East Grinstead Jazz Club & Festival – A Celebration of Community and Music
For several years, the East Grinstead Jazz Club has been lighting up the Apron Café at the Chequermead Theatre every first Tuesday of the month. Its ongoing success is largely thanks to the passion and expertise of its curator, Jenny Green. An established jazz singer with two successful albums under her belt—and with performance credits at renowned venues such as Ronnie Scotts and Pizza Express Soho—Jenny brings her deep knowledge of jazz to every show.
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After hosting her own jazz radio programme on Meridian FM, Jenny naturally transitioned into running a jazz club in town. Originally held upstairs at the Dorset Arms around 2015, the club found a new home at the Chequermead Theatre when COVID restrictions required a change. Starting with a modest audience of around 10 ,the club now regularly welcomes 90+ devoted jazz fans and consistently sells out each month.
Building on the club’s success, Jenny curated East Grinstead’s very first Jazz Festival last year with the invaluable support of David Kent and charity partner Being Neibourly. The festival was such a triumph that plans are already underway for next year’s event—from August 14th to 17th. The festival will feature: for the first time a Gospel workshop with a chance for participants to join the choir in a performance held at St Swithun's Church .
ABOUT BEING NEIGHBOURLY EAST GRINSTEAD:
Being Neighbourly is an East Grinstead based registered charity. It is all about pairing up ‘local volunteers who care’ with ‘neighbours in need of support’. The aim is to combat loneliness and isolation and enable a sense of safety and independence through our practical support. www.BeingNeighbourly.co.uk
Elite Venue Selection Felbridge Gatwick are offering a special rate for festival goers. £95.00 per night based on 2 people in double standard room inclusive of breakfast.
Please quote reference: EAST140825 to use this offer when booking rooms.
Join Joanne Miller Gospel Rising for a 1 hour workshop.
Followed by a free gospel concert 7.30pm prepare to be uplifted.
A special headline performance at St Swithun’s Church
A vibrant jazz trail along the High Street with a Dixie band, interactive jazz workshops at the Jubilee Centre , and a series of live performances in local pubs and cafes, culminating in a headline act at The Crown.
For the first time, enjoy a jazz brunch at the Dorset Arms, followed by an afternoon of live music and lunch on the lawns of the Chequer Mead Theatre.
Jenny is incredibly grateful to the town for coming together to fill the streets with music and to support local businesses. To ensure that the Jazz Festival continues to flourish, we are seeking sponsors. As a sponsor, your business will be featured in our festival program, highlighted on our social media channels, and mentioned on the radio.
Join us in keeping the spirit
of jazz alive in East Grinstead!
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE:
PERFORMING ARTISTS & THE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY 14TH AUGUST
GOSPEL RISING
East Grinstead Summer Jazz Festival kicks off with a Gospel Workshop followed by an uplifting free Concert in which workshop participants join in.
6-7pm Gospel Workshop at ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH, Church Lane, RH19 3BB.
Tickets £10, to be obtained in advance from Ticket Source.
7:30-9pm Free Concert at ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH by Gospel RisingSponsored by St Swithun’s Church. Gospel Rising, created and directed by Joanne Miller, is a growing beacon of unity, love and peace. This powerful group bring joy wherever they sing!
FRIDAY 15TH AUGUST
BILL EVANS
Conversations with Bill.
Presented by composer/songwriter/producer and arranger Dr Adrian York with Paul Whitten (bass) and Mark Fletcher (drums). Special guest Dave O’Higgins sax.
7:30pm, ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH, Church Lane, RH19 3BB (doors open 7pm). Tickets £20 from Ticket Source
ADRIAN YORK
Adrian Brings you his new project which is a show with his trio ‘Conversations with Bill’, an exploration of and dialogue with the repertoire and recordings, compositions and pianostyle of one of the greatest and most distinctive of all jazz pianists, Bill Evans.
DAVE O'HIGGINS
Dave O’Higgins sax.
'O’Higgins plays with quite exceptional fluency and his fund of ideas never runs out’
The Observer
SATURDAY 16TH AUGUST
JAZZ WORKSHOPS
LINLEY WIER -JAZZ VOCALS
Saturday 10am-12pm Jubilee Community Centre, RH19 2HL
Sponsored by RH & RW Clutton.
Jazz vocal taster workshop with Linley Weir.
Linley has been performing and teaching for more than 20 years. She has been teaching at Richmond College since 2008. Linley will give you the tools you need to express the best of you through your singing. Contact Linley here.
All levels welcome. Tickets £10, to be obtained in advance from Ticket Source.
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JANE TUFF - SAX WORKSHOP
Saturday 10am-12pm Jubilee Community Centre, RH19 2HL
Sponsored by RH & RW Clutton.
Sax workshop with Jane Tuff
Tickets £10, to be obtained in advance from Ticket Source.
East Grinstead-based Jane Tuff is a freelance woodwind performer and teacher of
saxophone, clarinet and flute. Jane runs the sax group Saxville that meet once a week in East Grinstead. For more info click here.
SATURDAY 16TH - THE JAZZ TRAIL
PLEASE NOTE ALL TRAiLS ARE FREE.
THE SUSSEX STOMPERS
Saturday 10am-12pm: Follow the Sussex Stompers from outside 1 Middle Row along the High Street and finishing at midday in Queens Square.
Sponsored by East Grinstead Town Council
Richard Boswell trumpet, Alan Cresswell clarinet, Paul Busby sousaphone, Tony Still marching snareA Sussex-based band, toe-tapping ensemble playing numbers all in the New Orleans tradition.
THE DRAWTONES
The Drawtones, Jazz Funk
Sponsored by Old Dunnings Mill
Saturday 1-3pm: OLD DUNNINGS MILL, Dunnings Road, RH19 4AT
Rod Pooley Hammond organ, Simon Bates saxophone, Andy Williams guitar, Daniel Dotor bass, James Chapman drums
Featuring seasoned jazz artists, The Drawtones relaxed and groovy, bluesy and funky, the sax/guitar/organ combination gives them access to the hippest tunes from the 50s and 60s jazz era to the dance floor iconic instrumentals of the 70s and 80s.
MIKE PIGGOTT AND NILS SOLBERG
Mike Piggott and Nils Solberg, Gypsy Jazz
Sponsored by The Engine Room
Saturday 6-8pm: THE ENGINE ROOM specialising in real ales and craft beers.
Performance outside 1st Floor, The OldMill, 45 London Road, RH191AW
Mike Piggott violin, Nils Solberg guitar.
They bring their own entertaining combination of gypsy jazz, swing and blues as inspired by the Hot Club de France which featured violinist Stéphane Grappelli with guitarist Django Reinhardt.
‘One of the best jazz-fiddlers active anywhere…’ New York Jazz Times
‘Master of the jazz violin….’ Jazz UK
www.mikepiggott.com
CIYO BROWN
Ciyo Brown, Guitar-led Jazz/Soul
Sponsored by The Crown
Saturday 8-10pm: THE CROWN, 35 High Street, RH19 3AF
Ciyo Brown guitar, Adrian York piano, Neville Malcolm bass and Rod Young drums.
An in-demand musician , Ciyo’s ongoing collaborative works cover a range of genres. Working alongside a parade of internationally-acclaimed artists.
This list includes: MicaParis, China Moses, Courtney Pine, Jim Mullen, Martin Taylor, YolanDa Brown, Linda Lewis,Annie Lennox, The i-Threes (Marcia Griffiths, Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley), CarleenAnderson and Wayne Hernandez.
THE JIVE ACES
Saturday 12-1:30pm: High Street Market Square
The Jive Aces Renowned worldwide for their high-energy spectacular showmanship, their viral video‘Bring Me Sunshine’ and for being the first live band to reach the final rounds of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
The Jive Aces have firmly established themselves the UK’s no.1 Jive & Swing band.
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Find out more at: JiveAces.org
ELEONORA CLAPS
Eleonora Claps Goes 80s
Sponsored by The Ship Inn
Saturday 3-5pm: THE SHIP INN, Ship Street, RH19 4EG
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Italian-born/ London-based Eleonora Claps presents a set featuring her own original
compositions, alongside a selection of 80s pop songs reimagined for jazz quartet.
Accompanied by a band featuring Simon Wallace piano, Andy Hamill bass and Andres Ticino percussion, Eleonora is on vocals and drums to perform a setlist of evergreen hits,
dancefloor fillers, and romantic ballads from the so-called ‘decade of decadence’.
Jazzy arrangements are inspired by the synth sounds, drum machines, and chorus pedal effects of the era.
TERRY SEABROOK AND JANE TUFF
Jane Tuff and Terry Seabrook, Background Jazz.
Sponsored by Carlo Lounge
Saturday 7-9pm: CARLO LOUNGE, Unit E, Queens Walk, RH19 4DWA
Relaxed early evening in this café, bar and restaurant.
Jane Tuff - Sax
Based in East Grinstead, Jane is popular on the jazz scene and has played for Jenny Green on a number of gigs including the Jazz Club.
Terry Seabrook- Piano
Terry Seabrook is a pianist and bandleader from Brighton. Terry promotes jazz events and his own bands (Milestones, Cubana Bop, Triversion) in and around Sussex.
JAZZMONICA
Catch Jazzmonica busking around the town from 1.30 to 3pm
SUNDAY 17TH
JAZZ BRUNCH WITH DAVE WARREN ORGAN TRIO
Jazz Brunch with Dave Warren Organ Trio
Sponsored by The Dorset Arms
Sunday 11am-1pm: DORSET ARMS, 58 High Street, RH19 3DE
Dave Warren brings his brilliant organ trio to the Festival featuring Steve Ashworth organ,
Buster Rymes drums, and the award-winning sax player Joe Fooks.
‘Great lines, swinging playing … that’s improvising!’ Peter Bernstein, internationally renowned jazz guitarist
JAZZ LUNCH WITH JENNY GREEN QUARTET
Jazz Lunch with Jenny Green QuartetSunday 1-3pm: CHEQUER MEAD CAFE, De la Warr Road, RH19 3BS
Sponsored by IPS Construction
Ticket £20 includes lunch platter.
Ticket link Chequer Mead Box Office 01342 302000
Jenny Green sings with her East Grinstead Jazz Club House Band – Adrian York piano, Paul Whitten bass and Vince Dunn drums.
Come and enjoy lunch on the lawns of The Apron Garden, Chequer Mead Theatre whilst sitting back and enjoying live jazz as part of the East Grinstead Summer Jazz Festival.
Expect a cocktail mix of classic jazz and swing standards along with cool Latin Bossa to while away your Sunday afternoon.
THE GALLERY - THE 2024 FESTIVAL
OUR SPONSORS
