Jazz in the Bar is back! Featuring supreme jazz vocalist Joanna Hudson with swinging and sensitive accompaniment from the Bob Hudson Trio.
Toe tapping finger snapping jazz with some of the best standard songs and jazz classics.
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Music
Elizabeth Harrison born December 1976 just outside Preston, Lancashire. She has established herself on the concert circuit not only as a musician but also as an entertainer. Her varied musical repertoire along with her cheerful Lancashire humour has made her one of the country’s favourite performers. Elizabeth is at home on both electronic and cinema organs and she is part of the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer Organist team. Elizabeth is also organist for The Blackpool Dance Festival held in The Winter Gardens in October annually.
Pianist Zoe Rahman is something very special. Born of a Bengali father and English mother, she marries two cultures through the medium of jazz to produce sounds that are highly original, taking the listener on magical journeys. Her unique musical vocabulary explores new landscapes. Steeped in the jazz story, she tells it in her own evocative way in this eloquent trio line-up. As Leonard Cohen said, “You’re sure to want to travel with her”. Don’t miss this trip! Your Christmas delights start here.
Zoe Rahman (piano)
Andrea Di Biase (bass)
Gene Calderazo (drums)
Another musician who played in our very first season, Loz Speyer returns with Inner Space. The band features Xhosa Cole – BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2018 – and Dee Byrne, a strong and fiery alto player, who brings a distinctive new sound as she steps into the role Chris Biscoe held since 2003.
Inner Space plays jazz with a rare warmth and immediacy. Speyer’s compositions combine references from New Orleans, through Bebop to Free Jazz, with audible echoes of Mingus, Monk, Ornette and more.
Loz Speyer (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Dee Byrne (alto sax)
Xhosa Cole (tenor sax)
Olie Brice (double bass)
Gary Willcox (drums)
Four of the East Midlands’ best jazz musicians + special guest singer Helen Gayle come together with an evening of music by the Fab 4, bringing a special jazz touch to some of the best songs of the 20th Century. Many Lennon & McCartney compositions stand up well to a jazz treatment, interpreters including George Benson & Herbie Hancock. On this occasion Helen Gayle will be stepping into Diane Krall’s shoes on vocals.
You can even play ‘Spot the Song’ with the jazz introductions of some of these classics. They are all great songs and will shine in these hands.
Matt Ratcliffe (piano)
Helen Gayle (Vocals)
Ben Martin (Tenor/soprano)
Martyn Spencer (Bass)
Tymoteusz Jozwaik (drums)
Together, Alan Barnes and Dave O’Higgins have a long-standing dynamic musical chemistry that makes them ever-welcome at the Bonington and venues across the UK. Both played with their own bands in Jazz Steps’ first year – 1997.
Alan, a multi-reed master and witty raconteur between numbers – excels in his chameleon-like fluency across diverse genres, never ceasing to surprise and delight. Likewise, as band leader and sideman, Dave O’Higgins also has many albums to his credit.
Expect and rollicking evening of great jazz from this quintessential quintet fronted by two reed-players of distinction.
Alan Barnes (reeds)
Dave O’Higgins (reed)
Rob Barron (piano)
Adam King (bass)
Josh Morrison (drums)
Jean Toussaint Quintet will be playing new material ahead of the release of his album Songs for Sisters Brothers and Others – a collection of new compositions in tribute to his siblings and people and places important in his life.
On a multi-date UK tour that includes the Bonington (of course!), his band features Freddie Gavita trumpet, Jonathan Gee piano, Mutale Chashi bass and Shane Forbes drums.
Influenced by his African Caribbean heritage and the New York jazz scene where he grew up, Toussaint was inspired early on by “the funk, soul, calypso and reggae bands of [his] youth”. Toussaint went on to form bands, tour, and become a member of the legendary Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers – a jazz combo and rite of passage in the jazz world.
Toussaint played to a near-capacity Bonington audience in December 2018 with music from his album Brother Raymond that gained a 4-star Guardian review, saying he displayed “His own style, fluent and assured, with angular asides to keep you guessing”.
Be at this gig to experience musical insights from his new compositions – sure to be profound given the dedications. Formidable musical creativity from brilliant musicians. Book early – and bring your friends!
“He is one of the great saxophonists. He has a mellow tone, so soulful you feel he could slip into funk or blues at any second.” – London Jazz News
Jean Toussaint – saxophone
Freddie Gavita- trumpet
Jonathan Gee- piano
Mutale Chashi- bass
Shane Forbes – drums
Julian Siegel is one of Nottingham’s own “born and bred” jazzers appearing in our first Jazz Steps season in 1997 with the band Partisans. Over the years since, he’s
performed with international musicians such as Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow and Kenny Wheeler. His composition for jazz orchestra celebrating Nottingham Lace was recorded locally by the BBC for broadcast.
For over a decade, he has worked with this highly inventive and dynamic quartet, making him a favourite all over Europe – and definitely so with Nottingham audiences. Be there for this session of eclectic, vibrant music.
Julian Siegel (reeds)
Liam Noble (piano)
Oli Hayhurst (bass)
Gene Calderazzo (drums)
Damon Brown performed in our very first Jazz Steps season, 25 years ago. – with this return being a deliberate nod to our anniversary! He’s performed with his own groups and with the band Killer Shrimp back in 2010. His no-nonsense trumpet style wins him many fans. We tracked him down to Seoul, South Korea, and invited him over for a rare UK appearance, backed by a superb trio.
Damon Brown (trumpet)
Leon Greening (piano)
Adam King (Bass)
Matt Skelton (drums)
The Edison Herbert Trio have a reputation for their engaging grooves, sensitive ballads and foot tapping numbers that mix the familiar with the new in a refreshing way. Edison is a sensitive and melodic guitarist and his trio bring excitement, verve and vitality to everything they play. He is revisiting some ‘My Favourite Tunes’ that include some stand-out jazz standards.
Edison Herbert (guitar)
Jose Canha (bass)
Josh Smout (drums)