Jazz

2025

 

January 24th

James and Garr Davison with the Ted Beament Trio

 

James Davison trumpet, Gary Davison trombone, Ted Beament keyboard, bass and drums to be confirmed.

Back by popular demand after a fantastic gig in 2023

 

Award winner James Davison pursues a busy and varied freelance career based in London.

Since graduating with a MA in Jazz Performance at the Royal Academy of Music James has been lead trumpet in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the Patchwork Jazz Orchestra. He also performs regularly with the BBC Big Band, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Pete Long’s Echoes of Ellington Orchestra and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.

 

James has been a regular lead trumpet deputy in numerous West End. He has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and as guest Principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra. James is also a member of the award winning Misha Mullov-Abaddo Group, Jonny Mansfield’s Elftet, the Sam Watts band, The London Jazz Orchestra, Joe Hill’s North Ark, as well as his own band co-led with Callum Au, playing the music of Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer.

 

Like his brother Gary Davison is a freelance jazz trombonist playing with a vibrant style giving a warm, mellow tone and a great technique.

 

Local lad Ted Beament is no stranger to Marigolds. One of the finest pianists in Britain, Ted has performed world-wide as well as around the UK and on the London jazz scene. He has played with so many outstanding musicians, far too many to list here and was a member of the outstanding Humphrey Lyttleton Band.

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets £12 on the door

 

 

  

February 21st

Alice and David Black Quintet

https://aliceblackmusic.com/

 

Alice Black vocals, David Black on sax and flute, John Pearce on piano, John Pettitt on double-bass and Dave Pack on drums,

 

A new band to Marigolds but come highly recommended presenting an evening of timeless jazz standards and a bit of magic between saxophone and voice! 

Alice started singing professionally whilst studying music at Sheffield University and has since worked all over the UK in both the Jazz and Big Band scenes with some of the country’s finest musicians.

A graduate of Boston’s famous Berklee College, David is as astonishingly talented on flute and clarinet as he is on tenor sax.

 

Together they make a very talented and entertaining combo.

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets £12 on the door

 

 

March 21st  

Tommaso Starace Quartet

http://www.tommasostarace.com/

 

Tommaso Starace alto sax, Jason Reeves drums, Nigel Thomas bass, John Turville piano 

 

Another band back by popular demand after several great gigs over recent years.

 

Born in Italy, Tommaso moved to the United Kingdom where, playing the sax, he graduated at Birmingham Conservatoire with a Bmus first class honours and later at the Guildhall School Of Music and Drama with a Postgraduate Degree in jazz studies. He has performed and colaberated with some of the most respected jazz musicians far too many to mention here.

Tommaso is no stranger to the recording studio and when not busy composing tours all over the UK and Europe.

 

In 2008 Tommaso was awarded with an Honorary Membership by Birmingham Conservatoire given to him for his significant contributions made across the years within the various branches of the music profession.

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

April 18th

Alan Barnes Quartet

https://www.alanbarnesjazz.com/

 

Multi Award winner Alan Barnes needs no introduction having played everywhere in the UK and across the world including Marigolds on several occasions.

 

Alan has toured and recorded with far too many famous names to record here. However, he has toured America and Europe with Bryan Ferry’s band, has been a regular with the BBC Big Band and Radio Orchestra, written and arranged countless numbers, appeared as a session musician on albums, performed on film and television soundtracks and jingles such as the Tetley Bitter series of adverts as well as performing and recording on his own behalf.

 

As well as a prolific international performer, Alan is a composer, arranger, bandleader, touring soloist, educator and in the past broadcaster for the BBC. He is no stranger to the recording studio both in his own right, collaborating with or guesting for other musicians. His dulcet tones can also be found on film and television soundtracks and jingles.

 

Alan is best known for his work on clarinet, alto and baritone sax, where he combines a formidable virtuosity with a musical expression and collaborative spirit that have few peers.

Combining his unique musical skills with humour and wit and building a warm rapport with audiences makes Alan uniquely popular in British jazz.

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

May 23rd 

Paul Higgs Quintet

https://www.paulhiggs.com/

 

Paul Higgs is a highly accomplished and respected trumpet player with an impressive career in many fields both in the UK and abroad including performing, composing, recording (his discography is as long as your proverbial, and arranging music for film, TV and theatre. He was a Musical Director for many years for the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company and has composed, arranged and directed for many other companies.

 

Wherever he is performing, his music is always captivating, leaving audiences spellbound. Paul Higgs is a true master of his craft as he has so admirably demonstrated at several gigs at Marigolds in past years.

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

June 20th

Mark Crooks Quartet

 

Mark Crooks clarinet and tenor sax, Colin Oxley guitar Matyas Hofecker double bass, Matt Home drums

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

July 18th

Steve Waterman Quartet

https://www.stevewaterman.co.uk/

 

Steve Waterman Trumpet, Jo Fooks sax, Buster Birch on drums, bass and piano to be confirmed.

 

Steve is one of the top British jazz trumpet players both at home and on the international scene and has won numerous jazz awards over the years.

 

He began his career studying at Trinity College of Music and has since worked on the British, European and International jazz scene playing and recording with many well-known musicians.

 

As a composer Steve has had commissions ranging from small group to big bands. Steve is committed to jazz education and has co-written with John ONeil the highly acclaimed Jazz Method for Trumpet tutor book. He has taught on many summer jazz courses and numerous Trumpet master classes and workshops for small combos through to big bands not just in the UK but in Spain, Finland, Latvia, South Africa and Cuba.

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

August 22nd 

Derek Nash Quartet

 https://dereknash.com/

 

Derek is one of the foremost talents on the UK jazz scene performing on all 4 sax’s from Soprano to Baritone and needs no introduction to Marigolds. He is equally at home leading his own award-winning jazz ensemble Sax Appeal to playing as a full member of the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. He is equally at home playing in front of 65,000 people at the Millennium Stadium and over 100,000 at the Glastonbury Festival to playing to 50 or so aficionados at Marigolds. He has appeared live & on TV and played with far too many top performers to list here.

 

A winner of numerous awards Derek has recorded numerous albums in his own right and featured on far more with other artists.

 

At his Clowns Pocket Recording Studio, Derek is a respected recording engineer and producer and has recorded albums for numerous famous artists. With Trudy Kerr, he is co-director of Jazzizit Records, an UK independent Jazz label.

 

Derek is also the writer and arranger of many TV and radio themes. Although he will vehemently disagree one of his stand-up achievements was playing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" for a condom advert! Sorry for raising that Derek. 

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

 

September 19th

Clark Tracey Quintet

https://clarktracey.com/#/

 

Art Themen & Simon Allen Reeds, Dave Newton Piano, Andrew Cleyndert Bass, Clark Tracey Drums, Leader.

 

Son of UK's leading jazz pianist, Stan Tracey, Clark Tracey has forged a bright and varied career in jazz. He joined his father's various ensembles, from trio to orchestra and has, within that context, toured worldwide and recorded extensively ever since.

 

Clark has formed numerous bands with many famous and well-respected musicians as well as playing freelance alongside some of the most important artists in jazz both at home and abroad. Tonight’s line up is no exception. He is an accomplished composer and teacher of jazz and began his own record companies, Tentoten Records and Resteamed Records the latter of which is dedicated to his father’s works.

 

Having won many awards, Clark is one of the sharpest jazz drummers in the country and plays with a keen-eared awareness that is rare among today's drummers. He is a highly tasteful and thoughtful drummer and as a soloist, Clark is one of the most entertaining drummers in the country

 

Not contented with just performing, Clark regularly composes and arranges not just for his own groups but for numerous other artists and ensembles. Looking to the future of jazz Clark has given master classes in a number of academic institutions and has run numerous workshops around the UK and overseas and has even written an intermediate level instructional book for Schott Publishing, "Exploring Jazz Drums".

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

October 24th

Vasilis Xenopoulos Quartet

https://vasilisxenopoulos.com/

 

Born in Athens Saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos started playing clarinet and piano when 9 but switched to the saxophone at 13, and studied at the Philippos Nakas Conservatory in Athens. His potential allowed him to gain invaluable experience playing with some of the top names on the Greek jazz scene.

 

In 1999 Vasilis was awarded a jazz scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston MA. There he studied under Billy Pierce, George Garzone and Andy McGhee and joined the European Jazz Youth Orchestra touring with them across Europe.

 

Vasilis moved to London in 2002 and continued studying under the guidance of Eddie Harvey, Stan Sulzmann, Jimmy Hastings and Pete Cook. He formed his first Quartet in 2005 and established himself as one of London’s up and coming jazz saxophonists. Since then he has worked with some of the best musicians on the British and International jazz scene and far too many to list here.

 

Vasilis has appeared in many guises, as guest soloist, as band leader or as saxophone section leader in jazz venues and jazz festivals throughout the UK. His explosive and fiery style means he is in great demand as a saxophone player for popular music and as a session musician

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

 

 

November 21st 

Nat Steele Quartet

http://www.natsteele.com/

 

Nathaniel Steele is a jazz vibraphone player based in London who quickly gained a reputation as a talented musician. His interest in jazz came about through rifling through his father’s record collection as a child, and then later going to Ronnie Scott’s weekly from the age of 13

 

As a drummer and vibes player he has performed with a myriad of names on the London jazz scene as well as performing in his own bands. His “Nat Steele Quartet” has been regularly featured at the Late, Late show at Ronnie Scott's while his MJQ and Neale meets Steele combos have received critical acclaim.

 

As well as working as a performer, Nat has been very actively involved in promoting jazz and founded a jazz festival, BopFest, in 2015 with saxophonist Allison Neale. The annual festival, initially just long weekend, has grown into a 7-day long extravaganza of bebop and straight ahead jazz in London featuring some of the best musicians from the UK, Europe and America, with the festival attracting both private and Arts Council funding and getting significant audience numbers and press attention.

 

 

 

DOORS AND LICENSED BAR OPEN AT 7.00PM

MUSIC AT 8.00PM

 

Tickets on the door

 

 

 

 

December

No Gig

 

 

 

 

2026

 

January

 

February