Saturday, 4 October 2008 – THE TOMMY WHITTLE ALLSTARS (aka PIZZA EXPRESS ALLSTARS) with BARBARA JAY

Tenor-saxophonist Tommy Whittle, the Dorian Grey of jazz, returns to Pinner with his customary all-star group. With Barbara Jay handling the vocals, the other firm favourites in the line-up include pocket dynamo Enrico Tomasso on trumpet, the ever-dashing Julian Marc Stringle, clarinet, and versatile pianist Martin Litton. With trombonist Chris Gower, bassist Len Skeat and drummer Bobby Worth on hand too, great jazz is assured.

Saturday, 8 November 2008 – RAY GELATO SWING QUINTET

We’ve been trying to pin down tenor-saxophonist Ray Gelato for years. He’s usually touring internationally with his lively Giants group, playing for the stars, and charming the birds off the tress with his Prima-style vocals. For his first Pinner appearance, Ray promises us a solid session of straight-ahead, swinging jazz with his quintet. Look out for his lush tenor sound, evoking the likes of Illinois Jacquet and Arnett Cobb. Of course, there may just be the odd Gelato vocal or two… and look out, too, for trombonist Andy Rogers, Gunther Kurmeyer on piano and Jamie Cullum’s drummer Seb De Krom.

Saturday, 6 December 2008 -  ANDY COOPER TOP EIGHT

Is smile-on-your-face Dixieland to your taste? Then look no further than Andy Cooper’s Top Eight. For once, the band’s name fits its personnel. Andy was clarinettist with Kenny Ball for years and is a feisty player who knows how to entertain. With trumpeter Mike Cotton, trombonist Ian Bateman and the ever-youthful John Barnes juggling his saxophones, this is a roaring band that will set you up for Christmas and probably, New Year as well.  Pianist (and sometime saxophonist) Paschale Michaux joins us from the Continent and the keen-eyed will spot modernist Gareth Williams playing guitar. A treat in store.

Saturday, 10 January 2009 – SCOTT HAMILTON – ALAN BARNES QUINTET

What better way to start the New Year than with two of our most popular guests, namely the saxophonists Scott Hamilton and Alan Barnes? Regular visitors both, this is the first time they have appeared side-by-side for us, bringing to life a partnership that was outstandingly successful on record. Tasteful, profound and engagingly direct, theirs is music to savour, much aided by the rhythmic A-Team of pianist John Pearce, bassist Dave Green and Steve Brown on drums, none of whom needs a sat-nav to find their way to Pinner. Welcome back, one and all.

Saturday, 7 February 2009 – BOB WILBER QUARTET

Now, here’s a Pinner coup! Soprano saxophonist and clarinettist Bob Wilber is a true giant of jazz, an American who shares his time between homes in the US and in the Cotswolds. Bob was the great Sidney Bechet’s only protégé and pupil and has built a formidable record as a soloist and bandleader over the past half-century. He came here first with Eddie Condon in 1957 and has remained a favourite with British audiences ever since.  For a number of years he co-led Soprano Summit with fellow clarinettist Kenny Davern, earning applause at European festivals and recording a series of brilliant albums. He was also responsible for the soundtrack music for ‘The Cotton Club’, the 1984 movie that starred Richard Gere.

For this rare concert appearance, Bob is accompanied by a choice rhythm section with Richard Busiakiewicz, a swinging pianist if there was one, plus the ever-welcome Dave Green on bass and Bobby Worth, always tasty on the drums.

Saturday, 7 March 2009 – MATT WATES SEXTET

Alto-saxophonist Matt Wates seems to have achieved the impossible. He has kept his sextet intact for at least the past decade, bucking the trend, creating a superb repertoire of original material and producing a fine series of CD albums. He has a sure-footed style of his own, and knows how to write pieces that will suit his sextet companions. Trumpeter Martin Shaw, now appearing with the BBC Big Band, has been with Matt from day one, as has recording impresario and festival director Malcolm Creese who just happens to be a world-class bassist. Newcomer Mark Hanslip on tenor-saxophone, mercurial pianist Leon Greening and drummer Matt Home complete this exciting mainstream group’s personnel.

Saturday, 4 April 2009 – DAVE NEWTON TRIO

If ever there was a case of responding to public demand, this is it! Many of you have been pressing us to invite Dave and the trio to appear at Pinner once again. For years Dave was fully occupied as accompanist to singer Stacey Kent; now he’s back on the freelance trail so here he is. Authoritative, intensely creative and harmonically canny, Dave is consistently rated as top of the tree by punters and critics alike. Recently lauded for his work with US tenor star Johnny Griffin at Ronnie Scott’s, Dave is accompanied tonight by his regular companions, bassist Andy Cleyndert and yet again, smiling Steve Brown at the drums.

Programme notes by Peter Vacher – July 2008

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