Friday 30th October 2026
Way Out West presents: The Best Is Yet Come:Celebrating the Centenary of Tony Bennet!
Way Out West Collective celebrates the musical legacy of the legendary jazz vocalist Tony Bennett in what would have been his hundredth year. The late Tony Bennett enjoyed a remarkable career spanning seven decades. He sold over 50 million records worldwide and received many accolades, including 20 Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the years Bennett collaborated with multiple jazz and pop artists, including Bill Evans and Count Basie, Stan Getz, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder.
This special programme will feature a selection of songs closely associated with Tony Bennett, such as ‘Stranger in Paradise’, ‘You Must Believe in Spring’, ‘Who Can I Turn To?’, ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ and more, paying homage to one of the defining voices of jazz!
Line-up:
Nette Robinson – voice and saxophones
Tony Woods - saxophones
Pete Hurt - tenor
Meredith White - piano
Larry Bartley - bass
Gary Willcox - drums
Way Out West (WoW) is a collective of musician/composer/bandleaders based in West London which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. The membership is multi-generational and encompasses a wide range of jazz styles including bebop, swing, fusion and free/improvised. For more information, please go to www.wowjazz.org
Nette Robinson is a distinctive and versatile vocalist, known for her clarity, emotional depth and storytelling. She worked closely with the eminent jazz composer and pianist Michael Garrick MBE for the last few years of his life, performing his settings of poetry and arrangements of songs by Bill Evans, Kenny Wheeler and Jaco Pastorius under the name the Lyric Trio. She continues to perform as the Lyric Trio with Meredith White on piano. Aside from Michael Garrick’s songs, their repertoire now includes poetry settings by Tony Woods, herself and classical composers, such as John Ireland and Tchaikovsky. Aside from this, Nette has a variety of other musical projects, including a celebration of Chet Baker, the Little Big Band, which presents her reimaginings of Ellington and Basie big band classics with a very reduced lineup and a trio performing concerts of her arrangements of Russian songs in the original language.
Tony Woods, an acclaimed UK saxophonist, blends jazz, folk, and classical influences into his distinctive sound. With a career spanning over three decades, he has captivated audiences worldwide with his lyrical melodies and inventive improvisations. Woods' music embodies a fusion of tradition and innovation, making him a standout figure in contemporary jazz.
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 beautiful displayed on the album A New Start (Pete Hurt Jazz Orchestra).
Jazz pianist, singer and composer Meredith White draws influence from a wide range of styles and repertoire. After gaining a scholarship to study classical piano at the Royal Academy of Music, she moved into jazz and has since performed in most of the London jazz venues, working with the likes of Cleo Laine, Norma Winstone, Shireen Francis, Sarah Moule and Dave O’Higgins. In addition to performing, Meredith has been a senior lecturer at Kingston University and an examiner/arranger for the Associated Board jazz syllabus. She continues to be involved in jazz education.
Larry Bartley is a bassist and composer who has been a staple of the London & international jazz scene since the 1990s, and has played and/or recorded in the bands of: Abdullah Ibrahim, Denys Baptiste, Steve Williamson, Courtney Pine, Bheki Mseleku, Ingrid Langrock, Jean Toussaint, Chris Briscoe, Basil Hodge, Adrian Reid (Jazz Warriors) Stanley Turrentine, Steve Grossman, Bennie Maupin, Harold Mabern, Chico Freeman, Donald Brown (of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers), David Murray, Orinn Evans, Gary Bartz, Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra, Byron Wallen’s ‘Indigo’ and Jason Yarde’s ‘Trio Wah!’
Gary Willcox is an established drummer much in demand on the UK scene. He has toured with several jazz stars including Jim Mullen, Stan Sulzmann, Ian Shaw, Iain Ballamy and Polly Gibbons. He also runs his own quartet featuring the music of some of his musical heroes such as Charlie Parker and Wayne Shorter.
Web Links:
Website: https://wowjazz.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayoutwestjazz
