Peter King **75 Birthday Gig**

After taking the scene by storm in the early sixties with the Ronnie Scott quintet, Peter has gone on to establish himself unequivocally as one of the finest alto saxophonists in the world. His fabulous technique allied with an unerring sense of harmony has made him one of the greatest players this country has ever produced. The featured saxophonist with the Charlie Watts Band his playing has made him famous worldwide. As well as a remarkable improviser Peter has also established himself as a writer and arranger of note with both an opera and a brilliant series of recordings featuring his own string arrangements for classical and jazz quartet. Peter has always been a great supporter of the Club and it is with enormous pleasure that we welcome this saxophone giant. Peter’s special guest tonight is the remarkable Mornington Lockett, one of the UK’s leading tenor sax players. Mornington worked with the Ronnie Scott quintet before moving on to work with singer Sarah Jane Morris and the Tracey’s - Stan and Clark - as well as being the driving force behind the brilliant “Celebrating the Jazz Couriers” quintet. He has a powerful and hugely impressive sound and approach. Tonight we will also be celebrating Peter's 75th birthday in some style, and although Peter's ability to play has remained completely undiminished over the years, his general health has, sadly, not. So we thought this would be a good time to follow the benefit for him staged earlier in the year at another London venue, and turn this evening into not only a joyous celebration of one of the finest jazz musicians the UK has ever produced, but also a practical event to help raise some much needed financial support for Peter as well (he is, after all, a jazz musician!). So we are charging a little more than we would normally and as a result will give a significant amount of the door to Peter as our Birthday Present. So do come down this evening, hear two of the finest saxophonists in the world playing together, and at the same time support one of the country's most iconic musicians.

“Peter King...plays with...searing authority” Guardian;
“Lockett…plays with tremendous fluency and drive” Evening Standard;
“World class” Jazz Journal;
“inspired” Jazzwise