Hello everyone – we’ve got another great month coming up at the Parakeet! Please spread the word, get your tickets booked, and we hope to see you all soon.
Monday 3rd July – Phil Merriman Trio
www.wegottickets.com/event/586095/
Phil Merriman – Piano
John Williamson – Bass
Simon Roth – Drums
Phil Merriman has played on the UK jazz scene for over 15 years. Since studying with John Taylor at the University of York, and following on from his Debut EP ‘Emergence’ written for viola, trombone, tabla and piano trio, Phil presents this brand new trio project featuring some of the UK’s finest music creators; John Williamson on bass and Simon Roth on drums.
They play all-new material from their upcoming album set to be recorded this Autumn. Expect deeply-rooted music, which ruminates on the concept of spritiual questions and musings – brought together sonically with grooves, melodies and harmonies which nod to jazz and gospel traditions.
Monday 10th July – Sam Braysher and Linus Eppinger
www.wegottickets.com/event/586097/
Sam Braysher – Alto Saxophone
Linus Eppinger – Guitar
Dave Green – Double Bass
Steve Brown – Drums
London-based alto saxophonist Sam Braysher has received widespread acclaim for the two albums released under his own name, both of which feature renowned international collaborators. Golden Earrings, with American pianist Michael Kanan, was described as “delightful and surprising” by Dave Gelly in the Observer, while his recent trio album with Jorge Rossy (Brad Mehldau Trio) and Tom Farmer, was praised in Jazzwise as “a triumph of intelligence and sentiment”.
Braysher and Linus Eppinger became friends as members of REBOP, a collaborative pan-European quintet, which toured the UK, Spain and Germany. Currently based in Amsterdam, the young German guitarist is winning plaudits for his bluesy swagger and a playing style influenced by Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Peter Bernstein. His recent debut album, Leaning In, was called “a classy and timeless outing” by Simon Adams of Jazz Journal.
They are joined by the classic London rhythm section pairing of Dave Green and Steve Brown, who together have provided ultra-swinging accompaniment for Barry Harris, Scott Hamilton and many others.
Monday 17th July – Steve Brown and Tardo Hammer
www.wegottickets.com/event/586100/
Tardo Hammer – Piano
Nat Steele – Vibraphone
Lorenzo Morabito – Bass
Steve Brown – Drums
This is a one-off performance masterminded by UK jazz royalty Steve Brown, featuring the incredible New York bebop pianist Tardo Hammer.
Pianist Richard “Tardo” Hammer was born in 1958 in Queens, N.Y. At age 5, Hammer began playing piano, and he went on to explore the clarinet and guitar before coming back to the piano by the time he was 13. As a teenager, Hammer was an avid listener to recorded jazz, devouring a wide variety of work by Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Errol Garner, Bill Evans, Teddy Wilson, John Coltrane and others. By age 15, he’d formed his own sextet.
After high school, Hammer moved to New York and began working professionally. He took any gigs he could find and supplemented his income teaching piano. By the ’80s, he’d become a regular in clubs around town, and began working with such artists as Bill Hardman, Junior Cook, Lionel Hampton, Lou Donaldson and the Art Farmer-Clifford Jordan Quintet. Hammer made his recording debut alongside Al Cohn and Mel Lewis in trumpeter Al Porcino’s big band.
He has been a choice accompanist for jazz vocalists including Annie Ross, Earl Coleman, David Allyn, Abbey Lincoln, Teri Thornton, Marion Cowings and Jon Hendricks.
Since the 1990s, Hammer has been performing in clubs and festivals in Europe, Japan and the U.S. In 1999, Hammer began making trio recordings as a leader.. His sixth and most recent album is Swinging on a Star, recorded for Cellar Live. He appears as a sideman on CDs by Warren Vache, Charles Davis, Grant Stewart and many others.
Born in Manchester, England, Steve Brown developed an early interest in music and began playing drums at age 14. By age 19, he was performing with local jazz groups. By the time he was 23, Steve had become the “first call” jazz drummer in Manchester, working with Scott Hamilton, Art Farmer and UK artists during their engagements in the city.
In 1996, Brown moved to London and began working as a sideman with many of the capitol’s finest musicians including engagements with jazz greats Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison and Conte Candoli. During the next 4 years his playing career went from strength to strength and Steve was the winner of the ‘Drums’ and ‘Rising Star’ categories in the 1999 British Jazz Awards.
In 2000 Steve joined the quartet of the great jazz saxophonist Scott Hamilton, with whom he has toured internationally since. He is also featured four recordings for Concord records.
In between his engagements with the Scott Hamilton quartet, Steve continues to perform and record with a wide variety of artists including Benny Golson, Benny Green, Carl Fontana, Barry Harris, Junior Mance, Charles McPherson, John Bunch and Hod O’Brien.
Monday 24th July – Will Arnold-Forster
www.wegottickets.com/event/586105/
Will Arnold-Forster – Guitar
Sam Braysher – Alto Saxophone
Conor Chaplin – Bass
Steve Brown – Drums
A genuine Jazz at the Oxford/Parakeet hero!
Will Arnold-Forster is a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. A recipient of the Yamaha Jazz Scholarship, he has performed across the country and in all of London’s major jazz venues, including Ronnie Scott’s The Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall & The Barbican Center. Tonight he leads a quartet comprising long term collaborators Sam Braysher (alto saxophone), Steve Brown (drums) and Conor Chaplin (double bass) to perform compositions written by/associated with the great Jim Hall.
Check out Will in action here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwjL1gopv4Y
Monday 31st July – George Crowley Trio
www.wegottickets.com/event/586115/
George Crowley – Tenor Saxophone
Oli Hayhurst – Bass
James Maddren – Drums
Another Jazz at the Parakeet/Oxford hero alumni!
George Crowley is a saxophonist, clarinettist, composer and promoter based in London. Since his arrival in the capital in 2007, Crowley has steadily established himself as a key player within the city’s burgeoning creative jazz and improv scene, and increasingly well known further afield, performing across the UK and Europe.
As a performer he is active across a range of styles; whether infusing melodic through-composed writing with open, searching improv in his own Can of Worms, channelling fiery avant-parade ghosts in Brass Mask, weaving through the polyrhythmic Ghanaian trance of Vula Viel or exploring more traditional repertoire, Crowley’s energy and expressive, warm saxophone sound mark him out as a musician who demands attention.
He can also be found playing with bands and musicians such as Melt Yourself Down, Julian Argüelles’ Septet, Yazz Ahmed, Red Snapper, the Michael Chillingworth Septet, Rick Simpson’s Klämmer and the Olie Brice Quartet featuring Jeff Williams. Outside of the world of jazz and improvised music he has worked with artists such as Boy George and Culture Club and Mount Kimbie.
“Rarely does a player so young debut with such a fully rounded tone and range of writing skills, so keep a keen ear out for Crowley: the future could yet be his.”
Jazzwise
Jazz in Kentish Town 