Hertford Society jazz drinks in London
4 February 2016
An evening of top class music to celebrate
Hertford’s jazz heritage
The Hertford Society invite you to an evening of live modern jazz to celebrate the college’s half-century involvement in the genre.
In the mid-60s Hertford alumnus Adrian Oldknow was Chairman of the Oxford University Modern Jazz Club, presenting the top names in British jazz at weekly gigs, whilst his Hertford contemporary Paul Watts has spent a lifetime in the music business. Together they have planned this event which celebrates the college’s long involvement in jazz, not least through tenor sax star Soweto Kinch.
The Society is presenting a show featuring The Simon Spillett Quartet, led by the award-winning tenor sax player and noted jazz writer and critic Simon Spillett. Paul writes: “Simon is not only the finest exponent of the work of the greatest British jazz musician of them all, Tubby Hayes, but also author of the definitive biography of Hayes, published this year.” His band comprises John Critchinson (long-time pianist with Ronnie Scott), Dave Green (former bassist with Humphrey Lyttleton), Don Rendell, Stan Tracey and drummer Spike Wells, a Univ alumnus who was in the OUMJC house band in the mid-60s. There is more information on their website, and you can also watch videos of the band performing on youtube.
Venue: Battersea Barge, Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5BP (on the south bank of the Thames close to Nine Elms Lane, a little way upstream from Vauxhall Bridge). It’s a 10-15 minute walk from Vauxhall Railway (overground one stop to Waterloo) and Underground Station (Victoria Line). Nine Elms Lane is also served by bus routes 156 and 344
Event timings:
6.00pm – Doors open, canapes/hot finger buffet available
7.30-8.20pm – Simon Spillett Quartet
8.20-8.40pm – Interval drinks
8.40-9.30pm – Simon Spillett Quartet
Bar open until 11pm
Tickets: £21 per head including canapes/hot finger buffet. Drinks are available for purchase from the bar.
This will be an informal, exciting and unique event in an intimate atmospheric setting. You are very welcome to bring guests. The venue is not huge, so audience capacity is finite – we advise that you book early to avoid disappointment.
For further information, please contact paulwatts1946 [at] googlemail [dot] com (Paul Watts).