Jazz at Progress


Since 2012, Jazz in Reading has been programming fantastic monthly jazz gigs - featuring leading British and international jazz stars - at Progress Theatre here in Reading under the Jazz at Progress brand.

We feature some of the finest soloists, singers and band leaders in the UK and beyond who are supported by a bevy of talented musicians. Expect some great evenings of live modern jazz, right here on your doorstep.

Scroll down for further details of these irresistible gigs.

Check out our new Gallery page for images from some of the great gigs we've put on at Progress.


Jazz at Progress | Matt Skelton presents The Blackhawk Quintet: Celebrating Shelly Manne | Tickets on sale soon

Friday 3 July 2026|  Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. James Davison trumpet Mark Crooks tenor saxophone Leon Greening piano Conor Chaplin bass Matt Skelton drums This will be a night of ‘cool jazz’ and a tribute to multi-poll winning drummer, Shelly Manne, […]

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Jazz at Progress | Derek Nash with the PJC Quartet | Tickets on sale soon

Friday 5 June 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. Photo by Tatianta_Gorilovsky Derek Nash saxophones Terry Hutchins guitar Jim Pollard piano Stuart Barker bass Brian Greene drums British Jazz Award-winning Derek Nash – bandleader, composer, arranger, record producer and engineer – […]

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Jazz at Progress | Jazz Samba! | Tickets on sale soon

Friday 1 May 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. Nigel Price guitar, Mark Crooks tenor sax, John Cervantes piano, Marianne Windham bass, Demi Garcia, percussion “Their love of music and samba oozed from every note played, and the final encore & […]

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Jazz at Progress | Small Blue | Buy tickets

Friday 27 March 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. Martin Pyne  drums / composition David Beebee  piano Marianne Windham  double bass Percussionist, composer and improviser Martin Pyne, when not working with contemporary dance or as a silent film accompanist, performs solo […]

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Jazz at Progress | Ben Crosland’s All Star Band Play the Ray Davies Song Book | Buy tickets

Friday 20 February 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. From the left: Steve Lodder keyboards | Theo Travis reeds | Buster Birch drums  | Ben Crosland bass | John Etheridge guitar Those of us who were growing up at the time […]

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Jazz at Progress | Josephine Davies’ Satori Quartet | Buy tickets

Friday 30 January 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. Satori – Live @ The Crypt London 24.01.25 Josephine Davies tenor & soprano saxophones Alcyona Mick piano Dave Whitford bass Jay Davies drums Winner of the 2019 Parliamentary Award ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of […]

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Jazz at Progress | Janette Mason – ReWired | Buy tickets

Friday 5 December 2025 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. Janette Mason keyboard Tom Mason bass Eric Ford drums Janette Mason – ReWired ‘A substantial triumph for Janette Mason as she breathes new jazz life into this well chosen selection of tunes. […]

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Jazz at Progress | The Freddie Gavita Quartet in Homage to Freddie Hubbard | Buy tickets

Friday 7 November 2025 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee. Freddie Gavita trumpet Tom Cawley keys Daniel Casimir bass Mez Clough drums The Freddie Gavita Quartet in Homage to Freddie Hubbard Quite a line up to perform music of one of the […]

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Progress Theatre

progress theatre - jazz in reading

www.progresstheatre.co.uk | The Mount, Off Christchurch Road, Reading RG1 5HL

Bar at all gigs from 7:00pm. Drinks may be taken into the auditorium during performances.

progress theatre - jazz in reading

Progress Theatre is a self-governing, self-funding theatre group founded in 1947, maintained by volunteers. The Theatre itself is an intimate 95-seat venue. It is the oldest operating theatre in Reading and has a fully licensed bar. There is wheelchair access to the Theatre with a space for disabled patrons. In 2011 Sir Kenneth Branagh became the Patron to Progress Theatre.