Vivid and hopeful original piano trio music, inspired by an 8000km hitch-hiking journey across the US, from a rising star of the UK jazz scene, pianist Eddie Gripper and his trio, with Clem Saynor (bass) and Patrick Barrett-Donlon (drums), celebrating the launch of Eddie's second trio album 'Americana'.

Eddie Gripper and this trio bring a distinctive new voice to the classic jazz piano trio tradition, building on foundations laid with an acclaimed tour and debut album 'Home' released in 2024.

Eddie has worked with Nigel Price, Simon Spillett and Alex Clarke as well as collaborating with vocalist Elijah Jeffery, with whom he released a self-titled album in 2025, and he's played at venues and festivals including the 606 Club, Crazy Coqs, and Soho's Pizza Express.

Here's some music: https://youtu.be/v_b-ltahWOc?si=pITaSNHQYMgT_GLQ

Join us for this great trio playing thoughtful, expressive and beautiful music, rooted in the jazz tradition yet thoroughly contemporary.

"Eddie Gripper leaves us wanting more. and soon." - Nick Lea (Jazz Views)

Two brilliant and distinctive musicians, Pedro Velasco (guitar and effects) and Ruth Goller (electric bass and voice) with a performance that will include two solo sets, and finish with a magical duo performance.

Italian-born bassist, vocalist and composer Ruth Goller's unique sound brings together a river of emotions, from the thunderous to the delicate, drawing on unique tunings and layered vocal lines. As well as her own acclaimed music with Skylla, she's played with everyone from Laura Jurd, Elliot Galvin, Let Spin, and Shabaka Hutchings, to Paul McCartney and Damon Albarn. One of the low-end pillars of the UK's creative music community, she has been praised for her 'thunderous bass-guitar hooks' (The Guardian), and came to prominence with Acoustic Ladyland and Melt Yourself Down. Her two albums with Skylla are truly unique, and the second, 'Skyllumina' was released on Chicago's International Anthem label.

"...an entwining of bass and voice that feels like pure science fiction." - The Quietus

Here's some music by Ruth: https://youtu.be/6cfmnUALsT4?si=jV5dHnS7sz1dZ98g

Portuguese guitarist Pedro Velasco's brilliantly beautiful and haunting self-composed and deeply personal music is gently meditative, yet explorative and vibrant. He performs with his own ensembles as well as a wonderful duo project with Harry Christelis.

Here's some music by Pedro, with bassist Andrea Di Biase: https://youtu.be/doCI_dslcus?si=WHY9A0zkHDh9NceW

We're delighted to welcome these two wonderful musicians for a really unique evening. Please join us!

Virtuoso contemporary jazz from one of the most vital musicians internationally, saxophonist and Ivor Novello-nominated composer Alex Hitchcock, who brings a brilliant all-star quartet featuring Will Barry (piano), Freddie Jensen (bass), Ananda Brandão (drums).

Urgent, contemporary yet thoughtful music that reflects Alex's time spent in the US and collaborating with many of the leading names on the New York jazz scene. He joins us as part of an international tour that takes in venues across Europe and the US.

Here's some music: https://youtu.be/bo8VM5xYxZc?si=yosQDSnqwrhJjqFo

Alex Hitchcock is a leading voice on the international jazz stage. Emerging from London's fertile jazz scene and shaped by inventive collaborations across Europe, the US, and further afield, he has established an international reputation with sellout appearances in NYC and London, his playing is powerful, exciting and contemporary.

He has toured globally with his quartet to venues and festivals including North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Jazz à Vienne, Love Supreme Jazz Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott's, Bimhuis, the Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, and Glastonbury. He recently appeared in the working quartet of Detroit piano legend (and Dexter Gordon side musician) Kirk Lightsey, touring across the UK, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

"Leading the charge in terms of new jazz music being created in the UK" BBC Jazz World

"One of the most interesting and innovative European saxophonists" Musica Jazz Magazine

"An absolutely fascinating musician as a composer, leader and soloist" France Musique

"Tumbling with ideas, impulsive improvisations and swinging, left-field energy, Hitchcock's storytelling intent is the unifying thread" MOJO Magazine

Will Barry (piano) is firmly established as one of the UK's finest pianists, touring with the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, Jasper Høiby's group 'Fellow Creatures', and at venues and festivals including North Sea, Love Supreme, Umbria Jazz Festivals.

".sensitive and fluid - a beautiful sound" - Chucho Valdés

Award-winning Freddie Jensen (bass) has worked musicians such as Norma Winstone, Emma Rawicz, Julian Arguelles, Jean Toussaint, Gwilym Simcock, and Kit Downes. He was a finalist in the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2014, and won first prize in 5th European Biennial Double Bass Congress in Prague in 2016.

Another award winner, Ananda Brandão (drums) is a vibrant presence who has worked with artists across the UK, Europe, and Brazil, including Emma Rawicz, Anatole Muster, and Clélya Abraham, and won 1st Prize at the Rezzo Competition by Jazz à Vienne with the band Ninanda, which she co-leads with pianist Nina Gat.

We're thrilled to welcome this outstanding line-up to The Lescar. An unmissable gig.

Birmingham-based saxophonist and composer Nye Banfield, a musician with a beautiful and expressive sound on his instrument brings a quartet featuring Robbie Moore (piano), Ewan Moore (drums) and Hamish Nockles-Moore (double bass).

Nye's music is lyrical and richly textured with a raw and earthy organic quality, strong melodies and diverse influences from Wayne Shorter, Ambrose Akinmusire, and mentor Mark Lockheart to Ralph Vaughan Williams and the songwriting of Damon Albarn, Thom Yorke and Paul McCartney.

Here's some music: https://youtu.be/9CwKcI9cuJo?si=_VR4uwGGss-c5JHF

You may have caught Robbie Moore and Ewan Moore previously at The Lescar with BLACKSABBATHMODE, they're vibrant, original and energising musicians.

Nye's debut, critically acclaimed album 'Trails and Traces' was released in 2022 and also featured Mark Kavuma.

Described by Jazzwise as 'an important emerging voice', with a 'big sound', this is vivid and richly textured music, founded on Nye's beautiful compositions and lyrical improvisation.

Powerful and distinctive US sax legend and Grammy nominee Greg Abate, former lead alto player with the Ray Charles Orchestra is accompanied for this gig by a first class UK rhythm section, led by drummer Andrew Wood.

Greg's recorded history covers the likes of Kenny Barron, Phil Woods, James Williams, Rufus Reid, Kenny Washington, and a string of gigs at festivals and clubs around the world. He's an engaging and fiery performer, but also lyrical and melodic, and his gigs always have an edge of the unexpected.

Making up the quartet for this gig are the Andrew Wood Trio, featuring Matthew Ratcliffe (piano), Martyn Spencer (double bass), and Andrew 'Woody' Wood (drums), a trio who perform across the UK jazz scene, with the likes of Tony Kofi, Dennis Rollins & Alan Barnes as well as performing in Nottingham's Peggy's Skylight Jazz Club House Band. Please join us for the very best swinging music in the classic jazz tradition, one of those unmissable nights in our intimate backroom jazz club!

Here's some music! https://youtu.be/NoTAi22cetY?si=mYI_50Hl5mMM7AdA

"... his fast-moving lines give his work a feeling of constant invention and creativity." - Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

Rhode Island born, bred and based saxophonist, flautist and composer Greg Abate's career has included playing lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra, and as lead tenor for the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra. He has recorded a multitude of solo albums featuring jazz greats including baritone player Gary Smulyan, trumpeter Claudio Roditi, pianist Hilton Ruiz, vocalist Kenny Washington, sax legend Phil Woods and most recently with pianist Kenny Barron, an album which spent 7 weeks at #1 on Jazz Week's chart and landed at #5 for the year.

He has performed at many of the most famous venues around the world, including The Blue Note and Birdland in New York, The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, Le Club in Moscow, Russia, Jazz a'Vienne Jazz Festival and Toulon Jazz Festival in France, The Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland along with several jazz clubs and festivals in England, Ireland, and Canada. His US shows include the legendary Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, Blues Ally in DC, The Newport Jazz Festival, Cape Cod Jazz Fest, and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Greg's quartet for this gig features Andrew 'Woody' Wood, a musician who has performed across Europe at venues ranging from intimate jazz clubs to the Royal Albert Hall, as well as being the house drummer at the wonderful Peggy's Skylight Jazz Club in Nottingham, and performing in Tony Kofi's Tenor Legacy and Inside Straight bands. On double bass, Martyn Spencer, a musician who's impeccable bass playing makes him a first call bass player across the Midlands as well as performing with the likes of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and appearing on the BBC.

Matt Ratcliffe on piano has worked with an array of jazz talent including Nigel Price, Simon Spillet, Dierdre Cartwright, Alan Barnes, Dave O'Higgins, Xhosa Cole, Chris Bowden and many others, as well as at festivals and clubs including London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, 606 Club Chelsea. An inspiring and swinging pianist.

Uplifting and joyous music combining the rhythms of Africa and vibrant vocal harmonies with a jazz sensibility, and the explosive energy of a live band. Ubunye bring together two powerful vocalists from South Africa's Kwa Zulu Natal region combined with a dynamic rhythm section; unique and goose-bump inducing music from a brilliant 6 piece band.

A vibrant and beautiful mix of styles and cultures, sometimes energetic dance vibes, sometimes gentle and introspective, we're so thrilled to welcome Ubunye to The Lescar. The full band features Nokuthula Zondi (vocals), Xolani Mbatha (vocals), David Evans (keys), Nik Svarc (guitar), Steve Hanley (drums), and Sam Dutton-Taylor (bass).

Here's some music: https://youtu.be/jDr3kLrXkF4?si=CvBCPri-2kYw55y-

Ubunye were awarded UK jazz ensemble of the year at the Parliamentary Jazz awards 2024 and they've appeared to rave reviews at jazz festivals including Manchester, Lancaster, Leeds, and London.

"Ubunye's debut is a fantastic, inspirational and incredible record - a long time in the making but a triumph on every level." UK Vibe

Please do join us for this beautiful and energising music.

"Ubunye blew the roof off. Unique rhythms, passionate singing and fabulous songs, all delivered with soul ... the joy and positivity shone through. Mesmerising" - Neil Hughes, Buxton International Festival