GREAT JAZZ IN THE HEART OF EAST SUSSEX!

Another one-off concert featuring some of the finest jazz musicians in Britain.

Saturday 25th November 2023

LIAM DUNACHIE – a pianist, jazz organist, composer and arranger based in London.

Originally from Shropshire, he began his musical training as a treble chorister in Hereford Cathedral Choir and later studied music at Trinity College, Cambridge where he was a choral scholar in its world renowned choir under Stephen Layton. At Cambridge he studied composition with Robin Holloway and Richard Marlow and co-directed the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra.

After graduating from Cambridge, Liam won a scholarship to study jazz piano and arranging at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he studied with Malcolm Edmonstone, Nikki Iles and Scott Stroman among others. He has since gone on to play piano and Hammond organ in groups led by Jim Mullen, Dennis Rollins, Derek Nash, Nigel Price and Postmodern Jukebox’s vocalist Aubrey Logan among others. He has performed at all of  London’s major jazz and commercial venues and many others across the UK, including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean St, Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage, Wembley Arena, The Royal Festival Hall, The Palladium and many more.   

Liam also works in musical theatre, and has worked widely as both a Musical Director and keyboard player on a wide range of shows in both the West End and on UK Tours, including “Hairspray”, “Phantom of The Opera”, “Gypsy” and many others. 

As a composer and arranger he has also written pieces and arrangements in for the City of London Sinfonia, English Chamber Orchestra, violinist Charlie Siem, London Chamber Orchestra and Trinity College Choir, Cambridge.

JAMES DAVISON – Winner of the Worshipful Company of Musicians Young Jazz Musician of the year (2018)

James is pursuing a busy and varied freelance career based in London. He was lead trumpet in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (2014-2017) and is currently lead trumpet with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and the Patchwork Jazz Orchestra. He also performs regularly with the BBC Big Band, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Pete Long’s Echoes of Ellington Orchestra and the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra.

Since graduating with a MA in Jazz Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, James has become a regular lead trumpet deputy in West End Shows including Aladdin, 42nd Street, Book of Mormon, Beautiful, An American in Paris and Guys and Dolls. He has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and as guest Principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra. James is also a member of the award winning Misha Mullov-Abaddo Group, Jonny Mansfield’s Elftet, the Sam Watts band, The London Jazz Orchestra, Joe Hill’s North Ark, as well as his own band co-led with Callum Au, playing the music of Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer.

DUNCAN HEMSTOCK – was given his first clarinet and a Benny Goodman cassette when he was 13.

Upon hearing the first phrase, he fell in love with Jazz and Swing music and eventually he made his way to the local jazz club. There he learnt from and worked with many talented and experienced musicians, and was lucky to be taught by virtuoso clarinet player Andy Firth. Growing up in Adelaide, he toured in the much loved Royal Garden Jazz band and as a soloist all across Australia.

Now living in London, Duncan is relishing the many opportunities to perform for dancers and concert audiences alike throughout the UK and Europe. He brings his joy for life and music to every performance, always delivering with a smile and a cheeky quip or two. His clarinet playing is not only influenced by Goodman, but also the fiery intent of Edmond Hall, while his Tenor Saxophone approach is inspired by the great Lester Young.

ADAM KING – 2015 Young Jazz Musician Winner

Well done to bassist Adam King on his winner’s gig at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho on Sunday 5 June. Adam’s success in the 2015 annual Musicians’ Company Young Jazz Musician Award revealed one of the most promising jazz artists of his generation.

STEVE BROWN – a favourite at Fleet Jazz Club

He has become one of the most sought after drummers in the country, and since studying in New York in the early 1990s has worked with almost every major British artist, as well as many visiting American musicians, including Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Conte Condoli, Benny Golson, Benny Green, Carl Fontana, Barry Harris, Junior Mance, Charles McPherson and John Bunch. Steve is a long term colleague of tenor star Scott Hamilton. His studio credits include albums with Stacey Kent, Dave Newton, Andy Panayi, Karen Sharp and various groups for Alan Barnes’s Woodville label.