music

February ’25

| jazzinkentishtown

With the end of a cold, cold January fast approaching 🥶, we’ve got an almighty line-up of burning bands to make you forget that it was winter at all! 🔥

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

3/2 The Flame

wegottickets.com/event/646757/

Robert Mitchell – keys
Ollie Brice – bass
Andrew Lisle – drums

Robert Mitchell is an award-winning pianist, keyboard player, composer, songwriter, festival curator, poet, and author. He has recorded fourteen albums of his own projects, three poetry collections and participated in over 100 projects as a sideman and has performed in more than 40 countries. Apart from being a pianist, composer and innovator, he is a festival creator and curator as well as a highly respected educator. Robert also leads TRUE THINK, Epiphany3 and the Flame and is launching a new trio in 2025 with Laurie Lowe and Zayn Mohammed. He is a professor at Guildhall School Of Music And Drama (Jazz Piano), Royal Academy Of Music, Mentor/Task Force Member at Black Lives In Music, YMM teacher, Steinway Artist, EDI Lead at Music HE and recently taught/returned to the Paris Conservatoire and Pole Sup. Robert has won awards – BBC Jazz Awards (Innovation, as part of the F-ire Collective), Best Jazz Album (BBC DJ Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards), a Paul Hamlyn composition award and has been nominated for many more including 2017 British Jazz Composer Award. He is artst-in-residence at Morley College (2024/5).  This is a debut for the Flame at the Parakeet. The Flame hey have released two highly acclaimed live albums on the NYC based label 577 Records. 

 “Robert Mitchell is one of Britain’s finest and most versatile pianist-composer-improvisors” The Wire

Olie Brice is a double bassist, improviser and composer. Raised in London and Jerusalem, he now lives by the sea in Hastings.

He leads a Quartet featuring Rachel Musson, Alexander Hawkins and Will Glaser, (their debut album “All It Was” will be released in 2025) and an improvising trio with Rachel Musson and Mark Sanders (“Immense Blue”, 2024).  He has also led a trio, quintet and octet which can be heard on albums including “Fire Hills” and “Day After Day”.

Brice performs with a wide range of creative improvising musicians, including both legends of the music and his peers.  Frequent collaborators include Mark Sanders, Paul Dunmall, Rachel Musson, Tobias Delius, Cath Roberts and Luis Vicente, and he has also appeared with the likes of Evan Parker, Tony Malaby, John Butcher, Trevor Watts, Ingrid Laubrock, Ken Vandermark, Eddie Prevost and Louis Moholo. He is part of several ongoing improvising ensembles including Somersaults (with Tobias Delius & Mark Sanders), a Trio with Ziv Taubenfeld & Kresten Osgood, and the Flame (with Robert Mitchell & Andrew Lisle).

Brice is also in demand as a bass player in creative Jazz bands led by many artists, including Dee Byrne’s Outlines and Nick Malcolm’s Out Front.  He regularly performs at venues and festivals across Europe. Brice has been the recipient of Arts Council England funding multiple times and in 2021 received a composition commission from Jazz South.

“Brice makes the entire body of his bass sing. He has the ability to deliver a fractal line that is as purposeful as any by the great jazz bassists, but to do so within an entirely abstract setting” – Brian Morton, Point of Departure

“imaginative and adventurous” – London Jazz News

“consitently inspired” – The Wire

Andrew Lisle was born and raised in Northumberland (UK) but now based in London, is a multi-directionaldrummer, and composer. His quick and highly textural playing filled with rhythmic complexity makes him ahighly in-demand member of the fertile jazz & improvised music community. In turns both propulsive and abstract, Lisle has worked with many of the leading voices on the UK and European improvised music scene,including: Kit Downes, John Edwards, Alex Ward, Camila Nebbia, Charlotte Keeffe, Tom Challenger, Ab Baars, Rodrigo Amado, John Dikeman, Colin Webster, Dirk Serries and many more. He performs at notable venues including: Cafe oto, and V ortex (London); KM28 (Berlin), Bimhuis (Amsterdam), De Singer (Belgium), Galeria Zé Dos Bois (Lisbon); and festivals such as London Jazz Festival, Jazzfest Berlin, Freejazzfestival Saarbrucken, Jazz Jantar (Poland), to name a few. His most active projects currently are: Exhaust (feat. Camila Nebbia, Kit Downes), Multi-directional (feat. John Edwards, Kit Downes), KODIAN Trio (feat. Colin Webster, Dirk Serries), Ab Baars/Aaron Lumley/Andrew Lisle, and Tom Challenger/Caius Williams/Andrew Lisle.

10/2 – Fraser Urquhart

wegottickets.com/event/646760/

Fraser Urquhart – piano
Lorenzo Morabito – bass
Joe Desseaur – drums

Born and raised in Edinburgh, Fraser Urquhart is one of the U.K’s foremost pianists, specialising in jazz and American show-tunes of the 1920s-1950s. Cutting his teeth on the vibrant Scottish jazz scene, Fraser fast became a first-call rhythm section player for singers and horn players, playing regularly at Edinburgh Festival and Glasgow Jazz Festival.  

Now based in London, Fraser made his Ronnie Scott’s debut in February 2023 and his Pizza Express Jazz Club debut in August 2023. He performs weekly at the best music venues in and around the city, most at home accompanying singers. His most recent album release is a collection of duets with Jazz FM vocalist of the year Georgia Cecile.

Just a handful of the incredible musicians Fraser has worked with include: Stella Cole, Gabrielle Stravelli, Georgia Cecile, Allan Harris, Richard Shelton, Martin Taylor, Steve Brown, Dave Green, Matt Holborn, Roy Williams, Johnathan Stout, Jumaane Smith, Seonaid Aitken, Evan Christopher, Elise Roth, Hetty Kate, Pete Horsfall, Fraser Smith, John Burgess.  

For the Parakeet, Fraser performs with his trio comprising Joe Desseaur on Drums and Lorenzo Morabito on Bass, playing a variety of gems from the American Songbook canon, some which are featured on his upcoming self-released debut album: ‘I Leave This At Your Ear’.

17/2 – Monkin’ Around

wegottickets.com/event/646762/

Dave O’Higgins – tenor saxophone
Luke Fowler – bass
Billy Pod – drums

Monkin’ Around
Oscar Wilde once said; ‘imitation is the highest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness’. Jazz musicians have always known this and have always done their best to stand on the shoulders of giants. While these three musicians are in no way mediocre they will happily afford every flattery to the great Thelonious Monk. 

Here are three friends getting together to pay homage to one of the greatest Jazz composers of the 20th century, Thelonious Monk.

With a wealth of experience and artistry at their finger tips Dave O’Higgins, Luke Fowler and Billy Pod have set out to pay their respects to the works of Thelonious Monk and to use his compositions to express themselves and display their veracious talents.

Monkin’ Around are in the process of mixing and mastering their first album which will be available by September 2024.

Dave O’Higgins now has 24 albums as leader to his credit. His sound is highly personal and recognisable, with a clear sense of melodic development and adventure.

A popular performer with the public, with an excellent sense of pacing and presentation, he has a wide palette from Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane and Joe Henderson through to Stanley Turrentine and Michael Brecker.

O’Higgins has relentlessly pursued artistic exploration and development always maintaining a deep respect for the tradition of the music. Now with the spotlight on Monk we will get to see yet another feather in Dave’s cap.

“A stunning player in the neo-bop vein, with an apparently effortless flow of coherent ideas, beautiful time and a highly developed harmonic sense.” ( – JAZZ GUIDE).

After spending his formative years in Perth, Western Australia studying at WAAPA until 2005, Luke Fowler moved to the UK where he has spent the last 18 years. He opened an award winning Jazz Venue in South London called ‘The Junction’ which soon became a hub for some of the best musicians in the UK, featuring the likes of Jim Mullen, Dave O’Higgins, Alex Garnett plus some of the new younger sensations coming out of London, including Mark Kavuma, Emma Rawicz and Rob Luft. The Junction was voted in the Guardians; ‘Top 10 music Pubs in the UK’

After recently graduating with his Masters in Jazz Performance at London’s acclaimed Guildhall of Music in 2020, Luke has been busy running a series of projects which he has presented in and around London. He has a strong sound and infectious beat on his instrument having been inspired by Ray Brown at an early age. His extensive knowledge of harmony makes him an engaging and interesting bassist to listen to and perform with.

After exploding onto the UK jazz scene, Billy Pod has worked with a number of leading musicians including; Jim Mullen, Dave O’Higgins and Rob Luft, Vasilis Xenopoulos and Mornington Lockett among others. He has recorded more than 20 albums as a side-man/co-leader and has performed in festivals and venues in EU, USA and Asia. In 2016 he performed at the Tribeca Performing Arts Centre in New York as a finalist of the “Made In New York” International Jazz Competition and in 2019 he was selected in the list of ‘Top 10 new and upcoming drummers’ by French ‘Βatterie’ magazine.

His debut album “Drums to Heal Society” released in 2019 has not just given him a prominent position among the new generation of drummers internationally but also demonstrated his compelling skills as a composer and music ensemble director. His latest album entitled ‘Quintessence’ was also well received by press, media and audiences during his UK and European tour in 2023. 

24/2 – James Allsopp

wegottickets.com/event/646768/

James Allsopp- tenor saxophone and mellotron
Chris Batchelor- trumpet
Tom Herbert- electric bass
Zands Duggan- percussion
Dave Storey- drums

Returning to The Parakeet by incredibly popular demand, this gig will feature repertoire from this exciting group’s new album – as yet to be released. This brand new lineup expands the sound world of the band and we are very excited to debut it at the Parakeet. This is joyous, life affirming music. Deceptively simple, deeply melodic, with a healthy dose of the other worldly.

In a 20 year career, James has been a featured performer and recording artist for an incredibly diverse range of musicians. He has played in concert and on albums by legendary artists such as The Last Poets, David Axelrod, Dr John and Mulatu Astake, for European jazz luminaries such as Django Bates, Nostalgia 77, Kit Downes and Polar Bear, on more commercial albums by Jamie Cullum and Jorja Smith and as featured soloist in a wide range of compositions by composer Brian Irvine.

His debut album was nominated for BBC Jazz Award for Best Album 2007 and he won the BBC Jazz Award for Innovation 2008

January ’25

| jazzinkentishtown

Happy New Year! We hope you’ve all had a restful break over the festive season! 🙂

As a special treat this year we’ve decided to get things going a little earlier than our usual February start, and my oh my do we have two exciting bands that will promise to blow your proverbial Christmas socks off!

Ashley and Kasper x

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.

20/1 – at The Old Queen’s Head, Angel
Emma Rawicz Trio feat. Jonny Mansfield & Niklas Lukassen

https://wegottickets.com/event/645583

Emma Rawicz – saxophone
Jonny Mansfield – vibraphone
Niklas Lukassen – double bass

An amazing new trio led by the amazing Emma Rawicz is about to start the 2025 season at the Parakeet!

Jamie Cullum calls British saxophonist Emma Rawicz “an astonishing talent”, Jazzwise Magazine “a force to be reckoned with”, and the BBC: “the name Emma Rawicz is on everyone’s lips right now”.

Despite her young age of 22, she has already achieved an enormous amount: at 19 Rawicz independently released her critically acclaimed debut album, “Incantation” and singlehandedly managed an extensive UK release tour, including headline appearances at prestigious venues including the Jazz Cafe and Ronnie Scott’s. Since then her international career has flourished, playing in over 15 countries, with extensive tours in Germany and Scandinavia in particular. In 2023 she made her label debut with one of the most important jazz labels in the world today, ACT, releasing her album “Chroma” to international acclaim, notably with the album being selected as the Guardian Album of the Month: “With ‘Chroma’ young British jazz star Emma Rawicz is taking admirable risks and continuing her warp-speed evolution ****” .

27/1
Donovan Haffner Quartet

https://wegottickets.com/event/645586

Donovan Haffner – alto saxophone
John Turville – piano
Luke McCarthy – drums
Niklas Lukassen – double bass

Donovan Haffner has had the opportunity to collaborate with notable musicians, including Shane Forbes and Jay Phelps. He also toured around Italy with Moses Boyd at only 18 years old and at various places around the UK. During his formative years, he received mentorship from figures like Gary Crosby OBE, Alex Davis, and Binker Golding of Tomorrow’s Warriors. Through this organisation, Donovan has been fortunate to be a part of the Jazz House Kids Summer Programme in New Jersey a number of times which helped him further improve his musical skills. Donovan’s musical journey has taken him to various prominent venues in London, such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Jazz Cafe, and Pizza Express, and abroad playing at ‘Jazz La Villette’ in Paris. He has also performed at festivals like Glastonbury, We Out Here, Pitchfork, Brainchild, and Love Supreme.

Expect interactive, energetic playing that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

December ’24

| jazzinkentishtown

We’d like to start by thanking all those who came out last month; what an array of talent we had, and how lucky we were to be able to give so many groups the opportunity to wow us with their music thanks to the support of London Jazz Festival! But, here at The Parakeet, the Jazz festivities never end and we march on into December with another selection of deftly talented groups to see out the year in style.

Ho Ho Ho 🎅🎄🎶

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

2/12 – Jay Davis

wegottickets.com/event/641059/

Jay Davis’s Bad Trad

Jay Davis – Drums and compositions
Mike Soper – Trumpet and Flugel
James Allsopp – Tenor Saxophone
Huw V Williams – Double Bass

Jay Davis’s BadTrad is formed from an inquisitiveness about people. Compositions include pieces using melodies overheard being hummed by strangers in the street, a robotic construction from a laptop and a three year olds’ piano improvisation. Showcasing some of the most exciting improvisers from the UK scene, the band draw on a broad range of musical influences from European choral music to free jazz. This gig marks the beginning of a run to promote the release of the band’s eponymous debut album. The record is due for release on the Fresh Sound New Talent label on April 11 2025. 

Huw V Williams 9/12

wegottickets.com/event/641062/

Huw V Williams Trio

Huw V Williams – Bass
Jon Scott – Drums
George Crowley – Reeds

The Huw V Williams Trio, featuring accomplished musicians Huw V Williams on bass, George Crowley on saxophone, and Jon Scott on drums, brings a fresh and dynamic sound to the contemporary jazz scene. Huw V Williams’ jazz tunes often weave intricate narratives that reflect political themes, using music as a medium to comment on social issues. Known for his innovative approach to rhythm and melody, Williams leads the trio with a deep understanding of jazz traditions while pushing creative boundaries. Crowley, a talented saxophonist, draws from diverse influences to create captivating solos. Jon Scott, a versatile drummer, anchors the group with his intricate rhythms and energetic style, ensuring a cohesive and engaging performance.

“The trio of Huw V Williams on bass with Jon Scott on drums and George Crowley on reeds, is perfection. I find it hard to imagine anyone who likes modern jazz not liking this. It’s a sweet balance of loose and tight, gently modernistic in its language and rolling out a fantastic vibe.” UK Jazz News

Dan McConkey 16/12 – at The Old Queen’s Head, Angel

wegottickets.com/event/641064/

Dan McConkey Quartet

Dan McConkey – tenor saxophone
Charlie Heywood – guitar
Sam Ingvorsen – bass
Josh Walker-Martin – drums

Dan McConkey arrives at The Parakeet with his quartet to perform his original compositions: showcasing his warm, lush tenor sound and a highly melodic improvisational approach. Dan’s compositional style draws on Folk and Contemporary European traditions as well as more straight-ahead jazz writing. Key influences include Ben Van Gelder, Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell. Dan released his first single ‘As You Are’ in August 2024 and follow up Last Leviathan in October 2024.

Dan was shortlisted for the 2023 Peter Whittingham Jazz Prize, and is planning his debut release for Summer 2024. Dan is joined by Josh Walker-Martin on drums, Sam Ingvorsen on Bass and Charlie Heywood on guitar. They are all exceptional improvisers and artists in their own right, and are in demand musicians performing on the jazz scene across the UK and in Europe.

November ’24

| jazzinkentishtown

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.

JUly at the parakeet

| jazzinkentishtown

If you thought things were hotting up this month already, brace yourself for the burning line-up we have at the Parakeet!

As usual, before we announce the line-up we have in store for you this month, we’d like to extend a huge thank you to all who came out to support Jazz at the Parakeet this month. We really appreciate any support you can give us by sharing social media posts, bringing friends and family to the gigs or just spreading the word about our line-up each month.

We’re on Facebook and Instagram as @jazzattheparakeet; please share and tag us in all of your photos and videos! It also makes a really big difference to us when you prebook the tickets for the gig so we can get an idea of numbers on the night. P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a few hours before kick-off but please still come down as there will most likely be more tickets available on the door!

Monday 1st July – James Allsopp

www.wegottickets.com/event/625936/

James Allsopp- tenor saxophone and mellotron

Chris Batchelor- trumpet

Tom Herbert- electric bass

Zands Duggan- percussion

Dave Storey- drums

In a 20 year career James Allsopp has been a featured performer and recording
artist for an incredibly diverse range of musicians. James has played in concert
and on albums by legendary artists such as The Last Poets, David Axelrod, Dr
John and Mulatu Astake, for European jazz luminaries such as Django Bates,
Nostalgia 77, Kit Downes and Polar Bear, on more commercial albums by Jamie
Cullum and Jorja Smith and as featured soloist in a wide range of compositions
by composer Brian Irvine.
James’s debut album was nominated for BBC Jazz Award for Best Album 2007
and he won the BBC Jazz Award for Innovation 2008.

This gig will feature a never before performed set of compositions as well as repertoire from our as yet to be released album. This brand new lineup expands the sound world of the band and we are very excited to debut it at the Parakeet. This is joyous, life affirming music. Deceptively simple, deeply melodic, with a healthy dose of the other worldly.

Monday 8th July – Blue Town Trio

www.wegottickets.com/event/625938/

Zoe Francis – vocals

Jim Mullen – guitar

Ross Stanley – organ

Led by London vocalist Zoe Francis, featuring multi award-winning UK legend guitarist Jim Mullen, and the incomparable Ross Stanley on Hammond organ, have now recorded 2 albums together. “Somewhere in the Night” being there recent release. This trio combines Zoe’s love of hammond and guitar groups, with classic standards. Her love of a great lyric, set to fresh arrangements and tempos, amplified by the rich layers of sound from Ross’s Hammond and Jim’s melodic blues lines make this trio sound like a mini orchestra! 

Zoe Francis began singing jazz while living in New York, attending the workshops of Barry Harris and sittin’ in on jam sessions and gigging in Manhattan, Harlem and Brooklyn, giving her the opportunity to sing and work with many great musicians. Zoe moved to London in 2014 after recording her 1st album with multi award-winning pianist Dave Newton. Her 2nd album “The very thought of you” is a live recording at 606 club with great musicians Jim Mullen, Stan Sulzman, Gareth Williams, Enzo Zirilli, Mick Hutton. Zoe has performed at many venues in UK, Italy and Germany.

Jim Mullen has worked with many international artists including, Gene Harris, Jimmy Smith, Frank Wess, Johnny Griffin, Terry Callier, Brian Auger, Mose Allison, Georgie Fame, Claire Martin, AWB, and a 15 year partnership with great UK tenor saxophonist Dick Morrissey in much loved UK band Morrissey Mullen. Jim has recorded many organ trio, and quaryet albums under his own name.   

Monday 15th July – Ant Law and Chris Montague Quartet

www.wegottickets.com/event/625940/

Ant Law – guitar

Chris Montague – guitar

Conor Chaplin – bass

Jeremy Stacey – drums

Two of the most exciting guitarists to emerge for the UK in recent years, Chris Montague and Ant
Law have formed a quartet with brand new material written together. Ant and Chris have huge
mutual respect for each other’s playing and writing and decided to compose a set of material together, it will also feature the incredible Conor Chaplin on bass and Jeremy Stacey on drums.
Initially conceived after a duo performance several years ago, this is the debut performance of this thrilling new collaboration. Ant and Chris have expanded the concept into a quartet and the new music has a diverse mix of contemporary influences.
Chris Montague is widely recognised for his skills as a guitarist, composer and producer. As a founder member of Troyka he has garnered a reputation for his distinctive approach to the guitar and has received much admiration for his contribution to many contemporary recordings. In May 2020 Chris released ‘Warmer than Blood’ on Whirlwind recordings with Kit Downes (ECM) on piano and bassist Ruth Goller (Skylla) on bass to much critical acclaim.
Chris was born in Gateshead (UK) and began playing guitar at an early age. Some of the musicians and bands Chris has worked with have included; Troyka, Squarepusher, Benny Greb’s Moving Parts, Janek Gwizdala, Sarah Gillespie, Monocled Man, Charlie Watts, Darry Jones, Chuck Leavell, Dave Douglas, Django Bates, Shinya Fukumori, BJ Cole, Colin Town’s Blue Touch Paper, Nick Smart’s Trogon, Trish Clowe’s, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Chris is also a Spitfire Audio recording artist.
As a composer Chris has received several commissions to write for different musicians, including:
Royal Academy of Music Big Band, Threads Orchestra, EFG London Jazz Festival and several large
guitar ensemble pieces for Hull and London Jazz Festivals.
‘Its nimble music, the composing is original and as modern as the minute, and the virtuosity and power of the jamming makes your hair stand on end.’ – The Guardian
British guitarist Ant lives in London and is “a game changer” and “an innovator” according
to The Guardian. His 6th album ‘Ensconced’ is a collaboration with Milan-born Turkish
singer Brigitte Beraha and will be released (on Ubuntu Music) 16th August 2024. His
previous album ‘Same Moon in the Same World’ (Outside in Music) was released on 4th
November 2022.
Same Moon is an ongoing collaboration between Ant and the brilliant saxophonist &
composer Alex Hitchcock. Recorded in 2020/2021 across multiple continents, bridging the
gap between London, Amsterdam and New York, it brings together a stellar cast of guest
musicians performing new compositions: vibraphonist Joel Ross, bassists Linda May Han
Oh, Ben Williams and Jasper Høiby, and drummers Jeff Ballard, Kendrick Scott, Sun-Mi
Hong and Eric Harland.
The Same Moon quartet toured in Europe in December 2022: Ant, Alex Hitchcock
(saxophone), Conor Chaplin (bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums) who appears on the album. In 2023 Ant and Alex toured with Jasper Høiby (bass) and Sun-Mi Hong (drums), both of whom also feature on the album. Tour booking is underway for this lineup throughout 2024
and 2025, and this quartet have recorded a brand new album – stay tuned for more information!

Monday 22nd July – Mike De Souza

www.wegottickets.com/event/625942/

Guitarist Mike De Souza leads his quintet Rick Simpson (piano/synth), Tom Barford (tenor sax), Huw V Williams (bass), and Jay Davis (drums), on a tour celebrating his latest album Chrysalis (Fresh Sound New Talent). Written post-lockdown, the title alludes to the emergence from a state of isolation, having changed in a positive way, just as a butterfly emerges transformed from its chrysalis state.

Fierce moments of high energy and introspective periods of calm and impressionistic beauty blend with multiple melodic layers and juxtaposition between acoustic and electronic sound to create an uplifting set that at times evokes a mood reminiscent of alternative-rock bands such as Radiohead, or indie-folk bands such as Big Thief, yet retains the risk-taking, exploration, and language of jazz.

Press for Slow Burn (2019)

“Magnificent” – Chris Philips (Jazz FM)

“The writing is intelligent and multi-faceted” – The Jazz Mann

“An impressive show of musical innovation” – All About Jazz

Monday 29th July – Sam Jesson

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/626171

Sam Jesson will bring his all-star trio to the Parakeet. Expect some tunes by Monk, Giuffre, Ellington, Harry “Sweets” Edison,  Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, as well as some new originals written by the trio which they’ll be recording soon for a new release.

March 2024

| jazzinkentishtown

Before we announce the absolutely stellar line-up we have in store for you this month, we’d like to extend a huge thank you to all who came out to support Jazz at the Parakeet in February. Since we took over we’ve been really touched by the atmosphere and sense of community in the room each and every Monday night – and we know how much this means to the bands who come down to play!

Speaking of… an even bigger thanks to @nickcostleywhite, @stanbrunt, @adamosmianski, @reubengoldmark, and their bands for providing us with insanely enjoyable sets of such high-quality music.

So here’s to March, and long may the seriously high-quality music continue!

As usual, we appreciate any support you can give us by getting the word out about our gigs. We’re on Facebook and Instagram as @jazzattheparakeet; please share and tag us in all of your photos and videos! It also makes a really big difference to us when you prebook the tickets for the gig so we can get an idea of numbers on the night.

P.S. WeGotTicket sales will show as “Sold Out” a few hours before kick-off but please still come down as there will most likely be more tickets available on the door!

Monday 4th March – George Crowley Quartet

www.wegottickets.com/event/611462/

Alex Bonney – trumpet

Olie Brice – bass

George Crowley – reeds

Will Glaser – drums

This collaborative quartet formed in 2020’s first lockdown as a means of sonic therapy, deciding –  when gigs, audiences and open venues and were a remote prospect – to learn and explore music by Ornette Coleman. 

In the intervening years the repertoire has expanded to include other luminaries of the avant-garde – Don Cherry, Dewey Redman, Albert Ayler, Arthur Blythe and more – explored in freewheeling and conversational style by 4 improvisers with distinctive voices.

Monday 11th March – The Alex Merritt/ Antonio Fusco Quartet

www.wegottickets.com/event/611464/

Alex Merritt – saxophone

Antonio Fusco – drums

Bruno Heinen – piano

Henrik Jensen – bass

The Alex Merritt/ Antonio Fusco Quartet reunites friends and musical compatriots Alex and Antonio with pianist Bruno Heinen and bassist Henrik Jensen. Building on a history of collaboration that spans performances in London and Beijing, Antonio and Alex have chosen original music for this tour, including some brand new compositions and arrangements, that highlight and bring out the distinctive approaches and musical personalities of each member of this band.

Contemporary straight-ahead influences sit side-by-side with inspiration from modern classical music leading to an engaging, fresh sound and approach to group interplay. The harmonic/ melodic worlds of Olivier Messiaen, Scriabin and Ravel combine with jazz influence from John Coltrane, Joe Henderson and others in Alex’s approach to writing. The pairing here with Bruno Heinen, whose roots are in both jazz and impressionistic classical music, is a natural one; a combination that brings fruitful musical rewards when joined by the powerhouse rhythm section of Fusco and Jensen.

Monday 18th March – Arbenz X Neame /Hart / Pursglove: “Conversation”

www.wegottickets.com/event/611467/

Percy Pursglove – trumpet/flugelhorn

Ivo Neame – Fender / Keyboards

Jim Hart – vibraphone, percussion

Florian Arbenz – drums, percussion

“Jazz is supposed to be the most unselfish of art forms. In jazz, you give yourself completely to make somebody else play their best. You try to do something to make them, inspire them to do something. So it is a matter of sacrifice.” – Dizzy Gillespie

In this brand new European collaboration, acclaimed Swiss drummer Florian Arbenz joins the sensational British musicians Percy Pursglove on trumpet/flugelhorn, Ivo Neame on Keys and Jim Hart on vibraphone/percussion to launch the album ‘Conversation’.

Florian collaborated with Pursglove and Jim Hart different contexts, but this is their first project together with Ivo Neame!

Arbenz’s choices for Conversation were selected for their unmistakably unique voices on their respective instruments. Arbenz himself says, “it doesn’t happen so often that I immediately get captured by a musician by just hearing him/her on a record. And I think this is a big link for me to Jim, Ivo and Percy.” 

An improvised exploration of the realm between jazz and improvised music, the quartet’s sophisticated and open-minded sound is equally comfortable in either world. Strikingly vast in texture and feeling, the ensemble shifts rapidly between tight, syncopated grooves, flurries of virtuosic trumpet playing, passages melancholic openness, and powerfully dense harmonies. 

With a slew of awards and world-class collaborations under their belts, the ensemble’s collective international reputation cannot be understated. 

Monday 25th March – Osian Roberts

Osian Roberts Quartet (UK/CZ)
 www.wegottickets.com/event/611821/

Osian Roberts was born and raised in Cardiff and took up the alto saxophone aged nine. He soon switched to tenor, and after showing early promise on the Welsh jazz scene, he won a scholarship to study jazz saxophone at The Royal Academy of Music in London, where he stayed after graduating. Whilst in London, he played with many of the UK’s leading jazz figures, including Dave Cliff, Mike Carr, Jim Mullen, Peter Ind, Iain Ballamy, Simon Woolf and Mark Nightingale. In addition to his work as a sideman, he formed a quintet with his Academy classmates Steve and Matt Fishwick, which recorded several albums on the Hard Bop Records label. After many years in London, Osian relocated to the Czech Republic, where he has since established himself as a valued member of the European jazz community.

more information soon..