Jazz supporting Basingstoke Stroke Group

Howard Alden & Jim Mullen Sextet at the Irish Centre Basingstoke Wednesday 7th May

Howard Alden, born Newport Beach California in 1958, has visited the UK on many occasions, most memorably as a member of the Ruby Braff Trio. He is part of the younger generation of middle-road jazzmen which includes Scott Hamilton, with whom he has often worked. He has appeared on many albums both under his own name and with such as Woody Herman, Ruby Braff, Joe Bushkin & Count Basie famed vocalist Joe Williams. He plays 7 string guitar, the extra bass string adding considerably to the range of the instrument. He is to be heard on the sound track of the Woody Allen film “Sweet And Lowdown”.

Jim Mullen, born Glasgow 1945, is a truly original sounding jazz guitarist who uses his thumb in preference to a pick . He was Mullen Band, which recorded several albums, for about 15 years. He has also worked regularly with Mose Allison, Clare Martin, and, in the past, The Average White Band. He currently tours with his own trio, Jim Mullen’s Organ Trio, and freelances considerably

Alan Barnes is quite simply the most in demand reedman (clarinet, alto & baritone) in the UK, and possesses astonishing technique and creativity, Henry Lowther one of the most experienced trumpet players with a career of over 50 years in all styles of bands such as John Dankworth’s, drummer Mark Taylor has worked with Ronnie Scott and Mose Allison among countless others (he is here at present back from New York which is now his base) and Simon Woolf is a highly dependable bassist with a great reputation.

As is often the case in Jazz this is a first-time aggregation where great musicians get together to use their common musical language to create something new. It will undoubtedly be an exciting and thoroughly entertaining evening.