Friday 28 March 2025
Way Out West Presents Music of Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn!
Musicians from the Way Out West collective are joined by special guest Henry Lowther on trumpet for an evening of music by two of the most iconic figures in jazz and the greatest team in jazz composition - Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn. The evening will include the stillness of classics such as Creole Love Call & Solitude and the energy of Cottontail & Take the A Train!
Line-up:
Henry Lowther - trumpet
Tony Woods - alto sax
Pete Hurt - tenor sax
Tim Whitehead - tenor sax
Nick Mills - trombone
Tom Millar - piano
Larry Bartley - bass
Gary Willcox – drums
Way Out West (WoW) is a collective of musician/composer/ bandleaders based in West London which has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The membership is multi-generational and encompasses a wide range of jazz styles including bebop, swing, fusion and free/improvised.
Henry Lowther: over the last 50 years Henry’s work on the British jazz scene reads like a “Who’s Who”. He has played regularly with, amongst many others, Gordon Beck, Michael Garrick, Graham Collier, Mike Gibbs, Pete King, Loose Tubes, John Surman, John Taylor, Stan Tracey and Kenny Wheeler. He has also led his own band, Still Waters, for many years.
Pete Hurt has quietly been part of the London Jazz scene for almost four decades and has developed one of the most distinguishable sounds and style. His skills as a writer and arranger are beautifully displayed on the album A New Start (Pete Hurt Jazz Orchestra).
Tim Whitehead: In the 80’s he was a member of the groundbreaking big band Loose Tubes. In the 90’s he recorded albums Authentic and Silence Between Waves, on Ronnie Scott’s Jazz House Label and received The Andrew Milne Award for Jazz. In 2000, Tim won the Peter Whittingham Award to complete and record Tides, with Colin Riley and the Homemade Orchestra. He was composer in residence at Tate Britain. Tim is a founding member of Way Out West.
Nick Mills is one of our finest exponents of his beloved instrument, the trombone. Cited as being the musical instrument that is closest to the human voice in expression and resolve, few master the art as well as he does.
Tony Woods has a wealth of experience as a player and teacher. He has run his own band, The Tony Woods Project, since the mid-1990s , producing 4 albums. He has also focused on improvisation within English Folk music with the Avalon Trio, as well as collaborating with Michael Garrick on settings of sacred works and works of poetry.
Tom Millar is a London-based jazz pianist, composer and bandleader. As a member of Way Out West musicians’ collective, he has created various different projects including compositions and arrangements with Jim Hart, Tim Whitehead, Tony Woods and Laura Jurd, among others.
Larry Bartley is one of the most sought-after bass players on the London jazz scene. He has worked with bands led by Courtney Pine, Jean Toussaint, Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch and Julian Joseph to name but a few.
Gary Willcox is an established drummer much in demand on the UK scene. He has run his own Quartet playing his original compositions, and has played at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex Jazz Club, Cafe OTO and 606 Club. He is also a member of Loz Speyer’s Inner Space (along with tonight’s bass player, Larry).
Website: https://wowjazz.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayoutwestjazz
Twitter: https://x.com/WayOutWestJazz
