Celebrating the centenary of Wes Montgomery’s birth, pianist Wendy Kirkland, guitarist Pat Strakes and virtuoso vibraphone player Roger Beaujolais pay an affectionate tribute, a la “George Shearing and the Montgomery Brothers”.
EVENT INFO
For Wes Montgomery, a principal benefit of his rise to fame was that it allowed him to work at times with his two brothers. This tight-knit family unit had many fans, but none more enthusiastic than Shearing, who sat in whenever possible and eventually was able to join them on record. The result was this once-in-a-lifetime blending of the differing approaches of two master melodists.
“Terrific pianist…assured and full of surprises” – ★★★★ Dave Gelly, The Observer
Location
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.
Timings
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.
Food
Pre-gig Far Pavilions Menu from Mandira’s Kitchen! Just book your preference of chicken or vegetarian and we’ll confirm with your ticket booking
If you have any questions please contact us at info@guildfordjazz.org.uk
TICKETS
Full Price £20 /Guildford Jazz members £18
Students £7 / Student Members £5
Meals £13
WHO'S PLAYING?
WENDY KIRKLAND - PIANO
Pianist and singer Wendy Kirkland has been a mainstay of the UK Jazz scene since the late noughties, but it was her first album, Piano Divas, released in 2017 that began her ascent to wider recognition as a “Singing Pianist”, as dubbed by Jazz Journal. The ability to sing at the same time as comping and craft solos on the piano or unison piano/voice scat lines is her forte, with influences such as Diana Krall, Eliane Elias and Dena DeRose. Further accolades were given for her 2019 release The Music’s On Me, dubbed “a huge leap forward” by Jazz Views. Both albums prompted ACE funded tours all over the UK and constant radio airplay ever since.
Wendy’s musical career began at age 10, when she started taking piano lessons. She won a scholarship to have all her lessons paid for by Derbyshire Music, and continued to take her ABRSM piano grades. Switching to jazz in her late teens, Wendy continued her playing career as a dance class pianist, accompanist to singers and as a keyboardist in club bands.
After being persuaded to sing by a great friend and guitarist, Bill McCreath, Wendy learned to reach people who are perhaps turned off by instrumental jazz, as she learnt to communicate with the audience through the songs. Wendy’s voice has been likened to Blossom Dearie with hints of Diana Krall.
Wendy is married to jazz guitarist and bass player Pat Sprakes. They met by chance on a gig and have been making music together ever since.
PAT SPRAKES - GUITAR
Pat Sprakes cut his jazz teeth with Tony Kofi, Darius Brubeck and has performed for Robben Ford. As a guitarist, his biggest influences are Wes Montgomery and George Benson, and he has a great love of latin rhythms. He is an excellent accompanist as well as a clear and melodic soloist.
ROGER BEAUJOLAIS - VIBES
Roger Beaujolais is a celebrated virtuoso vibraphone player who first found fame with legendary 80’s jumping jive outfit The Chevalier Brothers, touring the UK extensively and performing in the USA and Japan. After the band split he joined pop/folk band Fairground Attraction, fronted by Eddie Reader and enjoying a huge number one hit “Perfect“, after which followed numerous collaborations in the pop genre. Roger (real name Roger Downham) is actually completely self taught, buying his first instrument at 26 and performing his first gig aged 28
He produced the first of many solo jazz albums in 1990, later moving from electric vibraphone to acoustic, and performing in the UK with his own jazz ensemble. Since 2009 he has combined his UK gigging with regular trips to Rimini, Italy to perform with his Italian Trio, again performing much of his own work as well as a few eclectic covers, such as Jimmy Hendrix’s The Wind Cries Mary.
Over the years studio and live sessions for the likes of Robert Plant, Roni Size, Paul Weller, Alison Limerick, Morrissey, Kirsty MacColl, Alexander O’Neal, Tony Allen, Guy Chambers, Graham Coxon, Ed Motta, Rumer, Duffy, Neneh Cherry, Shola Ama, 4Hero, Corduroy, D Influence, Mark Nevin, Colin Vearncombe & many more have kept Roger in the public eye.
ALEX EBERHARD - DRUMS
Austrian born Alex Eberhard studied drums in Graz and now lives and works on the South Coast where he has a well earned reputation, making him first call jazz drummer for many visiting musicians. He is also a keen guitarist and runs a popular George Harrison tribute band, All Things Must Pass.
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
ABOUT THE MUSIC
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!)