been sorted out at very short notice, and we are grateful to all involved. Please show some love to our new hosts and support the night by spreading the word, buying tickets and buying drinks.

UPDATE: now until the end of the year our gigs including THREE (Mon/WedFri in London Jazz Festival week) are upstairs at Assembly House Kentish Town, two minutes walk from the Oxford. Other details remain the same. Please support our temporary home and come along.

Hello everyone – October is going to be a great one here at the Oxford. As ever we rely on the continued support of our audience to keep the night running, so please keep coming along, telling your friends, and tagging us in anything you might put on social media (we’re on Instagram and Facebook.)

As a little bonus look ahead to November, our EFG London Jazz Festival programme is up and we’re putting on THREE great gigs: Sam Jesson’s Magpie Trio on Monday the 18th, Alexandra Ridout and Iver Cardas on Wednesday the 20th, and the legendary Stan Sulzmann on Friday the 22nd. Tickets are already going for these, so please do yourself a favour and get hold of some for yourselves here.

Thanks for all your continued support!

3rd october – james allsopp quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/558368/

James Allsopp – Tenor Saxophone/Bass Clarinet
Steve Buckley – Alto Saxophone/Bass Clarinet
Tom Herbert – Bass
Dave Storey – Drums

The James Allsopp Quartet is the new project from the BBC Jazz award winning saxophonist (“perhaps the most gifted British saxophonist of his generation, not to mention the most adaptable.” Underscore music magazine). The band builds on the joyful and haunting melodies that characterise his music and combines them with deep bass riffs and a sense of swing rooted in the jazz tradition but not beholden to it.

The band features Steve Buckley (Loose Tubes) on Alto Saxophone and Bass Clarinet,
Tom Herbert (Polar Bear) on Acoustic and Electric Bass and rising star Dave Storey on
the Drums.

10th october – dominic ingham quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/558725/

Dominic Ingham – Violin
Miles Mindlin – Guitar
Will Sach – Bass
Jay Davis – Drums

London based violinist Dominic Ingham has toured extensively across the UK with his quintet and performed at the likes of Ronnie Scotts, Barbican, Love Supreme and EFG London Jazz Festival.
A composer of captivating original music and a pioneering violinist, Dominic has earned a Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2020 nomination, as well as landing a semi-finalist spot at the Zbigniew Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition.

In 2020, he released his debut album Role Models to critical acclaim. This self-released record features an arresting suite of lucidly crafted and characterful pieces and showcases Dominic’s distinctive and highly personalised style, rooted in his background of folk and classical music.
Dominic will be performing music from his upcoming E.P “Letters” alongside some of the most exciting emerging jazz musicians in the UK – Miles Mindlin (guitar) Will Sach (double bass) and Jay Davis (drums)

“Ingham’s music propels him into the ranks, writing an exciting chapter in contemporary UK jazz history” – All About Jazz
“Arresting suite of his lucidly crafted and characterful pieces” – Jazz Journal
“The ability of Dominic becomes immediately apparent as his violin skilfully soars above a slow-burning groover” – Jazzwise

17th october – Hugh pascall quintet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/558727/

Hugh Pascall – Trumpet
James Allsopp – Saxophone
Liam Dunachie – Piano
Oli Hayhurst – Bass
Jay Davis – Drums

Influenced by musicians like Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter and Tom Harrell, Hugh’s music is a lyrical, vibrant and modern approach to post-bop jazz. It’s straight-ahead jazz with melody, where swinging, modal explorations are complimented by beautiful, atmospheric and expressive ballads rich in harmony and character.

Hugh also brings interpretations of choice tunes in the classic jazz tradition, weaving these into the set alongside music from the new album and other brand new compositions.

An award-winning trumpeter and composer, Hugh studied jazz at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Paris Conservatoire and has since developed a highly respected career as a soloist. Recent projects include playing with such luminaries as The Last Poets, with UK legend Tony Kofi’s Inside Straight and rising star guitarist Aidan Pope’s new Octet. His eclectic career has included performances and recordings with a huge variety of artists, regularly performing at festivals and venues across the country and throughout Europe as a sideman. Forthcoming projects include a recording with guitarist Peter Bernstein as a member of the acclaimed David Ferris Septet. Borderlands is his much anticipated first album as Bandleader.

“An outstanding soloist” – London Jazz News
“Exemplary hard bop” – Jazz Journal
“The most beautiful, elegant and melodic delivery” – London Jazz News
“Fluent, lyrical solos that unfold gradually and gracefully” – The Jazzmann

24th october – blue town trio

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/558769/

Zoe Francis – Vocals
Jim Mullen – Guitar
Ross Stanley – Organ

The ‘Blue Town Trio’ features London-based Zoe Francis, vocals, multi award-winning legendary guitarist Jim Mullen (Morrissey Mullen, Terry Callier, Georgie Fame, Gene Harris) and Ross Stanley on Hammond organ. It’s a cracking set of classic songs in fresh arrangements with a few surprises. Songs including ‘Spring can really hang you up the most’, ‘Too late now’, ‘Who can I turn to’, ‘Skylark’, ‘My one and only love’, ‘In a sentimental mood’, and ‘Cinema Paradiso’ showcase Zoe’s beautiful voice set against the rich layers of sound from Ross’s Hammond and Jim’s melodic blues lines make this trio sound like a mini orchestra.

“Something a bit special is going on when this artist takes the stage…a classy, poised singer.” – London Jazz News

31st october – jack garside

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/558771/

Jack Garside – Bass
Chris Maddock – Saxophone
Matt Carter – Piano
Will Cleasby – Drums

Jack Garside has established himself as one of London’s most in-demand double bass players since moving to London from his hometown of Leeds three years ago. He has played with many of the most talented players on today’s scene but is probably most well known for his work alongside Mark Kavuma and The Banger Factory. Although mainly performing as a sideman, Jack is also a keen band leader and composes music with an aim of melding both the traditional and contemporary aspects of jazz music.

In this performance, the band will perform a selection of Jack’s original material, as well as some of his favourite tunes at the moment written by other composers.