Saxophone Summit: 4 Sax Front Line Feat. Peter King, Jean Toussaint, Tom Harrison & Josh Arcoleo at 606 Club

This remarkable gig will feature some of the finest sax players in Europe, with a breathtaking 4-sax front line supported by Robin Aspland's exceptional piano trio. After taking the scene by storm in the early sixties with the Ronnie Scott quintet, Peter King has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest alto saxophonists in the world. His fabulous technique allied with an unerring sense of harmony has made him one of the greatest players this country has ever produced. An established International artist, as well as a remarkable improviser Peter is also a writer and arranger of considerable note. “Peter King...plays with...searing authority” Guardian...

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This remarkable gig will feature some of the finest sax players in Europe, with a breathtaking 4-sax front line supported by Robin Aspland's exceptional piano trio. After taking the scene by storm in the early sixties with the Ronnie Scott quintet, Peter King has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest alto saxophonists in the world. His fabulous technique allied with an unerring sense of harmony has made him one of the greatest players this country has ever produced. An established International artist, as well as a remarkable improviser Peter is also a writer and arranger of considerable note. “Peter King...plays with...searing authority” Guardian

Jean Toussaint is an incredibly versatile American-born tenor saxophone player who has been an adopted Londoner since the late 80’s. Born in the US territory of the Virgin Islands his formative musical experiences were playing calypso and this Afro-Caribbean influence is still apparent in his upbeat playing style. Jean attended Berklee College of Music in the late 1970’s, developing a blistering technique and lyrical sound that has graced many great bands, from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers through Wynton Marsalis, Gil Evans and the Julian Joseph bands to his own International quartet. A highly respected educator as well as performer, Jean has taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity College of Music and the Birmingham Conservatory. “Toussaint… brilliance, wit, verve and memorable, elegant, sax lines..." The Times

Josh Arcoleo Although still relatively new to the UK jazz scene, multi-award winning saxophonist Josh Arcoleo has already become a significant presence. After studying in his early teens with the iconic US saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis, by the age of 16 Pee Wee was so impressed with Josh's playing that he asked him to join the band. He toured with Pee Wee for around three years, during which time Josh won an award from the EMI Music Sound Foundation and a Musicians Benevolent Fund Young Talent Award. At 18 he moved on to the jazz course at The Royal Academy of Music, graduating in 2011 with a First Class degree, a Yamaha Parliamentary Jazz Scholarship and the Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize. Since leaving college Josh has worked with a wide variety of high profile musicians, from Kit Downes and Stan Sulzmann through to Get The Blessing and a world tour with singer Joss Stone. A fluent, melodic and highly creative player it's with great pleasure that we welcome Josh (an old friend of the Club) back for the Sax Summit this evening. "Then come [Arcoleo's] solos that develop from painterly brushstrokes to searing intensity. His ballad tone is rich and smoky" Guardian

Tom Harrison is widely regarded as one of the most talented alto saxophonists of his generation. While studying for his master's degree at Trinity, Tom released his acclaimed debut album DAGDA on Lyte Records, showcasing his fluent playing and striking compositional skills. Since then, in just the last 4 years, he has toured the UK six times as a leader, toured as a sideman with the formidable trumpet star Terrell Stafford and been commissioned by Birmingham Jazz to compose music for his "Harrison's Film Music Project" and been a featured guest soloist alongside the iconic US rap artist Talib Kweli on a track from David Lyttle's MOBO-nominated album Faces. He also includes work on an impressive cv with the likes of highly regarded UK jazz musicians Quentin Collins, Robert Mitchell, Cleveland Watkiss and another of tonight's guests, saxophonist Jean Toussaint. "Harrison…invests his playing with a mature sensibility...fearsomely excellent musicianship" All About Jazz

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