NAT STEELE

I'm very excited to announce the upcoming launch of my latest album on both 12" vinyl LP and CD, a project with the one and only Scott Hamilton, "Afternoon In Paris: The Music of John Lewis & The MJQ". Coming out on the new imprint Resonator Records, there 3 pre-launch gigs in April where physical copies will be available for sale, followed by a full online and digital release over the summer of 2025. The album is available to buy (with UK shipping - for Europe and elsewhere please email me first) directly via my website now.

It features Matyas Gayer on piano, Dave Green on bass (who also worked with Lewis, and separately with Milt Jackson in the 70s), and Steve Brown on drums.

The pre-launch gigs are: April 15 at The Watermill, Dorking, April 16 at The Concorde Club, Eastleigh, April 22 at Pizza Express Dean Street (London)

Scott grew up with John Lewis (musical director of the MJQ) as a family friend and later came to work with him regularly. Scott had always wanted to record tunes like Django, and particularly Milano, with a vibraphonist. When he heard Nat's last album, he decided that he wanted to do it with him, and this new project is the fruit of that collaboration.

It features a mixture of nifty arrangements of tunes by or associated with Lewis, Milt Jackson or the MJQ, including (aside from those already mentioned) Afternoon in Paris, Confirmation (as recorded by Ben Webster with the MJQ!), Somewhere Over The Rainbow, The Cylinder, Skating In Central Park.

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Recently I was contacted by a producer working for BMG to write the liner notes for a new double vinyl album of MJQ material that was recorded but never released by Milt Jackson et al in the 80s and 90s, selected from several appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Needless to say I was honoured to be asked to be involved, and also quite daunted because the notes were being approved by none other than Sandra Jackson, Milt's wife!

Google "MJQ Montreux Years" to find CDs and LPs for sale.

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My debut album, “Portrait of the MJQ,” is a swinging take on the music of the Modern Jazz Quartet and my debut album under my own name. It came out on Trio Records following the sold out launch at Ronnie Scott’s. It was “Jazz Choice of the Month” in BBC Music Magazine and it got rave reviews in the jazz press. Have a look on the MJQ page for the latest!

The album features pianist Gabriel Latchin, Italian bassist Dario Di Lecce, and drummer Steve Brown, and consists of stellar favourites such as ‘Django’, ‘Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise’, ‘Bags Groove’, and a complete performance of ‘La Ronde Suite’.