Much travelled and recently returning from two tours to Australia and a memorable one to California, Martin Bennett’s experience is incalculable. For many years an outstanding trombonist, he now leads from the keyboard, keeping his renowned vocals as part of the programme. The Old Green River Band’s line-up will be:  Martin Bennett, piano/vocals; John Finch, trombone; Stan Williams, trumpet; Howard Murray, reeds; Howard Worthington, bass; and Bill Buck, drums,  a mix of old heads and young blood, but with the shared intention of playing top class music with integrity and passion.

Steyning Jazz Club welcomes the Andy Dickens’ Quintet, with their excitingly vibrant and lyrical 30/40s jazz. ANDY on trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals, brings together Tim Huskisson, piano; Al Nicholls, tenor sax; Manuel Álvarez, double bass; and ROD BROWN on drums and hand-beats. This hand-picked quintessential quintet has a wry presentation style and a range of irresistible jazz from the carnival trumpet and dancing street-beat of Dr John’s New Orleans, through to the driving swing of Clark Terry and Oscar Peterson. This is a band that is as entertaining as it gets, promising an evening of fine music and wholesome good humour.

The outstanding vibraphonist Nat Steele performs a swinging take on the famous MJQ (Modern Jazz Quartet). With special guest, top New York saxophonist, Grant Stewart, the band features tracks made famous by saxophonist Sonny Rollins, whilst recording with the original MJQ in 1956. Joining them will be the young pianist Gabriel Latchin, who’s recently released his own debut album to critical acclaim; Italian bassist, Dario dI Lecce, a recent arrival on the UK jazz scene, and the ever-swinging Steve Brown on drums. Expect lots of swing, mixed with a scintillating soupçon of classical influences.

World-renowned jazz clarinettist Adrian Cox and his quartet will present music from their brand new album ‘Now Is Spring’, with music written by Adrian and long-time collaborator, pianist Joe Webb.  The album draws on Adrian’s influences of New Orleans, blues and swing music, the tunes crafted with the soul and passion of those beyond their years, creating a timeless set of beautiful melodies. The band line-up remains: JOE WEBB, piano; SIMON READ, double bass; GETHIN JONES, drums and ADRIAN on clarinet and vocals. The band have toured extensively during the past two years presenting their tribute to jazz clarinet legend Edmond Hall, with shows across Europe and at Dizzy’s Club (New York). Their accompanying album ‘Profoundly Blue’ is currently nominated in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2019 (Best Jazz Album).

This January meeting opens our new 2020 season and is our membership renewal evening. Doors open at 7.00pm, so join us in a glass of fine wine and renew your membership for the coming year: annual membership is £10.

Pianist Leon Greening, whose fluently assured hard-swinging style epitomises the best on the contemporary UK Jazz scene, is accompanied by ALEX GARNETT, one of the UK’s leading alto and tenor players, DAVE CHAMBERLAIN double bass, with his renowned driving swing, and MATT SKELTON drums, whose wide ranging career has taken him from Ronnie Scott’s with Cleo Laine to playing with Alan Barnes, Damon Brown and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. These four of the finest musicians are in constant  demand and we are  delighted to have them playing for us here at Steyning.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.