Membership

We  have decided to increase the cost of membership. The annual renewal subscription of £10 for single or £15 for joint membership has remained unchanged since the club was started back in 1994. In fact we used to include an additional £5 joining fee, which was removed some years ago. Membership from the 1st May will now be on an individual basis only at the cost of £15 per year, with joint membership no longer being available. Linked to this change we have increased the differential in tickets between members and non-members to £5, compared to the present £3 discount, as shown in the latest flyer. 

This still represents excellent value for money, with the opportunity to see and hear top quality live jazz in an informal and friendly setting. Especially on looking ahead to some of the other concerts later in the year, which have already been booked by Kathryn Shackleton. Starting with July, this includes the sextet of saxophonist Osian Roberts and trumpeter Steve Fishwick on 11th July, featuring another first time visitor American baritone sax player Frank Basile. Sons of Kemet appear on 18th July and the following week the 13 - piece orchestra of Robert Fowler celebrate the music of Gerry Mulligan. The evening of 12th September will feature a duo performance by guitarist Martin Taylor (who has never appeared at the club before) and Alan Barnes. Looking further ahead to October, on 10th guitarist Mike Walker, who appears at the beginning of May in the Printmakers line up, returns with the all star quartet Impossible Gents alongside Gwilym Simcock, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum. The following week another American visits the club with the return of Gary Smulyan with the Nigel Price organ trio.  Kathryn has also just booked our end of year concert which will feature the Stan Tracey Octet.

Many of you will have the Bobby Wellins CD Time Gentlemen Please, which was recorded by Andy Cleyndert at our venue and released on his label Trio Records in 2010. Linked to Trio Records 15th anniversary this year, a new CD is being released by pianist Dave Newton and this CD will be officially launched on 29th August at Watermill Jazz when his trio of Andy and guitarist Colin Oxley appears. Do however in the meantime go onto the website www.triorecords.co.uk for further information.

Watermill Jazz Facebook Page

Kathryn Shackleton has just set up a facebook page for Watermill Jazz and she would be really grateful if those of you who have a facebook account would 'like' the club please. To do this, just click here http://www.facebook.com/WatermillJazz

Watermill Jazz's own photographer Jon Frost is providing photos to go on the page each week, so do go and relive some of the great gigs by taking a look.

Performing Rights Society (PRS) Promoters Award 2012/2013

For the previous three years we received one of the PRS Promoters Awards, which helped us book artists that might not have appeared at the club. Due to the valiant efforts again of Kathryn Shackleton, having applied to the PRS in 2012, we have been successful in receiving an award for the current season. The award scheme is administered by Jazz Services.

So far, in the series of concerts being presented under the PRS umbrella for 2012/13, this has seen performances by Phil Robson, Nikki Iles, Soweto Kinch and Kenny Wheeler Big Band, Mark Lockheart with his new project Ellington in Anticipation and Karma the quartet of Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith.

Menuhin Hall

We have since 2006 been privileged to present each year a concert at this superb 300 seater acoustic venue, based on the site of the Yehudi Menuhin School in Stoke d'Abernon. Our connection with the Menuhin was instigated by the late John Usher, who for many years was at the forefront of the local arts scene in the Mole Valley area.

Previous concerts have featured Stan Tracey performing his own composition Under Milk Wood, John Taylor & Gwilym Simcock, Acoustic Triangle, Cleo Laine, Acker Bilk and John Williams & John Etheridge, with the most recent concert in October 2012 being a duo performance by Claire Martin and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.

The concert next year in October will feature the All-Star Goodmen Orchestra led by Pete Long and featuring Joan Viskant, recreating the music from Benny Goodman’s famous 1938 Carnegie Hall concert. Watch either this space for details as to when tickets will go on sale, which are only available direct from the Menuhin Hall box office or alternatively visit their own website www.menuhinhall.info

Mailing List

Would you like to be added to our mailing list so we can keep you updated on future Watermill Jazz concerts? If so please either send details of your email address to the Box Office email address or telephone Steve Wetherall with your postal address if you do not have email facilities.