Two Sets: Rob Luft & Jazz From The Royal Academy Of Music With The Jonny Mansfield Band

8:00PM ROB LUFT Multi-award-winning guitarist Rob Luft is undoubtedly one of the finest musicians of his generation. He is a terrific player who, although still relatively new to the scene, has rapidly established himself with a string of high profile gigs. Fluent, accomplished and versatile, it is a testament to his talent and maturity that he is well known to us at the Club from all the work he has already done here. A recent graduate from the Royal Academy of Music on leaving he was awarded the highly prestigious Kenny Wheeler Prize, the citation for which accurately sums up his performance and skills: "not only is he a great improvising guitarist, but his written material, arrangements and leadership seemed to inspire the other members of his group to play their best." And as well as that prize Rob was also, in 2015, the recipient of two Peter Whittingham Awards, as part of Patchwork Jazz Orchestra and jazz-rock quartet Big Bad Wolf. And if all that wasn't enough in 2016 he also received the Second Prize in the highly prestigious Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition. His credits as sideman are equally as impressive including Byron Wallen’s “Four Corners”, Martin Speake’s “Mafarowi” and Enzo Zirilli’s “Zirobop”. He appears on Liane Carroll’s latest release on Linn Records, “Seaside” and will be heard here at the Club again in October with Brazilian singer Luna Cohen, when she launches her latest album “November Sky”. Tonight Rob will be making a rare appearance with his Organ Trio which also features Jamie Safiruddin (Will Young) on organ and Will Glaser on drums playing a straight ahead set of Jazz standards with some originals thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended.

"..immaculately played and full of gems – not least the solos of rising guitar star Rob Luft" Guardian; "An engaging but somewhat complicated sounding piece...had players and audience grasping for their slide rule.....while.....whiz guitarist Rob Luft soloed fluidly throughout the piece as if it was a 4/4 blues." LondonJazz News

9:45PM JAZZ FROM THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC WITH THE JONNY MANSFIELD BAND This gig is being presented in collaboration with The Royal Academy of Music, and is part of the Club’s ongoing policy of providing a platform for younger musicians. Tonight the featured musician will be vibes player Jonny Mansfield and his 11 (yes that's 11) piece band.