The Tower Jazz Club
Welcoming national and international outstanding musicians from different cultural backgrounds of jazz and sharing the natural diversity of the genre
Dear Jazz lovers,
It gives us great pleasure to announce that Maiuko is taking up residency at the Tower Jazz Club and is bringing World Jazz Live Sessions to our theatre.
The jazz events will be held on the last Thursday of every month.
You can buy tickets at the door on the night but please note that numbers are limited so it is best to secure your seat by buying in advance.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Maiuko & The Tower Theatre
Tickets can be purchased via the box office 01303 223925 or www.towertheatrefolkestone.co.uk
Forthcoming Events
march 2024
thu28mar7:30 pm10:30 pmAlison Rayner Quintet7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Event Type :Jazz Club
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER - Hosted by Maiuko Led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner, multi award-winning quintet ARQ are widely celebrated from several years of extensive UK
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER – Hosted by Maiuko
Led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner, multi award-winning quintet ARQ are widely celebrated from several years of extensive UK and European touring – and critically acclaimed for their three album releases August (2014) , A Magic Life (2016) and Short Stories (2019).
Their music combines richly nuanced compositions, rhythmic interplay and folk-infused melodies; this, along with their love of improvisation, creates a strong sense of narrative and cinematic quality. ARQ play ‘songs without words’ and are lauded for their vibrant, communicative performances.
Short Stories, their most recent album, supported by Arts Council England and the PRS Foundation, garnered extensive press acclaim and international radio play; its release was followed by a twenty four date UK promotional tour and a coveted Ivor Novello Composer Award for ‘There is a Crack in Everything’ from the album.
ARQ’s recent appearances include London’s Ronnie Scott’s and Pizza Express Jazz Clubs, Poole Lighthouse, Gateshead Sage and Liverpool Capstone Theatre; recent jazz festivals include EFG London, Birmingham, Swanage and Ribble Valley. The band are currently previewing new material in their performances and will be recording a new album early next year.
Alison Rayner – bass
Buster Birch – drums
Deirdre Cartwright – guitar
Diane McLoughlin – saxophone
Steve Lodder – piano
ALBUM REVIEWS
• A collection of eight perfectly formed originals. ★★★★ BBC Music Magazine
• Memories brought to life. ★★★★ The Observer
• Tells its tales through strong melodies, sinewy rhythms and luminous solos, is by turns tender and exuberant. ★★★★ All About Jazz
AWARDS
★ Ivor Novello Composer Awards 2019 Alison Rayner
★ All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2018 Ensemble of the Year
★ British Jazz Awards 2018 Best Small Group (Public Vote)
http://www.alisonrayner.com/
https://youtu.be/EUDFR_ThX-
Opening act – Katie Bradley“Katie B has the voice of Big Mama Thornton and the heart of Memphis” Joseph Woby, The Sunday Times
Songwriter and harmonica player Katie Bradley is renowned as a huge talent in the international Blues scene after receiving worldwide airplay and acclaim for her debut album in 2012 which was nominated for a British Blues award for her original song ‘I Hear The River’ .
World-famous harmonica maker Anthony Dannecker endorsed Katie Bradley with her own customised harps, uniquely hand crafted in response to her own unique playing style.
Katie has been recognised with numerous Blues Awards and nominations both in the UK and Europe and performed with some of the Best Blues musicians in the UK and worldwide. Her music has been played on the BBC Blues program and Jazz FM. She has recorded 4 studio albums and was invited to BBC Maidavale to sing with US Blues artist Kirk Fletcher with whom she toured the UK. Katie has shared the stage with Blues royalty such as Mud Morganfield (son of Muddy Waters) the late great Luther Allison and has supported artists such as Suzanne Vega, Lucky Peterson, Georgie Fame, Paul Jones, Taildragger. Katie’s appeal translates perfectly to concert and festival audiences. From London’s Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club to International festivals and Clubs.
“Katie leaves you in no doubt that she is a 21st century Blues woman” Blues in Britain
“Katie’s roots lie deep in the essence of the Blues, a huge rich voice that gives praise to the legacy of Big mama Thornton and huge respect to Etta James”. Broadstairs Blues Bash
Hosted by Maiuko.
Tickets £15
Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating
A PortCaia Production in association with The Tower Theatre
Time
(Thursday) 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Location
Foyer
The Tower Theatre, North Road, Shorncliffe, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3HL
Tickets
Book onlineapril 2024
thu25apr7:30 pm10:30 pmNoel McCalla Quartet7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Event Type :Jazz Club
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER - Hosted by Maiuko Following a SOLD-OUT outstanding performance in 2022, we are excited that Noel McCalla is returning to the Tower Jazz Room! Noel
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER – Hosted by Maiuko
Following a SOLD-OUT outstanding performance in 2022, we are excited that Noel McCalla is returning to the Tower Jazz Room!
Noel McCalla will mesmerize you with his smooth/deep groove performance, comprising succulent and seductive original songs, mixed within a selection of recognizable tunes from Bill Withers to Al Jarreau.
The ability in his soulful jazzy bluesy voice to make every note matter is what makes Noel special, and what keeps him as one of UK’s treasured vocalists.
Noel McCalla – Vocals
Tim Cansfield – Guitar
Henry Thomas – Bass
Nic France – Drums
“You have to see McCalla perform live to appreciate how good a singer he is. Despite lock-downs and restricted live performances it’s not hard to imagine audiences wanting more once having witnessed this consummate professional on stage”.
Trevor Moss @ Cool on the Edge, Academy-FM, March 31st-2022
Tickets £15
Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating
A PortCaia Production in association with The Tower Theatre
Time
(Thursday) 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Location
Foyer
The Tower Theatre, North Road, Shorncliffe, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3HL
Tickets
Book onlinemay 2024
thu30may7:30 pm10:30 pmDEREK NASH 'PICANTE'7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Event Type :Jazz Club
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER - Hosted by Maiuko Born from a library music album of compositions, co-composed by leaders Derek and British Jazz Award-winning guitarist Dominic Ashworth, Picante
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER – Hosted by Maiuko
Born from a library music album of compositions, co-composed by leaders Derek and British Jazz Award-winning guitarist Dominic Ashworth, Picante is a Latin band that takes flavours from Buena Vista Social Club, Sergio Mendes, Stan Getz/Astrid Gilberto, Spyrogyra and the Gypsy Kings, with their unique compositions in mambo, salsa, samba and bossa nova styles. Guaranteed to make you feel like dancing from the first bar!
With their music airing around the world, tunes from their CD ‘Five Note Salsa’ have been heard on television, from Japanese drama to Strictly Come Dancing to the David Letterman Show. Their new CD ‘Bim Bam Bom’ released in 2019 has also been featured in a new film starring Elliot Gould.
The band showcases latin maestro Neil Angilley – piano (Vanessa Mae, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, War of the Worlds, Down to the Bone), Andy Staples – bass (Robin Trower, Guthrie Govan, Jason Rebello), Marc Cecil – drums, (King Salsa) and Satin Singh – percussion (Roberto Pla) (and shirts by Robin Jones!!).
Derek Nash – Saxophone
Dominic Ashworth-Guitar
Neil Angilley – Piano
Andy Staples – Bass
Marc Cecil – Drums
Satin Singh – Percussion
Tickets £17.50
Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating
A PortCaia Production in association with The Tower Theatre
Time
(Thursday) 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Location
Foyer
The Tower Theatre, North Road, Shorncliffe, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3HL
Tickets
Book onlinejune 2024
thu20jun7:30 pm10:30 pmTristan Banks Quartet7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Event Type :Jazz Club
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER - Hosted by Maiuko The Tristan Banks Quartet returns to the Tower World Jazz Room, following a full house show in March 2023! His debut
Event Details
WORLD JAZZ LIVE SESSIONS AT THE TOWER – Hosted by Maiuko
The Tristan Banks Quartet returns to the Tower World Jazz Room, following a full house show in March 2023!
His debut album, View From Above, encapsulates Tristan Banks’ experience as a versatile artist, covering a range of styles that he has been deeply involved with during his career.
Though predominantly jazz-led, elements of Latin and fusion influences can be detected, though this never betrays the core purpose, of which Tristan explains:
“The idea was to push the acoustic jazz quartet format to the limit, being able to re-image the possibilities that the classic saxophone, piano, bass, drums line-up can manifest, and by being conscious of the sonic traditions that are typically replayed to confirm the listeners tastes while avoiding the genres timbral clichés.”
This ambition has been manifested with distinction by Banks and his band of stunningly accomplished instrumentalists, ultimately resulting in an engaging and vivacious body of work that sets the standard for new jazz releases in 2023.
Tristan Banks brings together his long-standing musical friends (Paul Booth on woodwind, John Crawford on piano and Davide Mantovani on basses) to realise his vision.
From very first listen, the synergy between players is undoubtedly apparent – each musician possesses an innate understanding of each other, using their intuition to allow each other to achieve full potential as individuals, while seamlessly gelling as a unit. This unteachable creative energy between players is a joy to experience.
View From Above was recorded live, with no click track or isolation recording techniques, demonstrating that Banks and his band are ensemble of the highest calibre, having captured this session in the moment as slice of time, the result of which is most exciting.
View From Above Album Reviews
“Impressive sense of immediacy” ***** BBC Music Magazine
“It’s one of the best UK jazz releases of 2023” *****️ Marlbank
“A triumphant piece of work” Blues and Soul Magazine
“Where can I get those drums” Steve Winwood
“Much Loved, Much in demand” Chris Philips – JazzFM
TRISTAN BANKS
During his 30-year career as a recording artist and session musician, he has built a reputation as a knowledgeable, versatile and authentic world-class drummer and percussionist.
Tristan Banks has worked with many artists covering a wide field of musical genres including: Roy Ayers, Steve Winwood, Dave Valentin, Beverley Knight, Hexagonal, David Gilmour, Peter King, Lewis Taylor, Guy Barker, Marcos Valle, Liane Carroll and many more.
As a touring artist he has performed in many of the world’s top venues including Royal Festival Hall, Central Park NYC, Royal Albert Hall, Joes Pub NYC, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Hammersmith Odeon, Ronnie Scott’s, North Sea Jazz Festivals, Shepherds Bush Empire, Blue Note Tokyo, V Festival, Reading Festival, Womad, Glastonbury.
Tickets £15
Doors 6.30pm | Unreserved seating
A PortCaia Production in association with The Tower Theatre
Time
(Thursday) 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Location
Foyer
The Tower Theatre, North Road, Shorncliffe, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3HL