“. . . an excellent album, one of the
best that I’ve heard this year.”
- The JazzMann
"Julian Costello uses musicians of high calibre, and adds his virtuoso lines.”
- Something Else
Tickets are also available in person from 10th October from
Wivenhoe Bookshop (cash only, please)
Sunday, 3rd November
Contemporary Jazz/World Music:
Vertigo
Saxophonist Julian Costello’s latest group, Vertigo, combines contemporary jazz with World Music, seamlessly blending the two, while also adding elements from swing and Latin, to popular music.
As well as performing original material from their acclaimed eponymous debut album, Vertigo also plays standards, plus songs by artists like Sarah Vaughan, Doris Day - and even Julian's very early inspiration, Jimi Hendrix!
A musician with a good ear for melody, Julian's compositions are rich in harmonic, textural and rhythmic ideas, which gives his chosen musicians plenty of stimulating material to work with. However, his penchant for melody remains.
Space is integral to the music, and Natalie Rozario’s wonderful cello playing, guitarist Stefanos Tsourelis’ ability to colour and shade the music, and drummer Sophie Alloway’s combination of rhythmic propulsion with effective use of toms and cymbals, bring a new backdrop that seemingly allows Julian to pace and phrase his solos in a new light.
JULIAN COSTELLO
“Costello has his own strong and distinctive musical personality allied to a creative imagination.” - UK Jazz News
Citing John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, John Surman, and Jan Garbarek as his major influences, in his early teens, Julian started playing the drums in rock bands. Then he heard Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix and was smitten. For him, the music was full of expression, colour, energy, passion.
NATALIE ROZARIO
“. . . it’s Rozario’s deep, rich bowing followed by a pizzicato passage that establishes the airy groove.” - The JazzMann
Natalie has performed with guitarist and composer Vitor Pereira’s Electric Chamber group, Rory Simmons’ Fringe Magnetic, Swedish singer/songwriter Emilia Martensson, Partikel, and trumpeter Paul Higgs’ Pavane.
STEFANOS TSOURELIS
“. . . an excellent display of controlled dynamics and the intelligent use of guitar technology.” - The JazzMann
Citing Jim Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Jeff Beck, and Wes Montgomery as major influences, Stefanos is well known for his versatility and ability to move across styles and genres on both the guitar and oud.
SOPHIE ALLOWAY
“Alloway’s drum intro is pure genius and sets the music up perfectly for what is to follow.” - JazzViews
In-demand drummer Sophie has recorded/performed with a wide variety of artists from the world of popular music, including David McAlmont, Roots Manuva, Clean Bandit, Kenny Thomas, Hazel O'Connor, Tony Allen, and Wild Card.
In the jazz/fusion world, she has worked with a diverse rangew of artists, including Jason Rebello, Harvie S., Chihiro Yamanaka, Paul Carmichael, Dill Katz, Michael Mondesir, John Critchinson, Mornington Lockett, and George Melly.
Julian Costello (Saxophones) Natalie Rozario (Cello/Vocals) Stefanos Tsourelis (Oud/Guitar) Sophie Alloway (Drums)
Click the image to listen to Desifinado
Click the image to listen to O Pato
Tickets are also available in person from 15th November from
Wivenhoe Bookshop (cash only, please)
Sunday, 15th December
Braziliance!:
Jazz Samba
Celebrating the classic groundbreaking 1962 Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd album
Featuring a quartet of top-flight UK musicians, Jazz Samba spotlights Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd’s groundbreaking 1962 recording.
The first-ever fully fledged bossa nova album recorded by American jazz musicians, Jazz Samba is a classic LP from the era and features in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die!
A huge commercial success, Jazz Samba topped the LP chart upon its release and signalled the beginning of the bossa nova craze in America.
Notable tunes included the hit Desafinado and One Note Samba, both composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Come and soak up the laidback vibe!
MARK CROOKS
". . . a performance that strikes a balance between muscle and lyricism." - Sunday Times
A lyrical and passionate saxophonist in the Stan Getz mould, Mark is a member of the Back To Basie Orchestra, and the John Wilson Orchestra. He has released three highly-acclaimed albums to date (including Stan [Getz], with pianist Chris Ingham), and has also worked on various projects, including Salud! Tom Jobim with vocalist Georgia Mancio, and Jazz At The Movies featuring Joanna Eden.
NIGEL PRICE
"Nigel Price is probably the most dynamic and gifted guitarist on the British jazz scene today." - All About Jazz
Citing his early influences as Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass,
John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Nigel has played on more than 50 albums, including five as leader.
He spent 10 years with Acid Jazz outfit The Filthy Six, and was a member of the James Taylor Quartet for three years. In 2010 he won a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Jazz Ensemble, and a British Jazz Award in 2016 for Best Guitarist.
MARIANNE WINDHAM
“A valuable player with Ray Brown-like musicality and drive." - Jazzwise
Founder of the hugely successful Guildford Jazz, Marianne is a highly respected and in-demand player. She only took up playing professionally at the start of 2011, leaving behind a career as director of a software consultancy to pursue a passion for playing the bass.
DEMI GARCÍA SABAT
"The brilliant Sabat makes it all look so easy, which it most certainly isn't!" - All That Jazz
Demi is no stranger to Wivenhoe audiences, having appeared here with flamenco dancer Lourdes Fernández, and guitarist José Almarcha. He has a wealth of experience in Flamenco, Jazz, Arabic, Latin, Iberian Folk, and pop music.
Originally from Barcelona but now based in London, Demi studied at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music and the London College of Music. He is an exceptionally versatile percussionist who also performs with various jazz, Latin, and Arabic groups and artists around the UK and Europe, such as guitarist Nicolas Meier's World Group and cellist Shirley Smart.
Mark Crooks (Tenor Saxophone) Nigel Price (Guitar) Marianne Windham (Double Bass) Demi García Sabat (Drums)
“This melodic gem of an album is highly recommended.”
- The JazzMann
“Precise ebullience and relaxed funkiness.”
- The Guardian
Tickets are also available in person from 17th December from
Wivenhoe Bookshop (cash only, please)
Sunday, 12th January
World Music par excellence:
Philip Clouts Quartet
The dancing exuberance of South African Township music, the convivial groove of gospel-influenced soul jazz, the joyful sway of Cuban dance music, the bluesy melodies of Middle Eastern praise songs, and so much more all come together in pianist Philip Clouts' superbly accomplished quartet.
Philip swings with rhythmic deliberation and a crystal clear sense of phrasing, while his strong, detailed, accessible, and appealing compositions result in a quartet whose playing is brimming with tremendous imagination, vim, and vigour. The soul jazz, funk, and World Music blend works a treat, and the music's overall upbeat nature makes it all the more enjoyable.
The quartet has released three critically acclaimed CDs. Sennen Cove blends Dorset’s coastline with Africa Latina flavours, while The Hour of Pearl features lilting calypso to driving Latin American grooves, hypnotic swirling melodies, klezmer, township rhythms and gospel.
The quartet's latest release, Umoya (from the Zulu word for life force), sees Philip's African inspirations extend beyond Cape jazz to Gnawa music, Afrobeat, pan-European folksong, soul jazz and even Drum‘n’Bass. "A life-affirming, musically accomplished album,” commented reviewer Adrian Pallant, while UK Vibe called it “a revelatory experience", and JazzFM said it had "a very infectious feelgood quality."
PHILIP CLOUTS
Born in Cape Town, the music of Philip's homeland has stayed with him as he has continued on a voyage of discovery that has led him across all five continents, soaking up Caribbean calypso and the soulful strains of the Indian subcontinent while honouring and learning from jazz heroes including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd.
A key member of the London-based World Jazz ensemble
Zubop and its offshoot, ZubopGambia, Philip collaborated with BBC World Music award-winner Juldeh Camara to create a solid body of work with African roots.Following a move to Dorset in 2006, Philip responded to his new surroundings with impressionistic compositions that complement and chime with his World Music interests.
SAMUEL EAGLES
Samuel studied at Trinity Music College under renowned musicians including Jason Yarde, Mark Lockheart, and Jean Toussaint, the latter continuing to mentor him for a further two years after graduation. He has also participated in Serious Music's flagship 'Take Five' scheme.
Samuel currently leads his own quartet, whose critically acclaimed debut album, Next Beginning, was released on the F-IRE label and launched as part of the London Jazz Festival. His sextet project, Spirit, released Ask Seek Knock on the Whirlwind label with longtime supporter Toussaint as a guest.
MARCUS PENROSE
Marcus is also a composer and teacher. As well as composing and performing with his trio, Aurelius, he is involved in many other projects, collaborations and bands, including Trio Manouche, Tim Kliphuis, and The Bonfire Band.
TED CARRASCO
Ted has performed with Gilad Atzmon and Alan Barnes at many prestigious London venues, including Ronnie Scott's, Pizza Express Soho, the 606 Club, and the Vortex. He also plays with soul music titans The Baker Brothers.
Philip Clouts (Keyboard) Samuel Eagles (Saxophones) Marcus Penrose (Double Bass) Ted Carrasco (Drums)