Tuesday night Watermill Jazz, Dorking Matt Skelton’s Blackhawk Quintet - celebrating Shelly Manne and his music - blew up a storm with Skelton - drums, James Davison - trumpet, Mark Crooks - tenor sax, Leon Greening - piano & Ferg Ireland - double bass. Live music at its best.

Tuesday pm Cadogan Hall the Nicolas Meier World Group with ⁦Nicolas Meier⁩ - guitars, Richard Jones - violin, Tom Mason - bass, Demi Garcia Sabat - drums & percussion, Alex Hutton - piano played beautiful music influenced & inspired by so many sources & styles. Outstanding.

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Great vibrant performance Thursday night at ⁦PizzaExpress Live⁩, Soho by Ant Law’s Unified Theories: ⁦Ant Law⁩ - guitar with ⁦Gwilym Simcock⁩ - piano, Will Vinson - alto sax, Ferg Ireland - bass, Ernesto Simpson - drums. Top contemporary jazz. #WeAreJazz

Wednesday night ⁦Riverhouse⁩, Walton-on-Thames ⁦Way Out West - Jazz in West London⁩ celebrated their first 20 years in great style with ten musicians giving their all to good effect and enjoyed by an appreciative audience. #WeAreJazz

Friday afternoon at ⁦Cadogan Hall⁩ Soul Time played the music of Bobby Timmons. Steve Fishwick - trumpet, Leon Greening - piano, Matyas Hofecker - double bass, Matt Home - drums. An excellent swinging group showcasing a great performer & player. Thank you. #WeAreJazz

Saturday Wigmore Hall Nik Bärtsch & Tania Giannouli on pianos started late, ended very early and advertised interval dematerialised. Staff as confused as audience. Intense mood generated by very modern music broken by performers on/off stage antics. Disappointing. #WeAreJazz

Saturday lunchtime PizzaExpress Live, Soho the Harper Trio. Maria-Christina Harper - electronic harp, Evan Jenkins - drums, Josephine Davies - sax. Original, often contemplative, sounds from a well integrated trio who were well appreciated by a full audience. Thanks. #WeAreJazz

⁦At Cadogan Hall⁩ on Saturday night the Marcin Wasilewski Trio celebrated 30 years. Wasilewski - piano, Sławomir Kurkiewicz - double-bass & Michał Miśkiewicz - drums exhibited great harmony and style in producing fabulous and original jazz loved by a full house. #WeAreJazz

Sunday ⁦Kings Place⁩ the Eishan Ensemble: Hamed Sadeghi - tar (Iranian lute) + Michael Avgenicos - sax, Adem Yilmaz - percussion & Maximillian Alduca - bass were a delight playing what has been described as 'eastern jazz fusion'. Whatever it was it was beautiful. #WeAreJazz

Sunday afternoon ⁦Kings Place⁩ Chinese-Australian Mindy Meng Wang (guzheng) and Australian Paul Grabowsky (piano) combined to present a unique and fascinating fusion of Chinese folk music and contemporary jazz creating a beautiful soundscape. Thank you. #WeAreJazz

On Sunday night at The London Palladium Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in Concert was fun and received a tremendous response from the audience who clearly loved it. Ramin Karimloo, Hadley Fraser, Carly Mercedes Dyer and the rest of a strong cast and musicians & choir were impressive.

At ⁦PizzaExpress Live⁩, Soho Monday night relaxed enjoyable gig with Denise Mangiardi - piano/vocals with Dave O’Higgins - saxes, Jeremy Brown - bass, Luca Bascagin - guitar & Jeff Boudreaux - drums + special  guests Jason Rebello - piano and Judith O’Higgins - tenor sax.

⁦ A full house at Watermill Jazz⁩ Tuesday enjoyed the Alan Barnes Sextet presenting the club’s final 2024 gig. ⁦Alan Barnes⁩ - saxes & clarinet, Pete Horsfall - cornet, Mark Nightingale - trombone, John Pearce - piano, Jeremy Brown - d. bass, Mark Taylor - drums.

On Wednesday night ⁦Way Out West - Jazz in West London⁩ presented ⁦The Turk’s Head⁩ Larry Bartley - double bass, Bruno Heinen - piano, Winston Clifford - drums who delivered two sets of outstanding jazz. Thanks to all concerned. Support local venues and clubs.

As part of what I hope is a gradual process of withdrawal from here I’ve unfollowed everyone but hopefully will find them on Threads or Bluesky. Do meet me on these warmer sites.

On Saturday night at ⁦@StMarysSessions⁩, Dorking The Soul Immigrants entertained a sell-out crowd with two sets of their trademark energetic soul and funk to good effect. You can’t beat live music.

On Saturday evening ⁦Runnymede Drama Group⁩ staged a very impressive version of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler at ⁦Riverhouse⁩, Walton-on-Thames which could have graced a West End theatre. The cast’s performance was of the highest quality. Thanks to all concerned.

On Sunday evening the ⁦Dyad Productions⁩ at ⁦Riverhouse⁩, Walton-on-Thames of ‘A Christmas Carol’ was a one-man tour de force by Andrew Margerison, directed by Rebecca Vaughan. Atmospheric, energetic and great entertainment. Loved it. Thanks to the entire team.

Wednesday evening Kings Place saw the B.I.G Gospel Choir produce a vibrant, high energy show bringing an enthusiastic audience to its feet. A great selection of gospel driven music. Impossible not to be infused with their feeling.