Upcoming Gigs
All gigs are at the Hastings and St. Leonards Angling Club (unless stated otherwise), the Stade, Hastings Old Town. Doors open 7.45 for 8.30 start. Disabled access. Admission £7 on the door. For further information, or if you would like to be on our monthly e- mailing list please contact us on 01424 729174.
August 2nd
JOHN DONALDSON SEXTET
play the music of Bheki Mseleku
Peter King: Alto Sax
Quentin Collins: Trumpet
Ian Price: Tenor Sax
John Donaldson: Piano
Tim Robertson: Bass
Tristan Banks: Drums
Bheki Mseleku the great South African multi-instrumentalist and composer played at the club twice before his untimely death in 2008. He was a friend of many of us here in Hastings and both appearances are remembered as special gigs. Pianist John Donaldson has recently recorded a quartet album of Bheki's compositions now arranged for sextet featuring the great Peter King on alto sax, Quentin Collins on trumpet, and Ian Price on tenor sax.
'An album that is both compelling in its own right and a fitting tribute to a fine composer and multi-instrumentalist.' Chris Parker, Vortex jazz
'A vibrant album salutes the music of the late South African multi-instrumentalist Bheki Mseleku, served up in an engagingly ego-free spirit all handled with enviable authority'. Ray Comisky, Irish Times. ****
'Donaldson’s tribute to Bheki’s joyful sound is undoubtedly one of the most winning of this year’s UK jazz releases.' John Stevenson, EJazz News
'Satisfies Head, Heart and Feet.' Phil Johnston, The Independent on Sunday
'A fine and telling album' Chris Searle, Morning Star
Click here to visit Bheki Mseleku's MySpace page.
Our very own John Donaldson is a gifted pianist and composer who began playing jazz gigs with the Cambridge Modern Jazz Club’s resident trio along with Chucho Merchan and Nic France. John Donaldson won the prize for best soloist at the San Sebastian International Jazz Competition in 1980 moving to California in 1982 where he worked with, amongst others, Paul Contos, Stan Poplin, Kenny Stahl, Tim Jackson, Randy Masters, Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Donny McCaslin, Eddie Marshall, Kenny Wolleson, Ben Goldberg, Daniel Sabanovich and gigged with notables including Eddie Henderson, Red Holloway, John Handy, Richie Cole, Paul Jackson, David Baker, Steve Turre, Laurindo Almeida. He also studied with Joe Henderson. John Donaldson returned to the UK in 1993 has since been working with, amongst others, Iain Ballamy, Art Themen, Clark Tracy, Alan Barnes, Don Weller, John Etheridge, Dick Pearce and Norma Winstone. He has also accompanied visiting soloists, Art Farmer, Conte Condoli, Freddie Hubbard, Buddy de Franco/Terry Gibbs, Scott Hamilton, Ingrid Jensen, Jon Gordon and co-lead the band 'Septpiece' with Dave Mattacks and Andrew Cleyndert. In 2006 he was the winner of the piano catagory at the Marstons Pedigree British Jazz Awards. 'Live at the Appleby Jazz Festival' was on the Irish Times list of essential CD's of 2006.
Click here to visit John Donaldson's MySpace page.
Peter King, in the words of one critic, “is the finest alto saxophonist that Britain has ever produced, and one of the finest in the world today” (Dave Gelly, 'The Giants Of Jazz', Aurum Press, 1986). He has been a major influence on the British Jazz scene ever since he played (at the age of eighteen!) the opening of Ronnie Scott's Club, London’s internationally famous Jazz Mecca. “Had Scott's Club died overnight and been heard of no more, it could still have justified its existence by pointing to a discovery like Peter King.”(Benny Green, 'Jazz Decade, Ten Years At Ronnie Scott's', King's Road Publishing Ltd 1969) ” A wonderful musician, Peter King is a master of his instrument. People are aware of that here in America as well as in England” said Elvin Jones in Jazz U.K. magazine Sept 2001. "Peter King is one of the best musicians in the world." (Lalo Schifrin)
Click here to visit Peter King's website .
Quentin Collins is one of the UK’s leading trumpeters, his hard hitting style ideally suited to jazz, funk and soul contexts. As well as his role with Transatlantic Collective and his work as a solo artist Collins also leads the blistering organ driven combo Drugstore Cowboy alongside tenor saxophonist Brandon Allen. Add in numerous other sideman gigs and session work and it becomes clear that the in demand Collins is a pretty busy boy.
Click here to visit Quentin Collins' MySpace page.
September 6th
ROBERT MITCHELL 3IO
Robert Mitchell: Piano
Tom Mason: Bass
Richard Spaven: Drums
Robert Mitchell has been twice individually nominated for the BBC Jazz Awards (Best Newcomer,and Best New Work), winning once as part of the F-ire Collective (Innovation 2004).He has won National and International awards with the groups Quite Sane and J-Life. He has performed in many different projects - with names like Steve Coleman, Norma Winstone, Courtney Pine, Vaughn Hawthorne-Nelson, I.G.Culture, Greg Osby, The Roots, Steve Williamson, The Jazz Warriors, Keith Waithe, Ty, Sillhouette Brown, Shorter Stories, Ntoumos and Omar Puente & Cubania.
Click here to visit Robert Mitchell's MySpace page.
OCT Date TBA
Kirk Lightsey