Gigs
Bracknell jazz @ South Hill Park | “Satori”
Fri 2 May | Josephine Davies – sax, James Maddren – drums, Alcyona Mick – piano, Dave Whitford – bass, | South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell, RG12 7PA RG1 7DS | 7:30 –9:45 pm | £8.50 -£18.00 Box Office 01344 484123
Rick Westoby Jazz Trio | The Lyndhurst, Reading
Fri 2 May | Jazz trio play popular standards | Rick Westoby sax, Richie
Fraser, piano, Marc Worsfold, bass | The Lyndhurst Ale House, 88 Queens
Rd, Reading RG1 4DG | Music 8 – 10.30pm | Free Admission
Jazz@PJC – Pangbourne Jazz Club
Sun 3 May | Special Guest Simon Bates, Sax with the Terry Hutchins Qrt featuring: Terry Hutchins guitar, Jim Pollard, piano, Andy Crowdy, double bass and Brian Greene drums | Pangbourne WMC, 1 Whitchurch Rd, Pangbourne, Reading RG8 7BS | 7:30 – 10pm | £12.50 card/cash on the door, or online in advance. Https://pangbournejazzclub.com
Hot Biscuits Jazz Broadcast
A live session of Jazz next week as I take you to the Railway Hotel , Stockport courtesy of Ian Brownto hear an early recording of the Mike Farmer Quartet. This features Bob Barlow Trpt, Edward Toots Kainyek Alto sax, Alan Standing Gtr, Ed Harrison Bass & Neil Reading Drums. A night of glorious bebop.
Also featured on the show is 1919 Rag from the KEN COLYER SOCIETY, a live Miles Davisperformance of the theme. Toby Brazier Music presents Billies Bounce from his new CD. One in memory of the great Roy Ayers, everyone loves the sunshine. Thăng Long Jazz with Boplicity. Finishing with Michel Petrucciani Jazz Trio. Please like, share and be certain to listen at www.mixcloud.com/stevebewick/
The Pete Allen House Band | Newbury
Jazz at The Four Horseshoes | Sherfield-on-Loddon
Tues 6 May | Equinox Quintet with Sarah Jane Eveleigh | Sarah Jane Eveleigh vocals, Peter Bingham tenor sax, John Clarke guitar, Derek Alford bass, and Paul Kaluza drums | Four Horseshoes pub, Sherfield-on-Loddon RG27 0EX | 8pm to 10.30pm | Four Horseshoes | No charge for admission (donations are welcomed)
Graeme Hewitt’s High Society Jazz Band | Theale
Guildford Jazz at the Boiler Room | BEAT: Jazz Funk Double Bill – Motet & The Joe Garland Band
Fri 9 May | Guildford Jazz at the Boiler Room | BEAT: Jazz Funk Double Bill – Motet & The Joe Garland Band | Stoke Fields, Guildford GU1 4LS | Jazz from 19.45 | Tickets £18, (Discounts for Members and Students) +£1 booking fee from here
MOTET delivers a danceable groove and drummer, Seb Guard, is the source of the band’s creative arrangements, with Robin Clayton (bass), David Kirby (keys) and Andy Jackson (guitar). MOTET’s horn section has Sam Parker (saxes), Tom Parsons (trumpet) and Stuart Goodburne (trombone). The band is joined by the vocalist, Debby Bracknell who has sung for artists such as Mariah Carey and Shakatak. The Joe Garland Band is group of young musicians from London who perform boisterous, groovy jazz funk and fusion in the vein of the Yellowjackets, John Scofield and Tribal Tech.
The Supertonics Big Band, plus guest vocalist Mr Jeremy Lassen | Bracknell
Sat 10 May | The Supertonics Big Band, plus guest vocalist Mr Jeremy Lassen | Popular 17-piece Swing Band | Carnation Hall, Winkfield Row, Bracknell RG42 7PA | 7.30pm | Tickets £15, reserve in advance via davidbennett470@gmail.com or 07739-314261 or www.thesupertonics.co.uk
Wed 14 May 2025 |Guildford Jazz at the Cricket Pavilion | Andy Baker & Mark Lockheart Quintet | Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP | Jazz from 19.15 to 22.15 | Tickets £20 (Discounts for Members and Students) from here
An all-star line-up featuring a rare UK appearance from trombonist Andy Baker, and tenor saxophonist Mark Lockheart, a key figure in the development of British jazz, well known to jazz audiences from his performances with Loose Tubes and Polar Bear. In addition to a full-time performing career. Andy Baker is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. With Andrea Vicari on piano, Matt Fishwick on drums and Marianne Windham on bass.
Jazz at Progress | A Portrait of Bill Evans
Fri 16 May | A Portrait of Bill Evans | John Horler piano, Alec Dankworth bass, Ronnie Jones drums | Progress Theatre, The Mount, Christchurch Road, Reading, RG1 5HL | Doors 7pm, Music 7:30pm | £19.00 (£17.00 concessions, £10 under 16) | Information
Deidre Cartwright | Woodley
Sat 17 May |The amazing multi award winning guitarist Deidre Cartwright , Martin Pickett piano, Steve Kershaw double bass, Mike Goff drums, | Alan Cornish Theatre at The Oakwood Centre Woodley | Doors 7pm Band 7:45pm | Early Bird £13:50/£15:50 Full Price | Tickets
Keith Fairbairn’s Groove Collective featuring Vasilis Xenopoulos | Crowmarsh Gifford,
Sat 17 May | Crowmarsh Village Hall, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, OX10 8ED. Plenty of free parking is available | There is a bar and pizza available, provided by local pub The Queens Head |Doors 6.45pm, show 7.30pm | £18 standard ticket price. Tickets are reduced to £5 for anyone living or working in adult social care and anyone in receipt of benefits from DWP – please get in touch for details: email fleur@fleurstevensonjazz.co.uk or phone (07795974223)
“Keith Fairbairn’s Groove Collective featuring Vasilis Xenopoulos” is a band made up some of the best jazz and session nusicians in the country and we play a groove based mix of melodic funky Latin jazz by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Grover Washington, Ray Barretto and many others. The mixture of virtuosic jazz soloists with a very groove heavy rhythm section is the perfect recipe for a great concert. Watch here
One-day adult workshop: Jazz Improvisation Essentials | Rotherfield Greys
Sat 17 May | Andy Crowdy’s Jazz Improvisation Essentials Day | For any instrument, for those wishing to gain confidence at improvising | Rotherfield Greys Village Hall (near Henley) RG9 4QQ | 10am – 4pm | £100 | Full details, booking forms and contact here or email organisers Liz Jones liz@ejahenley.co.uk or Carol Crowdy carol@ace-lpm.com
One-day adult workshop: Jazz Guitar Essentials | Rotherfield Greys
Sun 18 May | Denny Ilett’s Jazz Guitar Essentials Day | Covering many different jazz guitar techniques. | Rotherfield Greys Village Hall (near Henley) RG9 4QQ | 10am – 4pm | £100 | Full details, booking forms and contact here or email organisers Liz Jones liz@ejahenley.co.uk or Carol Crowdy carol@ace-lpm.com
Jazz at the Guildford Institute | Nicolas Meier and Alex Hutton
Mon 19 May | Jazz at the Guildford Institute | Nicolas Meier and Alex Hutton | Ward St, North St, Guildford GU1 4LH | Lunch from 12 to 2pm and Jazz to 3pm | Tickets £12 (Discounts for Members and Students) from here
May’s lunchtime concert features guitarist Nicolas Meier and pianist Alex Hutton. Drawing from a love of Turkish, Middle Eastern music, Flamenco, Tango mixed with jazz— Nicolas’ versatility and musical fluency are well known. Pianist Alex Hutton is a fine composer, with an ear for folk and classical influences, he is a mainstay of the London Jazz scene. With Marianne Windham on bass.
New venue! Jazz at The Swan: Andy Kennedy Quartet | Three Mile Cross
Wed 21 May | Jazz at The Swan: Andy Kennedy Quartet | Andy Kennedy sax, Tony Imbierski piano, Brian Throup bass, Mike Goff drums | The Swan, Basingstoke Road,Three Mile Cross RG7 1AT | 8 –10pm | Come early for Happy Hour until 7:30pm | Free entry
The Andy Kennedy Quartet is a contemporary jazz group appearing regularly at gigs in Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The band create their own modern interpretations of jazz standards as well as presenting original compositions. They play modern and contemporary jazz standards – from artists such as Herbie Hancock, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker and Miles Davis – in an energetic and adventurous style. You can expect to hear a fresh take on familiar jazz tunes. Photo by Steve Foster – @jazzshot on Instagram
The Nicolas Meier World Group | Guildford Jazz at the Cricket Pavilion
Thu 29 May |The Nicolas Meier World Group | Guildford Jazz at the Cricket Pavilion | Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP | Jazz from 19.15 to 22.15 | Tickets £20 (Discounts for Members and Students) from here
The World Group has a unique sound, incorporating Middle Eastern, Turkish, jazz and fusion influences. Meier’s career has included three years of touring with Jeff Beck and subsequent recordings with bassist Jimmy Haslip and Vinnie Collaiuta. The World Group offers a range of colours – Nick plays various types of guitars and the group benefits from Richard Jones’ electric violin and the keyboard wizardry of Alex Hutton. With bassist, Tom Mason and the talented percussionist, Demi Garcia-Sabat.
