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Croydon Jazz Festival

We regret that we have not been advised of a Croydon Jazz Festival taking place this year.

Jazznet were sponsors of the festival in 2008 & 9

Below are some of the Jazz and Blues musicians who performed at the 2008 & 9 Croydon Jazz Festival.
Croydon Jazz Festival
Croydon Jazz & Blues Festival 2009Croydon Jazz & Blues Festival 2009

The Croydon Jazz & Blues Festival 2009

Events took place in the following venues:

The Ashcroft Theatre Fairfield Halls, Croydon.

Street Enterntainment, North End, Croydon.

The Green Dragon, 58 - 60 High Street, Croydon.

The Brief, 48 - 50 George Street, Croydon.

Croydon Clocktower - Braithwaite Hall, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine St, Croydon,

The Lord Napier, 111 Beulah Road, Thornton Heath.

The Bull Inn, Chelsham Common, Warlingham, CR6

The Tree House, 78 South End, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1DP

The Reconciliation DJ's

The Reconciliation DJ's. Brian Smith & Eddie McCalla play a selection of classic Jazz tracks.
The Reconciliation DJ's
Music on North End Stage

Richard Madgwick Trio

Richard Madgwick has mainly worked in UK & Western Europe for the past 20 years. Regular bands have included Andy McIntosh's 'Lipslide' & the Lloyd Ryan Qrt. Member of resident band at the Gun in Croydon for 12 years. Has also appeared with many of UK's leading jazz artists. Over the past five years has worked a good deal with jazz vocalists.
Music on North End Stage
Croydon Clocktower - Braithwaite Hall

Arun Ghosh


Described in Jazzwise magazine as 'highly animated' with 'indisputable stage presence', clarinettist Arun Ghosh brings his passionate, Indo-Jazz sound to the Clocktower, showcasing new material alongside tracks from his critically acclaimed 2008 debut album Northern Namaste.

Click Here to Visit Arun Ghosh
Croydon Clocktower - Braithwaite Hall
North End Stage

Big Beer Band

Whether playing a Count Basie-style swing number or the latest arrangement from the US, the infectious beat and pervasive good feeling will delight any audience. There is no shortage of jazz talent within its ranks and many of the players have been written up in the press as being the stars of their particular instruments. The crucial difference is that in one form or another they have been playing together for more than 15 years.


Click here or on image to visit the Big Beer Band website
North End Stage
Croydon North End and Whitgift Centre

London Jazz Kings

The London Jazz Kings street band will be walking around Croydon North End and The Whitgift Centre for your entertainment.
Croydon North End and Whitgift Centre
The Brief

Kocoa Browne & The Fusionnaires

As an originals band we have been playing our distintive mix of jazz, soul funk and blues all over the UK for the past 5 years. We have an eclectic sound that comes from a wide range . .
Influences. As an 8-piece band are influences are world-wide

Click here or on image to view video
The Brief
North End Stage again

Geoff Mason - Roland Lacey Quintet


This Band is definitely for those people who enjoy the music of the Blue Note era, that period just after the bebop revolution when Horace Silver, Clifford Brown etc. were writing some of the best jazz themes ever.



Click here or on image for information about the Geoff Mason - Rolad Lacey Quintet
North End Stage again
The Green Dragon
Brandon Allen

Hard blowing Aussie saxophonist plays classic hard bop in the Blue Note style with a fine band featuring superb pianist Tim Lapthorn, bassist Arnie Somogyi and drummer Matt Holme.

The Green Dragon
The Brie PH
Harambe + guests

Exploding onto the UK music scene in 2002, Harambe began life as a loose affiliation of musicians centred around founder member and bassist Karl Clews. Their early self-funded releases displayed a wide range of influences, from the classic 70s soul of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder and the jazz of Miles and Herbie, through the New Orleans funk of the Meters, to Prince, 80s Britfunk and 90s acid-jazz. In 2003 the band released their debut album, 'Roots', through Universal, to critical acclaim.

Click here or on image to view video
The Brie PH
The Brief Croydon
Jessi Markee + guests

Jessi Markee is an up and coming singer/songwriter with a great band supporting their amazing portfolio of songs. Since being signed to Kameleon Records in December 2005, Jessi Markee has recorded an EP, and with its success, she has been touring her songs throughout venues in and around London.

Click here or on image to visit Jessie Markee Website

The Brief Croydon
Ashcroft Theatre

Phil Singleton & The Dave Markee Jazz Collective

This year the Croydon Jazz Festival has commissioned composer and trumpet player Phil Singleton to write a new piece especially for us. Line up is Chloe Potter (alto), Tim Ower (tenor), Shane Hill (guitar), Dave Markee (bass) and Paul Cavacuitti (drums).

Click here or on image to visit Phil Singleton web site
Ashcroft Theatre
Brief
Asaf Sirkis - Jazz Workshop


Asaf is a drummer and composer. He lives in London and leads his own projects - 'Inner Noise' and Asaf Sirkis Trio.

Click here or on image to visit Asaf Sirkis Website
Brief
Auberge Resturant & Bar
Dave Markee Jazz Collective

Dave Markee is a world-renowned bass player who has recorded and toured with musicians & artists such as Eric Clapton, Henry Mancini (Pink Panther), Leo Sayer, Joan Armatrading, Rolling Stones, The Who, Frank Zappa, Faith Hill...(to name but a few).


Auberge Resturant & Bar
The Brief Blues Night
Ron Trueman Border + Ant Law

Ron Trueman-Border has gained an enviable reputation as one of the folk and acoustic scene's most popular singer/songwriters.

Perhaps it is because he writes such accessible choruses, so enthusiastically received by his
audiences, that everyone feels an empathy with the lyrics. Many musicians, having heard his songs, are covering them and have progressed to recording them too. It has been said by many, that Ron is a gifted writer, but he is also an extremely talented guitarist ulti-instrumentalist and accomplished singer able to convey a sense of fun one minute and sheer emotion the next.

Ckick here or on image to visit Ron Trueman Website
The Brief Blues Night
The Green Dragon Bar

'Crosstown Lightnin'

"the cowboy, the punk and the queens of funk"

Featuring Buffalo Bill Smith on harp and Charles Shaar Murray on slide guitar with rhythm provided by JoJo and Dee.

(Charles Shaar Smith is an esteemed music writer as well as guitarist, and Bill has a huge blues career behind him, as well as being a widely exhibited painter. The girls are from New York and have worked with the best in the business....)

Click here or on image to watch video
The Green Dragon Bar
The Lord Napier

The New Delta Big Band
The Lord Napier
Music at The Brief
Paul Cox Blues Band + The Loudness!

Paul's live performances never disappoint try and catch him if you can.

Click here or on image to visit Paul Cox Website
Music at The Brief
The Green Dragon Jazz Club

Josephine Davies

Josephine studied classical and jazz saxophone at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, whilst there winning the 1999 Perrier Young Jazz Award with a quintet led by trumpeter Tom Allan.

She has since performed and recorded with the London Jazz Orchestra, Ronnie Scott's Vanguard Band, Jamie Cullum, Georgie Fame, Sax Appeal, Vortex Foundation Band, Will Young, Laurence Cottle Big Band, Gareth Lockrane's Groove Yard, Matt Wates sextet as well as a two year stint in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Whilst being a regular member of various groups, Josephine also leads her own quintet performing original music. She is influenced and inspired by myriad sources, among them Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, Walt Weiskopf and John Coltrane.

Click here or on image to visit Josephine Davies website
The Green Dragon Jazz Club
The Bull Chelsham

Tres Geezers Blues Band

Guitarist/Vocalist- Ryk Mead:

Bassist / Vocalist - Mick Hawksworth:

Drummer / Vocalist- Chris Sharly:

Now together they are TRES GEEZERS, a TOUR DE FORCE.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE BULL INN
The Bull Chelsham
North End Croydon


Quentin Collins / Brandon Allen Quartet

Postgraduate from the Guildhall School (London). He has recorded with Michael Garrick on the 'Peter Pan Suite' and 'Big Band Harriot', with Dylan Howe on 'This Is It' (OT Records) and with Basil Hodge on 'My Guardian Angel'. He has also recorded with many commercial bands like 'Basement Jaxx' and '4hero'

North End Croydon
Braithwaite Hall Croydon

Stan Tracey


Born December 1926 in London. Became a professional musician at 16. In 1950's worked with Eddie Thompson, Kenny Baker, Tony Crombie, Ronnie Scott. 1957-59 worked with Ted Heath. 1960-67 house pianist at Ronnie Scott's backing many US musicians including Zoot Simms, Ben Webster, Sonny Rollins. His own quartet formed in the mid 60's first included Bobby Wellins, Peter King & Trevor Watts. Since the 70's he has played in Europe & Australia. As well as solo he has led his own bands through all sizes up to big band. Throughout his career he has been a prolific composer, writing over 20 commissions and music for forty of his own albums. His first work "Under Milk Wood" inspired by Dylan Thomas's radio play of the same title, is widely recognised as a masterpiece. A number of suites for big bands followed. Over the years Stan's music and playing has attracted a host of accolades and awards, the most prestigious of which was receiving the OBE in 1986 in recognition of his services to British jazz. In spring 2002, he takes his 11 piece orchestra on the road to celebrate his 75th birthday. The tour premieres a new suite, 'Continental Drift', written jointly with his son Clark. The music depicts places they've gigged together : China, South America & Africa. To coincide with this tour, Faber Music has chosen Stan's work to kick-start its foray into jazz publishing, and is issuing selected scores from his back catalogue.

Braithwaite Hall Croydon
The Brief Music

Four Kornerz, plus Dee Nyoni in support.



The Brief  Music
Croydon North End

Avivia - 9 piece Latin Band

Born out of the vision of trumpeter, Tony Dudley, this nine-piece band has created the perfect atmosphere for many successful music festivals and venues. Performing the very best in latin jazz; sparkling, exciting and suffused with sunshine, AVIVA combines cool jazz and hot, infectious rhythms of latin America. The Guardian critic described AVIVA as "hard-hitting, horn-charged latin.




Croydon North End
Green Dragon Croydon for Premier Jazz


Richard Madgwick Trio + American Saxophonist - Bob Martin

Bob Martin is widely regarded as one of the finest alto saxophonists in the world today. Bob, who hails from Atlantic City, USA studied at Berklee College before going on the road as one of the featured saxophonists in the great Buddy Rich Big Band, with whom he toured and recorded extensively. After leaving Buddy Rich, he worked with various groups and also formed his own quartet. appearing at many of the famous jazz clubs throughout the USA. Bob decided to move to the UK and took up residence in London in 1998 and quickly established himself here as featured soloist in many bands, such as Frank Griffith Nonet and Gordon Wellard's Sextet as well as guesting in many of the Big Bands around. Bob Martin is a wonderfully fluent and inventive alto sax player in the classic hard bop style with superb technique and control of the instrument. He has been compared to some of the 'greats' such as Sonny Stitt and Richie Cole but has developed his own unique sound and style. Bob has released a number of CD's as solo artist, his last being recorded in New York with his American band. For this evening's performance, Bob is joined by one of the most dynamic pianists on the scene- Tim Lapthorn, who is now one of the most in-demand musicians around. Completing the rhythm section are Dave Whitford (double bass) and Matt Home (drums) who are two of the best around. If you enjoy your jazz 'hot' then this will be the place to be at the end of June.

"One of the most impressive players in Europe". Steve Rubie, 606 Club.
"The alto sax firebrand from Atlantic City". Jack Massarik, Evening Standard.



Green Dragon Croydon for Premier Jazz
Jazz at The Brief

Mark Huggett's Band

The Skamonics

Visit The Skamonics Website
Jazz at The Brief
Croydon North End Event


Pete Downes PD3

Pete Downes is one of those incredible talents that only surfaces once in a blue moon. Completely self taught, he is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s leading guitarists in the modern jazz fusion genre. Already established on the jazz scene in the UK and Italy with a string of regular appearances culminating with a packed audience at Glastonbury Festival where they played the Jazz Lounge.

With influences that cover such a wide spectrum as Pat Metheny to Jimi Hendrix their first album “Street Scene” caught the attention of Jazzwise, Jazz FM and critic praise from The Guardian, The Observer and many other Radio Stations and newspapers. The eagerly awaited follow up album “Into The Blue.” is a further step on the road to a wider audience. On this album PD3 blend their infectious original compositions with totally fresh and inspired versions of popular songs from the 70s to present day in a way that simply underlines the incredible versatility of the trio and the ease in which they can provide assessable jazz routed music to a much wider audience.

With Dick Pearce Live

PD3 have joined forces with legendary trumpet player Dick Pearce and produced an electrifying live recording from a performance at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London in April.

"New material was chosen at a rehearsal before the gigs" says Pete - one of Europe's leading fusion guitarists, " therefore many of the tunes were performed for the first or second time. It's very exciting to capture that freshness in front of an audience.”

PD3 received critical acclaim with their earlier releases 'Street Scene' and 'Into the Blue' from the likes of Jazzwise, The Observer and Jazz Journal International. Dick Pearce (trumpet/flugelhorn) was in Ronnie Scott's band for many years and works regularly with the likes of Stan Tracy and other leading British jazz artists.

Croydon North End Event
Performance at North End
North End Croydon

Kelvin Christiane Quartet

Kelvin is a saxophonist, flautist, clarinettist, and composer who has been leading his own bands for the past seventeen years. A graduate from Leeds, he performs regularly at Jazz clubs and festivals in Europe and UK, including Nice, Montauban, Brecon, Swanage.
He works alongside artists such as Bernard Purdie, Gilad Atzmon, Alan Barnes, Don Weller, Peter King, Jim Mullen, Janusz Carmello.

To date he has released twelve CD's of originals and standards most of which have been featured on Humphrey Lyttleton's 'Best of Jazz' Radio 2. The latest CD 'Piper at the Pearly Gates' 2006 (with Mark Nightingale on trombone) '…a band of astonishing virtuosity…'

The quartet features Alex Hutton - piano Dave Mannington - double bass, Les Cirkel - drums. Their set will include a tribute to Roland Kirk plus standards from the American songbook and Kelvin's originals.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Christiane is an excellent tenor saxophonist, with a warm broad tone
and clean singing high notes which are highly emotive, and with sometimes a Trane cry in his sound.....he's also a fine flautist"
Ian Carr from the liner notes for 'Red Dawn' 2002

"Inventive and committed. Kelvin is clearly one to look out for and hear whenever the opportunity arises."
Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal International

"'A Jazzman palpably straining at the leash- one to watch.'
John Fordham. The Guardian.

"Christiane is a player to be followed".
Barry McRae, Jazz Journal International

'Rampaging tenor saxophone that explodes the myth of British understatement…'
Humphrey Lyttleton show Radio 2 'Best of Jazz' Oct 05

Performance at North End
Aschroft Theatre
Times: 12.30pm

The Ashcroft Theatre

The Dave Markee Jazz Collective


Aschroft Theatre
Brief Gigs

Sammy Martinelli with IOTA plus Jono McCleery in support

Brief Gigs
North End Croydon Music

Trudy Kerr (Vocals) Quartet

Born in Brisbane, Australia, she began her professional career performing in clubs and festivals on the East Coast of Australia & the Far East. She now lives in London & graduated from Guildhall School of Music in 1995. Since then she has been performing extensively throughout the UK at prominent jazz venues including Ronnie Scott's, Pizza on the Park, 606 Club and The Vortex. Festival dates include Soho, Greenwich and Jazz in Duketown in Holland. She performed in Turkey at the opening of the Istanbul Pizza Express. She is currently enjoying the success of her fourth CD 'My Old Flame - Remembering Chet Baker', released on the Jazzizit label in 2002, featuring guest and fan of Trudy's, Georgie Fame, on two tracks. Previous releases have included 'Day Dream' (2000) featuring American pianist Mulgrew Miller, and 'Trudy' (1999) both on the Jazzizit label, and 'Sweet Surprise' (1997) on the FMR label.
North End Croydon Music
Folly's End,

Jazz Flute Concert

Featuring Mike Mower

Folly's End,
North End Drums


Lloyd Ryan (Drums) Quartet

"I had a teacher when I was fourteen, Lloyd Ryan, who tried desperately to teach me to read music, but somehow I couldn't concentrate on that. I was able to listen very well and I learnt all the rudiments, like flams, paradiddles, etc......"
Phil Collins



Lloyd's career began in 1960, when he purchased an Olympic snare drum (made by Premier) and eventually saved up for a full kit! Since then he's had his pick of drums from all the world's major manufacturers, and he's used most of them. But in his most important and discerning years Lloyd has gone full circle and now he is back on Premier.

As well as being regularly on tour, Lloyd has his own private pupils, and he also teaches at Ernest Bevin College, an educational centre very well respected in teaching circles, as head of percussion.

Many of Lloyd's pupils from his Chessington based school have achieved international stardom:

Phil Collins
John Coghlan (Status Quo)
Tim Burgess (T'Pau)
Mark Pinder (Paul Young)
Graham Broad (Tina Turner, Go West, Bucks Fizz)
James Hood (Pretenders)
Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai)
Nick Simms (Cornershop)
Kevin Wells (Huey Lewis And The News, Lorna Brannigan)

and many more........

One of the highlights of Lloyd's career to date was in supporting the legendary Buddy Rich at the 1986 Lewisham Jazz Festival. Lloyd has to date performed well over 400 drum clinics and master classes, and has been a regular writer for a number of music magazines.

Another high spot for Lloyd was performing the concerto for drum set and percussion by USA composer John Beck for the National Association of Percussion Teachers at Oxford with the Prince Consort Ensemble from London's Royal College of Music. He was invited to give a repeat performance at the international Percussive Arts Society inugural convention, which also featured artists such as Eric Delaney and Carl Palmer.

Currently, Lloyd is writing a series of articles for Drummer Magazine, called The Masters. The series is about the history of drumming and includes pieces about Joe Morello, Buddy Rich and other notable names from the world of drumming.

North End Drums
Jazz at the Green Dragon

Jazz Jam Workshop - with the Pete Joyce Quartet
Jazz at the Green Dragon
Brief Sounds


Jessi Markee - plus Lyanna Austin in support.

Jessi Markee is an up and coming singer/songwriter with a great band supporting their amazing portfolio of songs. Since being signed to Kameleon Records in December 2005, Jessi Markee has recorded an EP, and with its success, she has been touring her songs throughout venues in and around London.



Brief Sounds
Croydon Jazz

Anton Browne (Vocals) Band - 5 piece

Anton is one of the premier up and coming jazz vocalists in the country and has performed at Ronnie Scott's regularly as well as other well known London venues.

He has appeared on BBC TV’s Eastenders, and was backing singer for Paul Young on Wogan and Top Of The Pops. He has recorded three albums of his own and is currently gigging with the Len Phillips Big Band, singing big-band classics from the Sinatra era.

An accomplished musician with a superb voice, Anton is able to offer a flexible line up, from solo singer pianist, through jazz duo, to quintet.
Croydon Jazz
Guitars at the Green Dragon


Dave Warren Duo (Jazz Guitars)
Guitars at the Green Dragon
Central Croydon


Richard Sutton (Sax) and Barbara Snow (Trumpet) Duo


Trained at the Royal Academy of Music - trumpet, piano & percussion winning the Aural Prize. Formed her own Latin band 'Que Barbara'. 1984 played with Roberto Pla LJE for more than ten years. 1991 Played with Candela Salsa & many other top Latin groups. 1983 toured with the Style Council. Recorded & toured with the Blow Monkeys 1989/90. 1986-88 toured with Carmel. Recordings & tours with Maxi Priest & Communards. Has written TV music for Channel 4 programmes.Worked in the Jools Holland Big Band for a few years backing stars like Ruby Turner, Mick Hucknall, Paul Weller etc. Recently working with the group 'Sister Sadie' with Andrea Vicari and Clare Hurst.





Central Croydon
Croydon Jazz Festival
Pete Long (Sax) Quintet

Pete's career began fairly inauspiciously at the age of 18 deep within the bowels of the Nat West bank in Marble Arch putting bank statements into envelopes. An unfortunate incident involving a picture of a lady and a horse being accidentally sent to the Convent of the Sacred Heart along with their financial records led to a re-think and a few days later, Pete had enrolled at the Royal London College Of Music. After a couple of years of hard study, ruthless self-denial and curry, Pete was out on the road with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and during his time there, got to play all five saxophone parts, the solo flute part, the bass guitar, and on one rather messy occasion, the fourth trumpet. Having the unusual inclination to play modern jazz on the rather “old-fashioned” clarinet led to several works for clarinet and big band being commissioned during his stay, and established a tradition of clarinet solos in NYJO which has plagued the saxophone section ever since.
Croydon Jazz Festival
Dick Pearce at the Green Dragon


Pete Downs PD3 with special guest Dick Pearce (Trumpet & Flugel)

Dick Pearce

His father was a singer and his cousin a pianist/arranger. Started private trumpet lessons at 13, but taught himself harmony. 1968-71 played in a military band and then worked with Graham Collier from 71-72. From 1973-80 he played with the younger generation of London musicians including Chris Biscoe, Dave Defries and Brian Abrahams. He later worked with Mike Westbrook, Keith Tippettt, Dudu Pukwana and Gil Evans. In 1981 he joined Ronnie Scott's group.

Dick Pearce at the Green Dragon
The Rayon D'or
The Rayon D'or, Purley Way, Croydon.

Albert Lee + Support.

Albert Lee, by common consent one of the world's finest guitar-players, needs no introduction to Country Music & Rock fans. Albert fronts his own band Hogan's Heroes, some of the best known and most respected Rock'n'Roll and Country musicians in Great Britain.


CLICK HERE: To visit the Croydon Jazz Festival Website
The Rayon D'or