Sunday Lunchtime Special: Dave Wickins Benefit Gig

Artists: Dave Wickins, Pete Churchill, Steve Watts, Liam Noble, Malcolm Earle Smith, Lee Goodall, Geoff Simkins, Dave Cliff, Alison Rayner, Deirdre Cartwright, Buster Birch, Julian Nicholas, Julian Siegel, Martin Speake, Chris Batchelor, John Parricelli, Oren Marshall, Gene Calderazzo, Simon Purcell and more

Drummer Dave Wickins has been an indelible part of the UK jazz scene since the 1980’s, both as a musician and a music educator of considerable pedigree. Mentored by the legendary “Philly Joe” Jones (Miles, Coltrane, Evans) as a teenager – Dave was referred to Philly Joe through bassist John Hart - Dave established himself as a sought-after player, working most notably with American pianist Kirk Lightsey and his trio as well as beloved Scottish saxophonist Bobby Wellins and British pianist Liam Noble, a long and fruitful association measured in decades rather than years. His parallel career as Tutor and Course Director (along with Simon Purcell and then Buster Birch) of the former Barry Summer School – now known as “The Original UK Jazz Summer School” – began in the 1980’s as well, and has continued through successive locations, from Nottage Primary in Porthcawl and Glamorgan University to the school’s present location at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (and, Dave is also on the faculty at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire). Recently however, Dave was diagnosed with prostate cancer, affecting his ability to work. Therefore, with a swift demonstration of esprit de corps, a benefit has been organised by fellow UK Jazz Summer School Co-Director Buster Birch, with performances by dozens of Dave’s friends and colleagues, many of whom are or have been a part of the Summer School faculty thanks to Dave. Among the outstanding musicians to be featured at this benefit are pianists Simon Purcell (now Head of Jazz at Trinity Laban), Pete Churchill (director of the London Vocal Project & Professor of Jazz at the Royal Academy), Liam Noble (of the Bobby Wellins Quartet & now 2-time Parliamentary Jazz Award Nominee for his album, “A Room Somewhere”), saxophonist/clarinettist & BBC Jazz Award/Parliamentary Jazz winner Julian Siegel (Partisans) & many others. As Kirk Lightsey said, “Dave is one of my very best friends in the world, one of my favourite drummers and favourite people” while Liam Noble commented that “Dave's playing has been an indispensable part of my musical life, with an amazing sense of colour and swing”. This will surely be an incredible gig, buoyed by superb musicianship as well as the warmest of affections for Dave’s steadfast presence in the community for over forty years. Not to be missed.