Pianist/singer Jonathan Gee (Pharoah Sanders/ Tony Kofi etc ) brings his all star band to The Bear Club combining three of his recent shows in one. He is featuring Denys Baptiste (McCoy Tyner/ Incognito/ Courtney Pine etc ) on saxophone, with Mikele Montolli on bass and Tristan Maillot on drums.
The first slice is from the “Beatles Reimagined” album Jonathan recorded with sax maestro Gaetano Partipilo of Lennon/McCartney songs transformed in a contemporary jazz manner. The second is from an 80’s project created for Lichfield Music Festival of rearranged Spandau Ballet, Kate Bush plus Wayne Shorter and Micheal Brecker from that era.
The third is original compositions which featured on recent albums including his latest vocal album “The Lions Revisited”.
Jonathan Gee is one of the most imaginative composer-pianists operating today, with a succession of bands and projects with world-class line-ups from Europe and the US. Aside from his own bands, which have produced 11 albums, he has also worked closely with Bobby Wellins, Claire Martin, and Tim Whitehead, Joe Lovano, Mark Murphy and Art Farmer.
With Tony Kofi, he co-founded the Monk Liberation Front, whose legendary performances of the complete Thelonious Monk catalogue have led to award-winning recordings.
He has performed in groups comprised of leading musicians from France, Finland and Italy, and a fantastic trio emerging from the hothouse of the New York jazz scene featuring Joseph Lepore and Nasheet Waits, which has already packed out Dizzy’s at Lincoln Centre, New York. Jonathan has also been seen on The Lesley Garrett Show, and heard on BBC’s In Tune, and Loose Ends. He has also appeared on a number of albums released by Luton’s legendary 33 Records.
“Meticulously crafted themes contain much thought and originality ... inventive original pianist.”
“A wonderful album to sit and relax to, with maybe a cognac or two, and luxuriate in the playing and singing of Gee who has created an intimate and absorbing album.”
Doors 7pm / Music 8.30pm / Tickets £16 / £10 for members
All seating/tables are first come first served.