'Celebrating Sir George Shearing' with 'Shear Brass'.
Led by his great nephew, Carl Gorham, 'Shear Brass' is dedicated to playing dynamic new arrangements of the music of legendary jazz pianist and composer Sir George Shearing. It's made up of some of Britain's top jazz musicians including James Pearson, the Artistic Director of Ronnie Scott's on piano, Alec Dankworth (bass) who has played with the likes of Dave Brubeck and Van Morrison, Pete Long (sax), the MD of the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, Anthony Kerr (Georgie Fame) on vibes, Alistair White (Quincy Jones / Noel Gallagher) on trombone and Jason McDermid (Tom Jones / Joss Stone) on trumpet. Local resident Gorham plays drums and comperes the show and his daughter, Romy Sipek, who grew up in Holt and is George's great, great niece, will be making a guest appearance on vocals.

The show combines the music with some fascinating family history to tell the extraordinary story of how Sir George, born blind, the youngest of nine, started off as a pub pianist in South London in the 1930s and rose to become an international jazz star, recording best-selling albums with Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole and his own quintet, as well as writing tunes such as 'Lullaby of Birdland', which has been recorded more than three hundred times by artists such as Amy Winehouse and Mariah Carey. He also played at the White House for three different US Presidents, was knighted and even written about in Jack Kerouac's seminal sixties novel 'On the Road'.

It's a show that appeals to a broad audience, not just the dedicated jazz fan and it's a chance, above all, to hear some fabulous all round musicians - James Pearson, for example, is a noted classical as well as jazz pianist who has performed concertos with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Philharmonia, and is currently Musician in Residence at Girton College, Cambridge.

Shear Brass' debut album 'Celebrating Sir George Shearing' (Ubuntu Music) was launched at a sold-out Ronnie Scott's last year and the band will be recording the follow-up, the week after the Auden performance.

JOOLS HOLLAND
'An absolute treat for all music lovers everywhere'

JAZZWISE ****
'A wonderfully satisfying tribute to one of the jazz greats'
'They don't come much better than this musical feast'

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE ****
'A lovely new take on his legacy '

JAZZ VIEWS ****
'As a celebration of Sir George Shearing there can be none finer'

UK VIBE *****

Price:
' Shear Brass' - 'Celebrating Sir George Shearing': GBP 25.00