Up & Coming
Sunday 7 February - Caroline Taylor Quintet Sunday 14 February - Tim Garland Band Sunday 21 February - Jonathon Gee Trio Sunday 28 February - Gary Crosby's Nu Troop EVERY SUNDAY 8.30 PM
Sunday 7 February - Caroline Taylor Quintet - £6/£5.50
Denys Baptiste (tenor), Neil Yates (trumpet), Dave Frankel (piano), Simon Thorpe (bass), Caroline Taylor (drums).
Talented American lady, resident in London, put this band together three years ago. Last year her band played at the Albert to great acclaim. She’s just released a brilliant CD For The Moment. The style is tight, straight-ahead Jazz, that is exemplified by the superb front line togetherness of trumpet and sax. The compositions are all Caroline’s, well crafted, accessible and obviously from the American Jazz tradition she was brought up on. In performance they range from beautiful to raunchy, all played with great verve and excitement. Check it out tonight - it’ll be worth the effort.Tim Garland (saxes), Gerard Presencer (trumpet/flugelhorn), Jason Rebello (piano), Alec Dankworth (bass), Winston Clifford (drums).
Sunday 14 February - Tim Garland Quintet - £8.50/£8
All-star line-up for this cracking prospect tonight. Tim’s reputation is now up with the top stars of British Jazz. His body of work has been consistently top drawer and combined with his teaching abilities, he is looked on as one of the main sax players of his generation, both by his peers and with audiences. His group speaks for itself, Gerard has matured from boy wonder status to a young man fulfilling his potential with stunning brilliance. Jason is now playing with full fluency, after his break a couple of years ago, a great stylist full of invention, producing a unique sound that is distinct to him. Add to these guys, the great bass of Alec Dankworth back from a year living and working in New York, and you have, without doubt a “must not miss” night.Jonathon Gee (piano), Steve Rose ( bass), Winston Clifford (drums)
Sunday 21 February - Jonathon Gee Trio - £5/£4.50
Not many piano trios play the Albert, this is because I feel that in order to hold audience attention for two one-hour sets, takes a pianist of outstanding quality, tight rhythm section and most importantly material of the highest calibre, containing interesting changes of pace, depth and excitement. That said, Jonathon has brought his trio here six or seven times over the years, indeed his group was the first piano trio I booked. He’s so good, it was his playing that gave confidence to do so. With a huge repertoire and a CV that reads like a who’s who of jazz, tonight you will hear something wonderful - guaranteed.
Denys Baptiste (saxes), Tony Kofi (saxes), Neil Yates (trumpet), Robert Fordjour (piano), Gary Crosby (bass), Trevor Watkiss (drums).
Sunday 28 February - Gary Crosby's Nu Troop - £7.50/£7
Stunning group of young talented musicians, led by the mature bass maestro Gary Crosby. This band is becoming a form of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, in the way the Gary has used the best young musicians over the years. Many have gone on to have their own bands. The group has received many awards in recent times, but their albums and more importantly live performances, have all earned rave reviews. This will be the third visit to the Albert, and you are advised to book early as they’ve stormed the place previously. The front line play tight melodic and harmonic. Strong bop jazz that kicks like hell. So miss it or be damned, when people tell you how good it was!Back to Home Page