Gigs normally take place at:
East Hastings Sea Angling Association
The Stade, Hastings, TN34 3JF
Doors open 7.45 for 8.30 start.
Tuesday 4th February
DAVE MANINGTON’S RIFF RAFF
Brigitte Beraha: Vocals
Ivo Neame: Piano
Tomas Challenger: Saxophone
Rob Updegraff: Guitars
Dave Manington: Bass
Tim Giles: Drums
Bassist and composer Dave Manington is one of the mainstays of the London jazz scene. His band Riff Raff is his main ongoing project. This dynamic ensemble of top musicians has developed organically over the last decade and features the highly acclaimed vocalist Brigitte Beraha (appearing at Jazz Hastings in January), pianist Ivo Neame, saxophonist Tomas Challenger, guitarist Rob Updegraff and drummer Tim Giles.
The starting point for the music is collective improvisation but compositionally it draws on as wide a range of styles as possible. Folk, electronic music and contemporary classical influences are added to the mix with complex jazz harmonies and rhythms.
Their 2013 album “Hullabaloo” was described as “Inventive, forward looking jazz that subtly pushes the envelope whilst remaining thoroughly accessible to the listener.” An even more ambitious Riff Raff album “Challenger Deep” came out in 2018.
They have now recorded a set of completely new tracks which will feature on their forthcoming album. That is the music they will be playing in this session.
Tuesday 18th March
JERRY BERGONZI QUARTET
Jerry Bergonzi: Saxophone
Will Barry: Piano
Mark Hodgson: Bass
Stephen Keogh: Drums
We can’t keep him away! After three triumphant Jazz Hastings appearances, legendary American saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, widely regarded as one of the world’s best, is back once again. Jerry Bergonzi gained worldwide recognition while playing with the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet. Bergonzi’s complex, assertive tenor saxophone improvisations brought a more contemporary element into Brubeck’s established style. Between 1973 and 1981, Bergonzi recorded nine albums with Brubeck. He has also performed and recorded with other major stars such as Bill Evans, Paul Desmond, Dave Holland, Gerry Mulligan, Jack DeJohnette, Roy Haynes and many more.
Bergonzi is renowned for his innovation, mastery and integrity as a performer and composer. In an endless series of rave reviews, he is credited for his relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance and musical vision.
Bergonzi will be appearing with established UK jazz musicians Will Barry on piano, Mark Hodgson on bass and Stephen Keogh on drums.
Tuesday 8th April
NIGEL PRICE ORGAN TRIO
Nigel Price: Guitar
Ross Stanley: Organ
Joel Barford: Drums
Over a career spanning more than 25 years, award winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price has become widely acknowledged as one of the hardest working musicians in the business.
Musically, his blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues sensibility and his mastery of chording continue to delight audiences and fellow musicians alike. His career highlights include a support show for Gladys Knight at The Royal Albert Hall and an appearance on Van Morrison’s recent album Keep Me Singing.
Nigel has played on more than 50 albums including 5 as a leader. Along the way he has picked up a Parliamentary Jazz Award (Best Jazz Ensemble, 2010) and two British Jazz Award nominations for Best Guitarist. He is a regular performer at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club where he has made more than 500 appearances.
For this session he’ll be joined by regular partners organist Ross Stanley – a two times winner of a British Jazz Award – and much in demand drummer Joel Barford.
Tuesday 29th April
GEORGIA MANCIO and ALAN BROADBENT QUARTET
Georgia Mancio: Vocals
Alan Broadbent: Piano
Andrew Cleyndert: Bass
Dave Ohm: Drums
Multi award-winning vocalist, lyricist and producer, Georgia Mancio, is one of Europe’s most respected, adventurous and multi-faceted new artists. Her multi-lingual music references classic jazz and Latin alongside her own writing, always stamped with emotional integrity. In 2021, she won Best Vocalist at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. 
For the last few years, she has worked closely with Grammy-award winning pianist and composer Alan Broadbent. Originally from New Zealand, he is now based in New York. Over the years he has played and recorded with an astonishing array of stars, including Woody Herman, Nelson Riddle, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole and Paul McCartney.
Their first album together, Songbook, was launched in 2017 at a sold-out show at Ronnie Scott’s (“unequivocally, one of the gigs of the year” Jazzwise) and later at Jazz at Lincoln Centre in New York. Their second, Quiet is the Star, came out to critical acclaim in 2021. This will be a very stylish evening in which they play from their new album, ‘A Story Left Untold’, set for release on 1 May.
Tuesday 3rd June
BYRON WALLEN’S FOUR CORNERS
Byron Wallen: Trumpet
Rob Luft: Guitar
Paul Michael: Bass
Rod Youngs: Drums
British jazz musician and composer Byron Wallen has been described by Jazzwise as “one of the most innovative, exciting and original trumpet players alive”. He has travelled the world recording, teaching and performing alongside legendary musicians such as George Benson, Andrew Hill, Chaka Khan, Hugh Masekela and Courtney Pine. His work draws inspiration from contemporary jazz and indigenous African and Asian cultures. On tour he often works with local musicians, allowing him to develop new ideas for his performances and compositions. As a composer, he has been commissioned by organisations as varied as the Science Museum, the BBC, the National Theatre and FIFA.
For this session, he will be joined by his band Four Corners. On guitar is BBC New Generation Jazz Artist Rob Luft, on bass is Paul Michael and on drums the great US drummer Rod Youngs, who was formerly with Gil Scott-Heron and who played a sensational Jazz Hastings session with his quintet in August 2024