Past Events
The Spin Jazz Club, Oxford
Alex Hawkins/ Jez Cook/ Raf Mizraki/ Mark Doffman
Alexander Hawkins is a pianist, organist, and composer, recently labelled as ‘one of the most unique voices in contemporary music’, whose work has reached a ‘dazzling new apex’ (Downbeat, US).
His highly individual soundworld reconciles both his love of free improvisation and fascination with composition and structure. His Ensemble, his main project as bandleader, has been described as ‘one of the most vividly distinctive in contemporary jazz’.
Pete Oxley- Nick Meier Quartet
Nick Meier is a genuine guitar virtuoso who in the last few years has been touring the world with Jeff Beck and recording with Yellow Jackets bassist, Jimmy Haslip and drum super-star, Vinnie Colaiuta.
However…..he chooses to spend a great deal of his time writing, recording and touring with the Spin’s own Pete Oxley! They have just released their third and most ambitious album to date: a ‘double’ entitled ‘The Colours of Time’ which features one disc in their duo format and the second in quartet with Raph Mizraki on basses and Paul Cavaciuti on drums.
Frank Griffith With The Spin Trio
Frank Griffith is regarded as one of the finest players in the UK. Born in the US, he played for many years on the New York scene, and worked with legendary musicians such as Ron Carter, Buddy Rich and Mel Torme.
Jonathan Gee With The Spin Trio
Jonathan Gee has performed around the world at some of the biggest festivals and clubs in jazz. His facility and imagination at the piano put him in the very highest company, and it is not coincidental that in the last few years, he has been playing at some of the most prestigious venues in New York and the Eastern seaboard of the States.
Alan Barnes & Gilad Atzmon’s ‘Lowest Common Denominator’
Two of the most celebrated musicians on the jazz scene, Alan Barnes and Gilad Atzmon, bring their new group, Lowest Common Denominator' to the club. Gilad and Alan are often seen as inhabiting two very different parts of the jazz spectrum.
Cameron Pierre With The Spin Trio
A delight to welcome one of the great guitar players working on the scene in the UK, Cameron Pierre. Cameron has been Courtney Pine's first choice guitar player over twenty five years and in that time has toured the world with Courtney and played most of the major festivals and clubs round the globe.
Josh Kemp With The Spin Trio
‘A mix of Stan Getzian breeziness and Coltrane’s imploring cry.’ The Guardian
Tenor saxophonist, Josh Kemp, is one of the new generation of outstanding British players equally at home within the American songbook as he is within cutting edge compositions.
Rob Townsend With The Spin Trio
Saxophonist to the stars, Rob Townsend, makes a welcome return to the club. Rob tours the world with the Steve Hackett Group (ex Genesis guitar player) and The James Taylor Quartet with whom Rob has worked for over a decade.
Tim Whitehead With The Spin Trio
'Those of us who have caught him live ... have been left blinking in disbelief. It's not just his mastery of the tenor saxophone, but the absolute conviction of his playing that is so impressive...' The Observer
Tim is without doubt one of the most gifted and committed jazz musicians of his generation. Coming to prominence with Nucleus and then Loose Tubes, Tim went on to forge a career in which he has led his own groups.
Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon
We kick off 2017 with a superb 12 piece ensemble led by hornist, Jim Rattigan. Pavillon features a bunch of top national and international players such as the great Hans Koller (piano), known for his work with Mike Gibbs, Gene Calderazzo (drums) who is first choice player for the likes of Partisans, Zoe Rahman, Simon Purcell and just about everyone else, and horns such as Steve Fishwick, Andy Panayi, Martin Speake and Mick Foster, all of whom are regarded as top drawer on the London scene.
Polly Gibbons & James Pearson With The Spin Trio
Something of a fixture for the club over the last few years - we have the amazing Polly Gibbons and James Pearson close the season before the Christmas break.
Accent
Accent are playing only two dates in the UK in 2016 - The Albert Hall and The Spin!! There are a handful of seats left...
Accent is a six-piece vocal group from five countries, and some of the most incredible singers you will hear. Up there with Take 6 as one of the finest a capella groups around.
Damon Brown With The Spin Trio
‘Fluent, impassioned and technically superb’ Evening Standard
‘A superb musician with a unique voice' Rough Guide to Jazz
We welcome the incredible Damon Brown back to the club; his first appearance for several years and his returning to the UK from working the festival and club circuit in South East Asia for nearly a decade.
Roger Beaujolais With The Spin Trio
An eponymous gig, as we welcome the effervescent Roger Beaujolais to celebrate the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau, the wine that we believe was named after him.
Roger is the most celebrated vibes player in the UK and a stunning performer, and virtuoso vibraphonist. His playing career began with the jump jive band, The Chevalier Brothers, who in the 80s played more gigs than most musicians play in a lifetime.
Dave O'Higgins Quartet
Saxophonist Dave O’Higgins is one of the most prolific and creative jazz musicians the UK has ever produced, with 18 albums released as leader since 1993. Much of the material has been original compositions and arrangements, with lineups from small group to big band, acoustic and electric.
Martin Speake With The Spin Trio
‘Martin Speake is one of the most interesting and rewarding alto saxophonists now playing jazz on any continent’ Jazz Times
Top alto saxophonist, Martin Speake, has been forging groundbreaking projects with leading musicians from the US and Europe for over two decades.
Ross Stanley & Steve Fishwick With The Spin Rhythm Section
Ross Stanley comes to the club this Thursday with one of the finest trumpeters around. Steve Fishwick, deps for our own Pete Oxley, as Ross and Steve joins forces with Mark and Raph.
For those of you who don't know Ross, he has become first call pianist and Hammond player for the finest jazz artists around.
The Impossible Gentlemen
“World-class jazz – nothing short of sensational” - The Guardian
This must be one of the gigs of the year in Oxford...the most exciting and accomplished Anglo-US collaboration for many years sees Grammy Award Winners, Steve Rodby (ex Pat Metheny) on bass and Adam Nussbaum (ex John Scofield, Michael Brecker) on drums join forces with three of the finest players in the UK - Gwilym Simcock (keyboards), Mike Walker (guitar) and Iain Dixon (saxes).
Benn Clatworthy & John Donaldson
Benn Clatworthy and John Donaldson are two of the most exciting musicians on either side of the Atlantic. Benn has been resident in Los Angeles since 1980; his career as a tenor saxophonist really took off when he was recommended to Horace Silver in the late 80s and from that point, he went on to work with the likes of Cedar Walton, Bobby Shew, Otmaro Ruiz and many great artists. An extraordinary saxophonist, over here on a short tour, and not to be missed.
Julian Nicholas With The Spin Trio
Julian Nicholas has been a Spin favourite since the very first Spin year with both audiences and the house band alike. He was in the original incarnation of the ground-breaking British band Loose Tubes and now has a starring role in the group's current phoenix-like resurgence.