Epsom guitarist Nigel Price returned to a sold-out Epsom Jazz Club on Thursday (24 September) with his organ trio, just a week after the same line-up sold out Ronnie Scott’s in London.
For Price, who has lived in Epsom for 48 years, the concert at the Comrades Club in The Parade was a home-town celebration as well as the opening night of the club’s autumn season. He was joined by Ross Stanley on Hammond organ and Joel Barford on drums.
Price has built a national reputation through decades of performing, recording and touring. His career has taken him from the acid jazz band the Filthy Six to the James Taylor Quartet, while his appearances at Ronnie Scott’s number more than 600. His organ trio won a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Ensemble in 2010 and a British Jazz Award for Best Small Group in 2016.
The musicians alongside him have substantial careers of their own. Stanley is an acclaimed jazz pianist as well as an organist who has played with artists including Jim Mullen and Jacqui Dankworth. Barford began playing drums at six, joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra as a teenager and has since toured and recorded with Price’s trio.
Their London appearance took place on Thursday 17 September. A review of the sold-out Ronnie Scott’s concert praised the close understanding between the three musicians, built through extensive touring together. Seven days later, Epsom audiences had the chance to hear Price and his trio on their own doorstep.
Epsom Jazz Club’s next concert is on 22 October, featuring vocalist Riketté Genesis. Venue Comrades Club, The Parade in the centre of Epsom
(A director of Epsom and Ewell Times and founder of the Epsom Jazz Club. The Club operates under the charity Epsom Music – 1197449. The charity’s next event is the Ukraine Music Evening 3rd October Epsom Methodist Church.)
Image – L to R – Nige Price, Joel Barford and Ross Stanley. Credit Steven McCormick Photography