With a new year comes a new season of gigs, with some exciting announcements. Sun Ra Arkestra return for their annual gigs at the Con Club in Lewes. Previous years have seen them add an extra show due to tickets being sold out in advance. They will be performing on 21st and 22nd April. Tickets are available here: https://www.seetickets.com/tour/sun-ra-arkestra.

    Also making a return this year are Sam Braysher and Michael Kanan, who perform at The Verdict on Sunday 20th January. The young alto saxophonist returns with acclaimed US pianist Michael Kanan to perform their interpretations of the Great American Songbook. American saxophonist Scott Hamilton appears at Smalls at The Verdict in Brighton on Thursday 17th January but tickets are already sold out.

   May sees the Soul and Funk Weekender on Brighton Beach with a line up that includes Kamasi Washington, Kamaal Williams, Yazmin Lacey and Children of Zeus with DJs Gilles Peterson, J-Felix and Norman Jay, amongst others. The festival on the beach runs from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th May.

    Bassist Nigel Thomas begins a new monthly gig at The Basketmakers Arms in Brighton, beginning on Sunday 6th January where he’s joined by pianist Oli Howe and drummer Darren Beckett. Nigel will be hosting the night on the first Sunday of every month.

    Saxophonist Nubya Garcia will be performing at Komedia, Brighton on Tuesday 5th March. Tickets are now on sale. 

    Nubya Garcia’s Nerija band mates, Rosie Turton and Cassie Kinoshi, will both be releasing new albums this year. Trombonist Rosie Turton releases her debut album Rosie Turton’s 5ive on 11th January whilst alto saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi releases her eagerly awaited SEED Ensemble album, Driftglass on 8th February. Both albums are on the Jazz Re:Freshed label. Meanwhile, tuba player Theon Cross (pictured) releases his debut album Fiya in February, whilst pianist Sarah Tandy also releases her debut album, Infection in the Sentence, in March.

Charlie Anderson

Photo of Theon Cross performing with Sons of Kemet by Lisa Wormsley