We’d like to start by thanking all those who came out last month; how lucky we are to be able to facilitate so many wonderful projects here at Jazz in Kentish Town. Going in to December, we’re thrilled to announce three wonderful gigs that’ll takes us up to Christmas, we’ll then be taking a break for January so make sure to come down to the Bull and Gate on Monday nights to get your fix of live jazz!
See below for the full details of our listings this month and the links for purchasing tickets. We can’t wait to see you 🙂
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night.
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
Gloria Yehilevsky’s G M?R is a trio+ whose identity expands beyond its London-based core of Yehilevsky on vibraphone/percussion, Aram Bahmaie on basses, and Sam Norris on alto sax/flute. Navigating an electroacoustic setup as multi-instrumentalists, the project plays unprescribed + composed improvised music which is both experimental + accessible. G M?R frequently morphs by incorporating guest performers, now joined by Niklas Lukassen on basses.
Finn Genockey is a jazz drummer, composer and bandleader based in London. Since starting drums at the age of 6, Finn has had plenty of experience performing regularly with some of the most notable jazz artists such as Rufus Reid and Stan Sulzmann at some of the country’s top jazz venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Soho and Vortex as well as across the world in places such as Germany, France and the Caribbean. He also regularly writes music for the ensembles he runs: including The London Intercollegiate Jazz Orchestra which he founded for a debut performance as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival as well as his long-standing international quartet, which debuted at Jazz at The Parakeet!
Tacet Trust, his debut album, was released on Fresh Sound New Talent in 2025. Featuring Josh Short, Rasmus Sørensen and Nico Klöffer, the music has been described by UK Jazz News as “a debut album that will surely be hailed as a classic and a milestone in the ongoing development of contemporary jazz.“ (Chris Welch, UK Jazz News) and by The Jazzmann as “the most outstanding debut album that I’ve heard in some time” (5★’s)
Nick Costley-White is one of the most in demand jazz guitarists in the UK, renowned for a deep understanding of the jazz tradition, alongside a virtuosic technique and progressive approach to improvising.
Nick will be presenting his long standing trio featuring drummer Josh Morrison (Stacey Kent, Eric Alexander) and rising star bass player Lorenzo Morabito (Joe Farnsworth, Alex Garnett). They’ll be performing Nicks own arrangements of hard bop and jazz standards, with a few of Nick’s more swinging original tunes for good measure! Nick is a London based jazz guitarist and composer who has performed all around the world in clubs including Ronnie Scott’s, Duc Des Lombards (Paris), Blue Note (Milan, Shanghai & Beijing) A-Trane (Berlin), Unterfhart (Munich), Gregory’s (Rome), Nardis (Istanbul) and Schloss Elmau (Krun).
Nick has released three albums to date: Detour Ahead, Nice Work & Poncha released Feb 2025 featuring entirely original compositions in an all star line up with Julian Siegel on saxophone, James Maddren on drums and Conor Chaplin on double bass.
Nick has performed with some of the most renowned jazz musicians in the UK including Stan Sulzmann, Gareth Lockrane, Jason Rebello, Ivo Neame, Kit Downes, Alex Garnett, Steve Fishwick and Jeff Williams and holds the guitar chair with the London Jazz Orchestra.
It’s EFG London Jazz festival month and we’re very excited to be a part of it once again hosting the brilliant Billy Marrows Band. We have a stellar month of gigs lined up for you with extremely exciting projects both new and long standing. A special mention to Louise Paley who mentioned us in her article for The Times as one of the best jazz nights in London!
See below for the full details of our listings this month and the links for purchasing tickets. We can’t wait to see you 🙂
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night.
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
On this night, Dutch and British jazz musicians will join forces to present original tunes written by every member of the band.
Each musician leads their own projects and regularly contributes to various ensembles across the European jazz scene. All material will be fresh and performed with this ensemble for the first time.
Giulia Marro is a clarinetist and vocalist based in London who has been making her mark on the UK jazz scene following the release of her debut album ‘A Portrait of Giulia’.
“Giulia’s composing and playing combines creativity and craft in an immensely memorable fashion and truly marks her out as a Voice with a capital ‘V’…” – North London Jazz Collective
Led by Giulia Marro (clarinet & vocals), this quartet features Nick Manz on piano, Ben Love on bass, and Will Cleasby on drums. Together, they explore compositions from iconic musicians such as Carla Bley, Betty Carter, Jimmy Giuffre and more.
Expect energetic swinging sounds from this new quartet made up of some of London’s favourite players.
17/11/25 – Billy Marrows Band as part of EFG London Jazz Festival
The Billy Marrows Band’s vibrantly melodic, groovy and expressive music explores the relationship between improvised and composed music, generating a fertile playground for these highly creative musicians. Their music incorporates grooves from across the globe and takes inspiration from many genres, including contemporary jazz, funk, progressive jazz and classical. The band played their debut gig in 2019 at the first night of Angus Bayley’s Process concert series at SET in Dalston Junction, during which Billy was interviewed about the thought processes behind the music, and have since played at venues such as the Vortex and the Green Note in the 2019 London Jazz Festival. Their debut album ‘Dancing on Bentwood Chairs’ is set for release in February 2026. Billy also leads critically acclaimed chamber-jazz project Grande Família, of which Chris Williams is also a member. They have released two albums and an EP, which all received 4 stars in Jazzwise, include one Editor’s Choice. Their debut ‘Penelope’ was shortlisted for Album of the Year in the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
“Marrows plays with such lyrical melodicism…you can’t help but be seduced into his charmed world” ★★★★ Jazzwise (Mount Tibidabo EP review) “Marrows’ melodic intuition always shone through” Jazzwise (Billy Marrows’ Grande Família live review) “Melodic and distinctive” ★★★★ All About Jazz (Penelope album review)
24/11/25 – The Sam Norris New Quartet- Live Recording
‘Norris is a particularly refreshing voice on the alto saxophone, and one who largely avoids pervasive influences to follow a more individual path’ – UK Jazz News
Fresh out of an intense period of playing exclusively his peers’ compositions throughout 2025, alto saxophonist and composer Sam Norris (Ronan Guilfoyle) brings together an exciting new quartet of some of London’s most idiosyncratic improvisers- Tom Challenger (Kit Downes), Oli Hayhurst (Pharoah Sanders) and Darren Beckett (Lee Konitz). They play a highly nuanced music which sits at the nexus of modern jazz, contemporary classical, folk and the avant-garde, with key influences including John Coltrane, Paul Bley, Dmitri Shostakovich and Gyorgy Ligeti.
Sam studied at the Royal Academy of Music on a scholarship under Julian Siegel, Stan Sulzmann and Kit Downes, graduating in 2021 with first-class honours. He won the Craig Ball prize for jazz saxophone the same year and was a finalist in the coveted Musician’s Company Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition in 2022. His debut album ‘Small Things Evolved Slowly’ was released to critical acclaim in 2024, with an accompanying UK tour. He works regularly as a sideman with many of Europe’s finest improvisers, composers and cutting-edge ensembles, such as Ronan Guilfoyle, Ashkan Layegh, the London Sinfonietta, MACKWOOD, Stan Brunt and Saurabh Shivakumar.
Tom Challenger is a saxophonist, composer, educator, band leader and sideman. Challenger leads Brass Mask, which performs music inspired by traditional street-music and collective improvisation. He also plays with Kit Downes in a church organ and saxophone duo; is a member of Dice Factory, a jazz quartet exploring alternative methods of composition, releasing their debut album in 2012 to critical acclaim; and Ma, an electro-improv outfit who have released three albums to-date. Kit and Tom have performed together at the Royal Festival Hall, Café OTO, The London Contemporary Music Festival, Cologne Philharmonie and Swaledale Music Festival, and have been broadcast live on the BBC.
Oli Hayhurst graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2000. Whilst still a student under the late Jeff Clyne he was touring with Gilad Atzmon and Cara Dillon. In 2006 he was featured on Zoe Rahman’s Mercury nominated album, ‘Melting Pot’. He continued to play with Zoe until 2011 playing at festivals throughout Europe and recording a further three albums. This was the first of frequent pairings with Gene Calderazzo which have been continued in the bands of Julian Siegel and Pharoah Sanders. He was a regular in Sanders’ quartet for European dates from 2012 onwards, playing with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Dan Tepfer, Joe Farnsworth, Gene Calderazzo and William Henderson.
Darren Beckett (drums) won a prestigious Bass Ireland Award as a teenager, leaving the Emerald Isle to study jazz in New York, where he resided for 21 years. Across his career, he has played drums everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Royal Albert Hall. He’s performed on over 50 albums with notable names like Lee Konitz, James Williams, Brandon Flowers, Madeleine Peyroux, and Kenny Wheeler, George Colligan, and Daniel Lanois. Since moving to the UK in 2016 he’s been a regular on the London jazz scene playing Ronnie Scott’s and the 606 club, playing with Jason Rebello, Gilad Atzmon, Jim Mullen and Alan Barnes.
The performance will be recorded live (audio and video) by Dom Howard and Harvey Cullis.
Hello again! As autumn settles in, we’re excited to announce a stellar lineup of talent to keep your spirits up amid the post summer blues. Long time servant of the night, George Crowley will be playing this month alongside a program of several of London’s finest musicians. You’re sure to find something special every Monday night at the Bull and Gate!
See below for the full details of our listings this month and the links for purchasing tickets. We can’t wait to see you 🙂
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night.
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
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; from his own through-composed new music and the experimental improv of Agile Experiments, through to the jazz tradition, the colourful fusion of Yazz Ahmed’s bands or anarchic grimey pop of Melt Yourself Down Crowley’s energy and expressive, warm saxophone sound mark him out as a musician to watch.
He can also be found playing with bands and musicians such as the Ivo Neame Quartet + Dodeka, Julian Argüelles’ Septet, Michael Chillingworth’s Septet, Rick Simpson’s Klämmer and the Olie Brice Quartet featuring Jeff Williams.
“…a fine young composer/player who knows where the music has been and where he’s headed with it.” – John Fordham, The Guardian
“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 Magazine
Keyboardist Tom O’Brien presents his new band; exploring and transforming groove-driven compositions and free improvisations using a colourful palette of sounds and a broad range of textures. Together the group, all frequent collaborators, create music that is unpredictable, playful, introspective and humorous.
The two guitarists met six years ago and immediately clicked. Two kindred spirits with an irrepressible will to play ‘no nonsense’ jazz, tinged with blues and soul.
They will be playing a selection of well chosen standards, as well as a few originals, delivered with e reverence for the past masters whilst putting their own spin on the music.
LIBOR SMOLDAS
Libor Šmoldas is a Prague based jazz guitarist and composer who has worked and recorded with international stars such as James Morrison, George Mraz, Jeff Ballard, Sam Yahel, Bobby Watson, Adam Nussbaum, Brian Charette, Jay Anderson, Stephen Keogh and more.
He has released eight albums as a leader. While playing with Ondrej Pivec and his Organic Quartet, the band was awarded with Andel award for best jazz recording of the year.
NIGEL PRICE
Over a career spanning more than 30 years, award winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price has become widely acknowledged as one of the hardest working musicians in the business.
He has played on more than 60 albums including 10 as a leader, spent ten years with acid jazz outfit The Filthy Six, was a member of James Taylor’s band for 3 years (with whom he recorded 5 albums) and performed with the legendary David Axelrod. He has also taught at The International Guitar Foundation at King’s Place, London.
He has toured the UK 16 times, and has picked up a Parliamentary Jazz Award (Best Jazz Ensemble, 2010), a nomination for a British Jazz Award (Best Guitarist, 2014) and a British Jazz Award (Best Guitarist, 2016) along the way.
Nigel is a regular performer at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club where he has made more than 600 appearances.
This international collaboration aims to seamlessly blend traditional jazz with contemporary flair, bringing together pianist Joe Webb, drummer Francesco Ciniglio, saxophonist Alec Harper, and bassist Will Sach. Original compositions inspired by Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonius Monk, Art Tatum, and even Oasis.
Hi there and welcome back! After our break for August, we’re exited to announce five amazing gigs for September which will make it hard to be anywhere else on a Monday night.
After two years of running Jazz in Kentish Town, Ashley and Kasper have handed over the reins to ourselves, Edouard Le Feuvre and Jakub Klimiuk. We’d like to thank Kasper and Ashley for the amazing job they’ve done keeping this legendary gig going and we’re both so excited to be a part of it’s legacy.
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
P.P.S, general admission tickets have been increased a slight amount to £14 in order to help the running of the night and to help us pay our musicians as fairly as possible. Musician/Student tickets are still £7!
The Jazz International is a collaborative project transcending national borders and coalescing some of the finest young jazz musicians around the globe. Founded on the coming together of members of Paris’ Le Zoot Collectif and the North London Jazz Collective, the project meets several times a year for tours and exchange trips between young musicians of various nationalities.
This September sees Paris’ most swinging horn section of Noé Codjia and Neil Saidi, alongside formerly New York-based Canadian pianist Sean Fyfe, Irishman Conor Murray on bass, and London’s own Robbie Ellison on drums.
Playing brand new original compositions by each band member, the group will play a week each in London and Paris before recording their debut record at Zoot Studios.
Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize winner Jonny Mansfield is regarded as‘one of the great British jazz talents who surprises with his unique approach to composition and improvisation.’(Laboratorium).Having been nominated for an Ivor Novello Award, a Parliamentary Jazz Award and having been awarded Tebbut Exhibition Award, Richard Turner Award and the Royal Academy of Music’s Principals Prize, Jonny signed to Edition Records to release his debut album ‘Elftet’. His second album, released in 2023 – The Air in Front of You garnered praise worldwide – ‘the compositional sophistication is impressive: writing blends seamlessly into improvised solos’ Jazzwise, ‘award-winning vibraphonist Mansfield creates a distinctive sound world’ Scotsman
Jamie Pye is a London-based jazz guitarist and composer with roots in both Australia and New Zealand. He performs in various line ups and contexts; from intimate duo residencies, to headline performances as a bandleader showcasing his original music. He is often part of house bands for jam sessions around town, or as a sideman on other projects. In 2023, Jamie completed his first 10-date national tour around New Zealand, including appearances at the Creative Jazz Club in Auckland and Hanover Hall in Dunedin. In between shows, Jamie recorded his debut album ‘Monochrome’, released in November 2024 on Good Twin Records. As a composer, Jamie draws influence from all music and art forms, paying particular attention to the work of composers and bandleaders Brian Blade, Kendrick Scott, Petros Klampanis and Aaron Parks. Jamie composes music with the intention of honest storytelling and narrative; creating compositions that are as complex as they are harmonically-rich, while still remaining musically accessible to all ears. “Guitarist Jamie Pye is establishing himself as a new and dynamic artist coming out of the New Zealand contemporary jazz scene. Displaying a strong compositional voice, he’s delivered an exciting debut album and I’m looking forward to seeing his artistry progress into the future”. -Myele Manzana, Artist, Drummer, Composer
Tom McCredie brings a band shaped by years of shared musical history: Matt Herd (Alto Sax), Matt Robinson (Piano), and Jay Davis (Drums). This quartet features close friends who have grown up together on the bandstand, forming bonds through countless gigs and shared creative journeys. Expect to hear the influences of artists such as Bill Frisell and Charles Mingus.
Celebrated Irish bassist and composer Dave Redmond proudly announces the release of his latest project, All in Motion, a powerful new album featuring his dynamic All in Motion Quartet, with internationally acclaimed pianist George Colligan, Belgian saxophonist Stéphane Mercier, and master drummer Darren Beckett. The album will mark a vibrant new chapter in modern European jazz.
Recorded at Camden Studios in Dublin, All in Motion showcases 10 original compositions penned by Redmond, blending high-octane improvisation with lyrical depth and rhythmic exploration. The quartet’s synergy is unmistakable, with each member contributing not just technical brilliance but a shared musical conversation rooted in trust, spontaneity, and fire.
“This album is about connection and movement—between musicians, cities, and ideas,
” says Redmond. “It’s a celebration of the musical relationships
I’ve built across continents, now brought together in one project.”
Sam Eastmond’s Composers Workshop Big Band is an alchemical fulcrum for new big band music. Formed of some of the most outrageous and exciting young musicians in London including members and alumni of NYJO, Tomorrows Warriors and Music Colleges around the world, the Workshop is a place to develop experimental and challenging new works driven only by artistic impulses.
Sam Eastmond is known for his large ensemble work with John Zorn, he is the only artist to have led, arranged and recorded Zorn’s works in Masada Books Two and Three and the Bagatelles as well as his own compositions on Tzadik Label, was a 2019 PRS Foundation New Music Biennial commissioned composer, an IVORS nominee, who works extensively as a big band arranger, composer and educator.
Hi there! We hope you’re ready for an amazing month at the Bull and Gate because we’ve done our best to make it very hard not to come see these great musicians at Jazz in Kentish Town over the coming weeks. All our regulars will be seeing some very familiar faces! So make sure you’re ready for summer holidays in August and load up on your weekly doses of improvised music.
We’ll also be taking a short break in August and will be back again in September. So please come out despite the sunny weather!
See below for the full details of our listings this month and the links for purchasing tickets. We can’t wait to see you 🙂.
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night.
We’ve rebranded so you can now find us on Facebook and Instagram as @jazzinkentishtown; please share and tag us in all of your photos and videos!
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
Will Arnold-Foster – guitar Sam Watts – piano Will Sach – double bass Steve Brown – drums
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 Watts (piano), Steve Brown (drums) and Will Sach (double bass) to perform a mix of selections from the Great American Songbook, and compositions written by/associated with the great Jim Hall
Dave Mannington – bass , Brigitte Beraha – Vocals/Co-composer Tomas Challenger – Tenor Saxophone Ivo Neame – Piano, Keyboards Rob Updegraff – Guitar Tim Giles – Drums
Dave’s Manington’s Riff Raff is a dynamic ensemble of musicians that features vocalist Brigitte Beraha (Kenny Wheeler, London Jazz Orchestra), pianist Ivo Neame (Phronesis, Marius Neset), saxophonist Tomas Challenger (Foufolah/Red Snapper), guitarist Rob Updegraff (Beth Rowley/Zigaboo Modeliste) and drummer Tim Giles (Iain Ballamy/Art Farmer). The music is intimate and creative, with a delicate interplay forged from many years performing together. Brigitte and Dave also recently received the honour of an Ivors nomination for best Jazz small group composition in 2022. “Riff Raff mix the leader’s clever composing with a formidable lineup, …and the soundscape embraces a 21st century sax-led cool school sound, raw guitar-fusion, diffident Wayne Shorteresque lyricism, and vocals that showcase Beraha’s eloquent lyrics and inventiveness as a wordless improviser.” The Guardian
Will Cleasby – drums Riley Stone-Lonergan – sax Will Barry – piano Will Sach – bass Will Cleasby is a jazz drummer originally from Lincolnshire and now based in south east London having graduated in Jazz Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2018, where he studied under tutors Dave Wickins and Gene Calderazzo.
Since finishing his degree Will has become an in demand and versatile musician in London, playing with both young talent and veterans of the scene. Will is part of a number of projects and bands including Clare Teal, Judi Jackson, Joe Stilgoe and Zara McFarlane. In addition Will has performed with the acclaimed trumpeter and band-leader Wynton Marsalis, Grammy award winner, Kurt Elling and most recently recorded and performed a Christmas album with Jamie Cullum.
Will has performed all over the world appearing at events such as the Rochester Jazz Festival, Festival Django Rheinhardt, Love Supreme Jazz Festival as well as renowned London venues such as Shepherds Bush Empire, The Tabernacle, Roundhouse, The Vortex, Ronnie Scott’s and the Royal Albert Hall.
Brigitte Beraha – vocals Alcyona Mick – piano George Crowley – sax Tim Giles – drums
Lucid Dreamers is Brigitte’s own quartet, welcoming you into a beautiful and unique sound world. The original music draws from the jazz, folk, contemporary classical, free improv and electronic realms with poignant songs, atmospheric and open improvisations, exciting grooves and impactful stillness. They premiered at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall as a trio with Brigitte Beraha, George Crowley and Tim Giles in November 2019 as part of the London Jazz Festival, with music written by Brigitte. Extended to a quartet with Alcyona Mick on piano, they released ‘Lucid Dreamers’ on Let Me Out Records in July 2020, with the follow up ‘Blink’ in May 2022 which they toured in the UK and Europe. Their third album is due for a release in the Autumn 2025 with a UK / European tour to celebrate. ‘Beautiful’ BBC Radio 3
‘A set packed with off-centre pleasures and subtle delights.’ MOJO, 4 Stars ****
‘Quietly virtuosic UK vocalist Brigitte Beraha is at her delicately airborne, rhythmically audacious best with her closely entwined Lucid Dreamers band.’ The Guardian, John Fordham
‘Easily one of the best vocals-led jazz achievements so far this year and even more interesting because it is so honest and adventurous.’ Marlbank, 4 Stars ****
‘Best of all Beraha is play-ful: full of fun, and in her band mates, her play pals, she has players who are happy to surrender to play-full approaches to serious living’. Jazzwise, 4 Stars Editor’s Choice ****
‘…Hypnotic, enthralling.. The melding of improvisation, of electronica styled with cohesive and gelling jazz sees these Lucid Dreamers do more than blink, they shimmer with style and investigation, and in Blink they capture the attention of the listener expertly.’ Liverpool Sound and Vision
‘Exceptional recording.’ Peter Quinn, Jazzwise * * * *
‘Entrancing and very beautiful’ Alison Bentley, LondonJazzNews
‘Lucid Dreamers is forceful, sustained aural theatre, and it demands nothing but your dreams in action in return. Utterly stunning.’ Liverpool Sound and Vision * * * *
‘Something of a new departure for her, the small, electronically enhanced unit offering unique challenges which pay-off surprisingly well. Her lissom vocals frequently overlaid by looping, creating a mesmeric effect […] with ethereal, emotionally imbued soundscapes.’ Jazz Journal
‘I’m a big fan of the vocalist Brigitte Beraha. She has a unique, exploratory, explosive, fascinating voice’. Jez Nelson, Somethin’ Else
Hello again… though we’re writing this on a rainy bank holiday at the end of May, we have it on good authority that June at the Bull and Gate will usher in a sunny, sunny summer full of the hottest and finest cats around 🎶
See below for the full details of our listings this month and the links for purchasing tickets. We can’t wait to see you 🙂.
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night.
We’ve rebranded so you can now find us on Facebook and Instagram as @jazzinkentishtown; please share and tag us in all of your photos and videos!
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
Henry Lowther – trumpet Dave Green – bass Paul Clarvis – drums Barry Green – piano Pete Hurt – saxophone
“Still Waters was born out a long association and friendship going back 40 years between myself and Britain’s premiere bassist Dave Green. We both felt that the time had arrived to play music of our choice together with some of the finest jazz musicians working in Britain today. As a result Still Waters is now one of the most accomplished and creative bands around. Although a classic quintet of two front line and rhythm, Still Waters plays radical and original music, ranging from gentle, quietly pastoral and melodic music, reflecting the band’s name, through to dynamic, free improvisation. I am immensely proud of the band. The main thing to say about it is that it is a BAND and not just a collection of individual musicians; in other words the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The level of creativity, adventure and interplay on gigs never ceases to astonish me; no two gigs are ever the same and this is truer of Still Waters than of any other band I’ve ever played in. Dave Green, is without doubt the foundation of Still Waters. He has a way of finding the right thing to do at exactly the right time. Whatever else goes on around him he always keeps it right there, allowing everybody else maximum freedom. Paul Clarvis is the most idiosyncratic, original and creative drummer in British jazz who, together with pianist Barry Green’s ability to move from straight ahead playing to wayward free improvisation, makes the rhythm section an absolute joy. I love its ability to go anywhere it chooses to go. My partner on the front line, Pete Hurt, is not only a wonderful and inventive saxophone player but also an all round accomplished master musician and one of Britain’s very greatest composers of music for big band”
Dominic is a firmly established voice on the UK jazz scene. He has toured extensively across the UK with his quintet, performing at renowned venues and festivals such as Ronnie Scott’s, Love Supreme, Royal Albert Hall, and the EFG London Jazz Festival. His self-released debut album, Role Models, launched to critical acclaim. It features a captivating suite of lucidly crafted and characterful pieces that showcase Dominic’s distinctive and highly personalised style, rooted in his background in folk and classical music.
In 2020, he was nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Jazz Newcomer and was a finalist in the renowned Zbigniew Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition. Currently, Dominic is a Jazz Violin tutor at Chetham’s School of Music and at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
“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 young composer if fast establishing himself as one of the UK’s leading proponents of Jazz Violin” – Jazzwise
“A rare treat…should be heard live whenever possible” – Kit Downes
George Garford – Alto Saxophone / Composer Daniel Kemshell – Guitar Olly Chalk – Piano Huw V Williams – Double Bass Josh Walker-Martin – Drums
Ideasthesia is a quintet project bringing together rising star improvisers led by saxophonist / composer George Garford. Exploring the intersections between contemporary jazz and free improvisation, the quintet has built a reputation for high-energy performances and an imaginative band sound.
Garford’s writing seeks to balance the ensemble’s collective freedom with a detailed personal aesthetic; navigating tightly woven structures, expansive textural landscapes and unfolding narratives with a sense of urgency. Ideasthesia – a phenomenon in which activations of concepts evoke perception-like experiences.
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 fourth album, Live at Leeds Jazz Festival, which follows 2022’s The Town and the City also by this long-running quartet. This live recording from the middle of their May 2023 U.K. tour is a snapshot of the band at their best: stretching out on a set of original tunes with a characteristically open, interactive and risk-taking approach. The roots of jazz are never far away, with a rhythmic feel and blues sensibility that is anchored in the tradition, however the music also expands into other areas such as modal and contemporary harmony and British folk-style melodies, giving the group a distinctive identity.
Born in the North Yorkshire Moors, 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, and he has also toured in New Zealand, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. In 2023, he became a D’Addario Woodwinds artist and was also made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for contributions to the music industry.
The members of the Matt Anderson Quartet met during Masters studies at the Royal Academy of Music in 2015, forging an instant bond which has kept them together since. Alberto Palau is an immensely talented pianist originally 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 eight years, the band have developed a deep connection, touring extensively across the U.K. as well as appearing at venues such as the Bimhuis, Amsterdam; Jamboree, Barcelona and Jimmy Glass, Valencia and receiving support from Help Musicians and Arts Council England.
“a well-integrated, swinging and supremely confident ensemble… [with] a soulful depth to his musicality that underpins the academic attention to detail” Jazzwise ****
“The band’s synergy as an ensemble shines brightly in this live setting… a must-listen album” Jazz in Europe
“a terrific live set. Individually and collectively, the performances are first-rate. Anderson takes his influences… but adds his own freshness and open approach showing a vibrant, warm tone throughout.” All About Jazz ***½
Harben Kay – saxophone Jonny Mansfield – vibes Calum Gourlay – bass Corrie Dick – drums
Award-winning tenor saxophonist Harben Kay is quickly becoming renowned as one of the UK’s most creative and virtuosic jazz artists, with two critically acclaimed albums, four UK tours and performances at the UK’s most esteemed jazz venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Royal Albert Hall and The Vortex.
Their latest album, Golden Sands (2022), was released on Kay’s own label, Sulis Records, in October 2022. The album received high praise from the jazz media, showcasing original compositions that are reflective of Kay’s experiences in their homeland of Scotland, and their time spent living in London and New York City.
Kay’s well-received debut album, Moon Palace (Ubuntu 2018), followed their Peter Whittingham Jazz Award win in 2017, which also funded the project.
In addition to being an avid composer, Kay is a prolific and self-managing performer, having booked four of their own tours in the UK with support from Help Musicians, Creative Scotland and Arts Council England. Last year they took part in Serious’s prestigious Take Five programme. They have also featured in a wide variety of other bands and alongside some of the UK’s finest jazz talents, including Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Zoe Rahman, Yazz Ahmed, Sean Gibbs and Seonaid Aitken.
‘A formidable saxophonist and composer… Quite simply, outstanding!’ Nick Lea, Jazz Views
‘Kay and their impressive trio have created a nostalgic jazz album that highlights the ensemble’s chemistry beautifully, through exciting melodies and captivating musicality.’ Isabel Marquez, Jazz in Europe
‘tenor saxophonist [Harben] Kay’s second album has a beautiful poise and assurance, that radiates from every groove’ **** Chris Searle, Morning Star
May is just around the corner and my oh my have we got a wonderful programme in store for you…
See below for the full details of our listings this month and the links for purchasing tickets. We can’t wait to see you 🙂.
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night.
We’ve rebranded so you can now find us on Facebook and Instagram as @jazzinkentishtown; please share and tag us in all of your photos and videos!
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
ECHO listens and reflects – ECHO travels and transforms – ECHO gives weight to a whisper and like thunder charges into far off places. With Echo, Niklas Lukassen showcases his passion for lyrics and songwriting, while also staying true to his nature as an improviser. With each piece inhabiting a unique character, the music presents itself as a consequence of both self reflection and empathic extrospection. It embraces vulnerability through a spectrum of emotions, colorfully brought to life in collective synergy. Echo’s exciting instrumentation includes British vocalist Immy Churchill, Welsh vibraphonist Jonny Mansfield, French/Brazilian drummer Ananda Brandao and German bassist Niklas Lukassen on a unique hybrid instrument, the bass cello. Together they use words and tones in a dialogue of creative interplay.
“Niklas Lukassen is clearly developing his own artistic voice on his instrument and has a gift for jazz composition.“ Richie Beirach
“A versatile bass virtuoso“ – Jazzwise
“A great bassist with very musical instincts!” Mike Stern
Olly Chalk – piano Asaph Tal – bass Sacha Harlan – drums
Joined by Asaph Tal (bass) and Sacha Harlan (drums), this event marks a rare opportunity to witness pianist Olly Chalk in a classic piano trio line-up; journeying through ‘off-the-beaten track’ Great American Songbook classics and Chalk’s distinctive original compositions.
Olly Chalk is an improvising pianist and composer based in South-East London. He grew up in a quiet village in rural Suffolk and was introduced to the music of Fats Waller by his grandad. He later studied Jazz Piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity Laban graduating with a First Class Honours and a Distinction respectively. Heralded as ‘super creative and different’ by John Escreet, Chalk is a refreshing, inventive and energetic voice. In 2018, Chalk received the Peter Whittingham Development Award to record a new album featuring New York saxophonist John O’Gallagher who described Chalk as ‘a virtuoso pianist with a compelling and unique musical vision’. Released the following year, ‘Scathed Citizens’ weaves daring, emotive compositions and explosive improvising. Described as ‘ferocious and original’ by London Jazz News, Chalk toured this album twice across the UK, playing 17 dates including Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.
Nathaniel Facey – alto saxophone Tom Challenger – tenor saxophone Riley Stone-Lonergan – tenor saxophone Tori Freestone – flute, soprano saxophone Charlotte Keefe – trumpet Andre Canniere – trumpet Nathaniel Cross – trombone Rick Simpson – piano Dave Whitford – double bass Will Glaser – drums
Future Myth is a bold new project from pianist and composer Rick Simpson, bringing together ten of the UK’s most compelling improvisers for an exploration of collective spontaneity and Simpson’s own written material. Balancing rich compositional structures with open-ended freedom, the music thrives on the dynamic interplay between individuals and the ensemble as a whole.
The ensemble is comprised of Nathaniel Facey, Tom Challenger, Riley Stone-Lonergan, Tori Freestone, Nathaniel Cross, Charlotte Keefe, Andre Canniere, Dave Whitford and Will Glaser, each bringing their distinctive approach to this fluid and ever-evolving sound world and given free reign to lead the ensemble as they wish.
Alex Garnett – Tenor saxophone Andrea Rinciari – Guitar Lorenzo Morabito – Bass Mark Taylor – Drums
“This album is a reflection of a really special time for me. For months, I had the chance to play weekly sessions in Soho with some of my favourite musicians.
Each week, we’d focus on something different—whether it was music by Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, or Tadd Dameron, or classics from the American Songbook. Those nights were all about exploring, learning, and connecting with the music and the audience. The tracks we recorded are taken from that repertoire. Some are straight from the sessions, while others, like “Tea for Two,” are arrangements I came up with while preparing for those gigs. The vibe of the album is very much rooted in bebop and straight-ahead jazz, with plenty of groove, interplay, and swing. What makes this album unique is that we’d been playing these tunes together for a while before we recorded them. Everything felt tight, natural, and well-rehearsed. For example, on “John’s Delight,” we worked on translating a big band arrangement intoa quartet setting, with the guitar leading the melody and the saxophone playing the harmony—just like in the original. The band on this record is a dream to play with: Alex Garnett (tenor saxophone): Alex has been a huge influence on me. He’s the reason I learned how to properly play in a group, and his solo on “Tea for Two” is one of my favorite moments on the album. Lorenzo Morabito (double bass): Lorenzo has been with me on almost every gig and record I’ve done. He’s one of my closest friends and a brilliant musician who always brings the best out of everyone. Mark Taylor (drums): I’d been a fan of Mark’s playing for years before I met him, and I feel so lucky to work with him. His energy and swing are a massive part of what makes this album what it is.
We recorded the whole thing in five hours at the Fish Factory in North London—it was intense, but I think we captured the spirit of the music. Soho Sessions is all about celebrating the jazz I love, the musicians I admire, and the joy of playing together.” Andrea Rinciari
Roll up, Roll up! Here we are again with our monthly Bulletin, the second in the series at our brand new home at the Bull and Gate where all talk of The Parakeet has been put out to pasture and is very much a moot point by now 🐂 .
With the sun making it’s first appearances of the year, Spring in full swing, and bovine puns aplenty, we welcome another fine array of talent to the Bull and Gate and we know you won’t be disappointed!
See below for the full details of our listings this month and the links for purchasing tickets. We can’t wait to see you 🙂.
As usual, we’d like to extend a huge thank you for your continued support; we’d be nothing without our audiences, and the musicians really thrive when we manage to fill the room! So tell your friends and family, and share our posts far and wide to help us continue to bring our brand of high-level live creative music to our humble home above the Bull and Gate pub each and every Monday night.
We’ve rebranded so you can now find us on Facebook and Instagram as @jazzinkentishtown; please share and tag us in all of your photos and videos!
P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a couple of hours before doors open at 8pm but please still do come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.
Mario Bakuna – Acoustic Guitar Fernando De Marco – Bass Caio Mamberti – Drums
Mario Bakuna Band – Brazilian Landscapes
After a very successful season performing at international festivals and prestigious music venues worldwide, Mario Bakuna brings his latest project ‘Brazilian Landscapes’ to the Bull and Gate.
Following his first album ‘Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia’, Mario’s most recent release is ‘Brazilian Landscapes’ which features new arrangements of material by great composers such as Marcos Valle, Claudio Bertrami, Rique Pantoja, Gilberto Gil, Djavan, João Bosco, Arismar do Espirito Santo, and the ‘forrozeiros’ Dominguinhos and Luiz Gonzaga. The album is a tribute to the culture and memory of Brazilian people and it’s the result of years of inspiration Mario Bakuna drew upon while travelling through Brazil, experiencing its rhythmic and harmonic richness. From the arid landscape of the northeast, which is reflected in the chorus of songs of Forró, Baião and Xaxado, to the African influence found in Ijexá, the popularity of Samba and the sophistication of Bossa Nova, Mario Bakuna and his musicians celebrate the most musically rich territory on Earth.
Mario Bakunais a Brazilian composer, arranger, singer and guitar player currently based in London, UK. Over the past few years, he has emerged as a leading figure and a reference in the Brazilian Jazz Music scene in the UK.
Celebrated for his captivating performances in Bossa Nova, Brazilian Jazz, Samba, Latin Jazz, and Jazz standards, blending modern and groovy sounds to create a unique musical experience
Bakuna has extensive experience in Europe and beyond and the concerts of his two albums ‘Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia’ and ‘Brazilian Landscapes’ toured 20 European countries, Brazil, Canada, Madagascar, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, with sold-out nights and great acclaim.
“Mario Bakuna, a sparkling guitarist, plays with palpable feeling – his virtuosic fluency on the fretboard is controlled and flourishes are perfectly placed. His voice has a texture like heavy cloth” – Songlines Magazine
“Mario Bakuna, a man who exudes music. (…) ‘vocals’ doesn’t begin to do him justice: his expressive range and the precision with which he was able to deploy it was truly the band’s fifth instrument. (…) And he did this while playing guitar with precision and finesse. (…) his solos were a further source of amazement, his technique somewhere between finger-picking style and classical. His solo introduction to a Baden Powell number made a hash of any attempt at a definition.” – The Whitman Review, Wakefield Jazz
Simeon May – Saxophone Dan Kemshell – Guitar Theo Guttenplan – Drums Kinzan (Harry Pearce)- Double Bass
Bringing together sounds from American and European contemporary jazz, freely improvised music, folk and contemporary classical music, this group bring their diverse talents together to showcase Simeon’s lyrical and dramatic original compositions and explore pieces by some of their heroes.
Édouard Monnier is a French trumpeter, composer, and bandleader active on the French, UK, and European jazz scenes. He began playing trumpet at age 5 and honed his skills under jazz saxophonist Rémi Biet at the CRR of Rouen. In 2016, he earned DEMs in both jazz and classical music, then studied at the CMDL with Claude Egea, André Charlier, Benoit Sourisse, and Stéphane Guillaume. Édouard has performed at top Parisian jazz clubs like the Sunset/Sunside and the Baiser Salé, and in 2019, he joined the National Orchestra of Youth Jazz, performing at festivals like Crescent Jazz Festival. In 2022, he pursued a Master’s at the Royal Academy of Music in London with renowned mentors like Nick Smart and Gareth Lockrane. His style blends influences from Kenny Wheeler, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, and Freddie Hubbard. Recently, his “Mario Kart” project, which combines live music with the video game, went viral, garnering 3 million views on Instagram.
His music makes each instrument an active participant in the creative process, deconstructing the conventional roles of melody-making and accompaniment expected of its instrumentation. Stemming from his experience and interest in brass ensembles, Edouard also takes pleasure in highlighting the horns that he raises as the light of the writings which guides the group towards a common direction. His artistic statement is informed by the formative encounters with people and places that have shaped me as a musician. The result of this composing process engages the band in a spiral of modern Jazz, Funk coated with a Pop-Folk feeling. This reveals influences from artists such as Ezra Collective, Shai Maestro, Kenny Wheeler, Ben Wendel, Christian Scott, and others…
Tom Smith – alto sax/bass clarinet Tom Cawley – piano Conor Chaplin – bass Luke Tomlinson – drums
Tom Smith is an award-winning saxophonist, bass clarinettist and composer hailing from London. Renowned for his virtuosic performances and unique swaggering blues tendencies, Tom’s music aims to thrill and energize audiences across all genres. Drawing inspiration from films and stories and combining that with group improvisation, his risk-taking music takes listeners on journeys filled with soaring melodies, gospel grooves, dirty swing, and atmospheric soundscapes. Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, he has become a familiar face on the UK jazz scene, regularly performing at some of London’s most iconic clubs and festivals, as well as across Europe. John Fordham at Jazzwise wrote that “… the hyper-savvy Tom Smith sounds as if he’s eagerly lived plenty of diverse jazz lives already”.
Most known for leading the Tom Smith Big Band, Tom showcases original music that captures the vibrant spirit of London, featuring a roster of the UK’s most beloved performers. He can also be found in smaller ensembles, such as his award-winning chamber jazz trio Gecko, alongside vibraphonist Jonny Mansfield and pianist Will Barry. Additionally, Tom is the creative force behind Queertet, an LGBTQ+ band celebrating all the queer composers and musicians in jazz.
Tom has released two critically acclaimed albums: “Gecko,” produced by Tim Garland, and “A Year In The Life” with his big band, which received a 4* Editor’s Choice review in Jazwise. As a sought-after sideman, he is also a member of Britain’s most celebrated jazz ensembles, including Resolution 88, Patchwork Jazz Orchestra, the Misha Mullov-Abbado Group, Tomorrow’s New Quartet and the Gareth Lockrane Big Band. He has also had the privilege of performing alongside personal hero, Maria Schneider, and saxophonist Donny McCaslin (of David Bowie’s Blackstar).
Jazz in Kentish Town 