Jonny loves jazz &#8211; catch him at Progress Theatre on Friday

THIS Jonny doesn’t hate jazz – in fact, he loves it so much he’s preparing to share it with you.

Twenty-two-year-old Jonny Mansfield is a recent graduate from the Royal Academy of Music and will be spearheading the new Jazz At Progress theatre next Friday night.

The regular concerts are hugely popular and aim to bring a wide range of jazz genres to the Progress Theatre in Reading.

And he isn’t some Jonny-come-lately: the talented musician is a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and was part of this year’s BBC Proms.

He’s bringing Elftet to Reading, an 11-piece ensemble of emerging jazz talent in a programme of cutting-edge originality.

Next month, on Friday, October 19, alto saxophonist Matt Wates will be leading his sextet with an all-star line up that includes Martin Shaw on trumpet and Leon Greening on piano.

Trumpet master Steve Fishwick will be joining forces with special guest from New York, tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart, to present an evening of straight-ahead swinging jazz on Friday, November 23.

Drum legend Jimmy Cobb, who played with Miles Davis on the legendary album Kind of Blue has described Grant as ‘one of my favourite tenor players’.

Grammy award-winning tenor saxophonist Jean Toussaint, who cut his teeth with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, should get everyone in a celebratory mood for Christmas with an appearance at the Progress Theatre on Friday, December 14.

He will be leading a quintet including the talented pianist Andrew McCormack.

The Spirit of Trane, personified by alto saxophonist Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble, opens the programme for 2019 on Friday, January 18; a reflection upon the enduring influence and beauty of John Coltrane’s music.

Also on the bill for next year:

Tony Kofi’s tribute to Cannonball Adderley on February 22, Henry Lowther’s Still Waters on April 12, Orphy Robinson MBE and the Greg Abate Quartet on May 17, with further gigs in March and June yet to be confirmed.

All these concerts will take place at the Progress Theatre, in The Mount off Christchurch Road and just down the road from Earley.

For more details, and other local gigs, log on to www.jazzinreading.com