08/30/08

Pete King - Sax

Steve Melling - keyboards

Geoff Gascoyne - Bass

Martin Drew - Drums

Pete King is surely one of the most important jazz stars to be welcomed to the Harborough Jazz club. He is also bringing a band of major names.

"The finest alto saxophonist that Britain has ever produced, and one of the finest in the world today" (Jazz commentator, Dave Gelly). He has been a major influence on the UK Jazz scene and has an international reputation. Here is a list of just some of the people he has played together with over the years:

Johnny Dankworth, Maynard Ferguson, Tubby Hayes, Harry South, Stan Tracey, Ray Charles Philly Joe Jones, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Red Rodney, Hampton Hawes, Nat Adderley, Al Haig, John Burch, Bill Watrous, Dick Morrissey, Bill Le Sage and singers such as Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Williams, Jon Hendricks, and Anita O'Day.

 See him in a recent gig at the Bull’s Head on You Tube by following this link http://youtube.com/watch?v=CnrVB67H7Sc

Martin Drew (drums)

Also another musician with an international reputation the amazing Martin Drew on drums. A regular at Ronnie Scotts and drummer with Oscar Petterson for thirty years. Has accompanied many of the jazz greats and currently playing with the New Jazz Couriers

Drew is surely without peer in this mainstream modern tradition. He possesses a tremendous brush technique on the snare, a silky shimmer on the ride cymbal, and gets a fast number crackling without straining a muscle!" The Independent-on-Sunday  20006

Geoff Gascoyne (Bass)

 Has an impressive history having accompanied greats such as Georgie Fame and Guy Barker. He has recently been on tour with Jamie Cullum and his latest CD is called ‘Keep it to Yourself"

Gascoyne boasts admirable touch, time and one. From bop to fusion, Geoff smokes on acoustic and electric”
(Voices of Spring, CD review) Greg Isola, Bass Player Magazine

Steve Melling (Keyboards)

Is a regular in Pete King’s band having also played with famous UK jazz musicians such as Alan Skidmore and Barbara Thompson, as well as US stars like James Moody and Elvin Jones.