The Pete Long Quartet - in association with Portsmouth Jazz at The Groundling Theatre

About

The Pete Long Quartet - in association with Portsmouth Jazz

Friday 1st March
19:30
Tickets: £17.00

Portsmouth Jazz in association with Groundlings Theatre presents…THE PETE LONG QUARTET

The acclaimed band leader at Ronnie Scott's is performing a special gig at Groundlings Theatre. Our first jazz gig of 2024 starts off with a bang and is not one to miss!

Pete is one of the UK's best known jazz musicians and bandleaders. After starting his career in NYJO and on the QE2, he acquired substantial work in the West End. A five-year stint playing and arranging for with Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, saw Pete working with Tom Jones, Norah Jones, Solomon Burke, Dr. John, Lulu, Georgie Fame and Lionel Richie, to name but a few, and producing arrangements for John Cale, Texas, Sir Paul McCartney, Candi Staton, Marti Pellow and Chrissy Hynde.

More recently, Pete's career has divided into three distinct streams- as an educator, working in master classes and as soloist with young musicians all over Britain, from the furthest point of West Wales to the orchestras at the Royal Academy, The Guildhall and the Royal College. In conjunction with this work, Pete has helped develop a new series of student woodwind instruments with a leading UK Manufacturer. As a jazz soloist, Pete has appeared with resident trios in the provinces, and has often been caught at Ronnie Scott's, in London's West End.

It is however, as a bandleader and orchestrator that Pete spends most of his time currently, and directing the Big Band at Ronnie Scott's alongside his own projects. These include his award-winning repertory orchestra Echoes Of Ellington, whose 2018 album "The Jazz Planets" won the Times "Must Have Jazz CD Of The Year". Further commissions have involved a re-imagining of Swan Lake in the style of Duke Ellington, and a transcription and re-orchestration of "The Days Of Future Passed" for the Moody Blues. In the course of this work, Pete has provided musicians and arrangements for Claire Sweeney, Jane MacDonald, Humphrey Lytleton, Sir John Dankworth, and many others.

Accompanied by:

JOHN PEARCE (keyboard)
John Pearce (JP) is recognised as one of the best accompanists in the UK. An outstanding pianist, he has an instinctive ability to bring out the best musically in the performers he works with. A "go to" for many visiting Americans, you can hear him with the likes of Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski, Huston Person, Warren Vache and many more. Big Bands too with Back to Basie and various Pete Long line ups. An accomplished musician, JP is the perfect side man for any occasion.

PAUL MORGAN (bass)
Paul Morgan hails from Southampton… but we won't hold that against him! A virtuoso on the string bass, he found early success with NYJO. Since then, he has graced both small and big bands alike. A popular figure on the Jazz Circuit, he currently holds the bass chair in the celebrated Len Phillips Orchestra.

BOBBY WORTH (drums)
So much has been written about Bobby Worth, it is difficult to know what to add! The first drummer with NYJO, he set a standard many have tried to live up to. An accomplished technician, he has great tempo and the ability to play a range of rhythms with total mastery. The list of people he has worked with would fill a book!! Regular visitors to jazz clubs will certainly be aware of his gifts. Bobby Worth… one of the best!