Concerts with some of the finest artists in Jazz today
Upcoming concerts with GMF Artists
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ MASTERS SERIES AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB
Rick Margitza Quartet
January 16 & 17
AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB SOHO, LONDON
Featuring Mātyās Gayer piano, Mark Hodgson bass, & Stephen Keogh drums
FULL INFO AND BOOKING HERE
Rick Margitza has made his name as one of the great Jazz saxophonists of the present day. After having spent time in living in New Orleans, where he got his degree, Margitza moved to New York in 1989 and very quickly found himself performing and/or recording with some of the greatest names in Jazz including Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, Tony Williams, Chick Corea, Maria Schneider and Dave Douglas. He has led his own groups in performances in the most prestigious clubs, concert halls and festivals all over the world. His 10 albums as a leader document the evolution of his playing as well as his growth as a composer. Margitza has composed works for symphony orchestra, including two symphonies and a saxophone concerto.
He was born in Detroit in 1961. He studied classical saxophone with Donald Sinta at the university of Michigan, and jazz with Sonny Stitt, Gerry Niewood, Michael Brecker, Gary Campbell and David Liebman. He moved to Paris in 2003 where he continues to reside. He is of Eastern European Gypsy decent, and is part of the new band called Gypsy Tenors with fellow countrymen Gabor Bolla and Tony Lakatos. He is also in the process of finishing an album of his big band music as well as a new recording with his French quartet. His world class rhythm section is comprised of Matyas Gayer on piano, Mark Hodgson on bass and Stephen Keogh on drums.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ MASTERS SERIES AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB
Jerry Bergonzi Quartet
March 27 & 28
AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB SOHO, LONDON
Featuring Hyuna Park, Mark Hodgson & Stephen Keogh
FULL INFO AND BOOKING HERE
Jerry Bergonzi Quartet featuring exciting, new, awarding winning pianist Hyuna Park, Mark Hodgson bass, and Stephen Keogh drums. Master saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi gained worldwide recognition while performing with, Two Generations of Brubeck bands. He is a performer, composer, author and educator, renowned for his innovation, mastery, and integrity. In an endless series of rave reviews he is credited for his relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance and as a musical visionary. His music has been applauded throughout the world at all the major festivals, concert halls and venues. Among the many other artists that Bergonzi has performed and recorded with are; Bill Evans, Paul Desmond, Dave Holland, Gerry Mulligan, Jack DeJonette, John Abercrombie, Roy Haynes, Pat Martino and many more.
Hyuna Park - piano
An award-winning jazz pianist, Hyuna Park’s musical universe is both deeply connected to New York and its vibrant jazz tradition while at the same time embracing her Korean and classical roots. She was the 2018 winner of the International Women in Jazz (IWJ) festival as well as the Jimmy Heath Award. She has graced the stage with Grammy award-winners such as Linda Oh, Luis Bonilla, Michael Mossman and Vincent Herring and performed at notable venues like the Kennedy Center and the French Embassy in Washington D.C., the Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium, and at the UN as well as a number of Embassies and Cultural Centers throughout NYC.
“Hyuna Park is a beautiful new voice on the piano. She plays with a feeling and maturity that is rare.”
— Vincent Herring
Stephen Keogh - drums
During the 80’s he played as a percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. At the same time he also became the drummer of choice for many visiting jazz artists, including Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Harry Edison, Pat La Barbera, and James Moody and Benny Carter. He also toured internationally with Louis Stewart during this period and appears on several albums.
At the end of the 80s, he was invited to join the Peter King Quartet of which he was a member for 18 years. At the same time he toured and recorded with British, European and American jazz artists, including Art Farmer, Jason Rebello, and Jean Toussaint among others. He continues to perform both on recordings and International tours with a long and growing list of major artists that reads as a who’s who of the jazz world; Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Harold Land, Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner, Herb Ellis, Benny Golson, Antonio Serrano, Steve Grossman, Peter Bernstein et al. He enjoys long lasting collaborations with Charles McPherson, Bruce Barth Trio, Jerry Bergonzi, Dick Oatts and many more.
Mark Hodgdon
Born in Kendal, Cumbria and coming from a musical family Mark originally played electric bass in funk and fusion bands, but was inspired to take up the Double Bass after seeing The Oscar Peterson Trio featuring Ray Brown. In 1995 he moved to London to study Double Bass and Electric Bass at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1999 Mark left London and moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he was based for four years. He returned to the UK in 2003. Mark has played and recorded with a wide range of musicians, from members of The Police and The Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney, Jamie Cullum, Lizz Wright, The London Symphony Orchestra and Electronica wizard Matthew Herbert. Jazz artists Mark has worked with include....Cedar Walton, Phil Woods, Steve Grossman, John Taylor, Randy Brecker, Larry Coryell, Kenny Wheeler, Greg Osby and Jeff Ballard. Since returning to London Mark has been involved in a diverse range of projects, from film music to Hip Hop and R&B records, he has also been a regular member of Bill Bruford’s ‘Earthworks’, Billy Cobham’s ‘Art Of 5’, The Steve Grossman/Damon Brown Quintet, The Bill Charlap Trio, Tim Garland’s 'Underground Orchestra', The Julian Joseph Trio feat. Mark Mondesir.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ MASTERS SERIES AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB
Deborah Brown 'Jazz Diva Extraordinaire'
April 10 & 11
AT PIZZA EXPRESS JAZZ CLUB SOHO, LONDON
Featuring Mātyās Gayer piano, Mark Hodgson bass, & Stephen Keogh drums
FULL INFO AND BOOKING HERE
Deborah Brown remains of the finest jazz vocalists in the business, a "singer's singer" with a magnificent voice, mind-blowing technique and profound depth of expression. Her skill and versatility is demonstrated by her work, often on record, with large studio orchestras including the Netherlands' Metropole Orchestra, and in the intimate setting of duos —among the latter being sessions with pianists Dorothy Donegan, Roger Kellaway and Cedar Walton, as well as trombonist Slide Hampton.
Vocalist JD Walter mentioned her as an inspirational teacher and mentor in a recent AAJ interview. Originally from Kansas City, Brown relocated to Europe in the 80’s into 90’s for a period of twelve years, where she was a teacher and mentor, while traveling worldwide on concert tours.
Among other stellar artists with whom she has recorded are Clark Terry, Jan Lundgren, and the Doky Brothers, on their self-titled 1996 album for Blue Note Records. She has also worked in a musical-literary setting, recording A Lover's Question with the noted African American author James Baldwin. Her quartet Jazz 4 Jazz featured Horace Parlan, Red Mitchell and Ed Thigpen. Other great artists with whom Brown has performed include Benny Bailey, Kenny Drew, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Johnny Griffin, Roy Hargrove, Ernst Reijseger, Bobby Shew, and Toots Thielemans. That these outstanding instrumentalists chose to work with her only confirms her exceptional status as one of the greatest jazz singers in history.
“What a voice. Kansas City-born Deborah Brown is billed as “simply one of the greatest jazz singers in the world.” I have to say I totally agree. She got it right from the start. Charismatic, confident, becoming and thoughtful, she addressed the audience wittily and with ease.”
Sarah Ellen Hughes - UK Jazz News