Hastings’ own jazz queen Liane Carroll headlines at Jazz Hastings’ relaunch.

Jazz Hastings is back!

Welcome news for all local jazz lovers – Jazz Hastings is back with monthly sessions at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association. Julian Norridge brings us up to speed.

Jazz Hastings, renowned for bringing nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and promising newcomers to its monthly sessions, will relaunch on Tuesday 2 November with a special fundraising evening featuring three brilliant acts all well-known to the regular audience – Liane Carroll, the Pete Brown Band and Hexagonal.

Jazz Hastings had brought live jazz to town every month for 16 years until Covid came along. It was started by renowned Hastings-based pianist John Donaldson. “The idea was to provide a place for people to hear high quality live music,” he says. “People said it couldn’t be done, that there was no audience for contemporary jazz here. But we’ve proved them wrong and the audience is growing. It’s really exciting to be back.”

The relaunch will be very special. Liane Carroll has been a pillar of the British jazz scene for over 35 years. While locals like to think of her as one of Hastings’ own, she also has a huge national and international reputation.

She has collaborated with such diverse artists as Paul McCartney, Gerry Rafferty, Long John Baldry, Ian Shaw, Claire Martin and drum and bass outfit London Elektricity, with whom she appeared at Glastonbury in 2017.

As a recording artist Liane has gained much critical acclaim. Her five most recent albums have all earned a four star review in The Guardian. Seaside, a homage to her life by the coast, wont the coveted British Jazz Award for Best New CD in 2015.

Pete Brown

The tradition of combining poetry and jazz has a long history. In this country the legendary poet and singer Pete Brown, who will be appearing with his band at this special session, was at the forefront, working with Dudley Moore, Stan Tracey and Bobby Wellins in the 60’s. He has appeared at the Albert Hall alongside many of the great US beat poets, including Allen Ginsberg.

It was through his association with jazz that he met Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton of Cream. Pete’s songwriting partnership with both of them produced many of Cream’s greatest songs, including Sunshine of Your Love, White Room and I Feel Free. This will be a rare chance to hear this award-winning artist in an intimate setting.

The popular Hastings-based sextet Hexagonal, made up of highly respected local musicians who all have international reputations, came together in 2016 to play the music of the late, great South African composer and multi-instrumentalist Bheki Mseleku. They’ve now added pieces by McCoy Tyner and compositions of their own to their repertoire.

Their first album, McCoy and Mseleku, was released to great acclaim in 2018 and featured prominently on BBC Radio 3’s programme J to Z.

The band features some of the best musicians around, including internationally celebrated saxophonist Jason Yard, Kiwi saxophonist and composer Greg Heath, acclaimed trumpeter Graeme Flowers, accomplished drummer Tristan Banks and Jazz Hastings stalwarts John Donaldson on piano and Simon Thorpe on bass.

Liane Carroll, Pete Brown Band, Hexagonal Jazz Hastings, Tuesday 2 November, East Hastings Sea Angling Association (on the Stade behind the lifeboat station). Doors and bar open 7.45pm for 8.30 start. Admission £10 on the door, £3 for under 18s.

Photo: Chantelle Duncan

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