Gigs & concert details for upcoming Way Out West events. All our upcoming gigs are listed below along with the band personnel, dates, what kind of music it is, plus info on the venue and tickets. If you’d like to be notified of upcoming gigs, please join the mailing list (see link on this page). Hope to see you at a gig!
UPCOMING GIGS
Sunday 13th November 2022 at 7.30pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Tickets: £17
Way Out West presents: Way Out West by Sonny Rollins (as part of EFG London Jazz Festival)
In 1957 Sonny Rollins made one of his best loved and most influential records with a trio of tenor sax, bass and drums. This LP, along with Saxophone Colossus, Freedom Suite and A Night at the Village Vanguard established him as one of the most important musicians of his generation.
Tonight’s performance by jazz collective Way Out West develops the music from these records in a new form, with different instrumentations from duo to octet. Sonny is now 93 and no longer performing on the tenor saxophone, but remains a musical and spiritual guru to generations of musicians. This performance is dedicated to his enduring legacy.
Way Out West was created in 2004 as a platform for presenting adventurous music from the jazz spectrum, and showcasing musical talent in west London. It has presented more than 600 concerts featuring the most important British based players such as Peter King, Tony Kinsey, Bobby Wellins, Don Weller, Jim Mullen , Tony Kofi, Larry Bartley, Ingrid Laubrock, Nathaniel Facey, Laura Jurd, Liam Noble, Alcyona Mick, as well as some of the very first performances by new stars Tom Smith, Flo Moore, Ralph Wyld, Corrie Dick and Elliot Galvin.
For more about the performers on tonight’s concert go to http://www.wowjazz.org
Line up:
Pete Hurt, Chris Biscoe, Tony Woods – saxes; Nette Robinson – voice and tenor sax; Nick Mills – trombone; Kate Williams & Tom Millar – piano; Oli Hayhurst – bass; Gary Willcox – drums
Tickets: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/162323
Past Gigs
Saturday 22nd October, 7pm, All Saints Church, High St, Carshalton SM5 3AG, UK: £15
Way Out West Presents: Way Out West Side Story
Sunday 23rd October 2022 at 7.30pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Tickets: £17
Way Out West presents: Pete Hurt Quartet
Sunday 18th September 2022 Way Out West presents: Tom Millar/Matthew Sulzmann Quartet
Sunday 31st July 2022 at 7.30pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Tickets: £17
Way Out West presents: Chris Biscoe and Allison Neale’s Two Of A Mind
(Photo credit: Tony Hood)
Exploring afresh the freewheeling, wonderfully melodic interpretations of standard material recorded 50 years ago by Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond on Blues in Time and Two of a Mind, this new band evokes the spirit of these classic recordings while giving free reign to the personalities of the musicians.
“…with perfect rapport, and a positively uncanny grasp of this elusive idiom, Biscoe and Neale have come up with more, including two Biscoe originals. The playing is immaculate……It all sounds bright, sharp and, well, modern.”
The Guardian ****
Line up:
Chris Biscoe – baritone and alto sax
Allison Neale – alto sax
Jeremy Brown – double bass
Matt Fishwick – drums
Tickets: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/161676
Sunday 26th June 2022 at 8pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Tickets: £17
Way Out West presents: Kate Williams Quartet featuring Mike Outram
Line-up:
Kate Williams – piano
Mike Outram – guitar
Oli Hayhurst – double bass
Matt Fishwick – drums
The quartet will present a varied programme of music including pieces by Bill Evans, Emily Remler, A. C. Jobim as well as material from the great American songbook.
Pianist/composer Kate Williams has gained a reputation as both a distinctive writer and performer. She has released several CDs, each one to critical acclaim, including Made Up and Atlas And Vulcana (with her septet) and Smoke And Mirrors (with tenor legend, the late Bobby Wellins).
In 2016 she formed Four Plus Three, an ensemble featuring her trio with string quartet. The following year, they performed at the 606 with special guest John Williams (Kate’s father) on guitar. John also features on Kate’s album with vocalist Georgia Mancio: Finding Home: Kate Williams’ Four Plus Three Meets Georgia Mancio. It won album of the year at the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
“…crisp, incisive and totally at one with the rhythmic ebb and flow.”
“Williams has a quality rare among jazz composers: a musical vocabulary that’s all her own” The Observer ****
Guitarist Mike Outram has toured internationally and recorded with Carleen Anderson, Mike Farris, Laurence Cottle, Hamish Stuart, Tim Garland, Theo Travis, Steven Wilson, Nikki Iles, and Laura Rossi. He is Guitar Professor at The Royal Academy, Trinity Laban & The Guildhall, London, and leads an online community of over 700 guitarists at ElectricCampfire.com
Tickets: £17
Sunday 26 June 2022 – 8pm
Buy tickets here: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/160736
Upcoming concerts from Way Out West Jazz Collective:
31st July – 7.30pm – Way Out West presents: Chris Biscoe Quartet
18th September 7.30pm – Way Out West presents: Tom Millar Quartet
23rd October 7.30pm – Way Out West presents: Pete Hurt Quartet
13th November 7.30pm – Way Out West presents: Way Out West by Sonny Rollins (as part of LJF)
Sunday 24 April 2022 at 7.30pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Tickets: £17
Way Out West celebrates the centenary of iconic jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus’ jazz brought to the fore the collective spirit of New Orleans with the orchestral colours of Duke Ellington at a time when both were being overlooked in the post-bop tradition.
Mingus was born on April 22nd 1922 and this centenary celebration brings together core members of Profiles of Mingus, the band established 25 years ago by Chris Biscoe and Henry Lowther. Most of the arrangements are by Chris, but tonight’s guest, Pete Hurt, will bring his new arrangements of Mingus classics.
Profiles of Mingus released on Trio Records features Chris Biscoe, Henry Lowther, Kate Williams, Larry Bartley and Pete Hurt.
Line-up:
Chris Biscoe – alto sax and alto clarinet
Henry Lowther – trumpet and flugelhorn
Pete Hurt – alto and tenor sax
Kate Williams – piano
Larry Bartley – double bass
Gary Willcox – drums
You can book tickets here: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/154087
Sunday 29 May 2022 at 7.30pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Tickets: £17
An exciting programme of new music for different line-ups drawn from the collective.
The musicians of Way Out West will form duos, trios, quartets and larger ensembles for an evening of new tunes and arrangements including originals written especially for this performance.
Line-up:
Tony Woods, Tim Whitehead, Chris, Biscoe, Pete Hurt – saxes
Nette Robinson – voice
Nick Mills – trombone
Kate Williams, Tom Millar – piano
Dave Jones – bass
David Ingamells – drums
You can book tickets here: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/155419
Sunday 27th March 2022 at 7.30pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Details are below and you can book tickets here:
https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/153400
Way Out West presents West Side Story and other works by Leonard Bernstein.
After the highly successful concert in 2018 which celebrated the hundredth anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, the Way Out West collective presents “Way Out West Side Story”, which will feature re-imaginings of a selection of Bernstein’s works from the classic 1950s musical “West Side Story”, as well as some of his other gems.
The collective’s re-working of Bernstein’s pieces will cast new light on his wonderful music, which has been delighting people afresh in Steven Spielberg’s new film based on “West Side Story”, which hit the cinemas at the end of last year.
Line-up:
Tony Woods – saxes
Tim Whitehead – saxes
Nette Robinson – baritone sax and vocals
Nick Mills – trombone
Tom Millar – piano
Dave Jones – bass
Gary Willcox – drums
Saturday 4th December 2021 at 7.30pm, London UK, at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
Following the Neil Hamilton Memorial Concert in April 2021 we are moving ahead with a new event: CONNECTIONS, NOW & THEN, which will celebrate Way Out West Jazz
Collective and their unique creativity.
The concert will also celebrate Neil‘s generous donation to Way Out West to help their musicians during the lockdown and beyond. Neil was very keen to make sure that Way Out
West would be able to continue to flourish and create new work. His donation has been a great help with West Out West’s on-going creative output and live performances.
Tim Whitehead, Dave Jones, Tony Woods, Nette Robinson, Gary Willcox and Tom Millar will be performing exciting new original compositions.
The members of the Way Out West Collective will also be joined by special guest Julian Costello (saxophone), and singer/songwriter Mista Blenda who will perform works created with Neil, as well as new material.
WOW Collective:
Tim Whitehead, Tony Woods – Saxes
Nette Robinson – Vocals
Tom Millar – Piano
Dave Jones – Bass
Gary Willcox – Drums
Special Guests:
Julian Costello – Saxophone
Mista Blenda – Vocals
Saturday 4 December – 7.30pm
Tickets:
In-person attendance – £15
https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/book/event/146178
Streamed – Watch the performance on our YouTube channel HERE
This performance is streamed on a “donate to view” basis. Please donate if you can HERE
Any profit from the concert will go to the St Raphael Hospice.
Sunday 14th November 2021 at 4pm and 7.30 pm, London UK, EFG London Jazz Festival at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames:
The Way Out West Collective presents: The Age of Ellington, two concerts featuring compositions by the Duke as well as those he influenced including Billy Strayhorn, Monk, Mingus, Westbrook and new works by members of Way Out West. These concerts are part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Tickets £15
Since his first composition in 1918, Duke Ellington’s influence on jazz, and particularly on writing for his ‘instrument’, the jazz orchestra, has been one of the constants in the development of the music.
Successive generations have been inspired by his writing, including Billy Strayhorn, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and Mike Westbrook, and our EFG/LJF concerts include music by these writers, and new compositions from members of Way Out West.
Uniquely amongst contemporary UK Jazz Collectives, Way Out West emphasizes a multi-generational approach, with membership ranging over eight decades, including bebop great Tony Kinsey, Parliamentary Jazz Award winner Kate Williams, and rising star Tom Millar.
Way Out West staged more than 700 concerts from 2004 to 2020. The Riverhouse Barn is a lovely venue with excellent acoustics, a relaxed atmosphere and an outstanding piano. Today’s pair of concerts marks our return to active promotion in a celebration of the greatest influencer in jazz composition, Duke Ellington.
The Age of Ellington Part 1 – 4pm
Chris Biscoe and Pete Hurt – saxophones
Nick Mills – trombone
Kate Williams – piano
Dave Jones – bass
Gary Willcox – drums
https://www.facebook.com/wayoutwestjazz
http://www.kate-williams-quartet.com
https://www.chrisbiscoe.co.uk/videos.shtml
Part two – 7.30pm:
Tim Whitehead and Tony Woods – saxophones
Nette Robinson – voice
Tom Millar – piano
Dave Jones – bass
Gary Willcox – drums
https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/146169
Livestream: 17th April 2021 at 7.30 pm, London UK:
Neil Hamilton Memorial Concert which will featuring the Way out West Jazz Collective (with Special Guest Henry Lowther) and the Julian Costello Quartet.
Following the sad news of our friend Neil’s death from cancer towards the end of last year we are presenting an evening of music in his memory at the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton on 17th April.
Neil’s vision for the concert was to include fun, funky, uplifting music, so expect tunes by Stevie Wonder, Cannonball Adderley and exciting originals.
Way Out West: Tim Whitehead, Tony Woods, Tom Millar, Dave Jones, Gary Willcox with Special Guest Henry Lowther.
Julian Costello Quartet: Julian Costello, Patrick Naylor, Dave Jones, Eric Ford.
The concert will be streamed on Facebook. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/RiverhouseBarnArtsCentre/live_videos/
Please feel free to share the link and details of this event particularly with any friends of Neil’s who you think might like to share this special evening with us.
If you would like to donate to the St Raphael’s Charity that supported Neil in his final days here is the link:
https://www.straphaels.org.uk/donate/donate/10/credit-card
Please fill in the comments field when making your donation in memory of Neil.
We look forward to hearing from you all on Facebook Chat on the 17th of April at 7:30pm!
EFG London Jazz Festival Gigs – both Live and Livestream!
We are delighted to announce that we have two gigs during the EFG London Jazz Festival, both at the Riverhouse, Walton-on-Thames.
Friday 13th November 2020, 7.30pm, Riverhouse Barn, Walton-on-Thames: The Songs of Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is one of the most significant songwriters of the
20th/21st Century, for many reasons. He talks about love, childhood,
abuse of power, racism, compassion, religion, the malaise and the
contradictions of human behaviour. He communicates it with a passion
which is always optimistic, no matter how dark the subject. He also
grew up with jazz, even playing a spot with Duke Ellington as Little
Stevie Wonder.
We see this body of work as having the power and solidity of the
standard jazz repertoire: the song carries the narratives of improvising
jazz musicians, with our own responses to those statements and
assertions in his work. So we aim to approach the evening’s music at
the wonderful Riverhouse Barn in that spirit, embracing the world as it is
right now and the personalities of the musicians of The WayOutWest
collective, now in its 16th year of music making and presentation,
celebrating the human spirit. What better music to start with than that of
Stevie Wonder?
During the interval we’ll be streaming a short video by Way Out West member,
vocalist Emily Saunders.
Tim Whitehead – tenor sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet
Tony Woods – alto sax, soprano sax, alto clarinet
Nette Robinson – vocals
Tom Millar – piano
Gary Wilcox – drums
Dave Jones – double bass
Tickets: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/130633
Venue:
Riverhouse Barn
Manor Road
Walton-on-Thames
Surrey
KT12 2PF
Thursday 19th November 2020, 7.30pm, Riverhouse Barn, Walton-on-Thames: Music of Protest
For their second gig at Riverhouse as part of the LJF, Way Out West
presents ‘Music of Protest’. Drawing on the tradition of music with a
political content, the programme includes pieces by Charles Mingus,
Mike Westbrook, The Liberation Music Orchestra, Victor Jara and Leon
Rosselson in new instrumental settings.
Musicians from west London collective Way Out West plus guest Tony
Kofi present ‘Music of Protest’. Drawing on the tradition of music with a
political content, the programme includes pieces by jazz master and
activist Charles Mingus, a setting of William Blake’s poetry by Mike
Westbrook, material from the repertoire of The Liberation Music
Orchestra, instrumental versions of songs by Victor Jara, and from the
British folk tradition, Leon Rosselson’s ‘The World Turned Upside Down’,
which tells the story of The Diggers. In 1650 The Diggers (also known as
The Levellers) created their first collective on St George’s Hill, Walton on
Thames.
During the interval we’ll be streaming a short video by Way Out West
member, vocalist Emily Saunders.
Tony Kofi was twice BBC Jazz Musician of the Year, and has played
with David Murray, The World Saxophone Quartet, Andrew Hill, Sam
Rivers and Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and recorded with Ornette Coleman.
Other credits include several recordings under his own name, with Byron
Wallen, and with Chris Biscoe.
Kate Williams is a pianist and composer who has led several ensembles
of her own, ranging from a duo with the late Bobby Wellins to a septet
featuring Gareth Lockrane and Steve Fishwick. Her most recent album is
a collaboration between her band Four Plus Three (trio plus string
quartet) and Georgia Mancio. ‘Finding Home’ won Parliamentary Jazz
Award for best album in 2020.
Chris Biscoe has made many tours with Mike and Kate Westbrook, and
George Russell. He was also featured with the big bands of Hermeto
Pascoal and the New York Composers Orchestra. His own records
include explorations of the music of Eric Dolphy and Charles Mingus,
and ‘Wobbly Rail Five’ with tunes by Chris Biscoe and Pete Hurt.
Pete Hurt has toured and recorded with George Russell, Carla Bley,
Andy Sheppard and Stan Sulzmann. Pete is an exceptional composer
and arranger with two big band records to his credit: ‘Lost for Words’ and
‘A New Start’.
Chris Biscoe – saxes
Pete Hurt – saxes
Tony Kofi – saxes
Kate Williams – piano
Dave Jones – bass
Gary Willcox – drums
Tickets: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/riverhouse/event/view/130634
Venue:
Riverhouse Barn
Manor Road
Walton-on-Thames
Surrey
KT12 2PF
Lockdown Newsletters
Lockdown Newsletter #5, July 11th 2020
Hello,
Since we last wrote, there are now upcoming gigs by Tim Whitehead, Tom Millar, Nette Robinson and Tony Woods to tune into.
Tim Whitehead
I was awoken from a three month deep rural Shropshire slumber by our esteemed host Steve Rubie of the famous 606 Club, 90 Lots Rd Fulham, asking me to play live streamed from the club with my quartet on 11th July (tonight!) at 8pm, and in a moment I was transformed from a slightly confused observer of wild flowers, plentiful bird species, and rural boy racers (there are many) back to a music maker hungry for the next gig in an instant, willing to do battle with the one way systems, speed cameras and arcane road markings to make the gig in the great city of London.
So we have Sam Hooper (drums) and Andy Hamill (double bass, harmonica and various percussion devices capable of being played simultaneously with a double bass), who graced our winter tour with such complete musicianship and artistry, and guesting with us for the first time, the prodigious young pianist Will Barry. Our wonderful pianist Jonathan Gee has to sit this one out to safeguard his mother in law, the wonderful Penguin Cafe Orchestra cellist, Helen Leibman.
To complete the quartet, we have invited singer Hattie Whitehead back to the 606 for another family affair (some of you may remember the memorable Bacharach evening we played together last year).
For the modest fee of £4.99 you can view the live stream performance from the comfort of your laptop , which, after 3 months and 19 days of purdah, may be good value.
It will certainly be exhilarating for us to share what we have been cooking up in these 79 days of enforced retirement.
Guess the number of emails I get pointing out my errors and you win a CD.
Check out www.hattiewhitehead.com and ‘Ups And Downs’, “More Than That’ on Youtube
and my quartet on Youtube “Like Any Monday Morning” and “Heal The Soul” (are they related?) and “Winter Tour” taster.
Photos by George Boxley with thanks.
The 606 Club
www.606club.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7352 5953
https://www.606club.co.uk/membership-options/606-live-streaming/
Will we still get a lovely three course meal like before?Tom Millar
I will be playing a live-streamed gig on Wednesday 15th July for the City Music Foundation, in duo with formidable young tenor saxophonist Alex Hitchcock. This is my first performance since lockdown began so I’m really looking forward to it. I had a lot of fun rehearsing with Alex a couple of days ago.
We will play a mixture of compositions and standards for roughly an hour at 6pm, from the St. Pancras Clock Tower. I’ve heard there will be a lovely grand piano there. I hope that many of you can join.
Nette Robinson and Tony Woods
We’ve decided to do another Virtual Soiree, this time with a Summer Theme. It will be on Saturday 18th July at 7.30 pm live streamed on Nette Robinson’s YouTube Channel. We’ve already chosen the programme – some familiar songs and some less well known, but all with a connection to the summer time…
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxLZtTt3pyP7oGILrpZfovQ/live
In solidarity with Black Lives Matter we’ve decided to donate 50% of the profits from the concert to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. https://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/
If you’d like to hear our previous Virtual Soirees they’re still available on YouTube – you can view the first one here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXzUJIdsn8s&t=10052s
and the second one here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYlGkGwUjHg&t=2652s
If you’d like to contribute, (but obviously no obligation!) Click here:
https://paypal.me/netterobinson?locale.x=en_GB
It sounds as though things are gradually getting back to normal so hopefully we’ll see jazz clubs opening up soon!
Best wishes, Tony and Nette X
Finally – as a collective, we have decided to start putting on live-streamed gigs, hopefully from September. We are still working on the details and hope to let you know as soon as possible.
Way Out West has been putting on Jazz in West London for over 13 years and has become one of the cornerstones of the London jazz scene. We bring you new creative projects on the first Friday of the month at Cafe Posk in Hammersmith, as well as regular events at The Bull’s Head, Barnes.
The Collective features members who have played with Kenny Wheeler, Hermeto Pascoal, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Carleen Anderson, Frank Sinatra, Michael Brecker, Nucleus, Loose Tubes, Aretha Franklin, and Abdullah Ibrahim. You’ll hear a rich mix of four generations of jazz musicians who have come together to collaborate, experiment, and play music to surprise you.wowjazz.org
Lockdown Newsletter #4, July 2nd 2020
Dear all,
We’re delighted that Kate Williams has won best album at the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards!
Also members Dave Jones, Tom Millar, Tony Woods and Nette Robinson have live streamed gigs coming up, details below.
KATE WILLIAMS
Kate Williams’ Four Plus Three meets Georgia Mancio: Finding Home has just won Best Album at the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
Finding Home is a collection of songs, both originals and covers, newly arranged for voice, jazz trio and string quartet featuring guest John Williams on guitar for 2 tracks.
Kate Williams – piano
Georgia Mancio – voice
Oli Hayhurst – bass
David Ingamells – drums
John Garner – violin
Marie Schreer – violin
Francis Gallagher – viola
Sergio Serra – cello
John Williams – guitar
If you would like to support Kate and other musicians, please buy the album tomorrow (Friday) if possible – Bandcamp are again generously waiving their cut to support artists during the Coronavirus crisis. It’s Friday, Pacific Time, rather than UK (GMT) time so please use the link below:
https://isitbandcampfriday.com
Other WOW artists with albums on Bandcamp are:
Chris Biscoe https://chrisbiscoe.bandcamp.com
Tom Millar https://sparklabel.bandcamp.com/album/unnatural-events
Gary Willcox https://garywillcox.bandcamp.com/releases
Tim Whitehead https://squeakykate.bandcamp.com/album/tides
Tony Woods https://tonywoodsproject.bandcamp.com/releases
DAVE JONES
‘Jones Family Lockdown ‘3’ –
Livestream performance on Thursday July 9th at 8:00 pm featuring Madeleine Jones voice/keys, Meredith White voice/piano, Dave Jones electric bass, John Jones double bass/electric bass/drums.
Welcome to our “Jones Family Lockdown Gig 3”. Following the amazing feedback and support we received from our previous two live stream gigs we are really excited to be doing our third online performance. A massive thank you to those who watched the last gigs and reached out. Classic and modern jazz standards, latin and funk influences alongside original compositions plus unique reharmonisations and reworkings of some popular classics.
Madeleine Jones – vocals, keys & synth
Meredith White – piano & vocals
Dave Jones – electric & double bass
John Jones – drums, electric & double bass
Optional PayPal link: https://paypal.me/DaveJonesAffinity
Upcoming gigs from Tom Millar, Tony Woods and Nette Robinson to be featured in the next newsletter. Advance dates for your diary:
Wednesday, 15th July 2020, 6pm: Tom Millar and Alex Hitchcock
Saturday, 18th July 2020, 7.30pm: Tony Woods and Nette Robinson
Lockdown Newsletter #3, June 19th 2020
Despite loosening of lockdown in some areas, live events are in limbo, so here we have some news about online events and record releases.
At Way Out West we are looking forward to the time when public events are allowed again, but we will be using our own judgement to ensure that we re-open at a time safe for audiences and performers.
Here is a preview of forthcoming events from Dave Jones (this evening!), Tom Millar and archive film of Chris Biscoe with the Westbrook Trio.
Newsletters are also being posted on our website: http://www.wowjazz.org
Take care and the best of health to you all.
DAVE JONES
Jones Family Lockdown Getdown 2
Friday June 19th – 7:30 pm from our Music Room via Youtube Live.
Following the success of our family stream last month we felt we should keep the ball rolling with another live performance from our ‘music room’ with Meredith White – piano/voice, Madeleine Jones – keyboards/voice, John Jones – drums/double bass and Dave Jones – electric and double bass. A massive thank you to those who watched the last gig and reached out, tonight we will be playing a mixture of jazz, soul and funk with a few originals thrown into the mix.
The live stream link will be posted on Friday afternoon on this facebook event page so simply drop in to pick up the link before the stream goes live :
https://www.facebook.com/events/895734240838203/
Or email Dave directly and he will reply with the link: davejonesmusic@icloud.com
Given that last Sunday marked the third anniversary of the Grenfell disaster, we would like to give 50% of any donations received to The Grenfell Foundation which provides support to the former residents of Grenfell Tower, their families, dependents, and the local community. The spirit of our music is also in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Optional PayPal link: https://paypal.me/DaveJonesAffinity?locale.x=en_GB
https://grenfellfoundation.org.uk
CHRIS BISCOE
The Westbrook Trio was formed in 1983 with Mike Westbrook, Kate Westbrook and me. We started with an arsenal of instruments, including tuba, tenor horn, alto clarinet, baritone sax and two piccolos. Over the years the instrumentation was refined down to the essentials – piano, voice, sax. Here are some extracts from concerts in Cologne and St Etienne, France.
WestbrookJazz Notice Board
The Trio performance is number 8 on the notice board. Other films include Let the Slave and I See Thy Form from The Westbrook Blake.
If you want to follow up on my recent record releases go to
http://www.chrisbiscoe.co.uk or http://www.bandcamp.com
100% of receipts on all the bandcamp records is going to the charity Refuge.
June 16th Gone in the Air with Tony Kofi is released for download.
On June 19th bandcamp is contributing all fees to NAACP Legal Defence Fund.
Best wishes to you all, Chris
TOM MILLAR
I have a recording on Bandcamp, any of my royalties earned today (Friday 19th June) will go 100% to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and today Bandcamp is also contributing their entire cut to the NAACP Legal Defence Fund, as Chris mentioned above. Please search Tom Millar Quartet.
I’m very much looking forward to a live-streamed concert for the City Music Foundation, who are paying us a normal gig fee and using the stream to fundraise to support young musicians. I will be playing in duo with fabulous tenor saxophonist Alex Hitchcock, a combination of standards and originals. See here for more details: http://www.citymusicfoundation.org/events/clock-tower-series-live-broadcast-alex-hitchcock-tom-millar/ This concert will take place on Wednesday 15th July at 6pm, and I hope as many of you as possible can tune in!
Best wishes, Tom
Lockdown Newsletter #2, May 29th 2020
Despite loosening of lockdown in some areas, live events are in limbo.
Sadly, the performance at Jazz Café Posk on June 5th by the NTJO Nette Robinson & Tony Woods Jazz Orchestra has to be postponed. At Way Out West we are looking forward to the time when public events are allowed again, but we will be using our own judgement to ensure that we re-open at a time safe for audiences and performers.
In our first newsletter we told you about YouTube live events and record releases.
Here you can discover Kate Williams with Pete Whittaker in an organ/piano duo, and Emily Saunders’ news, including advance notice of a new album release.
Newsletters are also being posted on our website: www.wowjazz.org
Take care and the best of health to you all.
KATE WILLIAMS
Since lockdown, my time has been divided between growing veg, practicing, online teaching, and walking through the least populated bits of our local park. The decrease in road and air traffic has made us much more aware of birds and their song this year. Our most recent discovery is a group of mistle thrushes – a tonic for the soul!
I’ve just finished a duo recording/video with organist Pete Whittaker (my husband). We were invited to do this by Birmingham Jazz and you can watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9JSH8EZ6D4&feature=emb_title
Other news is that my most recent CD ‘Finding Home’ with Georgia Mancio has been nominated in the best album category at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2020, and Georgia is nominated for best singer. The winners will be announced at end of June.
Finding Home short promo
….and of course you can listen/buy here: https://katewilliams.bandcamp.com/
Stay safe and well everyone, Kate
EMILY SAUNDERS
Since lockdown I’ve been going through the ebb & flow that many of us are experiencing in this ’new normal’.. awaiting the ‘old normal’ to return, and wondering how it will inevitably need to come back in a different guise.. the ‘new old normal’.. or the ‘old new normal’.. or just the ‘new normal v2’..
In reaching out and catching up, I’ve enjoyed the space in time to focus on new material, yet whilst being in this restricted environment I’m reminded of when I was in my own personal lockdown a year back – when physically ill and unable to use my limbs fully. Somehow, even though this is a terrible time for many, strangely for me it’s easier as I’ve been here before, and at least now I can work at home, as my body is working fully. I suppose we all know at different times, how every journey is personal. Aside from my at home experience, my heart extends so much to those who’ve lost family in this awful time of a world pandemic – which sadly my family has experienced too.
Somehow in this time we all look forwards, and focus on how fortunate we are – the sun has been shining more powerfully throughout with bluer skies than we’ve seen for a long time, and the birds are singing louder than ever, in the relief of less noise and air pollution. It’s quite amazing to see how quickly nature and beauty can bounce back, if we give it the space to do so.
So back to what I’m doing at mo 🙂 music is very much core – I’m forever focusing on vocal developments, writing new tunes, battling with lockdown weight-gain via an exercise bike, and finishing my long-awaited 3rd album which is going to mix in about a week (with full social distancing:). We’re also planning the schedule for its release alongside a celebration gig in 2021 which we hope will be a big welcome-back party – more info on my website will be coming soon: emilysaunders.co.uk In the meantime do have a listen to my music on https://open.spotify.com/artist/5NAKODnitrTr99wt3SR6Qf
Looking forward to seeing you all soon when WOW returns soon to present its varied and vibrant repertoire – sending thoughts and love to you all in music! Emily
Lockdown Newsletter #1, May 12th 2020
Dear Way Out West supporters,
You already know that live jazz, like all other arts events involving audiences and collective performance, is shut down. At present there’s no way of knowing when we might emerge from this situation, but it seems certain not to be before September.
Sadly, the performance at Jazz Café Posk on June 5th by the NTJO (Nette Robinson & Tony Woods Jazz Orchestra) has to be postponed. At Way Out West we are looking forward to the time when public events are allowed again, but we will be using our own judgement to ensure that we re-open at a time safe for audiences and performers.
Meanwhile, there are some concerts on YouTube Live by our ‘family bands’ involving Nette, Tony and Dave Jones, and record releases from Chris Biscoe. More on those below.
Take care and the best of health to you all.
‘Jones Family Lockdown Getdown!’
Wednesday May 13th 8:00pm
Join US!! Meredith, Dave, Madeleine and John on Wednesday 13th for a live stream gig in celebration of Dave’s birthday. We will perform some jazz and soul classics (artists such as Herbie Hancock & Stevie Wonder) and we will be live from 8pm. Be great to feel connected to everyone again and only donate if and what you feel like.
Information and stream links to be posted on our Facebook pages very soon, here is a link to the event page. https://www.facebook.com/events/697747224351736/?active_tab=about
https://www.facebook.com/dave.jones.31521301?eid=ARCHEoRz3fn2eSV24FhxlKFDCBBFYZ2w-unzCRIVHYjFdcj8TnYUJoUJW9sGQfGgSeq51CYwUxp6CEMh or email me directly on davejonesmusic@icloud.com for the link to the event.
Hope to see you! Dave.
NETTE ROBINSON & TONY WOODS
Nette and Tony will be performing a concert on 16th May – Live Streamed on YouTube. They have been performing as a Duo for several years, with a diverse repertoire that includes Jazz Standards, Originals, settings of poetry, Russian Folk songs, Stevie Wonder…
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYlGkGwUjHg
They’ll go live from 7.00 pm and music will start at 7.30. (NB Sometimes takes a little while to go live.) Please say Hello to them in the chat – really helps to feel someone is there!
If the link doesn’t work you can just go to Nette’s YouTube Channel- click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxLZtTt3pyP7oGILrpZfovQ or just search for Nette Robinson on YouTube.
If you want to contribute, (but you don’t have to!) please send Tony an email – thetonywoods@gmail.com or Nette’s paypal is: https://www.paypal.com/webapps/shoppingcart?flowlogging_id=3441716bb6855&mfid=1586985286500_3441716bb6855#/checkout/openButton
Best wishes, Tony
CHRIS BISCOE
I’ve been pursuing the never-ending incremental business, otherwise known as practicing, of improving a craft I’ve been engaged in for around half a century, while enjoying some walks in the park, fruitless scanning of the sky for the Perseids, making baby steps at a language I should have worked on long ago. I have found I need to take a different approach to improvisation on the clarinet (my second instrument) and saxophone. For me, clarinet demands more purely mechanical practice to open up the vistas I need to improvise. So I’m hoping to develop that side of my alto clarinet playing.
As an over 70 year old in virtual lockdown I know that I’m taking more than I’m receiving, and that some of the younger players I work with will have it much harder than me. With no opportunity of selling CDs on gigs, releasing recordings for download is a useful alternative. I’m involved in 3 releases on bandcamp in which 50% of the receipts go to charities (Refuge for victims of domestic violence and Medecins sans Frontieres), the remaining money to musicians and engineers. You can find out more at my website www.chrisbiscoe.co.uk or follow these links:
https://chrisbiscoe.bandcamp.com/album/wobbly-rail-five
https://chrisbiscoe.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-campus-west
https://johnpope.bandcamp.com/album/unforseen
Thanks for reading this and take care, Chris
2020 Gigs
DEAR ALL – WE HAVE DECIDED TO POSTPONE/CANCEL ALL GIGS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. STAY SAFE AND KEEP WASHING THOSE HANDS!
POSTPONED Friday 3rd April @ POSK – Way Out West – Stevie in Wonderland
The WayOutWest Allstars present newly minted arrangements of the best songs of one of the greatest song writers of the late 20th Century, Stevie Wonder, whose work has moulded the development of popular music and whose influence stretches across the boundaries of music.
- Tim Whitehead – tenor and soprano saxes
- Tony Woods – alto and soprano saxes
- Emily Saunders – vocals
- Kate Williams – piano
- Dave Jones – double and electric basses
- Gary Wilcox – drums.
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
POSTPONED Friday 1st May @ POSK – Way Out West – May Day: The Songs of Protest
A traditional spring holiday in many cultures, May Day was chosen as International Workers Day in the late 19th Century and has since been associated with struggles for rights and equality.
This evening will feature a wide range of protest songs from American jazz standards of the 1930’s to more contemporary material.
- Nette Robinson – voice
- Emily Saunders – voice
- Chris Biscoe – sax
- Tony Woods – sax
- Kate Williams – piano
- Dave Jones – bass
- Gary Willcox – drums
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
Friday 5th June @ POSK – NTJO – Nette and Tony’s Jazz Orchestra
An exciting and outstanding big band led by Tony Woods and Nette Robinson. The NTJO presents reworkings of Tony’s compositions, originally written for his band the “Tony Woods Project”, arranged by both Tony Woods and Nette Robinson and featuring an all-star line up.
Critics have raved about Tony’s music –
“European sensibility and American grooves united” (Jazz Uk)
“Combines a jazz edge with the melodic zest of folk… delightful” (BBC Radio 3)
“Full of surprises” **** (the Guardian)
“Woods is phenomenal” (BBC Music Magazine)
“Definitely Jazz for the 21st Century” (Jazz Journal)
- Nette Robinson – vocals
- Tony Woods, Tim Whitehead, Pete Hurt, Martin Dunsdon, Chris Biscoe – saxophones
- Andy Gibson – trumpet
- Nick Mills – trombone
- Mike Outram – guitar
- Rob Millett – percussion
- Andy Hamill – bass
- Milo Fell – drums
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
Past Gigs
Friday 6th March @ POSK – Way Out West – Horace Silver + Blue Note Tribute
Way Out West presents an evening of music from legendary jazz pianist/composer Horace Silver. Silver started his career in the bebop idiom but soon formed a band with Art Blakey that would lead to the start of Hard Bop(that band later became the Jazz Messengers). The 1st set concentrates on Silver’s prolific writing from the mid fifties to mid sixties where his compositions have become staple jazz repertoire. The 2nd set is from Silver’s later work, the award winning 1996 album ‘The Hardbop Grandpop’.
- Martin Shaw – Trumpet
- Nick Mills – Trombone
- Pete Hurt, Chris Biscoe – saxes
- Tom Millar – piano
- Dave Jones – bass
- Gary Willcox – drums
7th February 2020 @ POSK – Way Out West – My Funny Valentine: Love Themes
Celebrate Valentine’s Day a week early, as Way Out West previews the day with a mixture of songs including the classic My Funny Valentine and other standard tunes with original compositions from members of WOW and the wider jazz repertoire. Featuring Tim Whitehead, Nick Mills and Emily Saunders amongst others.
- Pete Hurt, Tim Whitehead – saxophones
- Nick Mills – trombone
- Tom Millar – piano
- Dave Jones – bass
- Gary Willcox – drums
- Emily Saunders – voice
11th January 2020 @ POSK – Pete Hurt Jazz Orchestra: 70th Birthday Big Band Bash
The Pete Hurt Jazz Orchestra returns to the Posk to celebrate Pete’s 70th birthday. The all-star band will be playing selections from the 2015 album “A New Start” plus several new pieces. There may be some guests sitting in with the band so come and join the fun!
- Tori Freestone, Tony Woods, Josephine Davies, Bob McCay – reeds
- Jim Rattigan – french horn
- John Barclay, Robbie Robson Henry Lowther – trumpets
- Nick Mills, Martin Gladish, Andy Lester – trombones
- Dave Powell – tuba
- Kate Williams – piano
- Nick Costley-White – guitar
- Andy Cleyndert – bass
- Jon Scott – drums
- Pete Hurt – arm-waving
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
17th January 2020 @ POSK – Way Out West – Gunslinging Bird
Charles Mingus wrote: If Charlie Parker were a gunslinger there’d be a whole lot of dead copycats. Tonight: no copycats, just music.
Dead at 34, the most influential musician of the bebop era, the most important alto saxophonist in jazz, creator of crystal clear lines at any tempo, the legend of Charlie Parker grew so that on his death ‘Bird Lives’ appeared on walls worldwide. Way Out West collective presents instrumental and vocal music by and about Charlie Parker.
- Nette Robinson – vocals
- Tony Woods, Chris Biscoe, Pete Hurt, Tim Whitehead -saxophones
- Nick Mills – trombone
- Kate Williams – piano
- Dave Jones – bass
- Gary Willcox – drums.
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/492930/
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
December 18th 2019 @ Bull’s Head – Way Out West – “XMAS Presence”
Tonight’s exciting concert presents an evening of XMAS standards both well known, and also lesser known traditional festive music re-worked in the usual style of the amazing Way Out West Jazz Collective.
- Tom Millar – piano
- Dave Jones – bass
- Pete Hurt – tenor sax
- Chris Biscoe – saxes
- Tim Whitehead – saxes
- Tony Woods – saxes
- Gary Wilcox – drums
- Nette Robinson – vocals
October 4th 2019 @ Cafe POSK – Emily Saunders – “All As One”
International renowned and critically acclaimed vocalist, composer, and broadcaster, Emily Saunders takes the stage by storm, leading an exceptional band of stellar musicians through her original songs. As a socially conscious wordsmith, many of her songs reflect on society, the fragility of people and the strength of connectivity, establishing her not only as a rhythmically inventive jazz vocalist, but a supremely talented songwriter. Her latin-infused, hip swaying groove ooze hazy sunshiny days and hot sultry nights, with driving baselines, splashes of spoken word, and edges of drum ’n bass (“UK’s Queen of Jazz Fusion” Snowboy) pronounce Saunders as “one for the dance jazz clubs” (Gilles Peterson BBC radio 6).
- Emily Saunders – Voice
- Byron Wallen – Trumpet
- Chris Jerome – Keys
- Paul Michael – Bass
- Eric Ford – Drums
‘Absolutely brilliant’ – Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio2
‘Fast Rising Brit Jazz Talent’ – Metro
‘Next big thing’ – Evening Standard
“Classy vocals.. hugely talented…much panache” Echoes
‘Musicality, poise and ingenuity – Saunders is the real deal’ – The Guardian
‘a soundworld both unified and unique – highly impressive’ – The Arts Desk
‘One for the jazz dance clubs’ – Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio6
‘Jazz album of the year so far’ – The Independent
“Superb new talent everyone’s talking about..It’s got energy it got effervescence it’s got everything” Jazz Fm
‘The outrageously good Emily Saunders. An extraordinary talent’ – JazzFM
Evening Standard★★★★ The Independent★★★★ The Guardian★★★★ The Arts Desk★★★★
emilysaunders.co.uk
twitter.com/emilysounds
facebook.com/emilysaundersesb
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
November 16th 2019 @ Cafe POSK – Blue Notes and 50 years of British Jazz
Way Out West is a collective of jazz musicians based around west London. Formed in 2004, it has promoted over 600 gigs in 10 different venues. Uniquely among London jazz collectives it is multi-generational, with members ages ranging from 20 to 90+, and this is reflected in the range of music played.
The concert is a double bill, with an opening set by a sextet playing arrangements by trombonist Nick Mills drawn from great Blue Note recordings by Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard.
In contrast, the second half starts with a taste of cross-cultural exchange – music from The European Quartet – the great collaboration between Jan Garbarek and Keith Jarrett.
The main part evening draws on the rich tradition of compositions by British based composers including Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Mike Westbrook and Mike Gibbs, plus contemporary works by members of Way out West including Pete Hurt and Kate Williams. New arrangements feature a variety of line-ups from duo to eleven piece.
The concert is probably the first to feature such a cross section of British jazz compositions of the last 50 years. Several of the musicians involved have worked and recorded with these composers and bring their personal experience to the celebration of originality and innovation which these writers brought to the jazz scene.
- Kate Williams and Tom Millar (piano)
- Nette Robinson and Emily Saunders (voice)
- Gary Willcox (drums)
- Mick Sexton (bass)
- Nick Mills (trombone)
- Chris Biscoe, Pete Hurt, Tim Whitehead, Tony Woods (saxes and woodwind)
- Guests: Steve Fishwick and Robbie Robson (trumpet); Oli Hayhurst (bass)
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £15 on the door, £12 in advance and concession, £5 students
November 20th 2019 @ Bull’s Head – Way Out West – “The Europeans – Songs and Landscapes” – EFG London Jazz Festival 2019
Tonight’s exciting concert presents an evening of great jazz realising European themes and connections with Nette Robinson singing songs composed by great European jazz artists with Tim Whitehead and Tony Woods on saxophones fronting a band with a truly international rhythm section, featuring Italian pianist Giovanni Mirabassi alongside Dave Jones on bass and Gary Wilcox on drums.
Venue & tickets – The Bull’s Head, Barnes
373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, SW13 9PY
Gig starts at 8:00 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
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Way Out West gigs are at the following venues
Venue & tickets – The Bull’s Head, Barnes
373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, SW13 9PY
Gig starts at 8:00 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
Venue & tickets – Cafe POSK, Hammersmith
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, W6 0RF
Gig starts at 8:30 pm
Tickets: £12 on the door, £10 in advance and concession, £5 students
Way Out West 
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