Bournemouth Modern Jazz Club

Those of you who attended - or missed out on - Thokozile Collective's sold out album launch gig for us earlier in the year at Lighthouse might be interested in going to see them on Saturday 3 August 2024 in the shadow of Corfe Castle, at the lovely Sandy Hill Arts Centre. It promises to be a special night as the band will be playing the whole of their debut album, plus some new tracks, ahead of its digital release on 16 August. Tickets are available via the link below.

Buy Tickets – THOKOZILE at Sandy Hill Arts – Sandy Hill Arts SoundCellar are delighted to join forces with Sandy Hill Arts to present the vibrant African influenced jazz of Thokozile. This...

Support live music! There's a fantastic lineup this year.

A few tickets left for tonight's gig (Friday 14 June 2024) but get in quick!

Lighthouse Poole

A reminder that we have the fantastic Yolanda Charles MBE with her quintet in our final Studio Jazz gig of the season this Friday 14 June (7.45pm)... Booking via the link below!

Lighthouse Poole

We're back on Friday 14 June 2024 with our last gig of the season, and what a cracker it promises to be! Yolanda Charles MBE, internationally renowned bassist and songwriter, has worked with artists such as Hans Zimmer, Paul Weller, Robbie Williams, BB King, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Van Morrison and Mick Jagger in an exemplary career of thirty years.

This, her jazz-rock project, features a diverse range of musical styles, with comparisons to Parliament/Funkadelic, Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Yes, and Return to Forever, as well as Jim Beard, Steps Ahead, John Scofield, and even the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

The full lineup:
Yolanda Charles – bass, Nick Linnik – guitar, Graeme Blevins – saxophone, Hamish Balfour – piano, Nicolas Py – drums

Tickets via the link below or by phoning Lighthouse Ticket Office on 01202 280000

Yolanda Charles’ Project pH Instra-mentals - Lighthouse From lunch or coffee, pre-show dinner for two…or just because! Reserve a table now and enjoy a delicious locally sourced menu that will go down a treat with friends and family.

Two great organ-focussed gigs coming up at SoundCellar Poole, taking place at the Grasshopper pub, this Thursday 30 May 2024 and on Sunday 16 June...

Buy Tickets – SVARC HANLEY LONGHAWN – The Grasshopper Leeds based guitarist Nik Svarc, drummer Steve Hanley and keyboardist Martin Longhawn return to SoundCellar with their funky Ha...

We're back in the Studio at Lighthouse, Poole, this Friday 31 May 2024 (7.45pm) with the guitar-laden REMY HARRIS TRIO, inspired by Django Reinhardt, Peter Green, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix and Joe Pass. There are only a handful of tickets left so get in quick via the link below if you want to join the audience: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/remi-harris-trio

We do have plenty of tickets left at the moment for our final gig of the season on Friday 14 June 2024, amazing bassist YOLANDA CHARLES along with 4 other fantastic musicians: (Nick Linnik - guitar, Graeme Blevins- saxophone, Hamish Balfour - piano, Nicolas Py - drums). Yolanda has played with the likes of Hans Zimmer, Paul Weller, Robbie Williams, BB King, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Van Morrison & Mick Jagger. The band has a long-running Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club residency and continues to tour the UK and beyond. We're sure that tickets will start to be snapped up very soon, so get in quick via https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/yolanda-charles-project-ph-instra-mentals/

There's a really amazing band at SoundCellar at the Grasshopper in Poole this Thursday 23 May 2024 - some of the best in the business, including one of our favourite pianists, Huw Warren. More info via the link below. Support live music!

One of the UK's finest musicians HUW WARREN brings his CHORO CHORO CHORO project this Thurs 23rd to The Grasshopper, Parkstone

This is a great band of Tori Freestone Yuri Goloubev Adriano Adewale & Huw Warren so don't miss it!

If you can't make it live, catch the livestream. All tix live and livestream give exclusive one month access to the video of the gig.

Tix live or livestream thru www.soundcellar.org

Nishla Smith - Julian (Official Video) 'Julian' by Nishla Smith from the debut album 'Friends With Monsters' on Whirlwind Recordings.Pre Order the album (CD/DL/2xLP in Pink Marble Vinyl): https://...

Just a reminder that this Friday 17 May 2024, we have the wonderful young vocalist, Nishla Smith, joining us at Lighthouse for Studio Jazz (7.45pm) with her fantastic band featuring Charlotte Keeffe - trumpet / flugel, Helena Kay - sax / flute; Tom Harris - piano; Misha Mullov-Abbado - upright bass; and Sarah Heneghan - drums.

Tickets are still available by phoning 01202 280000, in person at the box office on the night, or via https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/nishla-smith-the-beast/

We'd love to see you there. Here's a bit of Nishla and the band in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohihhquYt8A

Nishla Smith - Up (Official Video) 'Up' by Nishla Smith from the debut album 'Friends With Monsters' on Whirlwind RecordingsDownload/Stream the single: https://wwr.dj/upPre Order the album (CD...

Our next gig as part of the Studio Jazz season at Lighthouse Poole is on Friday 17 May 2024, with wonderful young Australian-born singer NISHLA SMITH and her band, packed with excellent players: Charlotte Keeffe - trumpet / flugel, Helena Kay - sax / flute; Tom Harris - piano; Misha Mullov-Abbado - upright bass; and Sarah Heneghan - drums.

Nishla is on a mini-tour which, after Lighthouse, heads to Ronnie Scott's. We've been loving her music (and accompanying videos). Check out 'Up' via the Lighthouse link below.

Nishla is one of the brightest singers and artists on the UK scene whose debut album, ‘Friends With Monsters’, saw a Ronnie Scott’s launch with Downbeat USA raving "Smith’s singing is an entrancing beauty’ with ‘the trump cards … her lyrics and melodies.”

Her band / project THE BEAST draws from Nishla’s roots in the textures and musical language of jazz; but incorporates ideas from soul, pop and sound design.

In summer 2022, she joined Serious Music’s prestigious Take Five programme, which culminated in a performance at the Southbank Centre for London Jazz Festival. Later in the year, she was awarded a development award through the Peter Whittingham Jazz Awards, to support her upcoming album.

A great opportunity to see some of the brightest young musicians on the UK scene.

Tickets via the link below; or by phoning 01202 280000; or from the Lighthouse Ticket Office on the night, subject to availability.

Nishla Smith - The Beast - Lighthouse From lunch or coffee, pre-show dinner for two…or just because! Reserve a table now and enjoy a delicious locally sourced menu that will go down a treat with friends and family.

We're back with Studio Jazz this Friday 3 May 2024 with the Sarah Gillespie Quartet.

Sarah mixes elements of blues, folk and jazz with her distinctive streetwise lyricism. Her four albums ‘Stalking Juliet’ (2009) ‘In the Current Climate’ (2011) ‘Glory Days’ (2014) and Wishbones (2018) were met with four and five star reviews from the Guardian, MOJO, the Independent and Rock and Real, The Arts Desk plus plaudits from iconic musician Robert Wyatt.

Expect everything from delicate melancholic laments to raucous piss-taking pastiche and Tom Waits-esque blues played by a virtuosic band of “jazz heavies.”

Tickets are available online via the link below, in person via the ticket office or by phoning 01202 280000.

Sarah Gillespie Quartet - Lighthouse From lunch or coffee, pre-show dinner for two…or just because! Reserve a table now and enjoy a delicious locally sourced menu that will go down a treat with friends and family.

We're back this Friday 19 April 2024 at Lighthouse Poole with the Alan Barnes and Andy Panayi Sextet performing their tribute to Coltrane and Cannonball. The show has SOLD OUT, though there may be some returns available through the box office on 01202 280000. Otherwise, apologies if you missed out!

However, why not consider either or both of the 2 next fab bands coming up as part of our Studio Jazz season, both of which still have tickets available? We have the wonderful singer Sarah Gillespie with an amazing band coming on 3 May including pianist Tom Cawley and drummer James Maddren : details and tickets via here: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/sarah-gillespie-band/

Then on Friday 17 May we have another fantastic singer with a band of top young players - NISHLA SMITH - with details here: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/nishla-smith-the-beast/
If you want to check out Nishla in action, have a look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohihhquYt8A

Nishla Smith - Up (Official Video) 'Up' by Nishla Smith from the debut album 'Friends With Monsters' on Whirlwind RecordingsDownload/Stream the single: https://wwr.dj/upPre Order the album (CD...

This Thursday 11 April 2024, courtesy of our friends at SoundCellar

Making a return to SoundCellar, but this time at The Grasshopper, Parkstone, we are looking forward to seeing AL SWAINGER'S POINTLESS BEAUTY touching down with us again next Thurs 11th April.

Tickets for live and livestream all incl exclusive access to a multi-camera, HD video of the gig for a month, so no need to miss it even if you can't make it here to Poole on the night.

Tix thru https://www.tickettailor.com/events/soundcellar Al Swainger Gary Alesbrook Gary Bamford Music Jon Clark

Easter may have been and gone but the show must go on!

This Friday 5 April 2024 we're back in the Studio at Lighthouse Poole with something a bit different - GIACOMO SMITH'S HOT FIVE, a band packed with some of the most talented young modern players interpreting traditional jazz tunes in a distinctly modern style! The band features, amongst others, Laura Jurd on trumpet. The band has sold out Ronnie Scott's and Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Giacomo Smith - clarinet
Laura Jurd - trumpet
Dan Higham - trombone
Joe Webb - piano
Honey Boulton - banjo

More details and online booking via the link below.
We hope to see you there!

Giacomo Smith Hot Five - Lighthouse From lunch or coffee, pre-show dinner for two…or just because! Reserve a table now and enjoy a delicious locally sourced menu that will go down a treat with friends and family.

We're back this Friday 22 March 2024 at Lighthouse Poole with a fantastic sextet - the LEON GREENING SEXTET with a tribute to the classic era of ART BLAKEY'S JAZZ MESSENGERS. There are a few tickets left but we advise getting in quick via the link below or by phoning 01202 280000. Should be a cracker!

https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/25869-2/

More info:

THE LEON GREENING SEXTET:
Leon Greening - piano
Steve Fishwick - trumpet
Osian Roberts - tenor sax
Nick Mills - trombone
Adam King - bass
Matt Hone - drums

Renowned UK pianist Leon Greening leads a sextet dedicated to one of his musical heroes in a new project, celebrating the music of the great Art Blakey Sextet.

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers were one of the most important and influential groups in the history of jazz. Spearheading the hard bop style in jazz from the early 1950’s, Blakey led various incarnations of the group from the drum set right up until his death in 1990. The group was a masterclass for brilliant young jazz talent and it was considered a true jazz honour to be and have been a ‘Jazz Messenger’. Most of Blakey’s proteges went on to establish very successful careers leading their own groups.

The idea for this band was to arrange and play some of the Jazz Messenger’s lesser known tunes from the band’s most important period from 1958 to 1964. This period was especially strong because Blakey had two superlative line ups that provided some of the most classic compositions and soloists. These included the quintet from 1958-1961 famous for ‘Moanin’ and ‘Blues March’ which featured Benny Golson on tenor sax, Lee Morgan on trumpet, Bobby Timmons on piano and Jymie Merritt on bass, and the sextet from late 1961-1964 which featured Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Cedar Walton on piano, Reggie Workman on bass and of course Blakey driving it all from the drum kit.

The music performed is taken from albums from that period including ‘Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers’, ‘The Big Beat’, ‘The Freedom Rider’, ‘Roots and Herbs’, ‘The Witch Doctor’, ‘Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers on Impulse!’, ‘Mosaic’, ‘Buhaina’s Delight’, ‘Three Blind Mice’, ‘Free For All’ and ‘Indestructible’.
Pianist Leon Greening’s hard swinging style has made him a favourite on the jazz scene for over a decade, and he makes no apologies for his adoration of the great bebop pianists, with Wynton Kelly, Bobby Timmons and Bud Powell among his influences.

Leon Greening Sextet - Lighthouse From lunch or coffee, pre-show dinner for two…or just because! Reserve a table now and enjoy a delicious locally sourced menu that will go down a treat with friends and family.

Something rather intriguing this Thursday 14 March 2024 at SoundCellar.... Tickets / more info via the link below.

Buy tickets – LIVESTREAM - PETRA HALLER & MEG MORLEY – YouTube An innovative ‘first’ for SoundCellar awaits, whilst remaining true to our aim to bring the best contemporary performers to Poo...

Just a reminder, we have the fabulous BYRON WALLEN'S FOUR CORNERS at Lighthouse this coming Friday (8 March 2024: 7.45pm). There are still a few tickets left via the link below, from the ticket office on the night or by phoning 01202 280000. Hope to see some of you there!

Byron Wallen's Four Corners - Lighthouse 25/01/24 – Unfortunately our kitchen is closed today, but Beacon will still be open for a selection of drinks and snacks.

Our next gig in the Studio at Lighthouse takes place on Friday 8 March 2024 and what a treat it promises to be. Multi-award winning trumpeter Byron Wallen brings his own band to Lighthouse for the first time. Byron is also an acclaimed composer and producer whose scores have been commissioned by the Science Museum, Warner Brothers, The BBC, Jerwood Foundation, the National Theatre, and even Game of Thrones! A seminal figure on the British jazz scene since the 1990s, his multi-talented band will be playing music from latest award-nominated album ‘Portrait: Reflections on Belonging’. The album draws inspiration from contemporary and indigenous cultures, early Renaissance music, Central and East African rhythm and polyphony and the music of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter and Thelonious Monk. As well as trumpet, Byron will also be playing piano and conches!

A fantastic band also includes Rob Luft on guitar and Rod Youngs on drums. Tickets via the Lighthouse website (link below) or by phoning the box office on 01202 280000.

Byron Wallen's Four Corners - Lighthouse 25/01/24 – Unfortunately our kitchen is closed today, but Beacon will still be open for a selection of drinks and snacks.

Our next gig in the Studio at Lighthouse, Poole, takes place on Friday 23 February 2024 (7.45pm) and features a fabulous singer new to Lighthouse, Danish-born Sarah Oschlag - hugely in demand as singer of choice for the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, and making increasing waves with her own bands. This particular band is very special, featuring a stellar line up comprising Tony Kofi on sax, Tim Lapthorn on piano, Arnie Somogyi on bass and Clark Tracey on drums. The band will explore the music of the late, great Charles Mingus, including vocal arrangements, some written by Mingus himself, some by Sarah, and others by luminaries such as Joni Mitchell and others. More info, and tickets, via the link below.

Mingus Sings! Celebrating the Legacy of Jazz Icon Charles Mingus - Lighthouse 25/01/24 – Unfortunately our kitchen is closed today, but Beacon will still be open for a selection of drinks and snacks.

Just a reminder we have the brilliant Laura Jurd Trio along with pianist Liam Noble at Lighthouse Poole this Friday 9 February 2024... Tickets are still available via the Lighthouse link below.

Laura Jurd - trumpet
Ruth Goller - bass
Corrie Dick - drums
Liam Noble - piano

’Simply stupendous … a glorious shifting collage of sound’ BBC Music Magazine

‘… a masterpiece’ Allaboutjazz

A BIT MORE ABOUT THE BAND...
Laura Jurd and Corrie Dick (of the Mercury Prize-nominated band Dinosaur) join Liam Noble and Ruth Goller for a stunning evening of Jazz in the Lighthouse Studio. Composer-performer Laura Jurd's distinct voice as an improvising trumpet player is at the heart of everything she creates. Her music celebrates and innovates the rich traditions of jazz and folk music, whilst often reflecting her love of The Beatles and Stravinsky to name two notable influences. Her compositions dig into something primal, earthy and human, whilst taking twists and turns that both invite surprise and push boundaries. Her amazing trio also includes two of the brightest younger players on the UK scene, Ruth Goller (on bass), a regular visitor to Lighthouse in a variety of bands, and drummer Corrie Dick.

The band’s very special musical partner on this gig is one of the finest UK-based pianists, LIAM NOBLE, who also happens to be Professor of Jazz Piano at the Royal Academy. Liam has been a leading light on the UK jazz scene since the early 1990s and has been an acclaimed artist under his own name as well as a serial collaborator with a range of amazing musicians, including Shabaka Hutchings, Phil Robson, Christine Tobin, Evan Parker Marc Ducret, Arnie Somogyi, Drew Gress and many others.

Hope to see you there!

Laura Jurd Trio and Liam Noble - Lighthouse Laura Jurd - Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2022, Henry Westons Sessions

Well, what a fantastic, sold out celebration we had at our last Studio Jazz gig on 26 January at Lighthouse Poole, with Thokozile launching their long-awaited debut album to great acclaim. Thokozile had also been delivering workshops in local schools all week. If you want to hear the album, you can do so (and even purchase a CD) via Thokozile Collective's bandcamp page: https://thokozile.bandcamp.com/album/thokozile-collective
Otherwise it will be out on all streaming services later in the year.

Meanwhile, the Studio Jazz season continues apace, and our next gig sees an intriguing gig coming up on Friday 9 Feb 2024 with the Laura Jurd Trio pairing up with special guest, pianist Liam Noble. Laura is one of the most exciting young composer / musicians on the UK and international scenes, who has been nominated for a plethora of awards, and this pair-up with one of the best British pianists should produce some musical fireworks. Tickets and more info via the link below:

https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/laura-jurd-trio-and-liam-noble/

Laura Jurd Trio and Liam Noble - Lighthouse 25/01/24 – Unfortunately our kitchen is closed today, but Beacon will still be open for a selection of drinks and snacks.

Our next gig is on Friday 26 January 2024 in the Sherling Studio, Lighthouse and is a very special one... an album launch gig for local favourites Thokozile Collective, tunes heavily influenced by the African and wider world jazz scenes. Brand new CDs will be available, 2 months ahead of the official release date. Tickets are only £13.50 and the music will almost certainly put a spring in your step and a smile on your face!

Tickets via the link below:

Thokozile Collective - Special Album Launch show! - Lighthouse From lunch or coffee, pre-show dinner for two…or just because! Reserve a table now and enjoy a delicious locally sourced menu that will go down a treat with friends and family.

Happy New Year from all of us at BMJC / Lighthouse Studio Jazz! As well as a full programme of our own on Friday nights, there's some lovely jazz coming up courtesy of our friends SoundCellar jazz club, based in Poole (at the Grasshopper pub), this spring. Check out the amazing array of musicians they have coming via the link below and try and get along to some of the gigs. Support local jazz!

SoundCellar – Live and streamed music in Dorset, UK SoundCellar Mike de Souza's Chrysalis GroupMike de Souza's Chrysalis GroupThursday 4th January 2024The Grasshopper, 139 - 141 Bournemouth Rd, Poole BH14 9HT + LivestreamClick for TicketsTheo Travis' Double TalkTheo Travis' Double TalkThursday 18th January 2024The Grasshopper, 139 - 141 Bournemouth R...

Just a reminder that Swanage Jazz Festival 2023 takes place this weekend (Friday to Sunday, 7-9 July 2023) with a fabulous lineup, including locally-based favourites such as The Sound of Blue Note, Thokozile and Jon Lloyd's European Quartet alongside some true jazz superstars, including James Taylor Quartet, Tony Kofi's Inside Straight, Alan Barnes Quartet, Claire Martin, Norma Winstone with Nicki Iles and Mark Lockheart, Zara McFarlane's Tribute to Sarah Vaughan, Get the Blessing, Chris Hodgkins' Salute to Humphrey Lyttleton, Perfect Houseplants, Issie Barrett's Interchange, Rebecca Nash, and The Alessio Menconi / Nigel Price Quartet.

Paul Kelly and the entire Swanage committee have done a superb job catering for the very broad jazz church, including the trad community, so we very much urge you to go for either a day or the whole weekend.

A few tickets are still available via the Swanage Jazz website:
https://swanagejazzfestival.co.uk/main-programme-2023/

You can occasionally get walk-up tickets but advance booking is strongly advised.

Main Programme 2023 - Swanage Jazz Festival Main Programme 2023 Below is Festival Timetable for 2023 showing artists, dates, times and venues. Follow our page for news of any updates and additions. Friday 7 July 2023 Isle of Purbeck Golf Club 7pm – 10pm Moonlight Swing Big Band for Jazz, Dinner & Dancing NB: Tickets available separ...

A reminder that, fresh from appearances at Ronnie Scotts and various festivals, extraordinary multi-award winning Eurojazz / fusion quartet, VALMUZ, play Lighthouse Studio Jazz tonight (Friday 30 June: 8pm) in the last gig of the Studio Jazz season. Tickets are only £14.85 and are still available online via clicking the link below, in person at the ticket office until 7.45pm or by phoning 01202 280000.

Peter Connolly (Guitar and Vocals)
Chris Attwell (Bass)
Victor Jimenez (Saxophone)
Jamie Murray (Drums)

Studio Jazz will be back in the autumn. Watch this space!

Studio Jazz: Valmuz - Lighthouse *Hot food is currently unavailable during the evenings. A limited selection of drinks, cakes, sandwiches, toasties/ paninis will be available only.

The final Studio Jazz gig of this season is this coming Friday 30 June... fantastic, intricate, energetic Euro jazz, which might appeal to fans of Steely Dan and their ilk. More via the link below. Good news, too - we'll be back in September for the next season!

Studio Jazz: Valmuz - Lighthouse *Hot food is currently unavailable during the evenings. A limited selection of drinks, cakes, sandwiches, toasties/ paninis will be available only.