Brilliant and cutting edge jazz from a unique voice on the European jazz scene. Alto saxophonist Alice Leggett brings a thrilling international line-up of six incredible musicians, all established band leaders, and drawn from jazz scenes in London, NYC and Amsterdam.

Joining Alice on this gig as part of a tour of the Netherlands and the UK, are tenor saxophonist Alex Hitchcock (UK/NYC), trumpeter Alexandra Ridout (NYC/UK), pianist Noah Stoneman (NYC/UK), double bassist Tijs Klaassen (NL), and drummer Wouter Kühne (NL).

With brand new music written especially for this ensemble, including from Alice's debut album, it's a potent mix of musicians capable of a powerful band sound, but also of reaching out and experimenting with accomplished spontaneity.

An alto sax player with a distinctive, expressive tone and a very personal voice, Alice Leggett spent seven formative years in London, also frequenting the New York jazz scene, and now resides in Amsterdam. Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, her influences range from Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman and Wayne Shorter to modern innovators such as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ambrose Akinmusire, Mark Turner, Immanuel Wilkins, Ben van Gelder, and Melissa Aldana. Her own writing has improvisation at it's core, combining this with thoughtful and emotive themes, lyricism, and a strong sense of adventure.

"Leggett's art does not make concessions: this is serious music, and deserves and rewards serious listening." - Victoria Kingham (Jazzwise)

"Tightly woven, progressively modern sounding without being atonal or full on avant-garde there's plenty of space for in-depth examination of themes and motifs. A strong statement of where Leggett is now as a composer." - Marlbank

Here's some music: https://youtu.be/XhmVkHiDEoQ?si=2ZBrjdnQMkdb44Xi

Described as a "virtuoso" by The Guardian, saxophonist and Ivor Novello-nominated composer Alex Hitchcock is a leading voice on the international jazz stage. Emerging from the vibrant London jazz scene he has worked across Europe, the US, and further afield, and built an international reputation, with sellout appearances in NYC and London, his playing is powerful, exciting and contemporary.

A dynamic and exciting musician, award-winning Alexandra Ridout (trumpet) won the BBC Young Jazz Musician 2016, leading to a string of further awards. She's an in-demand bandleader and composer, performing at many of the world's most renowned venues and festivals. as well as artists including Samara Joy, Renee Rosnes' Artemis, Orlando Le Fleming's 'Romantic Funk', Dayna Stephens, Jochen Rueckert's new quartet, Arturo O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Melissa Aldana, Savannah Harris, Christine Jensen, Mingus Big Band, Kit Downes and Alex Hitchcock. She was a showcased performer/composer in the International Festival of New Trumpet Music with her trio in New York in 2022, curated by world famous jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas, who she performed with in 2024 and recorded an album with his new project 'alloy' in 2025.

"Her incredibly sweet, subtle and well-controlled tone....absolutely owning the stage and the room...melodic, fluent and engaging...great sound, and an emotional content to her playing, but again with superb control even in very high register" - Jazz Journal

Noah Stoneman (piano) is without question one of the most exciting and original new pianists on the jazz scene, having spent time in recent years in New York. A BBC Young Jazz musician finalist in 2016, his original music has featured at festivals including Brainchild and Manchester Jazz Festival, and a previous album produced by Kit Downes, and his next album, a trio featuring Freddie Jensen and James Maddren is due for release in February 2026.

Amsterdam-based Tijs Klaassen (double bass) leads his own quintet and has played and recorded with Ben van Gelder, Alistair Payne, Oene van Geel Franz von Chossy, and many others, appearing at venues including the world famous Bimhuis club in Amsterdam.

Wouter Kühne (drums) has performed with an incredible array of artists including Dick Oatts, Terrel Stafford, Aaron Parks, Jason Marsalis, Benjamin Herman, Jasper Blom, Ben van Gelder, Joris Roelofs, Reinier Baas, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, and many others, as well as studying with leading artists in NYC, Senegal, Mexico and Cuba.

Mysterious and atmospheric music emerging from the Sheffield and Northern improvised music scene focused around internationally recognised record label Discus.

Fjall bring together four wonderful musicians and a cornucopia of acoustic and electronic sounds to create soundscapes rooted in folk and ceremonial music, set against field recordings drawn from the sounds of the natural world, all creating a canvas for open ended improvisation.

It's music that really draws you in, beautiful, approachable, haunting and hypnotic.

Fjall have released two albums - Fjall (2022) and Helt (2026), both on Discus Music, as well as performing concerts at venues across the region. They feature Martin Archer (woodwind/keyboard/electronics), Jan Todd (vocals, various instruments), Richard Jackson (drums/percussion) and Fran Comyn (percussion).

"Strong inspired music can achieve this magical casting of it's spell over the audience vibe when it works. This is the case here." - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery NYC

"From The Rough Hill is a thing of ancient and elemental beauty, an inland journey for the head and for the heart." - Mr Olivetti, FREQ

"Perhaps my favourite Discus disc in recent memory." - New York City Jazz Record

Here's some music! https://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-rough-hill-164cd-2023

A Sheffield musician with an international reputation, Martin Archer brings a unique and distinctive approach to woodwind-playing, rooted in AACM jazz, as well as extensive use of keyboards and electronics. His output over many years has included extended song form and leftfield rock music. Together with an eclectic combination of sources and a highly individual approach to music he's a unique inhabitant of the school of English maverick composer/improvisers. "Archer's aesthetic is an intriguing and transformative one-whatever enters his world comes out changed, if not utterly, then beautifully." - Duncan Heining, All About Jazz

Jan Todd is a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and improviser drawn to unusual soundscapes and atmospheres, melodies and field recordings, found sounds and self-devised electronic sound palettes. Best known as frostlake and as a member of the Orchestra of The Upper Atmosphere.

Richard Jackson on drums/percussion has been active on the Sheffield improvised music scene since 2015, a focused and musical percussionist with a strongly individual approach.

Fran Comyn (percussionist) is based in Rochdale and has a reputation across the North performing and collaborating on recordings and events with improvising musicians across the country including in Durham, London, Manchester and Sheffield, not least in a duo with keyboard player Adam Fairhall and as an occasional contributor to the London based group project Daona.

A vibrant line-up led by inspirational musicians Fergus Quill (Ferg's Imaginary Big Band) and Anna Chandler-King (Shapeshifters), combining a shared love of legendary composer and bass player Charles Mingus; music that weaves elements of the blues, avant-garde, bebop, and post-bop, brought to life by a truly exciting and dynamic seven piece band, with Aaron Wood (trumpet), Anna Chandler-King (alto/baritone sax), Ben Powling (tenor sax), Benji Arnold (trombone), Adam Fairhall (piano), Fergus Quill (double bass), and Josh Smout (drums).

You may have caught Anna Chandler-King (sax) last year with her wonderful large ensemble and also previously at The Lescar with Shapeshifters Trio, and in Tom Harris's band. She's a brilliant and expressive saxophonist with a really identifiable sound of her own.

Award-winning Fergus Quill (double bass) leads some of the most exciting bands on the UK scene right now, including the acclaimed Ferg's Imaginary Big Band, a musician who bring fire and originality to every performance and line-up.

Manchester-based Aaron Wood (trumpet) has a really beautiful sound and is much in-demand, performing with artists including Nishla Smith and Secret Night Gang. A powerful and energising presence, sax player Ben Powling has performed across the UK, Europe and Asia, co-leader of Vipertime, he also performs with Wandering Monster, WorldService Project, the Ben Haskins Quartet, and K.O.G.

"Spiraling saxophone work" - Rolling Stone

"Forceful Coltrane-inspired tenor" - The Jazz Man

Another wonderful musician emerging from the vibrant Leeds jazz scene, Benji Arnold (trombone) is a member of Ferg's Imaginary Big Band.

Adam Fairhall (piano) has gained international recognition for his playing, including with Nat Birchall, Revival Room, and in duos with Johnny Hunter and Olivia Moore, often drawing an understanding of early jazz into free and contemporary jazz settings, he's an idiosyncratic and distinctive voice.

"A rising star of the piano" - BBC Radio 3, Jazz Line-Up

"Fairhall's piano is a questing, quixotic voice with a comprehensive 'inside and out' vocabulary" - Jazzwise

"A hugely accomplished instrumentalist" - The Wire

Josh Smout (drums) performs with the Tom Sharp Jazz Orchestra, Ben Powling, Vipertime, Howlin Ric and the Rocketeers, and many other line-ups on the Leeds jazz scene.

Truly one of the most exciting and acclaimed trios on the UK jazz scene, a multi-generational band featuring powerful sax player Riley Stone-Lonergan, UK jazz legend Spike Wells (Tubby Hayes, Bobby Wellins) on drums, and multi-genre bassist and bandleader Eddie Myer. Together they bring the powerful and joyfully expressive music from their new album 'The Rule of Three', on Whirlwind Records. Alive, spontaneous and direct, it's the very best contemporary jazz.

Here's some music: https://youtu.be/TCGXSxCsmr4?si=osWrrYKONPEpyPxK

This energising trio's music draws on the deep jazz tradition of the tenor sax/bass/drums trio, steeped in melody and swing, venturing into free improvisation, yet anchored by the unmistakable beat of drummer Spike Wells, celebrating his 80th birthday and the 65th year of an extraordinary career at the forefront of UK jazz, providing the driving force behind everyone from Tubby Hayes to Bobby Wellins to Stan Getz to Roland Kirk and countless others. A true legend visits the backroom of The Lescar!

Spanning the generations, Spike is joined by one of the most outstanding saxophonists playing in the UK today, Riley Stone-Lonergan, a player with a sustained and joyous yet controlled fire in his playing and one who brings both intriguing compositions and boundless creative imagination to this trio.

On bass, Eddie Myer's brings a big tone and a list of playing credits that includes Turin Brakes, as well as his own band Eddie Myer 5tet, an experienced and creative musician across many genres.

Their first album 'QOW TRIO' was selected as critic's choice by Jazzwise Magazine for 2021. The follow-up 'The Hold Up' was described by BBC Music Magazine as 'a stunning achievement" and awarded 4**** by The Times and The Scotsman. They've spent the intervening time touring across the UK and EU and developing their sound to a new creative peak.

Their current album 'The Rule Of Three' is coherent, wide-ranging and adventurous, with a constant sense of surprise yet all delivered with total sincerity and conviction and a driving desire to bring the audience with them every step of the way.

Vibrant and alive, an unmissable evening of the very best contemporary jazz.