The Ronnie Bottomley Trio will open the Commuter Jazz season 2017/18. An established and popular trio led by renown drummer and educator Ronnie Bottomley which also features Derrick Harris (guitar) and Barry Rickaby (double bass).

Ronnie’s passion and dedication to the percussive arts and jazz are truly remarkable. He has worked with many of the great British and American jazz musicians over a career that will soon be entering his 9th decade. He has coached many of the UK’s top drummers including Gary Husband, Peter Fairclough and Lincoln’s very own Stevie Smith.

The Thom Whitworth Trio are Thom Whitworth (guitar, trumpet, vocals), Dave Shields (electric bass) and Stevie Smith.

Thom is one of Commuter Jazz’s favourite artistes. He conveys the spirit of the music with effortless control and delivery. His personality and witty communication with the audience make him a must see act. Thom is ably supported by the virtuosic bass guru Dave Shields and the swingin’ Stevie Smith on drums.

Djanco are: Thom Whitworth (guitar), Jamie Pool (guitar) and Rich Whitworth (double bass) and featuring Andy Aitchison (violin).

Djanco are very popular with Commuter Jazz audiences. They fuse Gypsy Jazz of the 1940s with Flamenco. They will be joined by the excellent jazz violinist Andy Aitchison. This promises to be a special event.

Me and Mr Jones are Rachel Foster (vocals), Paul Deats (piano), Dave Shields (double bass) and Stevie Smith (drums)

Beautiful original Songs, made with love. Nostalgic for another time but very much for today. A sophisticated sound; ‘bluesy and breathtakingly ballsy’. Accompanied by an awesomely talented rhythm section; ‘The Whole Affair‘

Rachel Foster; Jazz and pop chanteuse, once likened to Tracy Thorn and Sade (only phatter!) ‘A voice like Baileys with chocolate!’ Toured US with Weekend Players earning Billboard Chart success at no.3 and reaching no.1 in the Dance Chart respectively. Rachel also collaborated with local hero’s Bent, Shod and Crazy P to name but a few. A voice mature enough to command demanding music.

Paul Deats; Jazz, Funk, Blues piano. ‘A powerful and intense player, ..lyrical and thoughtful’.
Paul aka Paulus has toured Europe and the UK extensively. He is a constantly inventive arranger and composer making him a much sought after player, performer and collaborator.

Me and Mr. Jones will also be serving up sweet music from the American Song book and other long loved confection.”

Will Howard is a professional saxophonist and woodwind player based in Leeds. In over 10 years of playing he has gained a wide range of tuition and performance experience, having played and toured nationally with bands and theatre shows.

A graduate of Leeds College of Music, Will attained a First Class Honours degree and several awards, including the Dave Cooper Memorial Prize for saxophone, The Sam Hood Rosebowl for jazz performance and The LCM Principle’s Scholarship.

Appearing with Will are: Jon Trier (piano), TBC (double bass) and Stevie Smith (drums).

The dancing exuberance of South African Township music, the convivial groove of gospel-influenced soul jazz, the joyful sway of Cuban guaguanco rhythms, the bluesy melodies of middle eastern praise songs and so much more all come together in pianist Philip Clouts’ superbly accomplished quartet.

Clouts was born in Cape Town and the music of his homeland has stayed with him as he has continued on a voyage of discovery that has led him across all five continents, soaking up Caribbean calypso and the soulful strains of the Indian subcontinent while honouring and learning from jazz heroes including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd.

As a key member of the popular London-based world jazz ensemble Zubop and its offshoot ZubopGambia, a collaboration with BBC World Music award-winner Juldeh Camara, Clouts created a solid body of work with African roots and since moving to Dorset in 2006 he has responded to his new surroundings with impressionistic compositions that complement and chime with his world music interests, resonating with folky themes and packing pungent rhythmical punch.

Following on from the critically acclaimed releases Sennen Cove and The Hour of Pearl, the new CD Umoya captures this wide-ranging music superbly and in concert, Clouts, saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Alex Keen and drummer Dave Ingamells bring it alive with tremendous imagination, vim and vigour.

Funky Organ are Paul Deats (organ), Thom Whitworth (guitar and trumpet), Dave Shields (bass guitar) and Stevie Smith.

Funky Organ are very popular with Commuter Jazz audiences and were formed in 2013. The group play a wide range of funk influenced compositions from Jimmy Smith to Bob Reynolds. Beware this funk is contagious!

The Jazz Heritage Sextet are Thom Whitworth (trumpet), Rob Skeet (tenor sax), Brian Archer (trombone), Jon Trier (piano), Dominic Holmes (double bass) and Stevie Smith (drums). JHS will be supported by special guest vocalist Marta Hristea.

A Celebration of the music made famous by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers which charts the band’s recorded output between 1947-1990. Featuring the compositions of Wayne Shorter, Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Timmons, Benny Golson and others.

Award winning jazz saxophonist Alan Barnes says… “I recently played a gig in Lincoln with Steve Smith’s Jazz Heritage Sextet. They were exceptionally accommodating and I felt very much at home with them and the music. Beautifully executed ensembles alternated with really accomplished and individual soloing from all the musicians. This is a tight, swinging and very committed band, playing un-hackneyed material very much in it’s own way and with a genuine sense of enjoyment.”
All tickets for this event are priced at £12 and are available from the LPAC box office.