Jazz Gig Calendar

This is a live jazz gig listings service from Jazz in Reading. We feature mostly modern jazz gigs happening within 20 miles or so of Reading.

The listings used to be published monthly, under the name 'Jazz Round About Reading', but all gigs now appear in the calendar, the link for which is below left. Check it out whenever you feel the urge to hear live jazz. Don't forget to refresh your browser each time you visit, to be sure of catching all latest changes or additions. Please check with venues before setting off - all details may be subject to change.

Musicians, promoters and venues should send their gig information to us via the Submit Your Gig form. Please note that the details you submit will be checked and edited before being approved for publication. We reserve the right to make amendments before publication if we consider the content inappropriate or inaccurate.

If you have any queries, please email info@jazzinreading.com

Mockbeggars Hall Music Evening | Nikki Iles Quartet

Sat 25 Feb | Nikki Iles Quartet | Nikki Iles piano, Karen Sharp sax, Dave Green double bass, Steve Brown drums | Mockbeggars Hall, Church End, Blewbbury, OX11 9QQ | 8pm, 7:30pm doors | £30 cash on the night; email Izabela@dircon.co.uk to reserve places | There will be an interval. Please bring your own drinks; glasses will be supplied | This will be a very intimate concert for 25-30 people. Please park in Westbrook St or Church End. The village has no street lights, you will need a torch after the concert.

Jazz at the Angel | Peter Bingham Quartet

Peter Bingham started playing clarinet in his pre-teen years and later converted to saxophone at the age of 15 in order to play in his uncle’s dance band. He ran that band after his uncle retired and also played in an organ trio. He began playing modern jazz at a jazz workshop at the West End Centre in the late 1970s. Peter’s current band Equinox, formed in 2000, has a ‘first Tuesday of the month’ residency at The Four Horseshoes, Sherfield on Loddon.

Lizzie Newberry | Five Horseshoes, Maidensgrove

Lizzie Newberry

Fri 24 Feb | Lizzie Newberry vocals, Hugh Turner guitar, Raph Mizraki acoustic bass, Steve Wyndam drums | Five Horseshoes Maidensgrove nr Henley-on-Thames RG9 6EX | 8pm start | £16 music cover | Reservations 01491 64128. Diners only, you must book.

Continuing the Five Horseshoes monthly jazz evenings. Fab food, full menu and bar, superb atmosphere, great jazz artists. Usually every last Friday of the month

Guildford Jazz Performing Arts Studio, Surrey University | James Pearson

James Pearson is the Artistic Director at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. A world-class pianist and composer. In this tour through jazz piano greats, James and his trio take us to the music of Oscar Peterson, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Erroll Garner, Bill Evans and many more. Expect anecdotes alongside some truly great piano playing… not to be missed!

Art Themen plus organ trio – “Dizzy Moods” | Fleet Jazz Club

Tues 21 Feb | Art Themen plus organ trio – “Dizzy Moods” | Art Themen saxes, George Double drums, Pete Whittaker organ, Marianne Windham bass | The Harlington, Fleet, GU51 4BY | 8pm, doors and bar from 7.15pm | £20 | More information and tickets here or from the Box Office on 01252 811009 or on the door, cash or card.

A fantastically exciting, playful and inventive saxophonist, Art Themen has been a beloved character of the British jazz scene for over 50 years, famously combining his role as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with saxophone duties in the bands of Alexis Korner and Stan Tracey among many others. Described by The Observer as “One of the tiny handful of undeniably perfect jazz musicians”, he remains as brilliant and inimitable as ever.

The Remix Jazz Orchestra with special guest – star vocalist Rebecca “Purdy” Poole | Marlow Jazz Club

Tues Feb 21 | The Remix Jazz Orchestra with special guest – star vocalist Rebecca “Purdy” Poole | Marlow Jazz Club The Royal British Legion Hall SL7 1NT | 8.30pm | £10

Much requested return visit of the terrific 16 piece outfit led by trumpeter Stuart Henderson, but on this occasion with the highly rated “Purdy”. The Club web-site has details of booking in advance: www.marlowjazz.co.uk

SOLD OUT

Hugh Turner Trio | Reading

Martin Shaw | Bracknell

Martin Shaw is one of the UK’s leading jazz trumpeters. Performing regularly with the BBC Radio Big Band, he has worked with such artists as Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Pete King, Dick Morrissey and Tim Garland, as well as classical ensembles and pop artists such as Sting, Jamiroquai, Natalie Cole, Jools Holland and others. The Bracknell Jazz house band will be joined by Jonny Ford on tenor sax. www.bracknelljazz.co.uk

Guildford Jazz at the Boiler Room | BEAT with Xhosa Cole

Since winning BBC Young jazz musician award in 2018, Xhosa Cole has headlined London’s major league clubs and already established himself in the premier league of UK jazz saxophonists. “A young player with formidable technique and a solid grasp of the post-John Coltrane African American tradition” Chris May All about Jazz.

Snake Davis Band | Sunnyside Jazz Club, Benson

Internationally acclaimed saxophone artist plays classic saxophone solos, from soul, to pop, to jazz with his live band!

Some Kinda Wonderful play the Stevie Wonder catalogue of classic songs | Marlow

Celebrating Valentine’s Evening through the genius of Stevie Wonder, we are delighted to host the return of Derek Nash (award winning jazz saxophonist and Jools Holland artist) and Noel McCalla (soul and jazz singer extraordinaire – ex Morrisey Mullen Band and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band) and their outstanding band of premier musicians. Some Kinda Wonderful play the Stevie Wonder catalogue of classic songs, from ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ and all of his greatest tracks from ‘Talking Book’, ‘Innervisions’, ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ and ‘Hotter than July’. Playing hit after hit, their set includes the dance floor classics ‘I Wish’ and ‘Superstition’, and beautiful arrangements of ‘My Cherie Amour’ and ‘Overjoyed’, the set also includes huge hit compositions written by Stevie Wonder for other artists.

Live Jazz, Blues and more | Reading

Tues 14 Feb | Live Jazz, Blues and more | Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW | Music from 7:30 | Free entry, donations welcomed

Every other Tuesday | 14, 28 Feb | 14, 28 Mar | 11, 25 Apr | 9, 23 May | 6, 20 Jun

Live music. Free entry. Excellent food and drink. And a lot more space than the late-lamented Global Cafe. Who could ask for more?

The Fisherman’s Cottage is reached by an easy stroll along the Kennet from the Queen’s Road car park – park for just £3.60 for the evening. More parking information here

Musicians: if you’d like to take part, call one of the following and we’ll do our best to accommodate you: Ian Germer 07866 251216 / Jim Wade 07788 666608

Jo Harrop Quartet | Crowmarsh Jazz, Wallingford

Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Mingus Mingus Mingus

Fri 10 Feb | Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Mingus Mingus Mingus | Ross Law Trombone, Andy Townsend trumpet and flugelhorn, Ewen Baird saxophone, Nick Hill piano, Howard King bass, Mike Goff drums | Goring Community Centre, The Old School, Station Rd, RG8 9HB | 7:30 pm | £10 | Please book early to avoid disappointment – tickets here, from Inspiration Goring or cash or card on the door.

Status Quo’s John Coghlan: Quo Re-imagined | Stoke Row

Wed 8 Feb | Status Quo’s John Coghlan: Quo Re-imagined | Alex Steel keys, Paul Jefferies upright double bass, Ben Holder jazz violin, John Coghlan percussion, chat & stories | The Crooked Billet, Newlands Ln, Stoke Row RG9 5PU | Arrive 6.30pm, 7pm latest | Music 7 – 10.30pm | Full regular menu, £30 music cover charge | For further information, tickets & table reservations contact the Crooked Billet, Stoke Row 01491 681048 / 682304 or paulclerehugh@thecrookedbillet.co.uk

Performing jazz interpretations of Quo’s hits and rarities along with favourite jazz standards. JC, original iconic Status Quo founder member, recorded the first 14 Quo albums, all those massive 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s hits including ‘Down the Dustpipe’, ‘Caroline’, ‘Down Down’, ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’, ‘Whatever You Want’…

Guildford Jazz at the Cricket Pavilion | Alex Clarke Quartet

Alex is one of the most in-demand and versatile young saxophonists on the British jazz scene. Her quartet brings together her fresh sound with backing from Rob Barron (pno), Dave Green (bass), Clark Tracey (drums). Their latest album, ‘Only A Year’ features a mix of standards, original compositions and music by the likes of Phil Woods and Erroll Garner.

Pangbourne Jazz Club | Simon Bates

Sun 5 Feb | Simon Bates saxophones, Terry Hutchins guitar, Jim Pollard piano, John Deemer double bass, Brian Greene drums | PWMC, Rosewood Hall, Whitchurch Road, Pangbourne RG8 7BS | 7:30pm | £10 – tickets here or on the door

Jenny Fay and Friends | Queens Head, Reading

Jenny’s early influences as a jazz singer naturally include Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald but she has found inspiration from many other singers with current obsessions including Gregory Porter, China Moses and the wonderful Liane Carroll.

Jenny has been fortunate enough to be tutored by Liane Carroll and has learnt from her the importance of crafting a song to tell a story that touches hearts. More recently Jenny has studied under Emilia Mårtensson, a winner of the Jazz Vocalist of the Year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Freddie Benedict ’50 Years Of Abbey Road’ | Purdy’s Pop-Up, Henley

Sat 4 Feb | Freddie Benedict ’50 Years Of Abbey Road’ | The HAODS studio, 19 New Street, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2BP | 8pm, doors 7:30pm | Tickets £21 here

Jazz at Progress | Gary Willcox’s Drummer/Composer Project

Live Jazz, Blues and more | Reading

Tues 31 Jan | Live Jazz, Blues and more | Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW | Music from 7:30 | Free entry, donations welcomed

Every other Tuesday | 31 Jan | 14, 28 Feb | 14, 28 Mar | 11, 25 Apr | 9, 23 May | 6, 20 Jun

Live music. Free entry. Excellent food and drink. And a lot more space than the late-lamented Global Cafe. Who could ask for more?

The Fisherman’s Cottage is reached by an easy stroll along the Kennet from the Queen’s Road car park – park for just £3.60 for the evening. More parking information here

Musicians: if you’d like to take part, call one of the following and we’ll do our best to accommodate you: Ian Germer 07866 251216 / Jim Wade 07788 666608

Art Themen: Thane & The Villeins | Henley

With organist Pete Whittaker, formerly of The Nigel Price Organ Trio, and drummer George Double who has worked as sideman to Shirley Bassey and Jack Jones, Themen has formed a new trio. Their album Thane & The Villeins is a collection of groove-led re-imaginings of quirky curiosities from the jazz canon, acting as a perfect vehicle for the twinkly mischief of this genuine grandee of British jazz.

Dinner Jazz at The Angel | P’Jam

Fronted by the exuberant Annie Parker on flute and bass flute, P’Jam is a joyful quartet of musicians who simply enjoy playing jazz together  in sometimes slightly unexpected and spontaneous ways. With a repertoire that  spans Miles Davis to the Beatles, expect an evening of great music in good company!

BEAT at the Boiler Room | Yolanda Charles Project PH

Yolanda has played bass guitar with Paul Weller, Robbie Williams, Mick Jagger,The Waterboys and Squeeze. Project PH features the skills of London-based guitarist Nick Linnik, the dynamic and versatile Laurie Lowe on drums, pianist Hamish Balfour and vocals provided by the superb soulful delivery of Paris Ruel and Adeola Shyllon.

Jazz Masterclass with Pete Long | Reading

Sat 21 Jan | Special guest Pete Long, students of the Reading Uni Big Band | University of Reading London Road Campus, Building L29, RG1 5AG | 13.30 until LATE | Adults £15, Students £5, tickets here

Reading Uni Big Band hosts this masterclass with jazz legend, Pete Long, followed by an evening jam session. All welcome to observe. Bookings essential.

P’Jam at the Queen’s Head | Reading

Rob Luft Quartet | Sunnyside Jazz Club, Benson

Award-winning Jazz Guitarist performs vibrant and refreshing modern jazz.

Guildford Jazz at the Cricket Pavilion | Jazz Samba with Mark Crooks and Nigel Price

Featuring leading tenor saxophonist Mark Crooks and award winning guitarist Nigel Price, ‘Jazz Samba’ spotlights Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd’s ground-breaking 1962 recording, the first bossa nova album recorded by American jazz musicians. The quartet also features Demi Garcia on percussion and Marianne Windham on double bass.

Live Jazz, Blues and more | Reading

Tues 17 Jan | Live Jazz, Blues and more | Fisherman’s Cottage, Kennet Side RG1 3DW | Music from 7:30 | Free entry, donations welcomed

Every other Tuesday | 17, 31 Jan | 14, 28 Feb | 14, 28 Mar | 11-25 Apr | 9, 23 May | 6, 20 Jun.

Live music. Free entry. Excellent food and drink. And a lot more space than the late-lamented Global Cafe. Who could ask for more?

The Fisherman’s Cottage is reached by an easy stroll along the Kennet from the Queen’s Road car park – park for just £3.60 for the evening. More parking information here

As well as jazz, we anticipate a healthy dose of blues, a bit of funk and even some occasional freeform to which no name has yet been assigned.

Musicians: if you’d like to take part, call one of the following and we’ll do our best to accommodate you: Ian Germer 07866 251216 / Jim Wade 07788 666608

Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Performance of Stan Tracey’s ‘Under Milk Wood Jazz Suite’

Fri 13 Jan | Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Performance of Stan Tracey’s ‘Under Milk Wood Jazz Suite’ | Ewen Baird saxophones, Martin Pickett piano, Steve Kershaw bass, Mike Goff drums | Goring Community Centre, The Old School, Station Rd, RG8 9HB | 7:30 pm | £10 | Please book early to avoid disappointment – tickets here, from Inspiration Goring or cash or card on the door.

Fleur Stevenson / Hugh Turner duo | Wallingford

Fri 6 Jan | Fleur Stevenson / Hugh Turner duo | Soirée 5 St Mary’s St Wallingford OX10 OER | 8-10.30pm | Free entry

Brazilian Night with “Samba em 3” | Bracknell

Principal flautist of the Jazz Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo, Daniel Allain is one of the foremost flute players in Brazil. We are lucky to book him just before he flies home in February. With the superb percussionist Aluá Nascimento and pianist Sam Watts, the trio will present a cornucopia of the authentic Brazilian genres which have been such an inspiration for jazz musicians, including samba, choro, forró, baião, frevo, with the local Brazilian band Polcas e Boas (www.polcas.co.uk) in support. www.bracknelljazz.co.uk

Guildford Jazz at the Cricket Pavilion | John Etheridge with Vimala Rowe

Led by guitar legend John Etheridge, his Blue Spirits Trio includes Pete Whittaker on organ and George Double on drums. They are joined by guest vocalist, the sensational Vimala Rowe. John and Vimala scored a resounding critical success with their album ‘Out of the Sky’, which was in the Top Ten Critic’s lists for 2016 in both the Guardian and Sunday Times.

Georgina Jackson ‘Christmas Sparkle’ | Farncombe

An evening of Christmas Sparkle with jazz vocalist and trumpeter Georgina Jackson. Georgina is widely acknowledged as the finest female lead trumpet player in the country. She is a regular vocalist with Ronnie Scott’s Big Band and has fronted BBC broadcasts with the BBC Big Band and the BBC Concert Orchestra. With Jim Watson on piano, Matt Home on drums and Guildford Jazz Anchor Marianne Windham on bass.

Alan Barnes’ “Copperfield” – A Dickensian Jazz Suite | Buy tickets

Friday 16 December 2022 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £18.00 (£16.00 concessions, £9 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.

Alan Barnes and Dave Newton – two out of the eight musicians who are playing tonight

Alan Barnes sax, clarinets, Bruce Adams trumpet
Mark Nightingale trombone, Robert Fowler sax, clarinet
Karen Sharp sax, clarinet, David Newton piano
Simon Thorpe bass, Clark Tracey drums

“Copperfield” – a new jazz suite from Alan Barnes, touring for the first time this year, takes the audience through the characters and scenes of ‘David Copperfield’. Readings from the original Dickens tell the story, and after each scene eight virtuoso musicians bring the characters and scenes to life, switching audiences from hilarity to pathos with a skill that would have done credit to Dickens himself!

More info and tickets here

Alan Grahame & His All-Stars | Marlow

A legend of popular music as well as jazz, the veteran vibes player will demonstrate the many styles of the vibes in jazz. Pay at the door but advance reservation is strongly advised. 01628 486571

Jazz Shots 4 + 1 | Oxford

Bossa Gringo | Blewbury

Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Stuart Henderson trumpet

Fri 9 Dec | Jazz at The Goring Community Jazz Club | Stuart Henderson trumpet and flugelhorn, Mike Wilkins saxophone, Nick Hill piano, Howard King bass, Mike Goff drums | Goring Community Centre, The Old School, Station Rd, RG8 9HB | 7:30 pm | £10 | Please book early to avoid disappointment – tickets here, from Inspiration Goring or cash or card on the door.

The Hugh Turner “Global Cafe” Band | Reading

Christmas Concert: Ian Shaw | Fleet Jazz Club

Tues 6 Dec | Ian Shaw vocals, Iain Ballamy sax, Jamie Safir piano | Fleet Jazz Club, The Harlington, Fleet, GU51 4BY | Doors and bar open from 7.15pm, performance 8pm | Tickets £22 available here or from the Box Office on 01252 811009 (or on the door, cash or card)

An unmissable start to the Christmas Season! “What’s New“ – an exciting collaboration between three of the UK’s leading jazz musicians in chamber format. Multi-award winning vocalist Ian Shaw, his contemporary the legendary saxophonist and composer Iain Bellamy and one of the finest young pianists of his generation Jamie Safir. Their interplay draws on the connection of Bellamy and Shaw who have known one another almost since the start of their careers. The music is about human connections – friendships, relationships, positive and otherwise – and plunders 80 years of popular song with new arrangements of classics by Bernstein, Bacharach/David, Legrand, Jobim and Ellington. “Three great jazz voices entwining. Captivating.” Robert Elms, BBC Radio London

P’Jam | The Queens Head, Reading

P’Jam is a joyful quartet of musicians who simply enjoy playing jazz together  in sometimes slightly unexpected and spontaneous ways. With a repertoire that  spans Miles Davis to the Beatles, expect an evening of great music in good company!

Rosie Frater-Taylor | Guildford

22-year-old singer, songwriter & guitarist Rosie Frater-Taylor blurs the lines between jazz, folk, pop & soul. Think Joni Mitchell meets George Benson, Lewis Taylor teams up with Emily King or a female version of John Mayer.

Duncan Lamont Songbook | Bracknell

Saxophonist Duncan Lamont Jnr. will be celebrating the legacy of his illustrious father’s song writing career together with Esther Bennett, one of the London Jazz scene’s most highly respected jazz vocalists, pianist Terence Collie and bassist Richard Sadler. With songs recorded by Cleo Laine, Natalie Cole, George Shearing, Blossom Dearie and many others (not to mention the Mr Benn TV theme), Duncan Lamont Snr. was a giant of British jazz since the 1950s, often described as the new Cole Porter. www.bracknelljazz.co.uk

Roy Bailey Big Band | Goring

Thurs 1 Dec | Roy Bailey Big Band | Goring Village Hall, RG8 9AG | 7:45 pm (doors 7:25 pm) | £10 (£5 for U18) available now here and from Inspiration (Goring High Street) from 1 November. More information available on our website | Bring your own drinks and nibbles.

The Roy Bailey Big Band is delighted to be returning to Goring Village Hall on Thursday 1 December. This time, the band will bring you an evening of wonderful music from across eight decades of cinema! From the golden age of Hollywood to action heroes, detectives, lawyers, 30-something singletons, secret-agents, monsters, nuns and more! The full big band sound will be interspersed by solo instrumental and vocal features. Swing, salsa, bossa, jazz waltzes and classic rock mixed with brooding film noir soundtracks for the small hours – we have it all. Do join us!

The Jazz Defenders | GLOW Henley at Leander Club

Pete Churchill ‘Celebrating the Voice’ | Guildford

Renowned jazz vocalist Pete Churchill features with Nikki Iles on piano, Julian Nicholas on sax, Steve Brown on drums and Marianne Windham on bass, with an evening of songs from The Great American Songbook, accompanied by Pete’s trademark storytelling. There is an afternoon workshop exploring jazz singing through groove-based harmonies, led by Pete Churchill. Details on guildfordjazz.org.uk.

The Supertonics Big Band, plus guest vocalist Miss Sarah Jane Eveleigh | Bracknell

Sat 26 Nov | The Supertonics Big Band, plus guest vocalist Miss Sarah Jane Eveleigh | Popular 17-piece Swing Band | Carnation Hall, Winkfield Row, Bracknell RG42 7PA | 7.30pm | Tickets £12, reserve in advance via davidbennett470@gmail.com or 07739-314261 or www.thesupertonics.co.uk

P’Jam | The Angel, Woolhampton

Jazz at Progress | The Nat Steele MJQ Quartet: Portrait of the MJQ