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Date: Thursday 22 May

Matt Owens: Keys

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St Ann's Church

Matt Owens bass / Kirsty Almeida vocals / John Ellis piano & keyboards / Richards Wetherall piano & keyboards / Rick Weedon drums & percussion 

Matt Owens’ suite Keys explores writing for two keyboard instruments in combination with bass percussion and vocals. It was premiered in the 2014 manchester jazz festival. This year’s performance will coincide with the release of the studio recording of the work. 

Matt Owens’ music has featured in films such as four times BAFTA Award winning film Patagonia, Best Christmas Ever and BIFA double-nominated film Albatross. Matt’s compositions have featured on a wealth of TV programmes around the world, including Top Gear, EastEnders and the hit TV series Arrow. His bass playing and arranging provides the foundation for many established artists’ recordings and live projects. 

In 2015 Matt released his debut album The Aviators’ Ball, combining a jazz quartet with a classical wind quartet. The album was critically acclaimed, described as “one of the most gorgeous albums you’ll hear this year” (Echoes Magazine) and featured BBC Folk Award Vocalist if the Year Ríoghnach Connolly. It still receives regular air play on France’s national radio station FIP. 

Highly regarded performances of Matt’s compositions include the 2009 Manchester Jazz Commission Ten, his 2014 suite Keys for two keyboard instruments (including St Ann’s mighty church organ), bass and vocals and the 22-piece Latin big band La Gran Descarga which had everyone on their feet for concerts at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Salford’s Lowry Theatre. 

Date: thursday 22 may

Time: 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm

Price: £9.50

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The Sam Lightwing Quintet

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Matt and Phreds

Sam Lightwing alto saxophone / Will Bird trumpet / Ethan Gillespie piano / Pete Hartley bass / Calum Montgomery drums 

The Sam Lightwing Quintet brings together five graduates of the Royal Northern College of Music. 

The group draws on inspiration from all periods of jazz (think Chick Corea, Joshua Redman and Herbie Hancock), as well as unique arrangements of standards, and some Latin, funk, and blues tunes for good measure! The group has a fundamental appreciation for improvisation and that is at the fore for this evening. 

 

Doors: 6 pm 

Happy Hour: 6 pm – 8 pm 

Call 0161 273 5495 to reserve a table 

Date: thursday 22 may

Time: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Price: Free

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Deems Experiment

Band on the Wall (Copper Bar Stage)

Aondoyima (Deems) Ioratim-Uba keyboards, synthesizer / Tristan Cole guitar / Marcus Gee bass / Stan Glendinning drums / Gus Palmer percussion  

Deems Experiment is a group of Bristol based composers and instrumentalists led by keyboardist Aondoyima (Deems) Ioratim-Uba, who was born in Nigeria and grew up in Manchester. Their style blends elements of jazz, classical music, hip hop, and math rock.  

In 2019 Deems moved to Bristol to do a PhD in physics, where he met drummer and electronic music producer Stan Glendinning (aka ELGAN) through the revived and thriving post-covid music scene. The two started Deems Experiment, initially as jams in Stan’s living room with their fellow bandmates. Since then, they have shared the stage with international acts Sly5thAve and Editrix and launched their first single, Bonus Onion, and their debut EP Active Matter. 

Date: thursday 22 may

Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Price: Free

Giulia Marrow with the Flawd House Band

Flawd

Giulia Marro vocals & clarinet / Bim Williams guitar / Andy Patterson double bass / Ruben Sheridan drums  

Rising star of the UK jazz scene, clarinet player and vocalist Giulia Marro will be releasing her fully original debut album in March 2025. 

Having studied under jazz heavyweights at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Conservatoire The Hague (Benjamin Herman and Mike Williams), Giulia’s playing is steeped in tradition and inspired by the reflections of Barney Bigard and Jimmy Giuffre. 

Giulia has led bands at popular jazz venues across the UK and captivates audiences with her warm, vibrato-filled clarinet playing, inspired by clarinet greats Barney Bigard and Artie Shaw. Giulia is also a vocalist and takes inspiration from the likes of Anita O’Day, Carmen McRae and many more. 

As well as being an accomplished band leader, Giulia has also performed alongside Pete Horsfall and Xhosa Cole. 

Tonight she is joined by the Flawd House Band for a selection of her originals and favourite standards. 

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Date: thursday 22 may

Time: 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Price: Free

James Pearson Trio plays Oscar Peterson

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Forsyth Music Shop

James Pearson piano / Arnie Somogyi double bass / Sebastien de Krom drums 

James Pearson returns to the Forsyth piano showroom after sold out performances in both 2022 and 2023, as he delivers his tribute to arguably the most successful jazz pianist of all time: Oscar Peterson.  

Coming from humble roots and going on to achieve international stardom with countless accolades to his name, Peterson’s notorious prowess at the keyboard can still astound to this day. With rapid octave passages and seemingly impossible sequences of block chords, he made the piano sound more like a big band.

In James Pearson’s show, you will hear some of Oscar’s compositions and versions of jazz standards, fused with anecdotes (from a highly amusing first encounter) and historical facts. James’s own style of playing has been compared with Peterson’s: the Evening Standard said of his performance at Ronnie Scott’s, “Oscar would have loved it”. 

James Pearson is a pianist, composer, creative tour de force, and the Artistic Director at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, where his trio is the house band.  

But James is equally at home as a concert pianist. He has played concertos with the Philharmonia and the BBC Concert Orchestra; his performance of Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano Concerto was broadcast on Classic FM and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto and Rhapsody in Blue on BBC Radio 2.  

James’ many collaborators include Dame Cleo Laine, Marian Montgomery, Petula Clark, The John Wilson Orchestra, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Buddy Greco, Johnny Griffin, Richard Rodney Bennett, Ray Davies, Polly Gibbons, Nigel Kennedy, Robbie Williams, Rufus Wainwright, Gregory Porter, Imelda May, Jeff Beck and Paul McCartney. 

The performance starts at 7.30.

 

Date: thursday 22 may

Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Price: £25 (includes a glass of Prosecco)

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Mammal Hands + support

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Band on the Wall (The Venue)

Jordan Smart saxophone / Nick Smart piano / Rob Turner drums 

Mammal Hands formed in Norwich in 2012 and quickly gained a reputation for their hypnotic fusion of jazz and electronica. They signed to Gondwana Records in 2013 and have released 5 critically acclaimed albums since, the most recent being Gift from the Trees in 2023. Their instantly recognisable sound has received glowing recommendations from tastemakers Tom Ravenscroft, Bonobo, Jamie Cullum and Gilles Peterson. 

Their intense and mesmerising performances have earned them a strong reputation as a live band and have enabled them to tour extensively, performing in Japan, China, USA, Thailand and across Europe.  

Landmark live performances have included shows at The Barbican London, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, Montreux Jazz Festival, Köln Philharmonie, La Cigale Paris, Montreal Jazz Festival, Athens Technopolis and Unit Tokyo. 

With a broad array of influences, Mammal Hands takes inspiration from jazz, contemporary classical, electronica, folk and minimalism to create their own inimitable style that has captured the imagination of a loyal following across the globe. They are currently working on their 6th studio album and continuing to tour. 

“Looping piano phrases, hushed complex fluid drumming, and emboldened, fervent sax, carve captivating dramatic visual melodies. This panoramic music is fresh fruit for the imagination.” – Jazz Revelations 

Photography Credit: Iryna Bilyk

Doors: 7.30 pm 

Support Act: 8 pm 

Mammal Hands: 9 pm 

Date: thursday 22 may

Time: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Price: £21 advance, £23 full price

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