**lunchtime** Steve Fishwick/Alex Garnett Quartet | 2.00pm | £12

Steve Fishwick, trumpet | Alex Garnett, alto saxophone | Mike Karn, double bass | Matt Fishwick, drums.

This exciting new project sees two of the London scene's most respected players on their respective instruments, Steve on trumpet and Alex on alto sax, team up with visiting USA bass great Mike Karn and one of the UK's leading drummers Matt Fishwick. The emphasis is on original music with the inspiration being such Hard Bop luminaries as Kenny Dorham and Ernie Henry. The music is heavily rooted in the jazz tradition but because of the absence of a chordal instrument it has a more open sound that lends itself to exploratory, free-wheeling improvisations. This will be the group's debut gig and they are recording their first CD a few days after this performance. Expect high energy hard bop and beyond!

Steve Fishwick's name has been synonymous with the best straight ahead jazz trumpet playing in Europe for some time now. He's recently performed with his band at the Rochester Jazz Festival in NY, was a featured soloist with the GDR Big Band, and has recorded in New York with ex-Messengers pianist Cedar Walton. Alex Garnett is held in similarly high regard, having performed at the Blue Note and at Birdland in NYC, along with a long roster of visiting American artists in the UK.

Contact Nat Steele or Allison Neale for more info