Hi everybody,
Lots of music coming up in the next few months!
On Friday 30th October the Way Out West Collective will be doing a tribute to Tony Bennett at Jazz Cafe Posk. A full line up of stars including Nette on vocals, Nick Mills trombone, Pete Hurt on tenor etc etc
November will be a particularly busy month with two gigs in the EFG London Jazz Festival: with Way out West “A Short History of Jazz” @ Riverhouse Barn, Walton on 13th November, and with the Dave Jones Nonet @ Bull’s Head Barnes on 19th November.
I’m very pleased to announce that my band, the Tony Woods Project will be playing @ St. James C of E Church, Hampton Hill on 27th November and at Jazz 825, Palace Hotel, Southend on the 16th December. The Project is my main outlet for my compositions and features an all star band of Mike Outram on guitar, Rob Millett on vibes, AndyHamill on bass and Milo Fell on drums.
“Emotional and warmly personal music”
★★★★ (the Guardian)
“Colourful, evocative music from one of the most distinctive groups on the UK Jazz scene”
★★★★ (The Jazzmann)
For those of you interested in playing jazz don’t forget to scroll down and check out my Chippings from the Woods Shed at the bottom of the Newsletter.
If you enjoy my music please do like and subscribe to my Youtube Channel. It is absolutely free to subscribe – just click on the Subscribe Button…
“Always beautiful and uplifting…”
“Paul Desmond ideas…”
“Captivating and steamy! That vibe should come with a 15 certificate at least”
“Haven’t heard anyone swing like that for years – best thing,real,swing”
“Had the good fortune to be present. A virtuoso performance. Bravo”
“Great playing…”
“Light and lovely…”
“Very cool”
“Great music”
” Great solo, a lesson in how to start sparse and build intensity”
“The word ravishing comes to mind!”
“So soft and gentle one wants to dream…. Such a pleasure to listen to Tony”
“Music full of warmth and joy”
“Soo cool”
“A wonderful and uplifting gig”
“Beautiful”
“Just been sent into another world again – Beautiful world….”
“Brilliant musicians and brilliant music!”
“Oh my goodness, another wonderful ‘ Project’, so exciting the build up, then the gentle ending, the flame gone out! Fantastic”
“I was lucky enough to be at this gig and see Tony and the band… wow amazing performance from all. Truly magical !!!”
“Yet another excellent gig. Great music and musicians”
“Absolutely brilliant!”
“Tone! Killer performance.”
“Wow!! Just fabulous…”
“Superb”
“What an amazing solo”
“Fantastic sound!”
“Awesome”
“What a way to start the day – had me dancing round my third storey”
“Story telling and space is the way to go . Lovely stuff “
“Can’t stop listening, spellbinding”
Upcoming Gigs:
October:
Friday 30th October: the Way Out West Collective will be doing a tribute to Tony Bennett at Jazz Cafe Posk.
November:
Friday 13th November: Way Out West presents a Short History of Jazz at Riverhouse Barn, Walton for the EFG London Jazz Festival
Thursday 19th November: Dave Jones Nonet @ Bulls Head, Barnes for EFG London Jazz Festival
Sunday 22nd November: with Nette Robinson and Meredith White @ the Login Lounge, Camberley
Friday 27th November: Tony Woods Project @ St James C of E Church, Hampton Hill
Sunday 29th November: Kenny Wheeler Tribute @ Login Lounge, Camberley
December:
Friday 4th: Stars, Snow and Firelight Nette and Tony @ Dorich House, Kingston.
Friday 11th: Way Out West Presents Jazz on a Winter’s Eve @ Jazz Cafe Posk
Wednesday 16th:Tony Woods Project @ Jazz 825, Palace Hotel, Southend
Other News:
Way Out West gigs continue at Jazz Cafe Posk (the Polish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith):
Friday 30th October the Way Out West Collective will be doing a tribute to Tony Bennett at Jazz Cafe Posk.
The Way Out West gigs continue in 2026 at Drayton Court Hotel, West Ealing, usually the third Wednesday in the month:
Wednesday 21st October: Henry Lowther’s Still Waters featuring music from their acclaimed album, “Can’t Believe, Won’t Believe”. “Lowther’s band Still Waters ………. has released a new album of gorgeous, limpid tunes that make for thoroughly seductive listening” BBC Music magazine
Henry Lowther, trumpet
Pete Hurt, tenor sax
Liam Dunachie, piano
Steve Watts, bass
Paul Clarvis, drums
And our good friend Chris Biscoe is playing @ Jazz Cafe Posk on 16th October:
Wobbly Rail Five: Chris Biscoe and Pete Hurt – saxes; Liam Noble – piano; Steve Watts – bass; Sophie Alloway – drums
https://www.eventbrite.com/
concert is also on the website: www.jazzcafeposk.org
The Woods ShedI run a Jazz Workshop and Jam session at the Village Centre, Englefield Green on Monday nights. New members always welcome…
More info here.
Chippings From The Woods Shed:
According the late, great Michael Garrick: jazz is poetry, never prose. In other words, jazz is about emotional expression, free exploration of ideas and improvisation, not conforming to rigid structures and predictable patterns. When we start playing jazz we tend to play by ear and that is the most important thing – just to play freely. Then we go through the tortuous process of learning scales, modes, theory, harmony, vocabulary, etc, etc. However, then we should come out of that process and again just let it happen – play by ear, focusing on the spirit of the music. I studied languages in my youth and it’s important to be able to order a beer in German, as beer is important. But surely jazz has to be more than a string of phrase-book licks? The enemy of improvisation is speed so keep things slow and focus on your ideas, your melodies. They matter – they are the most beautiful sounds you’ve ever heard! (See Kenny Werner’s Masterful book Effortless Mastery)
