Jazz Hastings welcomes Julian Nicholas and his band

Jazz Hastings June session on Tuesday 4 June will feature one of the stalwarts of the South Coast jazz scene, Julian Nicholas and his band. Julian Norridge reports.

The legendary Bobby Wellins says of Julian Nicholas that: “His beautiful and creative playing makes Julian one of my favourite tenor saxophonists”. After he accompanied her at the Brighton Festival, Nina Simone requested that he play with her again when she came back the following year.

Julian was made aware by his composer grandfather that music can be accessible and yet still retain integrity, originality and depth. With this in mind, he has worked in most genres as a session musician and sideman, sustaining a reputation for his own artistry and unique flavour within jazz.

Among the artists he has worked with during his career are Jimmy Witherspoon, Bobby Wellins, Martha Reeves, Loose Tubes, Harry ‘Sweets’ Eddison, Stan Tracey and Toyah Wilcox.

Primarily a tenor and soprano player, he plays all the single-reed woodwind instruments and even a penny whistle. He is co-director of South Coast Jazz Festival which he founded in 2015 with Claire Martin OBE.

He also composes in many styles for his own and other ensembles. He is a BAFTA nominated film score co-composer, has composed music for theatre/dance and is co-composer for The Cloggz ensemble. In addition, Julian is heavily involved in jazz education and runs the well-respected Jazz Foundation course at Chichester College.

He says the line-up of his current band – Imogen Ryall on vocals, Mark Edwards on piano, Tim Robertson on bass and Darren A Beckett on drums – is perfect for the cross-genre melodies and grooves long associated with his style.

Julian Nicholas and His Band Jazz Hastings, Tuesday 4 June, East Hastings Sea Angling Association (on the Stade behind the lifeboat station). Doors open 7.45pm for 8.30 start, tickets £10 on the door, £3 for under 18s.

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