I’d like to invite you to the opening night of a new monthly jazz night I’ve helped to put together. Jazz in the Round at The Cockpit Theatre has the potential to be something very different and, we hope, a bit special.

Once a month we are putting on three acts in one night. The idea is that we mix up the genres, the generations and maybe even the fans. We’ll feature one of the most talked about acts of the moment, a unique solo performance and an up and coming band we think deserves wider notice.

So on Monday Jan 30th our headliner is Orphy Robinson playing with the brilliant saxophonist Steve Williamson and Pat Thomas. Manchester guitarist Stuart McCallum will be playing a solo and much hyped trumpet player Yazz Ahmed and her trio will get things rolling.  Bar opens from 6pm with first band at 8.30.

The venue is amazing, the acoustic superb. The acts get to perform in the round. The audience, close and intimate, all around them. I’ll also be chatting to the musicians throughout the night, giving  them the opportunity to explain their work. The audience can ask questions too.

Plus I’ll be doing something I haven’t done for a while (at least in public) and DJing, playing jazz and beyond, old and new.

And all this for just £7!

The night has been put together by The Cockpit, Somethin Else, Prodigal Jazz, and Loudwater Partners. We are all doing it for free, in fact Loudwater are subsidising the whole affair. This means all the profits go to the artists and furthermore we are recording everything for musicians to use as they please.

I’ve wanted to curate and host a night like this for many years so I’m really excited.

Please come and join me as a guest on this first night and help spread the word.

Full venue and event details and location info at www.thecockpit.org.uk

Jez Nelson