BJazz’s 13th concert on July 13th is part of the BJazz initiative to “Showcase Emerging British Talent”, additional to our normal 12 concert Season. Usual 8pm start for two 1 hour sets, doors 7:15 and full BJazz Bar facilities.

This concert was devised and is hosted by a Member of the BJazz Committee, Arran Shanghavi, whom we welcome back to play alongside friends with their own take on music from the established jazz repertoire and melodic original compositions.

First Set 8:00-9:00pm: Arran Shanghavi Quintet – “A Groovin’ and Swinging Hard Bop Quintet”

30 minute interval – order your interval drinks at the bar

Second Set 9:30-10:35pm: Luke McCarthy Quartet – Drummer-led Quartet comprised of musicians from the Royal Academy of Music

Arran Shanghavi Quintet:

• Arran Shanghavi (p) is a pianist from Berkhamsted. He will graduate from the University of Birmingham in July having read Philosophy and Politics. Arran was a music scholar at the university and president of the student jazz society (JFS) for two years. His serious journey in jazz and music started in the Junior Jazz programme of the Royal Academy of Music, taught by UK jazz legend Gareth Lockrane. Arran’s work to date has mostly been as a reliable sideman, with projects taking him to places such as O2 Academy in Islington, the Roundhouse in Camden, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in an award-winning, sell out show. Arran has hosted a month of jam sessions at The Spotted Dog in Birmingham,  where a weekly jazz night operates as a regular stop for some of the UK’s top touring jazz musicians. In 2022 Arran joined the Committee of BJazz, getting involved in band selection and social media promotion. Arran continues to make himself known in the Birmingham jazz scene and beyond.
• Ben Partridge (ten s). Dubbed a “young lion in the ascendancy,” saxophonist and award-winning composer Ben is one of a number of exciting talents to have recently graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He is a regular performer around the city and as a composer, he has written for his own Big Band and others, as well as a special commission for Mike Gibbs’ 85th birthday. He is currently preparing to tour his new band, “Sixways,” in Autumn 2024.
• Mark Bonner (tpt) is a multi-instrumentalist from North Devon who has recently graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, under the tuition of Percy Pursglove, Mark Hodgson, Steve Fishwick and Ivan Van Hetten. He currently gigs regularly around North Devon as well as Birmingham, Bristol and Cornwall. He also produces electronic music and helps run the North Devon Blues Night in Appledore alongside Jim Crawford
• Jamie Paxton (db) is a jazz upright and electric bass player from Bradford. He is currently in his 3rd year of studying jazz at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Influenced by a mixture of jazz players like Dave Holland, Charles Mingus, and Jaco Pastorius, he also takes inspiration from European Folk, Latin and other world music.
• Jonathan Hilliam (dr) Winner of the 2024 Tony Levin drum prize, Jonathan Hilliam is in his 3rd year of study at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. A versatile player, comfortable in settings ranging from full jazz orchestras, piano trios to jazz fusion settings, he enjoys a wide range of music. After finishing at hot house in Derby, a music school dedicated to bringing jazz to young people, he now teaches there himself, tutoring their highest level drummers. Coming from a musical family Jonathan was exposed to classical music from a young age and played viola in Leicestershire and Derbyshire youth orchestras. While he has now made the switch to jazz he still occasionally goes home to Leicester to play orchestral percussion. He now looks towards his fourth year with excitement and plans to record an album with fellow band mate Arran.

Luke McCarthy Quartet:

• Luke McCarthy (dr) is a 2nd year scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music studying under Martin France and James Maddren. He has performed in top venues across the country, having opportunities to play with great musicians such as Alex Hitchcock and Giacomo Smith. His most recent project was a tour with the Jonny Mansfield Quartet, culminating in a live album recorded at Pizza Express Soho.
• Guy Dempsey (db) is studying under Jeremy Brown and Orlando Le Fleming in his third year at the Royal Academy of Music. Guy plays in a variety of settings but has a particular interest in the bebop and swing, citing his main influences as Paul Chambers and Ray Brown.
• George Johnson (ten s) “has a really rounded and mature sound” – London Jazz  News. Featuring on performances by Oreglo, Knats as well as his own band “Adult
  Supervision”, George Johnson’s unique and recognizable sound makes him an exciting up and coming talent in the London jazz scene.
• Toby Evans (g) is a 19 year-old jazz guitarist/composer from Leeds, now based in London. Whilst currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music, Toby has played and worked professionally in a wide range of projects including performing with the parliamentary jazz award-winning band ‘Ubunye’