I’m delighted to be bringing an All-Star Quintet to PizzaExpress Holborn on Tuesday 25 November. I was honoured to launch the venue with a series of chat shows in 2016. Although I am probably best known as a composer and big band leader, leading a small group has always been close to my heart. My quartet album You Started Something, recorded in Los Angeles, was Observer CD of the month, and I have always encouraged young jazz musicians to perform with acknowledged ‘veterans’.
My last quintet at Dean Street featured the great violinist Nora Germain, now touring with Jon Batiste, and the debut of a young pianist named Jacob Collier – I think he has created a bit of a reputation over the years!
My current quintet features the terrific young bassist Flo Moore alongside recognised bandleaders/jazz stars Mitch Dalton on guitar, Rod Youngs on drums and Andy Vinter on piano.
Joining me on tenor sax and vocals is the irrepressible Ray Gelato. I first met Ray when I spent seven glorious years in the 1980s playing with Slim Gaillard, and I am delighted to experience his success and popularity on the international music scene. He follows the late Monty Norman as my small group vocalist. Monty used to entertain audiences with tales of how he came to write the classic James Bond theme. As the arranger (and occasional composer) for two Bond movies I have begun to incorporate the Bond theme and other movie classics into my repertoire!
Photo from John Altman’s collection
My Los Angeles experience from 1990 to 2019 allowed me to interact musically in small group settings with many greats – James Moody, Red Holloway, Les McCann, Barbara Morrison, Plas Johnson, Jon Hendricks, Kenny Burrell, Phil Upchurch, the Crusaders, Kamasi Washington, and play with some giants of classic West Coast Jazz – Pete and Conte Candoli, Jack Sheldon, Frankie Capp, Earl Palmer etc. I have been for thirty years a regular performer with Jeff Goldblum’s jazz group and spent years playing with the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band led by actors Conrad Janis and George Segal. November 25th is shaping up to be a classic evening – hope to see you there!
