Paul Booth will be playing saxophone in Ross Stanley’s tribute to Michael Brecker

Ross Stanley’s tribute to Michael Brecker

For Jazz Hastings’ next session on Tuesday 6 June, UK pianist and organist Ross Stanley has put together an all-star band to present Time is of the Essence, a tribute to the great American saxophonist Michael Brecker, one of the most influential sax players since John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter. Julian Norridge sings the praises of Paul Booth – the saxophonist taking the lead role and the other musicians in this unique line-up.

Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Brecker was the go-to saxophonist for many of the biggest names in music. A small selection of names reveals the quality and breadth of his work: James Taylor, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, Bruce Springsteen, Art Garfunkel and Carly Simon.

He was equally at home recording and performing with major jazz figures, including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Chet Baker, Quincy Jones, Charles Mingus, McCoy Tyner and Horace Silver. In his short career – he died at the age of 58 – he appeared on nearly 900 albums as a band member or soloist and was awarded an astonishing 15 Grammys.

The all important saxophone post in Ross Stanley’s band will be taken by Paul Booth, who won a place at the Royal Academy of Music in 1993 at the age of 16, becoming their youngest student on a degree course. That year Paul also won the ‘Best Modern Jazz Player’ category at the televised Young Jazz Player of the Year.

He released the first of his five solo albums in 2004, all of which were very well received. His ability to blend into any musical surrounding coupled with his talents as a multi-instrumentalist has led to him being regularly chose to perform with a range of well-known artists from The Eagles and Eric Clapton to Van Morrison and Gregory Porter.

On guitar will be Chris Allard, who has played and recorded with major jazz musicians all over the world. He has released four albums as band leader and is also a respected composer. On drums will be Andrew Bain, who combines jazz with classical percussion. He performs regularly on both sides of the Atlantic and is also a composer, band leader and teacher.

Ross Stanley himself will be playing the organ for this event. Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music in 2004, he has built an enviable reputation playing with some of the biggest jazz names in the country. He also plays regularly with the Jim Mullen Organ Trio, who are themselves no strangers to Jazz Hastings.

Doors will open at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association on the Stade at 7.45 for an 8.30 start. Tickets are £15 on the door. For more information about Jazz Hastings, visit the website.

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