Time 8.00 – 11.00

Tickets – £10 –

Personnel

alex hitchcock – tenor saxophone

emma rawicz – tenor saxophone

john williamson – bass

jay davis – drums

Bassist John Williamson’s originals project brings together influences such as Lee Konitz, Paul Motian and Béla Fleck, anchored by a ruthlessly focused melodic instinct. Originally started as a chordless quartet, for this gig the trio are joined by the wonderful saxophonist Emma Rawicz.

Born and raised in Saltburn, north-east England, John’s musicality and versatility have led to a diverse portfolio of work. This is reflected in his compositions, ranging from angular treatments of songbook harmony to big-sky Americana influenced by his time in the US. A selection of standards completes an intimate, expressive set, at times embracing the pared-back format and at other times transcending it.

The band includes renowned saxophonist and bandleader Alex Hitchcock, and Jay Davis, whose effervescent drumming propels a number of outstanding UK bands.

“razor-sharp reactions to a constantly shifting musical landscape… promised much and delivered in spades.” – bebop spoken here

Emma Rawicz has just been awarded Jazz Newcomer of the Year in the Parliamentary awards. She excelled at the East Side recently in the sextet Nick Smart put on to celebrate the compositions of Kenny Wheeler

London-born saxophonist Alex Hitchcock is regarded as one of the UK’s most virtuosic young jazz musicians. His group AuB, which released its debut album on Edition Records in 2020, was described as ‘ready to make cataclysmic waves in the sound of UK jazz’ . He recently played at the East Side with the Jonny Mansfield Quintet

Jay Davis is an award-winning drummer and composer based in london. a proud recipient of the yamaha Jazz scholar prize, jay studied with drummers dave walsh, jeff williams and martin france at leeds college of music and the royal academy of music respectively.Jay has performed throughout the uk, europe and asia at festivals and venues including umbria jazz festival, Jimmy glass (Valencia), Jazzwerkstatt (Graz), Bimhuis (Amsterdam), die nato (Leipzig), Pizza express dean street (London) and paradox (Tilburg)

Here are a few clips of John’s trio augmented by Alexandra Ridout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAL02HAmj8o