Music: Hugh Pascall Quintet

Hugh Pascall’s quintet are becoming recognised as one of the finest straight-ahead jazz groups currently working in the UK, with performances at venues such as Pizza Express [Soho], Peggy’s Skylight, and Scott’s [Belfast] behind them.

They last visited us in June 2023 and produced an outstanding gig. Hugh returns to present new music from his forthcoming second album Viewfinder, alongside music from his 2022 debut album Borderlands. Influenced by musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter and Tom Harrell, Hugh’s music is a lyrical, vibrant and modern approach to post-bop jazz; melodic, swinging and modal explorations are complimented by atmospheric and expressive ballads rich in harmony and character. An award-winning trumpeter and composer, Hugh studied at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Paris Conservatoire, graduating with a 1st class BMus in Jazz and LRAM diploma. In February 2023 he was elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) by the Academy’s honours committee, in recognition of a significant contribution in his field.

“An outstanding soloist” – London Jazz News, “Exemplary hard bop” – Jazz Journal

Saxophonist James Allsopp received the BBC Jazz Award for innovation and a Ronnie Scott Jazz Award for his first album in 2008. As well as working with his own projects he has played as a sideman for Dr John, The Last Poets, Django Bates, Polar Bear and Jamie Cullum amongst others. Alongside performing he teaches both saxophone and clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Pianist Liam Dunachie has performed with the London Jazz Orchestra at the Vortex Jazz Club and appeared with many different groups and artists at prestigious venues in London including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, The Savoy Hotel, The Arts Club and The Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room. He also plays Hammond organ, and has worked with artists such as Jim Mullen, Henry Lowther, Nigel Price and Simon Spillett.

Oli Hayhurst has been one of the busiest bass players on the UK jazz scene since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2000. He first gained national recognition working with Gilad Atzmon and Irish folk singer Cara Dillon. He was a founder member of Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble, playing on their first two albums. In 2006 he was featured on Zoe Rahman’s Mercury nominated album, ‘Melting Pot’ which also won the Best Album award in the 2006 parliamentary jazz awards. He continued to play with Zoe Rahman until 2011 playing at festivals throughout Europe and recording a further three albums. This was the first of frequent pairings with drummer Gene Calderazzo which have been continued in the bands of Julian Siegel and the legendary Pharoah Sanders. As a regular member of Pharoah Sanders’ quartet for European dates since 2012 Oli played with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Dan Tepfer, Joe Farnsworth and William Henderson.

Drummer Jay Davis has performed throughout the UK, Europe and Asia at festivals and venues including Umbria Jazz Festival, Jimmy Glass (Valencia), Jazzwerkstatt (Graz), Bimhuis (Amsterdam). He has previously appeared at the club with Matt Anderson and Dominic Ingham, and appears on the Alex Hitchcock Quintet CD All Good Things.