Spring comes early for Epsom and Ewell jazz fans
Question: What do the following three people all have in common? An accordion player with the Strictly Come Dancing live band, one of the most exciting vocalists of her generation and a finalist in the 2022 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition?
Answer: Starting on Tuesday the 17th of January at 7.30pm in Epsom’s cabaret style venue at the Oaks Room, Church St, Epsom, they are all playing at the Epsom Jazz Club in the next three months!
The Epsom Jazz Club launches its “Spring season” of concerts on Tuesday 17th January with the tantalising L’Esprit du Jazz quartet taking to the stage in The Oaks Room for a highly anticipated performance.
Incepted less than a year ago, Epsom Jazz Club has gone from strength to strength, steadily building its audience for their monthly Jazz gigs. The cream of UK Jazz have accepted invitations to perform at the new Club and have collaboratively helped create something rather special. The intimate 70-seater venue, with each table adorned with a charming cocktail table lamp, is the perfect setting to sit back and listen to some of the very best professional Jazz musicians the UK has nurtured. The venue has a bar open just for the jazz guests.
Accordionist Karen Street along with her bandmates Sam Dunn (guitar), Charlie Pyne (double bass & vocals) and Katie Patterson (drums) kick things off for Epsom Jazz Club at 7:30pm this coming Tuesday evening (17th January). Dave Gelly from The Observer noted that “Karen Street has evolved an entire vocabulary for the accordion that works beautifully in the jazz context without forfeiting the instrument’s awkward individuality”.
The vast array of jazz styles explored at Epsom Jazz Club and the variation of instrument lineup each month is purposeful and well-curated. A Piano Trio may perform one month, followed by an all-string Gypsy Jazz ensemble the next. French Musette and the world of Tango will be explored on one given Tuesday evening, while lilting Afro Cuban inspired grooves and hard hitting modern jazz & funk numbers will be offered up at a subsequent event.
The acts booked are no strangers to the renowned jazz stages of London’s Ronnie Scott’s, Nottingham’s Peggy’s Skylight or Brighton’s Verdict Jazz Club. For the price of a train fare into London you can now buy a ticket to see world class jazz musicians performing within the Borough of Epsom & Ewell. A growing number of local residents clearly appreciate this and are in the audience for every concert. Other jazz fans are more selective and only pop along every so often when the lineup suits their tastes. And some are just waiting for leading UK jazz guitarist and longtime Epsom resident Nigel Price to make his return to the Club’s stage (hint: he’ll be back in June!).
Epsom Jazz Club welcomes everyone equally – there’s no members-only clique, no tiered ticket pricing, and not a raffle in sight! If the accordion isn’t your thing, how about a wondrously charismatic and mesmerizing jazz singer with outstanding vocal ability? Emma Smith brings her loyal trio of gentlemen (Jamie Safir piano, Conor Chaplin double bass, Luke Tomlinson drums) with her to Epsom on Tuesday 21st February. Or how about going to see multi-award winning young saxophonist and composer Emma Rawicz perform, accompanied by David Preston (guitar) and Scottie Thompson (piano), on Tuesday 21st March?
The Oaks Room venue with bar open for just the jazz club is at the back of the Conservative Club on Church Street, Epsom and is a fine addition to Epsom’s Live Music venues. Tickets are just £15.
For more information on the Spring 2023 jazz programme please visit http://EpsomJazzClub.com or @EpsomJazzClub on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook – tickets are on sale now!