Corn Exchange Jazz Club, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, Programme for April, May and June 2025.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
The Corn Exchange Jazz Club in Ross has announced its programme for April, May & June 2025. Performers include The Doug Sides Legacy Band, Alex Steele, Catherine Sykes, Nick Dewhurst.
From;
https://www.rosscornexchange.co.uk/events-one
https://www.rosscornexchange.co.uk/events-one/the-doug-sides-legacy-band
The Doug Sides Legacy Band
Thursday, April 17, 2025
7:30 PM 9:30 PM
The Doug Sides Legacy Band is a jazz quartet from the UK, dedicated to honouring the musical legacy of the late legendary American jazz drummer, Doug Sides. They met during their time at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and have been deeply influenced by Doug’s mentorship, during the time they were able to spend with him.
The band members are:
RJ Gilbert (22) – Saxophone
A 2024 BBC Young Musician semi-finalist, RJ draws influence from artists such as Dick Oatts, Vincent Herring, and Max Ionata.
Ollie Canham (22) – Guitar
A guitarist, composer and arranger with notable accolades, including the ‘Mike Gibbs Composition and Arranging Prize’ (2023), the ‘Eddie Harvey Jazz Arranger Award’ (2023), the ‘Phil Miller Guitar Prize’ (2022) and is currently arranging for the CBSO.
Nick Manz (22) – Upright Bass
A 2022 BBC Young Musician finalist, Nick has toured South Korea and recently performed in New York while visiting the Eastman School of Music.
Dominic Johnson (23) – Drums
Dominic is one of the most dynamic and versatile young drummers in the UK jazz scene, originally hailing from London he is now based in Birmingham.
Tickets here;
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vidlerhospitalityltd/1632707
https://www.rosscornexchange.co.uk/events-one/the-burt-bacharach-jazz-experience-featuring-alex-steele-catherine-sykes-quartet
The Burt Bacharach Jazz Experience: Featuring Alex Steele & Catherine Sykes Quartet
Thursday, May 8, 2025
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
New jazz interpretations of the music of Burt Bacharach featuring Catherine Sykes (vocals), Alex Steele (musical director, piano), Paul Jefferies (double bass), Euan Palmer (drums)
This evening, we are delighted to welcome the brilliant ‘Burt Bacharach Experience’, a jazz evening exploring the incredible diverse compositions of Burt Bacharach, re-interpreted through the creativity of Musical Director, Alex Steele, on piano and the luscious vocals of Catherine Sykes.
Everyone knows the music of Burt Bacharach, with classics including The Look of Love, Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head, What the World Needs Now, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again and many more. They are classic songs, made famous by singers including Dionne Warwick, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield and the Carpenters, and explored by jazz greats including Sonny Rollins and Brad Mehldau. From the 1950’s onwards, Burt Bacharach created a huge catalogue of compositions, featuring a very unique style of chords, harmonies and changing time signatures. It is this creativity in his compositions which has led his music to be greatly explored and appreciated by jazz musicians. Tonight, Alex Steele leads this new band, with a set of special arrangements of these classic songs, pushing the music more deeply into modern jazz territory. You’ll know the songs, but you won’t have heard them played like this before!
More than a thousand artists have recorded the songs of Burt Bacharach over many decades. This new ‘Burt Bacharach Experience’ takes us one step further into explorations of his beautiful music.
Leading the quartet, Alex Steele is a unique voice in jazz, well-known for his passion, energy and a deep sense of musicality as a jazz pianist. He has been inspired by his heroes, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock and Brad Mehldau, and through his own musical journey, he has found his own unique voice. Alex brings his own special sense of energy to audiences, exploring the beauty of improvisation, zest, passion and creativity in music.
Vocalist Catherine Sykes expresses one of her most significant musical influences as Ella Fitzgerald. Catherine says “I love the freedom and space of jazz music. There are no set rules, no boundaries, no definitive way to sing. Rhythm and melody can be played with, feelings explored, day-to-day worries lost in the wonderful world of the music. I love what I do”. When she’s not with Alex exploring the music of Burt Bacharach, Catherine sings with the Glenn Miller Orchestra UK, she tours around the world, and makes special guest appearances with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Nick Ross Orchestra, Manhattan Orchestra, Fat Chops Big Band, Paul Barry Big Band, The Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra, and many more.
The rhythm section of the band is made up of the inimitable Paul Jefferies on double bass and incredibly super-swinging groove of Euan Palmer on drums.
TICKETS HERE
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vidlerhospitalityltd/1632702
https://www.rosscornexchange.co.uk/events-one/the-nick-dewhurst-quintet
The Nick Dewhurst Quartet
Thursday, June 12, 2025
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Nick Dewhurst Trumpet, Flugelhorn & Guitar, will be joined by pianist & vocalist Tom Lindsay, with Ben Markland on Double & Electric Bass, plus Jonathan Silk on Drums.
Nick Dewhurst is a Jazz Trumpeter, Guitarist, Composer & Music Educator. Based in Lichfield, just north of Birmingham (UK), Nick’s musical portfolio consists of a mixture of live performance, recording and educational work.
In addition to leading his own band (see The Nick Dewhurst Band), Nick’s performance credits include playing with a wide variety of bands and artists (everything from performing with The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, through to recording with the heavy rock group Magnum).
Tickets Here
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/vidlerhospitalityltd/1632716
Corn Exchange
8 High St,
Ross-on-Wye,
Herefordshire,
HR9 5HL.