Since Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band stepped back from performing live concerts in 2013, Acker Bilk's trombonist, Ian Bateman, has been keeping the flag flying for British traditional jazz with a series of jazz productions. He is ideally placed to do this, having spent many years with Terry Lightfoot and his Jazzmen, Humphrey Lyttelton and Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen. The evening will feature music recorded by Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot, Chris Barber, Alex Welsh, Humphrey Lyttelton and many more. The band will feature: IAN BATEMAN, trombone; ALAN BATEMAN, trumpet; TREVOR WHITING, clarinet/saxes; THOMAS 'Spats' LANGHAM, banjo/guitar; CRAIG MILVERTON, piano; TOM CLARKE-HILL, bass; and NICK MILLWARD drums.

Pure Brubeck, a recreation of the great Dave Brubeck Quartet of the fifties and sixties: Take Five, Blue Rondo à la Turk, Unsquare Dance, tunes that are heard as often today as they were at the time of their creation, perhaps even more so. The legacy of Brubeck's quartet is all around us and his music will be lovingly and authentically re-created for us by four of the best musicians in the UK today. The quartet line-up will be: SIMON BATES, Sax; PAUL HARRIS 'Harry the Piano', piano; JEFF LARDNER, drums; and DOMINIC HOWLES, bass. This will be unadulterated Brubeck, played in his immutable style, illuminating the virtuosity of the original iconic Brubeck quartet.

The early 1960s were a particularly good time for those who liked their jazz impulsive, swinging and melodic. Pianist Horace Silver was one of the prime movers in this cause, his urgent, rhythmic piano style complemented by his remarkable ear for a catchy tune. The evening will be a whistle-stop journey through the amazing output of this gifted pianist. Keeping with Horace’s favoured instrumentation of Sax, Trumpet and Rhythm, the quintet has, as its mission, to perform Silver's music with the correct degree of uninhibited passion. The band will be: PETE LONG, sax; RYAN QUIGLEY, trumpet; WILL BARRY, piano; SAM BURGESS, bass; and MATT SKELTON, drums.

ANDY PANAYI is an inspirational musician, a saxophonist par excellence, who brings his Quartet to Steyning Jazz Club to perform many of the well known tunes and originals based on standards with particular reference to the music of Stan Getz; we can expect to hear favourites such as Three Little Words, Pennies from Heaven and Polka Dots and Moonbeams. Andy has played with all the top UK musicians as well as many top ranking American instrumentalists and is undeniably a multi-award winning musician. The quartet will display the talents of: ANDY PANAYI, reeds; TERRY SEABROOK, piano; NIGEL THOMAS, bass; and ALEX EBERHARD, drums.

Trumpeter and band leader CHRIS COULL leads his octet of inspired jazz soloists in his “Tribute to the Duke” a project which has been several years in the making. Chris has faithfully transcribed original 20s, 30s and 40s Duke Ellington gems into a distillation of tunes arranged for this four-horn front line, creating a fitting musical eulogy to the great man. Expect a chronological, informed and sophisticated journey from the Duke’s beginnings at the Cotton Club through to the popular war time hits and collaborations with Billy Strayhorn. The band line-up will be: CHRIS COULL, trumpet; ANDY PANAYI, reeds; JON BROWN, trumpet; MIKE PILLEY, trombone; TERRY SEABROOK, piano; DAN SHEPPARD, bass; JOE EDWARDS, drums; and LUCY PICKERING, vocals.

SARAH BOLTER presents ‘Sax in the City'. Sarah studied at Southampton University and graduated with a BA Mus specialising in Jazz alto sax and classical soprano sax. NICK COOPER on piano, oozes energy and enthusiasm, having performed at Ronnie Scotts, The 100 Club and with numerous top musicians. EDDIE WHITE on guitar, has toured nd played all over the world. PETE MAXFIELD on double bass is in high demand for his unique rhythmic style, and KILLIAN MADDEN, on drums, is a rare breed of a drummer who listens and reacts. It will undoubtedly be an evening of excitement and the unexpected.

A cross generational line up of outstanding musicians featuring AL NICHOLLS on tenor sax, one of the best swing tenor players in the country, OZ DECHAINE on double bass, MIKE HATCHARD on piano, and JOE EDWARDS on drums. This debut collective will perform a variety of standards and favourites, demonstrating their remarkable interplay and musicality. AL NICHOLLS was a student at Leeds College of Music and has played at virtually every Club and Festival up and down the country, as well as running the swing band Blue Harlem for many years. He favours the big open tenor sound, the free-blowing style producing the sepia-tinted sounds of nostalgic 1950s jazz.

Presenting his brief history of jazz, trumpet player PAUL HIGGS is a highly accomplished musician with an impressive career including performing, composing and arranging music for film, TV and theatre. He has established himself as a versatile musician, equally at home playing jazz, classical, or contemporary music. His exceptional talent has seen him perform in major venues around the world, including the Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, the Berlin Concert Hall and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. The band line-up will be: PAUL HIGGS, trumpet; GABRIEL KEEN, piano; JEROME DAVIES, double bass; and NEIL BULLOCK, drums.

Led by legendary RICHARD EXALL on tenor saxophone and clarinet with Musical Director DOM BARNETT on piano, these exceptionally talented musicians have meticulously arranged their music to capture the true essence of the 1920s and '30s, backed by an outstanding rhythm section of SAM KELLY on drums and MARIANNE WINDHAM on double bass. They set the foundation for a captivating musical experience exploring Ma Rainey, the mother of the blues, who was a trailblazer of the 1920s. She was renowned for her deep-throated voice and mesmerising stage presence which is wonderfully captured by GEMMA DORSETT, whose powerful vocals, will transport us back to the jazz clubs of former times.

ROGER BEAUJOLAIS, at age twenty-four, came late to the vibraphone, but was playing in public at twenty-eight. By the time he was thirty he was amongst the first to be a fully professional vibraphone player in the UK, originally gaining recognition with the 80’s jump jive favourites The Chevalier Brothers. Although initially ignored by the jazz scene in the UK, he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival and jazz festivals throughout Europe. He also played on numerous TV and radio shows including The Old Grey Whistle Test. The band line-up for this intriguing evening will be ROGER BEAUJOLAIS, vibraphone; MARK EDWARDS, piano; SIMON THORPE, double bass; and MILO FELL, drums.