Gigs
Funk Soul Jazz Blues @ The Butler, Reading | P’Jam

© Martin Breschinski
Thurs 2 March | Funk Soul Jazz Blues @ The Butler, Reading | P’Jam | Annie Parker flutes., Phil Craddock keys, Marianne Windham bass, Jim Wade drums | The Butler 85-91 Chatham St, Reading RG1 7DS | 8:30 – 11pm | £6 card/cash on the door.
Fronted by the exuberant Annie Parker on flute and bass flute, P’Jam is a joyful quartet of musicians who simply enjoy playing jazz together in sometimes slightly unexpected and spontaneous ways. With a repertoire that spans Miles Davis to the Beatles, expect an evening of great music in good company!
Argo Jazz | Reading
Thurs 2 March | Argo Jazz | John Harries sax, Alan Barwise drums, John Miller guitar, Rick Westoby keyboards, Paul Critchfield bass and vocals | Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW | 8pm | Free entry
Martin Pyne Quartet | Bracknell
Fri 3 March | Bracknell Jazz | Martin Pyne Quartet | South Hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7PA | 7:30 pm | Tickets £16.50 (£8 under 18s) here
Martin Pyne’s solo album Spirits Of Absent Dancers was selected in The Guardian as one of the best albums of 2020 by author and critic Richard Williams. His recent quartet albums are also a vehicle for his evocative, melodic compositions, which often draw inspiration from literature. The music ranges from atmospheric ballads and waltzes to African and Arabic grooves, with hints of blues and Americana as well as playful Monkish swing, drawing on a range of influences including Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Louis Sclavis and more. The quartet features Marianne Windham on double bass, guitarist Russell Jarrett, and Philippe Guyard on saxophones. Martin Pyne has frequently performed in Bracknell on percussion and vibes. www.bracknelljazz.co.uk
The Ewen Baird Group | Queens Head, Reading

Ewen Baird
Sat 4 Mar | The Ewen Baird Group | Ewen Baird tenor sax, Kevin Armstrong guitar, Howard King bass, Mike Goff drums | Queens Head 54 Christchurch Rd, RG2 7AZ | 8pm | Free entry
Saxophonist and bandleader Ewen Baird is originally from Malawi but spent his formative years in Edinburgh. He is currently based in Oxford. Amongst others, he has performed with Jim Mullen, Steve Waterman, Geoff Castle, Kenny Baker and Dave Jones.
He has an MMus in Jazz Performance from Birmingham Conservatoire and teaches the saxophone and jazz improvisation around Oxfordshire.
Purdy’s New Music Launch Night | Purdy’s Pop-Up, Henley
Sat 4 Mar | Purdy’s New Music Launch Night | The HAODS studio, 19 New Street, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BP | 8pm, doors 7:30pm | Tickets £21 here
Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Debby Bracknell
Fri 10 Mar | Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Debby Bracknell vocals, TBC saxophone, Nick Hill piano, Howard King bass, Mike Goff drums | Goring Community Centre, The Old School, Station Rd, RG8 9HB | 7:30 pm | £10 | Please book early to avoid disappointment – tickets here, from Inspiration Goring or cash or card on the door.
Winston Byrd Quintet | Crowmarsh Jazz, Wallingford
Sat 11 March | Winston Byrd Quintet | Winston Byrd trumpet, Nick Blake sax, Maff Potts piano, Raph Mizraki double bass, Charlie Stratford drums | Crowmarsh Jazz Club, Crowmarsh Crowmarsh Village Hall, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, OX10 8ED | Bar available | Wallingford | doors 6.45pm, show 7.30pm | £15: https://crowmarshjazz.co.uk
Live Jazz, Blues and more | Reading
Tues 14 Mar | Live Jazz, Blues and more | Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW | Music from 7:30 | Free entry, donations welcomed
Every other Tuesday |14, 28 Mar | 11, 25 Apr | 9, 23 May | 6, 20 Jun
Live music. Free entry. Excellent food and drink. And a lot more space than the late-lamented Global Cafe. Who could ask for more?
The Fisherman’s Cottage is reached by an easy stroll along the Kennet from the Queen’s Road car park – park for just £3.60 for the evening. More parking information here
Musicians: if you’d like to take part, call one of the following and we’ll do our best to accommodate you: Ian Germer 07866 251216 / Jim Wade 07788 666608
Jazz at Progress | Zoë Gilby Quartet
Fri 17 Mar | Zoë Gilby Quartet | Progress Theatre, The Mount, Reading RG1 5HL | 7: 30pm | £18.00 (£16.00 concessions, £9 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee | Details
Vivace Chorus and All Stars Jazz Band | Guildford
Sat 18 Mar | Vivace Chorus (choir) | Johanna Forbes L’Estrange (soloist) | All Stars Jazz Band | Saxes Alan Barnes, Colin Skinner, Robert Fowler, Karen Sharp | Trumpets Steve Waterman, Freddie Gavita | Trombones Ian Bateman, Paul Sykes | Rhythm Rob Barron (piano) Marianne Windham (bass) Clark Tracey (drums) | G Live London Road, Guildford GU1 2AA | 7.30pm | Tickets from £24 available here
The Supertonics Big Band, plus guest vocalist Miss Sarah Jane Eveleigh | Bracknell
Sat 18 Mar | The Supertonics Big Band, plus guest vocalist Miss Sarah Jane Eveleigh | Carnation Hall, Winkfield Row, Bracknell RG42 7PA | 7.30pm | Popular 17-piece Swing Band | Tickets £12, reserve in advance via davidbennett470@gmail.com or 07739-314261 or www.thesupertonics.co.uk
Ken Hoon | Sunnyside Jazz Club, Benson
Fri 24 Mar | Ben Vize (Tenor Sax), Jake Burgess (Tenor Sax), Lyle Barton (Piano), Matt Gedrych (Double Bass), and Jack Yardley (Drums) | Benson Parish Hall, OX10 6LZ | 7:30-10pm | £16.00 | Tickets available online
Contemporary jazz-fusion band offering heavy rhythmical interplay and soaring melodies, bound together by fierce improvisation
Dinner Jazz at The Angel | P’Jam
© Martin Breschinski
Sat 25 Mar | P’Jam | Annie Parker flutes, Phil Craddock piano, Marianne Windham bass, Jim Wade drums | The Angel, Woolhampton RG7 5RT | Music from 8pm | Free entry. Call 0118 971 3827 to make dinner reservations
Fronted by the exuberant Annie Parker on flute and bass flute, P’Jam is a joyful quartet of musicians who simply enjoy playing jazz together in sometimes slightly unexpected and spontaneous ways. With a repertoire that spans Miles Davis to the Beatles, expect an evening of great music in good company!
Tom Pilling | Five Horseshoes, Maidensgrove

Tom Pilling
Fri 31 Mar | Tom Pilling, piano and vocals, Hugh Turner guitar, Raph Mizraki acoustic bass | Five Horseshoes Maidensgrove nr Henley-on-Thames RG9 6EX | 8pm start | £16 music cover | Reservations 01491 64128. Diners only, you must book.
Continuing the Five Horseshoes monthly jazz evenings. Fab food, full menu and bar, superb atmosphere, great jazz artists. Usually every last Friday of the month