Peterborough Jazz Club

Steve Fishwick (trumpet), Leon Greening (piano), Alex Garnett (saxophone), Matyas Hofecker (double bass), Matt Home (drums)

For the first concert of the new season at the Club we are delighted to present ‘Soultime’, a very exciting band drawing its inspiration from the iconic jazz of the 1950’s and 60’s featuring reworkings of music from legends of the hard-bop era including Bobby Timmons, Lee Morgan and Harold Mabern. The band was formed in 2022 by the brilliant trumpeter Steve Fishwick and top pianist Leon Greening and is augmented for this concert by the superb saxophonist, Alex Garnett. The band’s repertoire also features some original compositions from the pen of Steve and Leon, drawing on the great writing of jazz tunes from the 1950’s and 60’s. Steve Fishwick is widely considered to be one of the finest trumpet players ever to come from the UK, and is rapidly gaining a global reputation thanks to his flawless technique and beautifully flowing, harmonically rich improvisations. Leon Greening is an incredibly exciting pianist, full of wonderful ideas with superb technique. His album “Cookin’ in Brooklyn” recorded at Systems Two recording studio in New York features the great US alto saxophonist Vincent Herring and the magnificent Alex Garnett on tenor sax who features in tonight’s concert. Alex is one of the finest saxophonists on the scene with a dark, warm sound steeped in the acoustic post-bop tradition. The rhythm section is rounded out by Matyas Hofecker on double bass and drummer Matt Home, both of whom are very highly regarded on the UK jazz scene. The band has played at many of the top UK venues, such as Ronnie Scott’s, Dean Street and 606 Club and we can look forward to hard swinging, soulful tunes and infectious grooves!

TICKETS from £24 available now: Key Theatre Booking Page

Alex Clarke (alto saxophone), Mark Armstrong (trumpet), David Newton (piano), James Owston (double bass), Gaz Hughes (drums)

Award winning young saxophonist, Alex Clarke, is making her first appearance at the Club leading her own quintet, which also features the superb trumpet of Mark Armstrong.

Alex is rapidly becoming one of the most in demand and versatile saxophonists to emerge on the British jazz scene. Praised for her extensive repertoire list and intelligent ear for harmony, she brings an open-minded, intuitive approach that sounds authentic in a variety of musical settings from New Orleans to bebop.

Alex’s sound is steeped in the tradition of jazz; her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in her swinging, melodic approach which is inspired by the likes of Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.

She was winner of the ‘Rising Star’ category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and was finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020. Alex has recently released her latest recording ‘Out of the Woods’ to great critical acclaim.

For tonight’s concert, Alex Clarke is joined by the very fine trumpeter, Mark Armstrong, who is a brilliant soloist and is not only Professor of JazzTrumpet but also Musical Director of the National Youth JazzOrchestra. The exciting rhythm section is led by the great pianist, David Newton with the highly talented James Owston on double bass and top drummer Gaz Hughes.

TICKETS from £24 available now: Key Theatre Booking Page

Greg Abate (saxophone/flute), Nat Steele (vibraphone), Leon Greening (piano), Arnie Somogyi (double bass), Matt Skelton (drums)

We are delighted to welcome back to the Club after a gap of nine years the great USA saxophonist and flautist Greg Abate, always a great favourite for his emotionally charged, technically brilliant and expressive playing. Greg’s career spans over 40 years, starting as lead altoist with Ray Charles and Artie Shaw bands and then developing his solo career in the States. Steeped in bebop, but always melodic, he recorded his first album live at Birdland, New York in 1991 and subsequently has released 18 CDs under his own name, including two albums recorded with the great Phil Woods, the last being in 2016 shortly before Phil passed away.

Greg is also an adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is also a very active jazz clinician with sponsorship from the Conn-Selmer Instrument company. In the Downbeat magazine (USA) readers poll, Greg is frequently voted year on year as one of the top five saxophonists in the world.

Joining Greg for this concert will be the brilliant vibraphonist Nat Steele and a great rhythm section with top pianist Leon Greening and the very highly rated duo of Arnie Somogyi on double bass and drummer Matt Skelton. Don’t miss one of finest saxophonists in the world today leading an all-star quintet.

TICKETS from £24 available now: Key Theatre Booking Page

Sara Oschlag (vocals), Alex Garnett (saxophone), James Pearson (piano), Arnie Somogyi (double bass), Darren Beckett (drums)

For our Christmas Concert, we have a special evening with the superb vocalist Sara Oschlag, who many of you will remember was the vocal star in our Big Band concert featuring the Echoes of Ellington big band, when she sang the Duke Ellington/Ella Fitzgerald songbook to great acclaim.

Since turning professional 2003, Danish-born jazz singer Sara Oschlag has performed all over the UK as well as in Europe and America leading her own bands and also featuring as guest vocalist. Her influences include Shirley Horn, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan and Eddie Jefferson. Sara has been widely thought of as a great interpreter of songs in the jazz tradition and is also hailed as a musician’s singer due to her wonderful way of using dynamics, texture and rhythm. Her honest stage presence, expressive voice and effortless sense of swing have made her a firm favourite with the jazz audience, establishing her as one of the UK’s premier jazz vocalists.

Accompanying Sara is a great band, featuring super saxophonist Alex Garnett with a rhythm section led by top pianist James Pearson, making his first appearance at the Club, with one of the finest double bassists on the scene in Arnie Somogyi and, also making his first appearance at the Club, superb drummer Darren Beckett who has recently returned to the UK after many years working in the New York jazz scene.

TICKETS from £24 available now: Key Theatre Booking Page

Harry Allen (tenor saxophone), Fraser Smith (tenor saxophone), piano/double bass/ drums- to be confirmed

We are really pleased to welcome back to the Club after a gap of many years top USA tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, who has teamed up with British saxophone ace Fraser Smith for a short UK tour. Harry Allen has released over 70 albums as a leader and many more as a sideman throughout his illustrious career and formed a regular part in groups with jazz masters such as Ray Brown, Harry Sweets Edison, Hank Jones, Flip Phillips, Kenny Burrell and Warren Vache, amongst many others. He has also recorded with Tony Bennett, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron and James Taylor to mention a small few and has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe and Asia.

Fraser Smith has spent the last decade and a half establishing himself on the London jazz scene. With a focus on swing and straight ahead jazz, he channels the sound and language of the great saxophonists into his playing. Fraser has developed a cross channel collaboration with a group of excellent musicians on both the London and Paris jazz scenes.

We are very excited to present this fabulous band, led by the brilliant trombonist Mark Nightingale, an award winning giant of British Jazz, who has brought together an all star sextet to the Club.

TICKETS from £24 available now: Key Theatre Booking Page