Event Information

• Wed

  12

  Oct

  2016

  The Paul ‘Harry the Piano’ Harris & Simon Bates Quartet

  
  Simon Bates – tenor sax, flute & clarinet

  Paul Harris  – piano

  Paul Morgan – double bass

  Jeff Lardner – drums

  Simon Bates Professor of Saxophone for the Royal Marines, Simon is known and respected for his stylistic versatility and instrumental prowess. He is in great demand on the London session scene – his playing features on countless adverts, film scores, television shows, theme tunes and pop recordings. Simon has appeared live and recorded with a wide variety of bands and musicians including Jamie Cullum, Lulu, Rick Wakeman, Chaka Khan, Seal, Rick Astley and Bette Midler. Frequent TV appearances include The Paul O’Grady Show, Parkinson and Johnny Vaughan Tonight. He has performed around the world in a wide variety of settings from the O2 Arena and Eiffel Tower to Ronnie Scott’s and the Albert Hall; and as a guest soloist with many large ensembles including the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

   

  Paul ‘Harry the Piano’ Harris began by studying the classics but has also been involved in jazz and cabaret all his life.  He has accompanied almost everybody in the business from David Bowie, Gloria Estefan to Beau Bridges & Will Smith!  His first UK job was in London’s famous Groucho club – the hangout of every major celebrity and film-star in town. Since then Harry’s career has blossomed – he had his own show on BBC Radio, was the resident pianist on Channel 4’s ‘Big Breakfast’ for 5 years and then co-ran the band with Simon on BBC 1’s ‘Johnny Vaughan Tonight’ for 3 series. His solo show has been seen on 6 continents, was recently chosen from literally hundreds of acts to star on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary 2 sharing the bill with Shirley Bassey. Harry was a regular on the BBC’s ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ and has featured with tenor Andrea Bocelli.

   

  Jeff Lardner is a professional drummer for over 30 years and has played, recorded and toured with some of the world’s foremost musicians and singers including Van Morrison, Kylie Minogue, Natalie Cole, Bobby Womack, Gregory Porter, Bette Midler, Mavis Staples, Joss Stone, Mick Hucknall, Georgie Fame, Steve Winwood, Mark Knopfler, Tony Hadley, Rick Astley, Ute Lemper, The Three Degrees, The Drifters, BBC Big Band, Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Bert Kaempfert Orchestra, Back To Basie Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Charlie Byrd, Spike Robinson, Don Lusher, Des O’Conner, Vince Hill, Alexander Armstrong and Helen Shapiro.

  Bassist Paul Morgan has worked, and continues to work, with all types of groups and big bands. He joined the Don Lusher Big Band in 1986 and continued to work with this band up to Don’s demise. He grew up accompanying many visiting American and other international artists at Ronnie Scott’s Club, the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, Southampton, and many clubs and concert halls around the world. Paul has played bass for musicians such as Zoot Sims, Peggy Lee, Ronnie Scott, and many other artists.