Next Saturday sees the long-awaited, post-lockdown return of Hitchin’s own top level jazz night at Club 85.
JazzUp is finally back at the Whinbush Road venue on Saturday, September 25.
According to JazzUp founder Dave Keech, the night is set to be a stunning one in which JazzUp partners with the hugely influential organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors.
The comeback gig features rising star Maddy Coombs with special guest Mark Kavuma. Doors open at 7.45pm.
Maddy is a tenor saxophonist currently in her second year studying jazz at the Guildhall School of Music.
Taking up the saxophone aged 14, she has learnt under the mentorship of Binker Golding, Gareth Lockrane and Alex Davis.
Her music draws inspiration from saxophone greats such as Sonny Rollins, Don Byas and John Coltrane, but she is also influenced by modern artists like Melissa Aldana and Joel Ross.
With a growing reputation as both a composer and a band leader, Maddy has performed at renowned jazz venues including Vortex Jazz Club, Pizza Express Soho and Ronnie Scott's.
Mark Kavuma is a prominent trumpet player on the British jazz scene whose group The Banger Factory released a new album, Arashi No Ato, this month.
An associate Music Leader for the Tomorrow's Warriors programme, he is also involved in their professional performance ensembles, including the acclaimed Nu Civilisation Orchestra, Jazz Jamaica small band and Jazz Jamaica All Stars.
A gifted composer, educator and inspirational creative enabler, Mark is also a brass tutor and leader at London-based carnival band Kinetika Bloco.
Tomorrow's Warriors was founded in 1991 by Queens Medal for Music recipient Gary Crosby OBE and Janine Irons MBE.
The organisation supports, mentors and champions aspiring young artists, with a focus on black and female musicians and those from challenging socio economic backgrounds.
With a dedicated space to host its Learning Programme at Southbank Centre, Tomorrow's Warriors is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner.
Since inception, the organisation has directly impacted over 10,000 young people aged 11 to 25 outside of traditional formal education.
Its pioneering Young Artist Development Programme has, across 30 years, provided a crucial platform for many of the artists now tearing up the international jazz scene, such as Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Cassie Kinoshi and Nérija, Femi Koleoso and Ezra Collective, Binker Golding, Shabaka Hutchings and Sons Of Kemet, Cherise, Eska, Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch, Zara McFarlane and many more.
Tickets for the Tomorrow’s Warriors gig featuring Maddy Coombs Quintet plus special guest Mark Kavuma are available via www.club-85.co.uk or www.jazzup.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here