The Chet Set
Friday 28th June, 2024 at 7:30pm
(Doors and bar open at 7:00pm)
American trumpet player and vocalist Pete Tanton is joined by John Bradford (drums), Alan Law (piano), and Mick Shoulder (bass) to present an evening with the Chet Set: Chet Baker Sings and More.
Alan, John and Mick have been playing together since 2021 as the house band for the Central Bar in Gateshead, providing backing for the monthly showcase of classic jazz albums. "A Night With the Chetset" was born out of this when American trumpet player/vocalist Pete Tanton performed the 1956 album "Chet Baker Sings" with the band. Such was the popularity of this show that they were immediately booked for follow-up appearances at other venues in the Northeast, and what had been intended as a one-off event has grown into a national tour.
Pete, from Alabama, plays trumpet with the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band and has previously appeared at Warkworth War Memorial Hall with the House of the Black Gardenia. His band, the Riviera Quartet, have featured on BBC radio and he has played internationally with such artists as Wynton Marsalis, Digby Fairweather and Claire Martin.
In addition to playing bass in many of the region’s jazz groups, Mick is equally at home on Gypsy guitar and tours regularly with his group, Swing Manouche. He also runs Jazz at Bishop Auckland.
Alan’s piano style ranges from the classic sounds of the Great American Songbook through to Cuban and Latin funk. As the pianist for the Tom Waits tribute, "Tom Waits for No Man", he has toured nationally and featured on BBC 6 Music.
John is one of the most sought-after drummers and educators in the Northeast, and tours regularly with the Zoe Gilby quartet.
" a joy to listen to from beginning to end" - Russell Corbett
"Pete’s voice lends itself beautifully to the tone and feel of Chet, he and his collaborators on this project move it seamlessly in various directions with their sheer musicality and inventiveness." - Sylvia Truscott
"a ’win win‘ gig; suiting both the jazz fan and the casual listener"
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist.
Perhaps best known for his rendition of "My Funny Valentine", Chet Baker was the quintessential tragic jazz hero. With movie star looks, Baker’s soft singing voice and mellow trumpet style earned him a worldwide following in the 1950s that transcended the realms of mere jazz and placed him on the cusp of a movie career. Dental problems and heroin addiction led to an itinerant lifestyle and relative obscurity in Europe for several decades. His fame spread to new audiences in the 1980s with the release of the documentary "Let’s Get Lost" which charted Baker’s rise and fall. Jazz historian Dave Gelly described the promise of Baker‘s early career as "James Dean, Sinatra, and Bix, rolled into one".
Tickets (£10) should be booked with Peter Burnham, preferably by email to peter.burnham@gmail.com . Alternatively telephone him on 01665 711388.