The summer's Jazz Garden Gigs launch in Eastbourne

The first of this summer's Jazz Garden Gigs at The Fishermen's Club, Eastbourne, takes place on Sunday, June 14 at 3pm when sax/flute maestro and Garden Gig host Andy Panayi will co-lead a quartet featuring as special guest Mark Crooks (sax/clarinet).

Spokeswoman Annette Keen said: “A terrific, tasteful player on both saxophone and clarinet, Mark Crooks has forged an unrivalled reputation in a variety of settings, from jazz club to concert hall and West End theatre.

“A member of the award-winning Back to Basie Orchestra and the John Wilson Orchestra who have been featured annually at the BBC Proms since 2009, Mark’s considerable talent has also seen him performing alongside celebrated artists such as Tony Bennett, Sir Simon Rattle, Lady Gaga and Dame Cleo Laine.

“He has performed regularly at the BBC Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra and the Sinfonia of London, and in 2024 was featured playing the iconic clarinet solo in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. You may also have heard him as the featured clarinet soloist in the TV special A Swingin’ Christmas and on the John Wilson Orchestra’s Gershwin in Hollywood album, recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall. Mark's film work includes the 2022 film Mrs Harris Goes to Paris.”

Annette added: “Andy Panayi is one half of the team presenting monthly gigs for Splash Point Jazz Club Eastbourne at the Fishermen's club. 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 plays all the flutes, all the saxophones and clarinet and currently leads his own groups, both jazz and classical. He also writes commissioned works and compositions and arrangements for his own ensembles.

“Andy has performed and recorded with many singers including Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney, Elaine Delmar, Elaine Paige, Seth MacFarlane, Salena Jones, Georgie Fame, Helen Shapiro, Madeline Bell, Patty Austin and Jessye Norman.

“He’s also worked alongside or supported Abdullah Ibrahim, Freddie Hubbard, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra, Louie Bellson Octet & Big Band, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, The Moscow City Ballet, Ronnie Scott, Ted Heath/ Don Lusher Big Band, BBC Big Band, Bert Kaemphert Orchestra, Stan Tracey Big Band/Septet/Octet, John Dankworth & Cleo Laine, Humphrey Lyttelton and many more.

“Also appearing on this Garden Gig are local heroes David Beebee (keys) and Alex Pitt (drums), providing a supportive rhythm section for the woodwind players. All four musicians love to swing – and this gig proves it! You can expect to hear classic, swinging jazz with blues, gospel, and R'n'B influences, with some rarely-played tunes from the classic Blue Note and Riverside catalogues.

“The Fishermen's will be running a full bar throughout the gig and the music will go ahead regardless of the weather. If it looks like rain, everything will be transferred inside to the downstairs room at the club so the show goes on whatever the weather does.

“The venue is the Fishermen's Club, Royal Parade, BN22 7AA. The music starts at 3pm, finishing at around 5.30pm. Entry is free, but donations are requested please to pay for your entertainment and the musicians' fees.”