Gigs

After a sell out concert last year, US touring alto saxophone legend and hard bop specialist Greg Abate makes his return appearance to St Andrews. Greg’s unrelenting schedule has seen him touring all around Europe and UK several time in the past few years, showcasing his ‘in-the-pocket’ be-bop playing. Greg started his career with the Ray Charles band before being asked to play with the Artie Shaw band. Since then he has gone on to lead his own groups as well as appear as a side man to such greats as Jerome Richardson and Charlie Parker’s trumpeter, Red Rodney.

Greg Abate – saxophone
Chris Coull – trumpet
Tim Wells – piano
Paul Whitten – bass
Joe Edwards – drums 

Gershwin’s masterpiece, reimagined for the 21st century – Tickets

https://www.also-festival.com/events/porgy-and-bess-gershwin-s-masterpiece/feed

Trumpeter Chris Coull and an all-star band bring George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess to life in a thrilling new jazz suite. Featuring award-winning vocalist Imogen Ryall, this narrated concert blends unforgettable songs with fresh, inventive arrangements that honour the spirit of post-bop jazz while speaking directly to today’s audiences.

Expect timeless favourites like Summertime and I Love You, Porgy, alongside rarely heard gems such as Buzzard Song and Strawberry Woman — all delivered with swing, soul, and sophistication. The performance transports listeners to 1930s Charleston, tracing the love story of Porgy and Bess through hard bop grooves, lush ballads, Latin rhythms, and orchestral textures.

Coull, a leading figure on the Brighton jazz scene and founder of the acclaimed Speakeasy Jazz Club (Hove), is joined by three of London’s most in-demand jazz musicians — John Turville (piano), Simon Thorpe (bass), and Matt Fishwick (drums) — to create an evening of world-class jazz: dynamic, moving, and utterly engaging.

“This is a lovely reading of Gershwin’s magnificent Porgy and Bess Suite. Imogen Ryall has great intonation, crystal-clear diction and a real sense of the theatre of the pieces, while Chris Coull contributes beautifully toned and inventive trumpet solos and sensitive backings to the vocals. Wonderful swinging trio as well.”
— Alan Barnes

We love to try things new St Andrews and harpist and singer Magdalena Reising brings a breath of fresh air with her brilliant trio comprised of guitarist Shane Hill and keyboard player Terry Seabrook. Together they form The Blue Cafe Jazz trio and have performed internationally as well as at many of London’s top jazz
venues including Ronnie Scott’s, Cafe de Paris and London Jazz Festival. The trio are currently on a UK tour to promote Magdalena’s twelfth studio album ‘Songs from the Heart’

‘ …. a sound that is both timeless and magical. Everyone was
silently captivated from start to end. ‘ 3 Weeks Magazine.

‘ Her Peyreux influenced style and literate vocal delivery
makes for genuine musical substance” Jazz UK.