…a truly stellar all-round performance: stop-time chords, neat turnarounds, valid interchanges, nimble adjustments – all jazz life was here.
Peter Vacher, Jazzwise Magazine
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Welcome to my website! I’m a jazz vibraphone player and drummer based in London. I’m a principally self-taught musician and I specialise in playing straight ahead, swinging jazz, unashamedly influenced by players like Milt Jackson, Victor Feldman, Cal Tjader, Dave Pike and others. I’ve been described by UK drumming legend Clark Tracey as “one of the best vibes players this country has ever produced.”

Have a browse around, and check out the gig listings page (which I try my best to keep up to date!) for the latest upcoming gigs.

News


12/6/24 I'm very pleased to announce a short quintet tour in March 2024 with the amazing tenor saxophonist Osian Roberts, as a follow-up to a week long residency we had together at the Cafe Museum jazz club at Passau Jazz Festival last year. Osian is not often in the UK so it's a real pleasure to get to do these gigs with him. We're playing on 23rd March at Peggy's Skylight (an early and a late set), 26th at The Watermill in Dorking, at April 2nd at the Concord Club. It's an all-star lineup with the great Canadian pianist Sean Fyfe, Mark Taylor on drums and Jeremy Brown on bass.

I've recently started a new co-led sextet with the great tenor saxophonist Mark Crooks, playing tunes from the Stan Getz & Cal Tjader Sextet album. Our band features the amazing talents of Matyas Gayer on piano, Colin Oxley on guitar, Jeremy Brown on bass and Mark Taylor on drums. We've already done a couple of gigs including a sold-out show at Ronnie Scott's, and have some really nice gigs coming up through the year, listed on the Upcoming Gigs page. Contact me here if you're interested in booking us.

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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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Check out this video of my "Portrait of the MJQ" band playing in the Recital Room at South Hill Park Arts Centre -
A remarkble young vibraphonist in the Milt Jackson tradition.
Dave Gelly (Observer)
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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’.
Creative brilliance
Peter Vacher, Jazzwise Magazine (on 2020 MJQ + Grant Stewart UK tour)
You can buy a copy of the album using the PayPal button on the right - it is not necessary to have a PayPal account. Select the destination (UK, Europe, USA) and press “Buy Now”. Postage is included in the price.
Select destination:
Have a listen to a few tracks below to whet your appetite: -

Soundcloud Player

Some recent gig & album reviews:

"Creative brilliance" Peter Vacher (Jazzwise)
"One of the best gigs of the LJF." Joanne Shurvell (Forbes Magazine)
“Sheer delight.” Peter Vacher (Jazzwise)

“Vibrant.” - Bruce Lindsay (JazzJournal)
“Compelling.” Ian Mann (TheJazzMann)
“A refreshing treat for the ears.” Rebecca Franks (BBC Music Magazine)
“Vital intensity…” Dave Gelly (The Observer)
OK, I am now officially a fan!!
Joe Locke