Mark Armstrong is a member of the Ronnie Scott's Orchestra and a hugely admired educator. His trumpet playing encompasses the entire Jazz History. To hear him in a small band setting is especially rewarding – he has that feel good factor!
This concert explores the ‘Tension and Release’ or ‘ Call and Response’ bands such as Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis exhibited. Watch out for spontaneous arrangements especially regarding in the rhythm that will take everyone off guard – even the band!
With Gareth Williams on piano, Clark Tracey on drums ,Marianne Windham on bass
With pre gig “Mexican Fiesta” menu from Mandira’s Kitchen
*** SOLD OUT. The returns list is also now closed, sorry ***
EVENT INFO
The performance is upstairs in Guildford Pavilion, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP
Please note there are no physical tickets, just give your name on the door when you arrive. There’ll be seating reserved for you.
Doors open from 7pm, supper served from 7.15pm, and the performance starts at 8pm. There will be an interval and there is a licensed bar. Seating is cabaret style and there is a lift for disabled access.
Pre-gig “Mexican Fiestai” Menu from Mandira’s Kitchen:
Tex-Mex Samosas with chipotle sauce (Crispy pastry with peppers, sweetcorn and cheese)
Lamb Chilli or Meatless Chilli & Rice (A warming spicy chilli with a twist - vegetarian option with soya mince)
If you have any questions please contact us by emailing info@guildfordjazz.org.uk
TICKETS
Full Price £20 /Guildford Jazz members £18
Students £7 / Student Members £5
Meals £13
WHO'S PLAYING?
MARK ARMSTRONG - TRUMPET
Mark is the Artistic Director of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra with which he directs concerts around the UK and Europe and runs educational projects and workshops. As freelance jazz trumpet player, Mark played with Stan Tracey in his big band, recording a live album from Appleby Jazz Festival, and was a member of the quintet for his final album The Flying Pig. He is a member of the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra and Robin Jones's Latin Underground and has performed widely in the UK and abroad in a variety of jazz styles and genres during his career. As a commercial player Mark has performed in a diversity of settings from the London Sinfonietta to The Four Tops and on film and TV soundtracks. Mark's output as a composer and arranger ranges from choral and chamber music to jazz and symphony orchestra with compositions for NYJO and the RSJO and commercial arrangements for Audio Network.
GARETH WILLIAMS - PIANO
“One of the most intensely creative, dynamic and exciting performers on the UK scene, Gareth Williams has been receiving increasing critical and public acclaim since becoming a professional musician in the early 90s. An electrifying performer, he has been described as “…a fantastic improviser” (John Fordham - The Guardian) and “If you’ve seen Williams perform, you’ll know that he’s the embodiment of creative energy, with a keyboard command that’s both impressive and well-directed” (Peter Vacher, Jazzwise).
Gareth’s first major professional engagement was as keyboard player/MD for jazz hip-hop band Us3. He performed with the band on a world tour in 1993 and appears on their album ‘Broadway & 52nd’ (Blue Note). Gareth has since worked as pianist/MD for internationally acclaimed jazz singer Claire Martin and has worked with many international jazz greats, including Art Farmer, George Coleman, Bud Shank, James Moody and Dave Liebman, plus a host of top British musicians. “
CLARK TRACEY - DRUMS
Clark Tracey’s music is rooted in the bebop and hard bop traditions. He has played alongside some of the most important jazz artists at home and abroad, such as Johnny Griffin, Pharaoh Sanders, John Hicks, Bud Shank, Red Rodney, Scott Hamilton, Ronnie Scott, John Surman, Alan Skidmore, Kenny Wheeler, Alan Barnes, Don Weller and Tommy Smith.
He has recorded 15 albums as a leader and has been awarded ‘Best Drums’ six times in the British Jazz Awards, most recently in 2018. Clark continues to play an ‘Art Blakey’ role by recruiting promising young players to his bands, thereby affording them the all-important exposure to audiences they deserve.
MARIANNE WINDHAM - BASS
The founder and driving force behind Guildford Jazz, Marianne started her musical life playing cello, taking up playing bass more recently. In 2011 she left a successful career in software consultancy to pursue learning bass full time and has since become well established on the scene and has performed with many of the UK’s leading jazz musicians including Alan Barnes, Steve Waterman, Mark Nightingale, Sara Dowling, Derek Nash, Dave O’Higgins and many others. She also chairs Fleet Jazz Club, and has a busy schedule performing both locally and at clubs and festivals around the country. “A valuable player… Brown-like musicality and drive” - Peter Vacher, Jazzwise
DIRECTIONS
The performance is upstairs in the Pavilion building at the Guildford County Cricket Club, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP
For sat navs please check the postcode takes you to Wharf Road. There’s a car park alongside, entry from Wharf Road. If you’re approaching from Guildford town centre, Wharf Road is on the left just before the Sports Ground. If you’re approaching from the A3/Ladymead there’s no right turn into Wharf Road, but continue to the next roundabout to double back.
If the car park’s full (please only park in marked bays to leave room for emergency access), there are a few parking bays along Wharf Road which you can use after 7pm, also along the Woodbridge Road on the left as you come from the Town centre.
The overflow car park at the far end of the cricket pitch will also be open unless it’s very wet. Turn left as you come out of Wharf Road and carry on along Woodbridge Road towards the railway bridge, and the entrance to the ground is just before the end of the green fence that runs along the perimeter of the ground, next to the Woodbridge Café.
There’s also a larger public car park at the open air Mary Road Car Park (GU1 4QU) or multi-storey Bedford Road Car Park (GU1 4SJ), which is about 10 minutes walk away.
SEATING
Seating is either in front row settees/armchairs, central round tables, or rear high chairs/tables. Seats will be reserved for you when you book. If you’re a Guildford Jazz member, please let us know if you have a seating preference in on the booking form. Notes on the layout:
Front row: Seats 1, 3 and 4 are 3-seater settees, and seats 2 and 5 are pairs of armchairs.
Middle tables: Tables 6 to 23 and 32 are small tables , each seating 4 (for bookings of 1 or 2 seats, we’ll seat you at a table with others, please let us know if you have friends coming who you’d like to sit with!).
Rear tables: Tables 24 to 29 are tall tables suitable for 2 people, with high stools.
Tables 30 and 31 are lower square tables seating 3 or can be put togther for a group of 8
Groups: Table 33 is suitable for a large group of 8 (or a cozy 10!)