May 4th - THE JONNY HEPBIR QUINTET

Making a welcome return featuring MIKE PIGGOTT on violin, SARA OSCHLAG on vocals, JONNY HEPBIR and JASON HENSON on guitars, and DAN SHEPPARD on bass. The band play an eclectic mix of jazz standards, Gypsy Jazz à la Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grapelli all blended into snappy exciting arrangements with more than a dash of musical interplay. They are musicians who love playing together, and it shows.

June 1st - THE LEON GREENING QUARTET

Led by pianist Leon Greening, who epitomises the fluent and assured hard-swinging confidence of the best of the current UK players, accompanied by ALEX GARNETT one of the UK’s leading tenor players, ADAM KING one of our top bassists and with percussionist SEBASTIAAN de KROM, inventive and standout drummer, currently Music Director of the NYJO. These guys are constantly in demand around the UK and we’re delighted to have them play at Steyning.

JULY 6TH - TERRY WHITNEY REMEMBERED

This evening local pianist PETER GODFREY has gathered together a group of musicians who played over the years with the fondly remembered and hugely missed pianist, Terry Whitney, a catalyst and key musician from the start of The Steyning Jazz Club. Terry played prolifically all over Sussex and beyond, with numerous great musicians and was well known on the jazz scene, also recording and broadcasting. Tonight, those playing tribute to Terry will be GEOFF SIMKINS and ROY LEITH saxes JACK CRYER vocals ANDY WOON cornet GERRY HIGGINS bass JOHN MUXLOW drums and PETER GODFREY piano.

AUGUST 3RD - LATCHEPEN

A London band born out of a collective admiration of Django Reinhardt and anything that swings. The word Latchepen is an exclamation of happiness in the Romani language. Acoustic by nature but with a projection and heart beat that can rival any amplifier or drum, this is jazz on a string with influences ranging from Romani music to bebop. MATT HOLBORN violin, KOUROSH KANANI guitar, JEREMIE COULLON guitar, SIMON READ bass.

SEPTEMBER 7th - THE BEN MARTYN BAND

Ben leads this band along with a fantastic line up of musicians who often play together but not always in this exact line up. Ben spent his teenage years living in New Orleans learning first hand and watching the legends of the music. He still returns there every year to play and to visit friends and family. Styles cross New Orleans Rhythm & Blues through to Jazz and Rock & Roll. So, expect a little of all things New Orleans, not just straight out jazz. He appears at Steyning with TONY RICO saxophone, GEORGE SIMMONDS trombone, RICHARD SIMMONDS piano, EMILE MARTYN drums, and BEN MARTYN on bass and vocals.

OCTOBER 5TH - THE JONATHAN VINTEN TRIO

Masterfully referencing many of the great piano trios. The trio echoes the talents of Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Errol Garner, with a repertoire encompassing a wide range of standards. Jonathan has been a featured guest across Europe, performing at the Los Angeles Jazz Festival, the prestigious Nice Jazz Festival and with many visiting American jazz greats including Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Davern, Warren Vache, Al Casey and Benny Waters. He has played with the British bands of George Melly, Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball at the BAFTA Awards, Swanage Jazz Festival, The National Theatre and Thaxted Arts Festival.

Legend of British Jazz, Bobby Worth brings his scintillating drumming to the mix and the beautiful tones formed by Steve Thompson on bass complete the trio.

NOVEMBER 2ND - THE DAVE CHAMBERLAIN QUARTET

A welcome return to the “in serious demand” & popular guitarist DAVE CHAMBERLAIN, who has played with John Dankworth, Buddy Greco, Mark Murphy, The BBC Concert Orchestra, and The Hallé Orchestra. Tonight he returns with the critically acclaimed pianist LEON GREENING, CALLUM GOURLAY bass player with the Kit Downes Trio, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Martin Speake & Stan Sulzmann, and drummer MATT FISHWICK, one of the very first call drummers in London.

DECEMBER 7TH - PORTRAIT OF THE MJQ

Vibraphonist NAT STEELE’S "Portrait of the MJQ" Quartet performs a swinging take on music of one of the most successful and influential jazz groups of the 20th century, the Modern Jazz Quartet. The gig will feature tunes from their new album including a complete performance of ‘La Ronde Suite’. Joining him are the young pianist GABRIEL LATCHIN who's recently released his own debut album to critical acclaim, Italian bassist DARIO DE LECCE, a recent arrival on the UK jazz scene and the ever-swinging STEVE BROWN (Benny Golson, Scott Hamilton) on drums. Expect lots of swing mixed with some classical influences! “Sheer delight.” Peter Vacher (Jazzwise). “Vibrant.” - Bruce Lindsay (JazzJournal). “A refreshing treat for the ears.” - Rebecca Franks (BBC Music Magazine).