Julian Nicholas Featuring Imogen Ryall

One of the UK's most distinctive saxophonists, Julian Nicholas has been a leading player on the international jazz scene since first coming to prominence in the mid 1980's. Since then he has appeared with a veritable who's who of world-renowned jazz artists and groups, including the likes of the iconic UK band Loose Tubes, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bobby Wellins, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Dudu Pukwana, Liane Carroll, Claire Martin and the London Jazz Composers' Orchestra. He has toured internationally under his own name and with, amongst others, Carleen Anderson, ‘Carmina’ and Emil Viklický and has countless recording credits to his name. And it's no great surprise that Nina Simone specifically requested Julian support her for a second year running when she appeared at ‘The Dome’ in Brighton (his adopted home town). His wonderful, fluent and melodic playing has been described by the great saxophonist Bobby Wellins, who Julian tells me first brought him to the old 606 Club in 1981, as "beautiful and creative". As well as a fine musician he is also a wonderful composer, several of his great tunes being featured in Mark Edwards' recent "Cloggz" CD launch here at the Club in April. Julian also leads the Jazz Foundation at Chichester College, is an Associate Lecturer at Middlesex University and co-curates the South Coast Jazz Festival with Claire Martin O.B.E. A wonderful player and old friend of the Club, it's a pleasure to welcome him to the gig this evening. And if all that wasn't enough, Julian's special guest will be the terrific singer Imogen Ryall. An experienced and creative performer Imogen has worked in Europe, the Middle East and South Korea and at numerous venues around the UK, including the Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scott’s and the Barbican. A featured vocalist for One51 and Groovefinder Records her recent recording of “Cry Me a River” featured on the much-acclaimed CD “In Time”, alongside Roy Ayers, Carleen Anderson and Jocelyn Brown. She appeared at the inaugural Love Supreme Festival (along with Julian) and was most recently heard here at the Club on the aforementioned Cloggz CD launch in April. Julian and Imogen have been playing together for some time now and as Julian says they have "worked to combine sax and vocals in a variety of ways, including unison scats and lyricised material of mine, with a strong vein of American Songbook arrangements running through the set." Sounds like a fantastic night of great, lyrical, music.

"Julian Nicholas is a saxophonist of not only great technical prowess but also delicacy of expression and intensity of feeling" The Times;
"...Ryall’s quiet power and articulation...combined with..Julian Nicholas’ sizzling tenor sax to agreeable effect" Jazzwise