APRIL 5th - THE MATT WATES SEXTET
Matt Wates alto sax, Steve Main tenor Sax, Martin Shaw trumpet, Leon Greening piano, Malcolm Creese bass and Matt Home drums. The band has been together now in this format for some twelve years and the combination of two saxes trumpet and rhythm section has become a classic, creating innumerable possibilities for an arranger/composer. Matt endeavours to come up with material that will be fun to play, as well as creating a strong mood that communicates itself well to an audience. In style, the sextet resembles many of the great small bands of the 50s and 60s, such as those of Horace Silver and Art Blakey. Taking inspiration from the past, but trying not to replicate it, the band performs music for which they have the deepest respect.
MAY 3rd - ENRICO TOMASSO WITH RICO'S RIVERBOAT SHUFFLERS
With ENRICO TOMASSO trumpet & vocals, GRAHAM HUGHES trombone, TREVOR WHITING alto sax & clarinet, MARTIN LITTON piano, MARTIN WHEATLEY guitar and RICHARD WHITE bass sax, clarinet & vocals. This fabulous band play the classic jazz from of the 20s and 30s reminiscent of BIX BEIDERBECKE and his peers, a band that breathes new life into the golden era of Jazz.
JUNE 7th - THE TJ JOHNSON QUINTET
Backed by his group of top London based musicians TJ plays an extraordinary blend of music that transcends the boundaries of jazz, blues, soul, country and gospel. His distinctive voice and unique personal stage manner always brings both the band and the audience together to create an intimate yet exciting atmosphere that is rarely equalled. Widely considered to be one of the UK’s most charismatic highly revered jazz and blues singers, TJ with his band have toured extensively both in the UK and overseas including many sell-out performances at London’s famous Ronnie Scott’s.
JULY 5TH - THE JAMIE BROWNFIELD - LIAM BYRNE HOT SIX
With JAMIE BROWNFIELD on Trumpet and LIAM BYRNE on Tenor Sax, backed by the trio from Brighton’s Smalls Jazz Club: MARK EDWARDS, piano; PIERS CLARK, guitar; and STEVE THOMPSON, string bass, this is a band inspired by the music of Beiderbecke, Armstrong, Gillespie, Miles, Duke Ellington, Lester Young and other great swing musicians. They approach this hallowed music with an emphasis on quality and a genuine respect for its tradition, keeping a classic repertoire alive and intact for our appreciation and delight.
AUGUST 2ND - THE JONNY HEPBIR QUINTET
This fantastic quintet make a welcome return to the club and features, as always, 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.
SEPT 6TH - THE PHIL BROWN SEXTET
THE PHIL BROWN SEXTET returns to the club with their mainstream style drawing material from a broad spectrum of bands from the 1930s to 1960s. This is a band that performs with an irresistible iridescent animation, Dixieland to swing, with the great standards in their sights. The line up is: PHIL BROWN, trombone and vocals; LESTER BROWN trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals; MARK ASTON, reeds; ANDREW CLANCY, piano; MIKE BENNETT, bass; and DAVID CLANCY, drums.
OCT 4TH - THE HARRY STRUTTERS JAZZ AND BLUES BAND
This highly acclaimed band with MARLENE HILL, vocals; MAURICE DENNIS, banjo; MEGS ETHERINGTON, trumpet; TONY CARTER, reeds; MARTIN LITTON, piano; GRAHAM COLLICOT, drums; and ALLAN SOKELL, sousaphone, specialises in recreating the jazz and hot dance band music of the 1920s and 1930s with its characteristic drive, wit and allure.
NOV 1ST - EDANA MINGHELLA
Steyning Jazz Club warmly presents EDANA MINGHELLA, a wonderfully sensitive vocalist who brings a programme dedicated to songs and singers that have excited and moved her, and the evening will feature, among others, the songs of Bille Holiday. Performing with an emotional intensity, her singing has been described as faultless, stylish and utterly captivating. EDANA is in constant demand throughout the UK, and has recently performed to sell-out evenings at Ronnie Scott's and Soho Pizza Express. Her musical companions are, as ever, MARK EDWARDS, piano; PETE MAXFIELD, double bass; and LEE GOODALL, alto sax.
DEC 6TH - JOHN SHILLITO BAND
With JOHN SHILLITO, trumpet; BOBBY FOX, trombone; and JOHN WURR, clarinet & alto sax; fronting an outstanding rhythm section of JIM DOUGLAS, guitar & banjo; PETE FURNISH, double bass; and TREVOR RICHARDS, drums; this is an excitingly accomplished band with a strong ensemble sound and wonderful soloists, who, with their wide repertoire can explore the poignant melancholy of the blues, rising to the abandoned ebullience of a New Orleans street parade. We can expect an enthralling performance and plenty of high spirits.