GREAT JAZZ IN THE HEART OF EAST SUSSEX!

Another one-off concert featuring some of the finest jazz musicians in Britain. Friday 11 October 2024

Enrico Tomasso
It is said that Enrico started playing the trumpet at age five after listening to Louis Armstrong play Basin Street Blues. His father, a well-known clarinettist in England, took him to meet many of the American jazz greats when they visited — including Benny Goodman, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Peterson, Buddy Rich, and Dizzy Gillespie. The most important meeting of all was with Louis Armstrong, for whom he played at age 7 during Louis’ last visits to England in 1968 and 1969. This led to friendship which lasted for the remainder of Louis’ life. His musical education was fostered by his father, who would transcribe great trumpeters’ solos, would take him to live gigs, and would provide excellent trumpet teachers for him. Enrico later went on to study at the Leeds College of Music, and then spent many years working in bands including twelve years with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, then a long stint with Ray Gelato, and with visiting American players. Among those he has played with are Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Dankworth, and Tommy Whittle and the Piazza All Stars. His first recording as a sideman was in 1984, and today he is considered one of the top jazz trumpeters and has won best trumpet category in the British Jazz Awards on multiple occasions.

Pete Long
Read Pete’s biography HERE

Georgina Jackson
Read Georgina’s biography HERE

Richard Pite
Richard Pite is a British professional musician (drums, double bass, bass ukulele, tuba and sousaphone) and jazz historian specialising in the jazz of the early 20th Century. He is founder of two music companies – PartyJazz and The Jazz Repertory Company and is also the Director of Music for Boisdale which presents jazz and other live music on a nightly basis at its four London venues. For many years he specialised in 1920s music and the drum techniques and visual tricks of the era’s jazz drummers and over the last 12 years has worked together with musical partner Pete Long, to preserve jazz history through live performance. Together they have recreated historic moments from jazz in association with The National Jazz Archive. For the 100th Anniversary of Gene Krupa’s birth in 2009, Pite staged the only UK concert celebrating the life and work of the artist who was one of the most important and flamboyant drummers in jazz history.

Nick Dawson
A highly accomplished pianist equally at home in both jazz and classical music, Nick began working professionally in his early teens and quickly became in-demand with his diverse repertoire and very fine singing voice. Currently assistant MD in the hugely successful West End musical Mamma Mia, he also continues to perform in a wide range of concerts all over the UK

Dave Chamberlain
One of the UK’s leading jazz double-bassists whose performances & recording credits include: Blue Note recording artist Stacey Kent, Sir John Dankworth, the BBC Big Band, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Ronnie Scott’s, The Vienna Opera House & The Royal Albert Hall.