Hello everyone!
More great gigs on the way this month. Please spread the word, and support us by sharing and tagging on social media. See you on Mondays!

1st August – Rachael Cohen

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/551134/

Rachael Cohen – Alto Saxophone
Noah Stoneman – Piano
Joe Downard – Bass
Jason Brown – Drums

We’re so pleased we could get Rachael back so soon after the heatwave forced the postponement of her gig in July!

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. This year she deservedly placed in Downbeat’s ‘Rising Star’ alto saxophone category.

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

8th August – Nel Begley

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/552920/

Nel Begley – Voice
Paul Edis – Piano
Luke Fowler – Bass
Ollie Peszynski – Drums

Nel Begley is a vocalist and composer, recently moved to South London. She exploded onto the Leeds Jazz scene after graduating from Leeds Conservatoire.

She has performed at major festivals and shows around the UK and Europe including Latitude, Bestival, Pizza Express Soho and Jamboree Barcelona.

Nel is currently completing her masters studies at Guildhall and performs for her original project Rafe’s Dilemma.

In August she plans to bring some of the finest Jazz musicians London has to offer to serenade you with a range of songs that are close to her heart, including works by Joni Mitchell, Thelonious Monk and others. 

15th August – Alec Harper Quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/552922/

Alec Harper – Tenor Saxophone
Nick Costley White – Guitar
Tom Farmer – Bass
Will Cleasby – Drums 

Alec Harper has established himself as one of the leading tenor saxophonists in the U.K. When he’s not busy performing with popular outfit “Kansas Smitty’s”, you can find Alec fronting his own band and as a sideman for admired local bands. Alec has recently toured with Tom Misch as well as a stint recording and performing with the esteemed WDR big band. He has performed at venues all over the world including North Sea Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Dizzy’s Coca Cola (NYC). Be sure to head down to Alec’s Wednesday night residency at Soho’s “Louche” bar where you can catch his Quartet.

“A leading contender among the heavies”
Lance Liddle

22nd August – Calum Gourlay Quartet

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/552924

Helena Kay – Tenor
Kieran McLeod – Trombone
James Maddren – Drums
Calum Gourlay – Bass

Calum Gourlay’s award nominated quartet playing in its original lineup for the first time in nearly three years. Featuring music from their ‘New Ears’ album and new compositions.

Calum Gourlay was born in Glasgow and grew up playing in Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland and Tommy Smith’s Youth Jazz Orchestra, before going on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has since established two residencies at the Vortex Jazz Club, London – Thelonious from 2015 to 2017 presenting the entire catalogue of Thelonious Monk with Martin Speake and Hans Koller; and a monthly big band residency playing his own music starting in February 2017. As a sideman, he has performed with many leading jazz musicians from across the UK, and the world. Gourlay has held the acoustic bass chair with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Tommy Smith, since 2006. He has also featured prominently with Tommy Smith’s own quartet. Since 2018 Calum has been a professor of Jazz Bass at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. He has also taught one to one at the Royal Academy of Music and presented his own big band music with The Guildhall Big Band. His debut album ‘Live at The Ridgeway’ (2015) received rave reviews from the UK jazz press, not least because of its confident format – a solo, live recording in front of an intimate audience. In 2019 Calum released his first quartet album ‘New Ears’ on Ubuntu records. In 2020 the album was nominated for both a Scottish Jazz Award and an Ivor Novello Composer Award.

29th August – Noah Stoneman Trio

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/552926/

Noah Stoneman – Piano
Will Sach – Bass
Jason Brown – Drums

Noah Stoneman is a 21 year old pianist and composer from north London. He is currently studying at the Royal Academy of music and is adept at a wide range of musical idioms. What binds these different languages together is improvisation; the art which Noah aims to master throughout his career. He regularly performs as a sideman for some of the finest musicians across the UK from all generations. With his own trio you can expect poetic and dynamic compositions and a sense of fluidity across the whole ensemble.