WEDNESDAY 26th February, 8pm : Eddie Gripper/Alex Clarke Quartet

After a short stint of gigs in 2023, the quartet reunites for a one-off evening of hard-bop and swing.

As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022, Alex Clarke is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists to have emerged on the British jazz scene. Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and a deep knowledge of repertoire across a variety of styles, Alex’s sound is steeped in the tradition of swing and bebop, “leaving the listener captivated by every phrase and nuance” (Jazz Views).

Having “already garnered comparisons with the greats” (Jazzwise) after the release of his debut album ‘Home’, Eddie Gripper has been rapidly establishing himself as another young contender on the national jazz circuit. He has worked as a performer, promoter and producer alongside top musicians in his field, including Huw Warren, Iain Ballamy, Laura Jurd, Alex Merritt and Yuri Golubev. As a composer, he has collaborated with Welsh folk artist Angharad Jenkins in a handful of projects, exploring the various aspects of folk, jazz and contemporary classical traditions.

The band will be completed by Nick Kacal (Double Bass) and Alex Goodyear (Drums), two hugely innovative players in their own right.

“Clarke is a rising star…and here is the evidence” – Jazzwise
“Bathe in her command of rhythm and her gorgeous sound on alto and tenor” – All About Jazz
“A young, up-and-coming, fantastic wizkid on the British jazz scene” – JazzLondonLive
“A sensitive pianist of the Bill Evans school of less is more” – Bebop Spoken Here

Described as "one of the best debut recordings" (The JazzMann) and with "an aura of maturity beyond his years" (Jazzwise) the 23 year old pianist, Eddie Gripper, brings his band to Zeffirellis Jazz Club as part of his 2024 UK album tour. The compositions featured on the debut release ‘Home’ (written by Gripper during lockdown) encapsulate the warmth of childhood memories and tackle the challenging themes of maturity and grief. Metrically challenging grooves are paired with rich, elegant harmonies, culminating in an outcome that is both provocative and gratifying. Each piece is a journey through time and space - beginning and finishing at a familiar and comforting destination before moving onto new or subtly developed ideas.

“Eddie Gripper, unusually for his age, has an uncommon ability to sit with understatement in his music. Gestures can be used sparingly and musically and he plays and writes very dynamically allowing his trio to interact naturally, and indeed to shine. A musical voice that brings talent and modesty to the table- I look forward to hearing lots more from Eddie and his trio over the coming years.”

“In it’s maturity of approach and deftness of execution, Home is a significant achievement by any standards” - ★★★★

As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022, Alex Clarke is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists to have emerged on the British jazz scene. Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and a deep knowledge of repertoire across a variety of styles, Alex’s sound is steeped in the tradition of swing and bebop, “leaving the listener captivated by every phrase and nuance” (Jazz Views).