Fleece Jazz

David Newton is a renowned jazz pianist known for his versatility and exceptional talent. Growing up in Renfrewshire, Scotland, he had a musical upbringing with the piano trio sound of Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum and Errol Garner an ever-present feature in the Newton household. Following lessons on piano, clarinet, and bassoon, he eventually focussed on jazz piano at the Leeds College of Music. His career took off after a move to London in the mid-1980s, where he became a sought-after session musician and collaborator. An exquisite soloist and accompanist, he is perhaps best known as an accompanist for Stacey Kent, with whom he recorded and toured for over 10 years.  His playing and compositions have been featured on many jazz recordings, numerous TV movies and West End plays. David has released fifteen albums as a leader and has been recognised as “Best Jazz Pianist” sixteen times in The British Jazz Awards.

Gary Alesbrook is a British jazz trumpeter, composer, producer, and session musician known for collaborations across rock, pop, jazz, and R&B. Trained at Leeds College of Music, he began his career in 1999 with Super Furry Animals before touring and recording extensively with Kasabian. He has performed with artists like Noel Gallagher, Raphael Saadiq, KT Tunstall, and Rag'n'Bone Man, and contributed to soundtracks including London Boulevard and Guy Ritchie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Matt Hopkins is a jazz guitarist known for his melodic and inventive playing across various musical projects.He has collaborated with notable artists, including Andy Sheppard’s Hotel Bristol and Emily Wright and The Royals.

Double bassist and composer Henrik Jensen came to London from Denmark in 1997 to study electric bass and then the double bass at the Royal Academy of Music. He has worked all over the world from the Blue Note in Tokyo to concert halls in Moscow while keeping busy on the London jazz scene. The Guardian critic John Fordham described him as “thoughtful, richly chordal and attractively Charlie Haden-like on the bass”

Mark Whitlam is a drummer and percussionist, composer, researcher and educator.  He has performed live and recorded with some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians, including ECM artists Andy Sheppard and Iain Ballamy as a member of their respect quartets, Clare Teal, Jason Rebello, Claire Martin, Pee Wee Ellis, and Jim Mullen.

• David Newton - Piano
• Gary Alesbrook - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
• Matt Hopkins - Guitar
• Henrik Jensen - Bass
• Mark Whitlam - Drums

Fleece Jazz is an independent, non-profit association run by a voluntary committee who have been providing modern and contemporary jazz for 28 years. They book talented musicians and jazz bands from the UK and beyond to perform at Stoke by Nayland Resort, providing the perfect backdrop for these cherished and popular events.

Fleece Jazz events are generally held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.