Jazz breaking news: Ray’s Jazz Hots Up For February

Situated in London’s West End, embedded in world-famous bookshop Foyles, housing an extensive CD, vinyl and secondhand selection – some as ‘Rare as Hens Teeth’! – is Ray’s Jazz Café. Nestled in the first floor next to the Cookery section the cafe hosts a steady stream of top notch live music, providing a platform for new British Jazz talent and established international artists in equal measure. It’s no big surprise that a quick browse through Rick Stein’s back catalogue of fishy works often results in an evening spent watching some blistering boppers tearing up a standard or two.

The quality of Ray’s output is evident in February’s line up with pianist Robert Mitchell kicking off the month with a solo performance of new songs as well as classic tracks, hot off the back of a major tour with his award winning band Panacea and last year’s acclaimed album The Cusp (today, 10 Feb).

Featured in last month’s Jazzwise new Brit-Jazz whirlwind Rhythmica bring a splash of pulsating vibrancy to the proceedings, featuring ex-Tomorrow’s Warriors and Dune Academy graduates Binker Golding (tenor saxophone), Mark Crown (trumpet), Peter Edwards (piano), Pete Randall (double bass) and Andy Chapman (drums) (11 Feb).

Guitarist Ronan McCullagh’s young trio, featuring bassist Gregori Hofmann and drummer Jamie Murray, perform their straight-ahead swinging jazz with no shortage of creative improvisation on 18 February, as well as Ray’s Jazz regulars ImproFives providing the monthly dose of Mediterranean jazz grooves and promoting their latest eponymous album (22 Feb).

Closing the month is ubiquitous Italian drummer Enzo Zirilli’s Scenario, including a stellar internationally acclaimed line up of Alberto Marsico on Hammond organ and multi-reedist and EWI player Simone Santini injecting a high level of creativity and exceptional playing to the proceedings.

– Himali Dave

For more information on line-ups and performance times visit www.foyles.co.uk/events-at-foyles