Coming up
2020
Monday, January 6th, Beaver Inn, Appledore: Xhosa Cole Quartet
Full details not in yet but just a heads up: this is one not to be missed. Tenor player Xhosa won the 2019 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year and has already reached a position where the addition of qualifications like "for one so young" are redundant and irrelevant. The band will also feature the prodigiously talented Jay Phelps on trumpet and, I believe (and hope), the amazing Birmingham-based drummer Jim Bashford.
OK, here's the full preview. Saxophonist Ian Ballamy, one of the judges of the BBC competition, commented that ‘Xhosa’s performance was so heartfelt, sincere and communicative. It’s easy to see he has such a deep and genuine love of the tradition.’
With a repertoire inspired by the music of legendary jazz musicians such as Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown and John Coltrane, the quartet embodies the spirit of the bebop and hard bop greats. The line-up also includes Xhosa’s fellow 2018 finalist, bassist James Owston, powerhouse drummer Jim Bashford and Canadian trumpet virtuoso Jay Phelps, who has been compared by some critics to American trumpet stars such as Wynton Marsalis and Terence Blanchard for his virtuosity and sense of the jazz tradition.
So, as stated, one not to be missed.
Monday, February 3rd, Beaver Inn, Appledore: Derek Nash with the Martin Dale Quartet
A leading member of Jools Holland’s big band is the distinguished guest of saxophonist Martin Dale and his quartet. Rated as one of the finest saxophonists in the UK, the guest is Derek Nash, a musician who is probably one of the busiest in the country. Apart from performing regularly with Jools he accompanies many artists such as Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney and Gregory Porter. Derek is a prolific composer too for TV and radio as well as various jazz ensembles and he has received several awards for his musicianship.
http://www.dereknash.com/
http://www.martindalesax.co.uk/ensembles.htm
