Hi everybody,
The Way Out West gig at Posk last month, celebrating the iconic albums of 1959, was a tremendous success and we’ve been asked to perform there again on July 4th. I’ll tell you more about that nearer the time.
Before that we have a few other gigs coming up – on Wednesday the 22nd April Nette and I will be at the Drayton Court Hotel, West Ealing, performing with Nette’s Little Big Band –
The Little Big Band is a miniature jazz orchestra, presenting classic big band music in a humorous, entertaining and highly original way.
It was created by Nette a celebration of and homage to big band legends such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington featuring a seriously reduced lineup of just voice, saxophone, trombone, bass and drums.
The LBB is a “hard swinging unit”(Time Out), incorporating tight ensemble lines, wild free improvisation, transcribed solos and laid back spacious grooves. You will be guaranteed a memorable and joyful evening! “The band tackles Ellington and Basie classics with a fire and imagination which belies its size.” (The Yorkshire Post)…
Nette Robinson -voice/tenor sax
Tony Woods – saxes
Ed Parr – trombone
Mark Rose – bass
Chris Nickolls – drums
On Friday 15th May I’ll be with the Dave Jones Nonet at the Bull’s Head Barnes.
And the very next day – Saturday 16th May – Nette and I will be performing a concert of Russian songs with Terence Collie on piano at Swedenborg House.
If you enjoy my music please do like and subscribe to my Youtube Channel:
” Great solo a lesson in how to start sparce 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”
(A funny thing happened on a recent gig – a bit of my saxophone literally fell off, mid solo! It’s never happened to me before – the video is up on my Youtube Channel and I’ve called it “Exploding Sax”)
Upcoming gigs:April:
Wednesday 22nd: Nette’s Little Big Band @ Drayton Court Hotel
May:
Friday 15th with Dave Jones Nonet @ Bull’s Head, Barnes
Saturday 16th with Nette Robinson and Terence Collie @ Swedenborg House, WC1A
June:
Wednesday 17th: Tony Woods Project @ Drayton Court Hotel
Other News:
On April 26th the Runnymede Jazz Orchestra -which I conduct – will be performing at Hampton Hub. First set will be more Jazz, second set more Dance. The whole thing starts at 7.00 pm and will be a lot of fun!
Nette, Meredith White and I will be teaching on the Isle of Man Jazz Weekend 28th-30th August .
The Way Out West gigs continue in 2026 at Drayton Court Hotel, West Ealing, usually the third Wednesday in the month:
Wednesday 22nd April: Nette’s Little Big Band
WOW performances continue at Jazz Cafe Posk (the Polish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith):
Saturday 4th July: The American Songbook
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:
Last month I mentioned the importance of listening to music. A more detailed form of listening is transcription. Pick something slow like early Miles or Paul Desmond (although these days you can easily slow tracks down on YouTube.) Either write down the notes on manuscript or possibly better – just remember it all – when you come back the next day you will have to start again, but this will reinforce the phrasing and it will go in deeper. Writing it down is quicker and its nice to have as a reference in the future, but doing transcriptions on your instrument and memorised is also a valid practice.
