Concerts with some of the finest artists in Jazz today
Upcoming concerts with GMF Artists
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INTERNATIONAL JAZZ MASTERS SERIES AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB
Bruce Barth Jerry Bergonzi Quartet
March 2 - 3
AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB SOHO, LONDON
Featuring Mark Hodgson & Stephen Keogh
FULL INFO AND BOOKING HERE
Master saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi gained worldwide recognition while performing with, Two Generations of Brubeck bands. He co-leads this powerhouse quartet with piano giant Bruce Barth (read more below). Bergonzi is a performer, composer, author and educator, renowned for his innovation, mastery, and integrity. In an endless series of rave reviews he is credited for his relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance and as a musical visionary. His music has been applauded throughout the world at all the major festivals, concert halls and venues. Among the many other artists that Bergonzi has performed and recorded with are; Bill Evans, Paul Desmond, Dave Holland, Gerry Mulligan, Jack DeJonette, John Abercrombie, Roy Haynes, Pat Martino and many more.
Bruce Barth, “a surprising and soulful musician, is one of the best pianists in town, period,” says the Village Voice, and the Newark Star-Ledger adds, “At the piano, no one sounds quite like Barth. His solos are characterized by robust swing, by his ability to tell a story, and by his rich, beguiling sound.”
Bruce has built a sterling reputation over the past 25 years working alongside a long list of jazz greats including Terrence Blanchard, Nat Adderley and Stanley Turrentine.
Bruce has performed on over 135 recordings and movie soundtracks, including seventeen as a leader. He is equally at home playing solo piano (American Landscape on Satchmo Jazz Records), leading an all-star septet (East and West on MaxJazz), and composing for a variety of ensembles. His trio has recorded live at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City.
He has been a member of the Terell Stafford Quartet for more than fifteen years, recording and performing extensively with this dynamic group. He has also had extended collaborations with Steve Wilson, Luciana Souza, Steve Nelson, and Tony Bennett; and has performed with James Moody, Phil Woods, Freddie Hubbard, Tim Armacost, Tom Harrell, Luis Bonilla, Rene Marie, and Branford Marsalis, and Adam Kolker.
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INTERNATIONAL JAZZ MASTERS SERIES AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB
Perico Sambeat Quartet
May 4
AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB SOHO, LONDON
Featuring Will Barry, Mark Hodgson & Stephen Keogh
FULL INFO AND BOOKING HERE
A night of inspiring music from a group lead by the fantastic alto saxophone star Perico Sambeat - considered one of Europe's most important Jazz musicians, and featuring outstanding UK piano star Will Barry. The world-class bass and drums of Mark Hodgson and Stephen complete this truly exciting quartet packed with talent. Perico appears on over one hundred recordings, many of which he is the leader. His work as a performer, composer and arranger has received many awards and accolades. His artistic projects and collaborations boast a list of musicians of the very highest caliber including Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Tete Montoliu, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny and many more.
During Sambeat’s his career, he has received numerous awards including the prestigious "Bird Award" given by the North Sea Jazz Festival to the musician deserving wider recognition (2003), and best recording of the year for "Flamenco Big Band" (2008 and 2009). Sambeat first came to London as the leader of a quartet made up of Brad Mehldau and Stephen Keogh back in 1993. He is now considered to be one of the best musicians that Spain has ever produced.
Will Barry - piano
He is an award-winning pianist, drummer and percussionist from London who graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2016. He is part of numerous projects internationally, most prominently touring with Phronesis bassist Jasper Høiby’s group ‘Fellow Creatures’ in Turkey, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland and also extensively in the UK. In 2018 Will performed at the North Sea, Love Supreme, Green Hours and Umbria Jazz Festivals.
Whilst living in Spain, Will appeared alongside Mario Rossy, Madison McFerrin and Perico Sambeat as well as Cuban musicians Julio Montalvo, Yoel Paez and Issac Delgado Jr, performing in Barcelona, Alicante and Madrid and recording at Berklee College of Music in Valencia. Chucho Valdés (Irakere) described his playing as “sensitive and fluid – a beautiful sound”.
Stephen Keogh - drums
During the 80’s he played as a percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. At the same time he also became the drummer of choice for many visiting jazz artists, including Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Harry Edison, Pat La Barbera, and James Moody and Benny Carter. He also toured internationally with Louis Stewart during this period and appears on several albums.
At the end of the 80s, he was invited to join the Peter King Quartet of which he was a member for 18 years. At the same time he toured and recorded with British, European and American jazz artists, including Art Farmer, Jason Rebello, and Jean Toussaint among others. He continues to perform both on recordings and International tours with a long and growing list of major artists that reads as a who’s who of the jazz world; Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Harold Land, Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner, Herb Ellis, Benny Golson, Antonio Serrano, Steve Grossman, Peter Bernstein et al. He enjoys long lasting collaborations with Charles McPherson, Bruce Barth Trio, Jerry Bergonzi, Dick Oatts and many more.
Mark Hodgdon
Born in Kendal, Cumbria and coming from a musical family Mark originally played electric bass in funk and fusion bands, but was inspired to take up the Double Bass after seeing The Oscar Peterson Trio featuring Ray Brown. In 1995 he moved to London to study Double Bass and Electric Bass at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1999 Mark left London and moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he was based for four years. He returned to the UK in 2003. Mark has played and recorded with a wide range of musicians, from members of The Police and The Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney, Jamie Cullum, Lizz Wright, The London Symphony Orchestra and Electronica wizard Matthew Herbert. Jazz artists Mark has worked with include....Cedar Walton, Phil Woods, Steve Grossman, John Taylor, Randy Brecker, Larry Coryell, Kenny Wheeler, Greg Osby and Jeff Ballard. Since returning to London Mark has been involved in a diverse range of projects, from film music to Hip Hop and R&B records, he has also been a regular member of Bill Bruford’s ‘Earthworks’, Billy Cobham’s ‘Art Of 5’, The Steve Grossman/Damon Brown Quintet, The Bill Charlap Trio, Tim Garland’s 'Underground Orchestra', The Julian Joseph Trio feat. Mark Mondesir.
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INTERNATIONAL JAZZ MASTERS SERIES AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB
Carla Cook 'Jazz Vocal Star & Detroit Diva'
Carla Cook Quartet
May 16 & 17
AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB SOHO, LONDON
Featuring Mātyās Gayer piano, Mark Hodgson bass, & Stephen Keogh drums
FULL INFO AND BOOKING HERE
Grammy nominated Carla Cook has performed or recorded as a guest artist with such luminaries as the Count Basie Orchestra and Lionel Hampton. She originated the lead vocal role for Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s The Cotton Club Parade at City Center. She is a daring jazz singer/songwriter who sings standards beautifully -- but she doesn't stop there. She is willing to put a jazz spin on songs not written by traditional jazz composers. In her songbook you'll find elements of R&B, European classical, Motown, Blues and Gospel.
The list of great artists Cook has worked with includes among others Jimmy Heath, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Steve Wilson, Regina Carter, Eric Reed, Don Byron, Craig Harris, Sekou Sundiata, Patrice Rushen, Savion Glover, Ben Vereen, Cyrus Chestnut, Carl Allen, Rodney Jones, Igor Butman, Wycliff Gordon, Bruce Barth and Terell Stafford. Her band The Carla Cook Quintet, has opened for Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter and B.B. King; her band has also performed at the invitation of Aretha Franklin for her annual Christmas Party.
Cook has performed or recorded as a guest artist with such luminaries as the Count Basie Orchestra and Lionel Hampton’s Big Band (she was the last of a long line of esteemed featured vocalists who performed with him before his death). She originated the lead vocal role for Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s The Cotton Club Parade at City Center. (The role was later performed with various vocalists for the Broadway production, renamed After Midnight). And in 2011, she was the featured vocalist with the world – renowned Jazz Sinfonica, an 82-piece orchestra performing in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
She has received many favourable reviews and received a Grammy nomination in the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category, and was awarded the AFIM Indie Award for Best Jazz Vocal.
“She has sass that enlivens her impeccable diction, and tremendous soul that lets her swagger with gutbucket finesse, but it’s all buttressed with sparkling optimism and innocence.”
John Murph of The Washington Post