This Thursday, 7th April, multi-award winning Alan Barnes performs alongside some of his favourite musicians and peers. Joining Alan is established and longtime pianist John Critchinson, established bassist Dave Green and Stu Butterfield on drums.
A prolific international performer, composer, arranger, bandleader and touring soloist – we can’t wait to see what Alan brings to our Jazz at Karamel nights. Best known for his work on clarinet, alto and baritone sax, his unique musicianship, indefatigable touring, and warm rapport with audiences have made him uniquely popular in British jazz. He has received over 25 British Jazz Awards, most recently in 2014 for clarinet, and has twice been made BBC Jazz Musician of the Year.
“Barnes, plays music that was radical 50 years ago – hard, urban post-bop – but he infuses it with so much passion and energy you could believe it was minted on the spot, which is always part of the story with jazz.” – John L Waters – The Guardian
Alan Barnes (alto sax), John Critchinson (piano), Dave Green (bass), Stu Butterfield (drums)
DOORS OPEN 7PM, MUSIC STARTS AT 8PM
TICKETS ARE £8 ON THE DOOR
Now this truly is the time to see such highly acclaimed musician as Alan Barnes here at Karamel.
With such a prestigious musical history, we are honoured to welcome Alan back. He is also currently president of the well-attended Swanage Jazz Festival.
Alan studied saxophone, woodwinds and arranging at the Leeds College of music from 1977-80.
In 1980 he moved to London, playing with the Midnight Follies Orchestra and the following year was with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, touring Europe until 1983. In that year he left to join the hard bop band of Tommy Chase where he attracted considerable attention on the UK jazz scene for the first time.
He left Chase in 1986 to co-lead The Jazz Renegades with rock drummer Steve White travelling as far afield as Japan and recording four well received albums. In 1988 Alan was asked to fill the chair recently vacated by Bruce Turner in the Humphrey Lyttelton band where he stayed until 1992. 1987-97 he also found time to lead the Pizza Express Modern Jazz Sextet with Gerard Presencer and Dave O’Higgins. Since leaving the Lyttelton band, Alan has concentrated on his freelance career.
Alan has enjoyed a prolific career as a sideman, playing and recording for many bands. He broadcast regularly over a ten-year period with the BBC Big Band and Radio Orchestra and has toured and recorded with big band leaders, Dick Walter, Kenny Baker, Bob Wilber, Don Weller, Stan Tracey, Mike Westbrook and John Dankworth. Other bands he has toured and recorded with include the Tina May Trio, Bill LeSage’s Genetically Modified Quintet, Spike Robinson’s Tenor Madness, Clare Teale, and a sextet with Don Weller playing the music of Cannonball Adderley. Alan has also toured the U.K. with Freddie Hubbard. Alan has long associations with pianist David Newton, going back to their college days, and with blistering be-bop trumpeter Bruce Adams, with whom he has co-led a quintet since the early nineties.
Alan has been featured on many jazz recordings from his first record date as co-leader in 1985 with Tommy Whittle and as leader of his own quartet in 1987 right up to recent record dates with Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache and Harry Allen and most recently a duo album with Martin Taylor. He has appeared on the Concord (with Conti Condoli), Fret, Miles Music, Nagel Hayer and Specific labels with various projects. He now runs his own Woodville label.
