Advance Tickets Adults £16.50 / Under 25 years £12.50 each. Licensed bar. Doors open at 7.00pm
Please note: on the door on the night tickets will cost £20.00 and £16.00 respectively
Led by one of the UK’s most formidable jazz pianists, George Cooper, The Jazz Defenders are a group born from a deep love of Blue Note jazz, drawing on a wealth of inspiration to craft their own raw and vibrant compositions. Having played several shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club as well as many other prestigious venues in the UK, they continue to electrify audiences with their energy and virtuosity.
The hard bop recordings of Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan and Art Blakey were highly regarded for a reason – catchy horn lines and incredible musicianship combined with Rudy Van Gelder’s engineering skills mean they will forever be regarded as classics of the genre. The Jazz Defenders are a group that defend the legacy of those recordings whilst creating its own original identity and distinction. The music they produce together is a modern soul jazz slant on this classic hard bop, effortlessly channelling the spirit of the golden Blue Note era of jazz.
The group’s brainchild, pianist and composer George Cooper, has at a young age already amassed a comprehensive repertoire of musical credits including Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, U2, Omar, Slum Village, MF Doom, The Brand New Heavies, Lisa Stansfield, Wet Wet Wet, The Haggis Horns and Abstract Orchestra.
Featuring some of the UK’s finest players the line up is Jake McMurchie (tenor sax), Nick Malcolm (trumpet), Ian Matthews (drums), Will Harris (bass) and George Cooper (piano/keyboards).
“Absolutely storming!” Jamie Cullum
“Wonderfully put together” Craig Charles
“The most exciting British jazz group out there right now” Music Republic Magazine UK
“Gutsy, fantastic music” Dennis Rollins MBE
“Outstanding – highly recommended” Beat Caffeine USA
“The energy deployed by this quintet is simply phenomenal – don’t miss it!” Litzic Magazine FRANCE
“The Jazz Defenders rise with King Phoenix – deserves a place in your ears!” Funkcity USA
”True, great music of today. Music for everyone – explosive and intriguing” Spettakolo ITALY
”Delicious and magnificent!” Slow Show FRANCE
“Magical, with that hint of nostalgia” Paris Move FRANCE
”The warlords of Bristol’s soul jazz” Mallorca Music Magazine SPAIN
”A top band that can easily compete with the albums of many jazz greats” Musik Reviews GERMANY
”An exceptional and stylish outfit” Blues and Soul Magazine UK
“Amazing… every track a winner!” Snowboy
“If you dig Horace Silver and Cannonball Adderley, you’ll be thrilled to discover this group” Musoscribe USA
”One of the best things about this band is its friendly lack of prejudice and eclectic musical openness” Distrito Jazz SPAIN
”Hard-hitting, pulsating Bop!” Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here UK
“Impeccable execution!” Rockerilla ITALY
“Pure Class” 45 Live UK
”An amazing album full of original hard bop jazz in the spirit of 60s soul-jazz Blue Note era” Oonops – Brooklyn Radio USA
“One of the best new jazz albums I’ve heard in a very long time – blown away!” Jazzcotech UK
“Ticks all the boxes!” Souljazzandfunk UK
“Some of the best musicians in Britain” Fano24 ITALY
“Excellent album” Jazz Fun GERMANY
Shortlisted for Best Album, Best Band and Best New Band in Music Republic
Make a booking
Advance Tickets – Adults £16.50/Under 25 years £12.50 (booking fee applies)
Selection of tables also available
