To welcome the 2020s we return to the Jazz Age of a century before and the magnificent jazz and blues that accompanied the Prohibition Era.

Renowned actor and music expert Kerry Shale presents a celebration of the decade featuring the music of Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Bessie Smith and more.
 
The greatest exponent of Bix Beiderbecke’s music is the Chicago trumpeter and cornetist Andy Schumm who captures perfectly the plaintive lyricism of this remarkable musician and jazz pioneer.
 
When Louis Armstrong visited England in 1968 the seven year old trumpeter Enrico Tomasso performed Basin Street Blues to welcome him when he emerged from his plane.  Louis was so delighted that the two became firm friends and today his musical legacy lives on through the playing of Enrico, now one of the UK’s greatest jazz stars.

Featuring

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Keith Nichols:  Musical Director and Piano
Vimala Rowe: Vocals
Andy Schumm: Cornet
Enrico Tomasso: Trumpet
Alistair Allan: Trombone
David Horniblow: Clarinet and Saxophones
Michael McQuaid: Clarinet and Saxophones
Matthias Seuffert: Clarinet and Saxophones
Martin Litton: Piano
Thomas “Spats” Langham: Banjo, Guitar, Vocals
Nick Ball: Percussion
Richard Pite: Percussion, Double Bass and Tuba

Martin Litton has long made a speciality of the music of New Orleans pianist and bandleader Jelly Roll Morton (the self-proclaimed inventor of Jazz).  In Chicago in 1926 Jelly recorded some of the most renowned music in jazz history with self-penned classics such as Doctor Jazz and The Original Jelly Roll Blues.  To hear this music live is a rare and delicious thrill.
 
Keith Nichols has been involved in many of the Jazz Repertory Company’s previous productions at Cadogan Hall.  In 2013 he recreated Duke Ellington’s 1933 set at the London Palladium.  This time around we feature Ellington’s Jungle Music made famous during his long sojourn at Harlem’s Cotton Club in the 1920s.
 
Lastly, we’re delighted to have the wonderful Vimala Rowe taking the role of Bessie Smith – The Empress of the Blues.  Vimala is a spellbinding performer and perfect for interpreting the songs of Bessie which transfixed audiences of nearly 100 years ago with their theatricality and grandeur.