Ticket Link: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/600237

UNDERCover are a Midlands based quartet with the unconventional line-up of trombone, guitar, acoustic bass and drums. A unique and challenging repertoire includes standards from Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny, Tadd Dammeron, Donald Byrd and Horace Silver, plus compelling original compositions – all presented with a high energy, tight delivery.

Ross, Stewart, Nick and Stewart bring a wealth of jazz performance experience and creativity to a highly entertaining evening of top quality modern jazz.

Nick Ransford – Guitar

For Nick there was always a guitar lying around at home during his early years and he started off playing and gigging blues and soul/funk. Years later, one Christmas, his wife Anne gave him a CD: Wes Montgomery Plays the Blues. Those infectious bebop phrases and catchy swinging rhythms, Wes lit a flame which still burns in him today. As well as the UNDERCOVER Quartet, Nick performs regularly with vocalist Rosie Harris and also in the Lounge Club function outfit.

Ross Law – Trombone

Ross is a New Zealand-born trombonist. Was first introduced to and taught the instrument by his father at age 9, then studied music and science at university. He played in Brass Bands, Orchestras and Jazz Bands locally and up and down the country. His serious interest in Jazz and improvisation started after moving to the United Kingdom. Ross is established on the Oxfordshire scene covering many different musical genres from jazz to classical. He continues to develop his craft playing with many local and national musicians. Ross’s approach to making music is to create bands, gigs and events around different themes. This expands his repertoire making it more interesting and engaging for audiences and musicians alike.

Stuart Russell – Drums

Started playing at 14 and joined a local club band, always influenced by soul and funk as a young man. Joined Delegation in 1984 and toured extensively all across Europe. Joined Imagination in 1989, they were the first black act to tour the Soviet Union in 1990. Through the 90s played with Grammy winning Des’ree, joining the acclaimed soul outfit Drizabone in 2010. The obvious graduation from soul and funk leads to Jazz and Stuart encountered all the forms of Jazz being heavily influenced by George Duke, Lee Ritenour and Chick Corea to name a few. Stuart met Nick and Ross at the Jazz School in Rushden and the UNDERCOVER project was formed.

Stewart Duthie – Bass

Stewart, originally from Glasgow, turned to the jazz-bass upon hearing Jaco Pastorious in Weather Report and the rest is history, as they say. Stewart’s experience includes running a successful monthly jazz club, BRAVE MAN!, and backing the likes of Jim Mullen, Greg Abate, Simon Spillett, Alan Barnes and Mornington Lockett, amongst others. He has gigged in a clutch of European countries and has performed with musicians from as far and as wide as Brazil, Nigeria and Singapore. Not satisfied with just playing jazz-bass, Stewart also plays sax in a funk band, bass in a blues outfit and is presently composing for an album of self-penned material inspired by the likes of Pastorius, Bill Bruford, Pat Metheny and Gil Evans.

Ticket Link: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/596780

This evening at Kenilworth Jazz, we are delighted to welcome back legendary US saxophonist, Greg Abate, as part of his 2023 UK tour. Greg is based in the USA, a musician of brilliant international standing, and without a doubt, amongst the finest jazz players of his generation. After studying at Berklee in the mid 70’s, Greg joined the Ray Charles band, and later the renowned Artie Shaw Orchestra. Since then, Greg has had an outstanding career as a band leader in his own right. His recent albums include a beautiful album with the late great Phil Woods, and his most recent album with the incredible pianist, Kenny Baron. As well as his touring work, Greg is also a composer, arranger, a Grammy-nominated recording artist and educator of some considerable note, serving as an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College. His fluent and muscular playing is best described as “post hard bop”, encompassing a classic approach to the material in the style of Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley and Phil Woods.

Joining Greg, we are delighted to welcome back the virtuosic, energetic and deeply harmonic, ALEX STEELE on piano. The final cherries on the jazz cake are the formidable MIKE CYPHER on drums, and the insuperable MIKE GREEN on double bass. A superstar line-up for a special jazz gig!

“Abate is not content to rely on stock bebop riffs … his work has a feeling of constant invention and creativity.” Chicago Tribune

“A unique voice” Metro, San Jose

“One of the most exciting players around today” The Jazz Messenger

“Greg Abate is one of the most appealing saxophonists on the scene today … the result is that he plays music with sweetness and daring.” New Jazz Recordings

More about Greg Abate at www.gregabate.com