Peterborough Jazz Club returns for new season

The band draws its inspiration from the iconic jazz of the 1950s and 60s, featuring reworkings of music from legends of the hard-bop era including Bobby Timmons, Lee Morgan and Harold Mabern.

Formed in 2022 by the brilliant trumpeter Steve Fishwick and top pianist Leon Greening, it is is augmented for this concert by the superb saxophonist, Alex Garnett.

The band's repertoire also features some original compositions from the pen of Steve and Leon.

Steve Fishwick is widely considered to be one of the finest trumpet players ever to come from the UK, and is rapidly gaining a global reputation thanks to his flawless technique and beautifully flowing, while Leon Greening is an incredibly exciting pianist, full of wonderful ideas with superb technique.

Peterborough Jazz Club: Alex Clarke Quintet featuring Mark Armstrong

Sun 11 October

Award winning young saxophonist, Alex Clarke, is making her first appearance at the Club leading her own quintet, which also features the superb trumpet of Mark Armstrong.

Alex is rapidly becoming one of the most in demand and versatile saxophonists to emerge on the British jazz scene. Praised for her extensive repertoire list and intelligent ear for harmony, she brings an open-minded, intuitive approach that sounds authentic in a variety of musical settings from New Orleans to bebop.

Alex’s sound is steeped in the tradition of jazz; her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in her swinging, melodic approach which is inspired by the likes of Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley. She was winner of the ‘Rising Star’ category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and was finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020.

Peterborough Jazz Club: Greg Abate Quintet featuring Nat Steele

21 November

Back to the Club after a gap of nine years is the great USA saxophonist and flautist Greg Abate, always a great favourite for his emotionally charged, technically brilliant and expressive playing.

Greg’s career spans over 40 years, starting as lead altoist with Ray Charles and Artie Shaw bands and then developing his solo career in the States. Steeped in bebop, but always melodic, he recorded his first album live at Birdland, New York in 1991 and subsequently has released 18 CDs under his own name, including two albums recorded with the great Phil Woods.

Joining Greg for this concert will be the brilliant vibraphonist Nat Steele and a great rhythm section with top pianist Leon Greening and the very highly rated duo of Arnie Somogyi on double bass and drummer Matt Skelton.

Peterborough Jazz Club: Sara Oschlag Quintet

22 December

The Christmas Concert features the superb vocalist Sara Oschlag – the vocal star in the Club’s Big Band concert featuring the Echoes of Ellington big band, when she sang the Duke Ellington/Ella Fitzgerald songbook to great acclaim.

Since turning professional 2003, Danish-born Sara has performed all over the UK as well as in Europe and America leading her own bands and also featuring as guest vocalist. Her influences include Shirley Horn, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan and Eddie Jefferson. Accompanying Sara is a great band, featuring super saxophonist Alex Garnett with a rhythm section led by top pianist James Pearson, making his first appearance at the Club, with one of the finest double bassists on the scene in Arnie Somogyi and, also making his first appearance at the Club, superb drummer Darren Beckett who has recently returned to the UK after many years working in the New York jazz scene.

Peterborough Jazz Club: Harry Allen & Fraser Smith Quintet

17 January

Returning to the Club after a gap of many years top is USA tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, who has teamed up with British saxophone ace Fraser Smith for a short UK tour.

Harry Allen has released over 70 albums as a leader and many more as a sideman throughout his illustrious career and formed a regular part in groups with jazz masters such as Ray Brown, Harry Sweets Edison, Hank Jones, Flip Phillips, Kenny Burrell and Warren Vache, amongst many others .

The music on the night will harken back to the golden age of jazz from the 40s Kansas City through to the 60s New York. What a great way to start the New Year at the Club!