Painting - Mike Hatchard

Photo courtesy Mike Hatchard

New music night & art exhibition

Sean O ‘Shea reports on a new music night and art exhibition at the Gecko bar.

Mike Hatchard is both a talented jazz musician and local artist. He will be uniting both passions by showing a collection of his paintings and caricatures at an exhibition at the Gecko Bar, 22 Grand Parade, St Leonards, seafront. The six-week show launches on Tuesday 5 May, 8.30pm and Mike will be playing a set on the opening night.

As well as being in demand as a jazz musician and raconteur, Mike also plays classical music. His art education, influences and subject matter are eclectic. He honed his caricature skills in broadcasting, working for Carlton TV drawing caricatures for the After the News programme and for a series in which he drew guests at the same time as interviewing them.

“It has been good to go back to something I did in my youth, to the years before I decided to sacrifice most of my life to my compulsive need to make music.”

“We thought of calling the weekly event Svelte Tuesdays as a contrasting name to a popular series of gigs that happen around Mardis Gras time. Our event may not be as big, but it will be slender and finely formed.”

Hatchard’s musical career began as a pianist for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. He has been commissioned to do community projects for the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and is resident pianist with the Chamber Ensemble of London.

In popular entertainment, he has worked as Pamela Stephenson’s musical director and co-written songs with Frankie Howerd and Spike Milligan.

Plans have been made to make Tuesdays at the Gecko a regular music event.

SOS

Also in: Visual Arts