Jazz in a Circus Tent is the Eastbourne offering

Jazz in a Circus Tent is the Eastbourne offering on Friday, August 7 and Sunday, August 9.

Spokeswoman Annette Keen said: “Award-winning jazz sax and flute star Andy Panayi will be hosting two afternoon jazz sessions in a circus tent!

“The tent will be temporarily located at Helen Gardens, King Edward's Parade, BN20 7XL. A beautiful red and white striped circus tent, easily seen from the promenade, it will be in situ for one week in August, primarily as the venue for the The Rude Mechanical Theatre Company, who will be presenting their play The Wife there each evening, Wednesday to Sunday and for matinee performances on Thursday and Saturday.

“But on Friday and Sunday afternoons it becomes a canvas jazz club, swinging to the sounds of two different bands.

“On Friday, August 7 the Carl Greenwood Trio will be playing: Carl (keys), Andy Williams (guitar) and Nigel Thomas (bass). The piano-based trio is the bedrock of modern jazz, and here are three musicians with a great deal of experience playing in that format, and of playing together.

“Carl has a career that has spanned many genres of music. He's played in a host of West End shows, toured with jazz and pop bands, performed at prestigious jazz venues in the UK and further afield, and played for many intimate, private functions.

“In Eastbourne the trio are regular performers for The Langham Hotel Sunday lunches and for Jazz in the Tent they travel to the opposite end of Eastbourne's promenade! Expect to hear Carl's trio performing jazz standards and classic American songbook repertoire.

“The focus shifts on Sunday, August 9 when the guests are The Perello Duo, comprising Mike Hughes (vibes) and Eleanor Kelly (guitar) – soloists in their own right who together offer a unique duo performing to great acclaim throughout the UK.

“Their programme will feature a mixture of classical, Latin, and jazz standards, with delicious arrangements of music by Erik Satie, Laurie Randolph, Carmen Guzmán, Antônio Carlos Jobim and more.

“Committed to developing a wider understanding of the vibraphone, Mike has collaborated with contemporary classical composers and leading musicians on the British jazz scene.

“Eleanor Kelly has extensive experience as a performer, with notable engagements including Palacio del Portalet (Spain), Uppsala Internationella Gitarrfestival (Sweden), and Finding A Voice festival (Ireland), and made her London debut premiering works commissioned for her by the International Guitar Foundation at Kings Place, London (UK).

“Joining the bands on both afternoons is Andy Panayi (sax and flute). Andy has 40-plus years’ experience at the forefront of British jazz and is a multi-award winner – which is what you'd expect from someone who's played alongside the likes of Freddie Hubbard, John Dankworth and Wynton Marsalis. He often plays with the BBC Big Band in various UK locations, and has performed in the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Stan Tracey Big Band and the Ronnie Scott's Orchestra.

“He plays all the flutes and all the saxophones and currently leads his own bands, both jazz and classical. He also writes commissioned works and compositions and arrangements for his own ensembles. In Eastbourne Andy teaches jazz improvisation and saxophone to groups of musicians and also runs a big band. He is one half of the team running Splash Point Jazz Club at The Fishermen's Club, Eastbourne.”

Jazz afternoons at the Circus Tent are on Friday, August 7 and Sunday, August 9. Doors open at 1.30pm, and the music starts at 2pm, finishing at around 4.30pm. Tickets are available on the day at £10. The tent is situated on Helen Gardens, King Edward's Parade, BN20 7XL.