It’s Jazz Festival season here in London and we couldn’t be more excited about it! In fact, we’re so pumped that we wanted to mark the occasion by putting on an EXTRA gig for you all to enjoy 😅. I mean, with the array of talent London has to offer, it’d be rude not to…

See below for 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 Parakeet pub each and every Monday night.

We’re on Facebook and Instagram as @jazzattheparakeet; 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 come down as there will most likely be tickets available on the door.

Ashley and Kasper x

Sam Norris 4/11

wegottickets.com/event/637597/

Sam Norris Quartet feat. special guest Jonny Mansfield:

Sam Norris – alto saxophone
Jay Verma – keys
John Williamson – bass
Harry Ling – drums
Jonny Mansfield – vibes

The Sam Norris Quartet’s debut release, Small Things Evolved Slowly, was released on the Resonant Postcards Collective label in August 2024. Recorded at Fish Factory studios in north London, it consists of a body of compositions he has worked on over four years and is inspired by his life in the capital. This process is reflected in the album’s title, which is lifted from a quote by French composer Erik Satie- ‘I took to my room and let small things evolve slowly’.

Sam’s compositions fuse exploratory jazz improvisation, driving contemporary grooves and pensive classical chamber music. Weaving a captivating musical narrative, their performances showcase not only each musician’s virtuosity but also a deeply balanced approach to ensemble playing. The quartet are at home performing their music in a wide variety of venues, including jazz clubs, bars, concert halls and chapels.

Ananda Brandão 11/11

wegottickets.com/event/637605/

Ananda Brandão 5tet:

Ananda Brandão – drums
Kasper Rietkerk – alto saxophone
Dom Howard – guitar
Scottie Thompson – keys
Niklas Lukassen – bass

Bright, punchy and modern, Ananda Brandão’s Quintet presents a set of originals with a unique sound finding wide inspiration in contemporary jazz and Brazilian music.

Awarded with the Musician’s Company’s 2024 Silver Medal, and twice winner of jazz contests such as 1st Prize of the Rezzo Competition by Jazz a Vienne with her French band “Ninanda”, Ananda Brandão is a half French half Brazilian drummer who has performed throughout Europe and Brazil with iconic jazz musicians such as Rhoda Scott, Marco Lobo, or else Clélya Abraham to name a few. 

The band features amazing musicians from both European and UK jazz scenes : Kasper Rietkerk on alto saxophone, Dom Howard on guitar, Scottie Thompson on piano and Niklas Lukassen on bass. Combining the strength of Brazilian rhythm with modern sonorities of European jazz, this will be a very special evening not to be missed. 

EFG London Jazz Festival: Tom Barford 18/11
https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/events/tom-barford

https://wegottickets.com/event/628174/

Tom Barford Quintet:

Tom Barford – Tenor Saxophone
James Copus – Trumpet
Ivo Neame – Piano
Tim Giles – Drums
Conor Chaplin – Double Bass

An eclectic set of music featuring virtuosic playing over fast tempos, Brazilian, influenced ballads, Vince Mendoza inspired compositions, and tasty arrangements of some Joe Henderson classics. This one is not to be missed.

Join this stellar line up of Tom Barford (Bill McHenry, Gerald Cleaver, Billy Cobham), James Copus (Jacob Collier, Orlando Le Flemming, Mingus Big Band), Ivo Neame (Hermeto Pascoal, Kenny Wheeler and Gilad Hekselman), Tim Giles (Kenny Wheeler Normal Winstone, Bobby Wellins), and Conor Chaplin (George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Harold Mabern) as they play an exciting set of Tom’s original material.

Tom released his Kenny Wheeler Prize winning album BLOOMER on Edition Records back in 2018 to critical acclaim. He also enjoys co-leading the band AuB who released their debut album in May 2020, also on Edition Records, with another album in the in the works – this time featuring Jasper Høiby (bass) and Mark Michel (drums).

EFG London Jazz Festival: Miguel Gorodi Quintet 20/11 – *WEDNESDAY*
https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/events/miguel-gorodi-quintet

https://wegottickets.com/event/629629

Miguel Gorodi Quintet:

Miguel Gorodi – trumpet
Nathaniel Facey – saxophone
Alcyona Mick – piano
Calum Gourlay – bass
James Maddren – drums

Renowned trumpet player Gorodi’s latest project reflects his passion for the traditional and contemporary in Jazz, and features some of the most distinctive voices on the UK jazz scene.

Gorodi released his debut album, Apophenia, on Ubuntu in 2019 featuring original compositions for Nonet. He currently plays with Tom Challenger’s Brass Mask, Ivo Neame’s Dodeka, Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra, Elchin Shirinov Quartet and The London Jazz Orchestra. His versatility has seen him work across many styles of music with projects and musicians such as Ian Shaw, Jamie Callum, BBC Big Band, Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra, Barry Green Sextet, SEED Ensemble, Yazz Ahmed, Femi Temowo, Kansas Smitty’s House Band, London City Big Band, Hackney Colliery Band, The Ticklers, Riot Jazz and many others.

The quintet features an incredible array of musicians from the UK Jazz scene: Nathaniel Facey (Empirical, Jack DeJohnette, Jason Moran), Alcyona Mick (Yazz Ahmed, Ingrid and Christine Jensen, Nikki Iles), Calum Gourlay (Kit Downes, Tommy Smith, Will Vinson), and James Maddren (Gwilym Simcock, Kit Downes, Jacob Collier).

Pete Horsfall 25/11

wegottickets.com/event/637611/

Pete Horsfall Ensemble:

Pete Horsfall – trumpet/vox
Joe Webb – piano
Will Sach – bass
Sam Jesson – drums

Pete Horsfall is an award winning jazz trumpet player and vocalist, based in the UK.  His unique musical journey has seen him featured regularly as a guest on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM. Pete has performed headline shows at a huge array of prestigious venues and festivals throughout the world, including London’s Royal Albert Hall,  New York’s Lincoln Center, Paris’ Duc Des Lombards, The North Sea Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Festival and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club amongst many others.

In addition to leading his projects, Pete has performed and recorded with artists including Kurt Elling, Jamie Cullum, De La Soul, Guy Barker, Joe Stilgoe, Clare Teal, Kansas Smittys, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Friendly Fires and DJ Premier, to name but a few.

In this particular project at The Parakeet, the ensemble will be exploring new material from their deep engagement with the jazz and hip-hop traditions.