Sunday 14 February - The Branco Stoysin Trio

A guitar trio that brings the Sun to the people...  The trio will be blending acclaimed originals and arrangements of enthralling traditional music from former Yugoslavia. What better to describe Branco Stoysin Trio and their music than these two quotes:

"A musical journey to warm the soul."  Sarah Ward - Jazz FM  Not to be missed!

"Full of quiet beauty the 6th new album Inexhaustible and 12th anniversary of the label continues the customarily high technical standards we have come to expect from Sun Recordings’ Branco Stoysin and his regular trio. This is the sound of a master craftsman at work. Stoysin’s playing is as crystalline and beautifully articulated as ever, sympathetically supported by Booth’s liquid bass and Birch’s delightfully detailed percussion. Delicate filigree, subtle, clean, immaculate, imaginative, optimistic, warm and relaxing original music. This album is further evidence of guitarist’s abilities in an understated display of quiet virtuosity."  Ian Mann - thejazzmann.com

Please visit www.brancostoysin.co.uk  for more information.

Sunday 14 March - NBQ Quintet with Emer McParland 

Emer McParland ~ vocals
Nick Beston ~ saxes
Jim Treweek ~ piano
Ernie Cranenburgh ~ Guitar
Pete Ringrose ~ double bass
Buster Birch ~ drums

Sunday, April 11th, 2010     - Heads South

New on the scene Jazz Salsa group Heads South are delighting their fast growing audiences. Their music combines great rhythm and great melody in a superb repertoire of original compositions and arrangements of well loved tunes. This is premium quality Latin Jazz that appeals both to the keen concert hall listener and the dancefloor mover.  The Band’s 5 piece line-up is led by pianist composer John Harriman and features the outstanding Jazz Trumpeter Steve Waterman, Cuban Percussionist Chino Martell Morgan, the versatile Buster Birch on drums and New Zealander Tim Robertson on bass guitar. This is a new line-up of musicians drawn to the sounds of diverse cultures and “Las Tierras Latinas”�. Their music is fresh, encompassing memorable new tunes such as El Cardenal, Juntito and Sweet Swan to new arrangements of classics such as Besame Mucho and Mack The Knife. Think Buena Vista Social Club, add the excitement of Jazz, great new melody, the warmth of a Latin evening, grooving away into the night...

Please visit www.headssouth.com for more information.

Sunday 9 May - Seymour's Jump

Seymour's Jump is a five piece Jazz dance band producing a special blend of outstanding musicianship, high energy and versatility to bring you the very best in Swing, Jump Jive, Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll, Hot Jazz and Groovy sounds. Song's from The Rat Pack, Big Band swing, 50's Rock and Roll, Blues and smooth soul makes them a great band for listening or dancing.Seymour's Jump was formed in October 1992 by trombonist and vocalist, Mark Seymour. Mark has gained a wealth of experience performing at venues and festivals worldwide from Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club to the Meridian Hotel in Paris, Nice and Milan Jazz Festivals, plus numerous live UK, Italian and Dutch TV shows.

Sunday, June 13th, 2010   The Ed Bentley Group

Ed Bentley-Organ, Dave Lewis-sax, Ciyo Brown-guitar, Richard Olatunde Baker-percussion, Buster Birch-drums. 

Back by popular demand!  One of the UK's finest Hammond organ players, Ed Bentley has been busy on the European scene for over 30 years.  As well as regular appearances at Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Dean St, 100 club, The Jazz Cafe and The Royal Festival Hall, he has recorded many albums for several different record companies and toured with the likes of Deniece Williams, Irene Reed, Percy Sledge, guitar legend Al Casey, Bobby Watson, Michael Hashim and the late George Williams, with whom he had a hit record "Never Again" which stayed in the top 20 for ten weeks.  For more info see www.edbentley.biz

Kathy Dyson and the Deirdre Cartwright Group

Kathy Dyson-guitar, Deirdre Cartwright-guitar, Alison Rayner-bass, Buster Birch-drums, Sara P-vocals.

A return of their hugely successful concert last year. The concert show cases Deirdre and Kathy in a variety of formats. Starting off as a guitar duo performing jazz standards, they are then joined by poet and vocalist Sara P as they pay tribute to the late, great American guitarist Emily Remler.The bass and drums are added and the group play highlights from the Deirdre Cartwright Group repertoire, featuring odd time riffs, funk grooves and burning swing as the solo prowess of each of the musicians is show cased. Kathy joins the group once more to finish with some full-steam-ahead jazz standards.

We had so many positive comments from the last concert, we had to have them back! Two of the finest guitarists on the scene, who's differing styles totally compliment each other.

Sunday 8 August

Malcolm Earle Smith (trombone) and Nia Lynn (vocals) 
backed by the great HJC house trio... Jim Treweek - piano, Pete Ringrose - bass, Buster Birch - drums.

Its real treat to bring these fine musicians down to Halstead for their first visit.  Both professors at Trinity conservertoire of music and forming the front half of the fantastic band Vox City 5 (www.voxcity5.com) they compliment each other perfectly and both bring a huge amount of enthusiasm and joy to the music they perform.
Malcolm has worked with musicians as diverse as Jack Parnell, Kenny Baker, Henry Lowther, Martin Speake, Martha Reeves and Brian Ferry. Nia has performed with many of the UK's finest jazz musicians and has her own trio featuring Gareth Lockrane and Ross Stanley.

A great night of swinging jazz standards and top quality improvisation.