Clarinettist, PETE LONG’S career has included time with the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra as well as directing the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band. He has delighted audiences with his successful recreation of the famous Benny Goodman Quartet, conjuring up the rhythmic excitement and energy of one of jazz history’s most revered ensembles. The quartet this evening has PETE LONG on clarinet; ANTHONY KERR, vibraphone; COLIN GOOD, piano; and RICHARD PITE, drums. Anthony Kerr has, for many years, played vibes for Georgie Fame and the BBC Big Band. Colin Good is among the uniquely few pianists who can play in the style of the great Teddy Wilson, and drummer, Richard Pite, specialises in the jazz styles of the 1920s to the 1940s, offering an evening of driving musicality and swing.

Savouring the fascinations of jazz from the 1920s-1930s, we welcome ENRICO TOMASSO with his glittering Hot Five. Enrico brings a band line-up of ENRICO TOMASSO, trumpet & vocals; MARTIN LITTON, piano; ‘SPATS’ LANGHAM, guitar, banjo & vocals; GRAHAM HUGHES, trombone & sousaphone; EWAN BLEACH, clarinet & sax. This brilliantly outstanding band delights in the irresistible contrapuntal improvisation of this swing era, with jazz reminiscent of Bix Beiderbecke and his peers, their playing breathing new life into this golden age of Jazz.

Our new season opens with the internationally acclaimed clarinettist ADRIAN COX who is performing on the scene fresh from recording two new albums. The first features long-time collaborator JOE WEBB as a duo and the second is a very special album that features, for the first time, Adrian’s band and a string quartet. He brings his band to Steyning to play some of this new music as well as some reworked standards. The band line up is: ADRIAN COX, clarinet & vocals; JOE WEBB, piano; WILL SACH, double bass; and SHANEY FORBES, drums. This January meeting opens our new 2022 season and is our membership renewal evening.

Doors open early at 7.00pm, so join us in a glass of fine wine and renew your membership for the coming year: annual membership is £15.

The Rascals of Rhythm are a band which bridges the gap between the original New Orleans style and the small band Swing style of the 1930s. They have a particularly distinctive sound and once heard become instantly recognisable. They provide a refreshing return to an era of carefree, swinging jazz with a repertoire drawn from Jelly Roll Morton to Fats Waller. The Rascals are fronted by Mike Wills, soprano sax, tenor sax and clarinet; Tony Blincowe on clarinet, alto & tenor saxes, and Andy Woon, cornet, backed by the drum-less rhythm section of band leader Dave Moorwood, acoustic guitar & vocals; Peter Godfrey, piano; and Mike Bennett, double bass. Exuding irrepressible enthusiasm and energy, this is a band that really swings.

British pianist, composer and bandleader, Gabriel Latchin has made a name for himself as one of the UK’s finest musicians, praised internationally by critics and world renowned musicians alike. Known for his effortlessly swinging dynamism, deep repertoire and compelling performances, Jazzwise recently described his playing as “impeccable, with the clarity of his lines evoking something of Hank Jones or Tommy Flanagan”. He has been awesomely praised in both The Guardian and The Times and has been featured in DownBeat (USA) and Jazz Japan. Together with Dario di Lecce, bass, and Josh Morrison, drums, we anticipate a remarkable evening.

Jo FOOKS is a saxophonist whose mellow tone is often compared to Stan Getz and Zoot Sims. She won the 'Young Scottish Musician of the Year' and went on to study at the Guildhall in London and the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston. After recording her debut album ‘Here and Now!’ she was recruited by the late Humphrey Lyttelton into his eight-piece band. Her band line up will be: Andy Panayi, reeds; Mark Edwards, piano; paul Morgan, bass; and Buster Birch, drums. With Jo's many influences, including:  Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans, be ready to enjoy a compelling evening.

Local pianist Peter Godfrey, having played with numerous well known British and American musicians, plays the Steinway this evening, accompanying the well-known ANDY WOON, on cornet and trumpet, and TONY CARTER on reeds, best known for his work with the Big Chris Barber Band. Bassist, PAUL WHITTEN, completes the rhythm section together with drummer, JOHN MUXLOW, who along with Peter, Andy and Tony, has played with The Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra. This is an exciting line-up promising much swing and rhythm from the 1930s to the 1950s.

In the words of the New York Jazz Times, Mike Piggott is one of the best swing fiddle players anywhere. His confident style, based on Stephane Grappelli, with aspects of Eddie South and Stuff Smith, mixes into what emerges as a very personal means of expression. With Nils Solberg, guitar & vocals; Peter Morgan, double bass; and Rod Brown, drums, with their eclectic mix of jazz standards and Gypsy Jazz, à la Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli, this band produces enthrallingly outstanding performances. Mike Piggott's lilting glissando violin is a thrilling experience, magically recreating the quintessence of many Hot Club de Paris numbers.

With his first album recording as band leader, Gaz Hughes’ 2020 tour features the music of the great Art Blakey, together with timeless and much-loved tracks by composers such as Bobby Watson, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard and Curtis Fuller. His band line-up is comprised of today’s finest, with Alan Barnes, alto & baritone sax; Bruce Adams, trumpet; Dean Masser, tenor sax; Andrzej Baranek, piano; Ed Harrison, bass; and Gaz Hughes, drums.

Jo Fooks, is a saxophonist whose mellow tone is often compared to Stan Getz and Zoot Sims. She won the 'Young Scottish Musician of the Year' and went on to study at the Guildhall in London and the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston. After recording her debut album ‘Here and Now!’ she was recruited by the late Humphrey Lyttelton into his eight-piece band. Her band line up will be: Andy Panayi, reeds; Mark Edwards, piano; Steve Thompson, bass; and Buster Birch, drums. With Jo's many influences, including:  Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans. Be ready to enjoy a compelling evening.