World-class sax player leads fresh jazz ensemble at pub

The session will be led by London based alto saxophonist Martin Speake, and will feature an interesting line up of musicians which includes Faith Brackenbury on violin and vocals, Hannes Riepler on guitar and host Mark Hale at the drums.

Jazz Times has described Martin Speake as “one of the most interesting and rewarding alto saxophonists now playing jazz on any continent”. He is lead alto saxophonist in the London Jazz Orchestra and has recently formed a project to study and learn all the compositions of Thelonious Monk. Martin is a committed jazz educator and in addition to Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance he teaches at the Royal Academy of Music and the National Youth Jazz Collective Summer School.

Faith started classically but soon dabbled with folk music and writing her own tunes. After spending her teenage years at music school she started listening to jazz violinists such as Stephane Grappelli, Stuff Smith and Joe Venuti and after a while stumbled upon a more diverse music course at Brunel University. While living in London she played in a successful Irish band and Hot Club trio. She now plays in an improvising multi influenced duo with the highly skilled letter carver and accordionist/pianist John Neilson.

Music as always will start at 8.30pm. Suggested donations of £5 per person are encouraged to pay the musicians for their performance and to keep the night running on a weekly basis.