Book a Table in the Moldy Fig - Open for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Dinner

THE GARETH HUGHES SEXTET plays ART BLAKEY

About this event

Member ticket only - £14
Non-members ticket only– £19
Members dining + ticket– £42
Non-members dining + ticket– £47

Over 18s only

Doors Open 7pm

1st Set 8.15pm

with ALAN BARNES, BRUCE ADAMS, DEAN MASSER, JANDRZEG BENAREK, ED HAMSON, GAZ HUGHES

Gaz first came to wider public attention as the original drummer in the Matthew Halsall Band and featured heavily on the early recordings of the Gondwana label. A particular highlight was recording the album “On TheGO”, which won THE BEST JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR -Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards, 2012 and was nominated Best Jazz Album MOBO Awards, 2011. Gaz’s drumming influences include the school of melodic drummers such as Max Roach and Alan Dawson.

He is specifically inspired by drummers that are able to spell out form and melody when they improvise. As a sideman, Gaz has also performed with many UK and international Jazz artists including: Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen, Marshal Allen, Greg Abate, Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams, Mark Nightingale, Digby Fairweather, Tina May, Art Theman, Gilad Atzmon, Julian Stringle, Roy Williams, Enrico Tomasso, John Hallam, Ben Holder, Brian Dee, Dave Newton, Remi Harris, Tim Kliphuis, Dean Masser, Neil Yates, Arun Ghosh, Matthew Halsall, Nat Birchall, Adam Fairhall, James Allsopp, Ivo Neame and Uno Prism. He is also a long standing member of the Tom Kincaid trio.Gaz has had the pleasure ofperforming and recording in many different genres. Pop artists that Gaz has worked with include:Patti Boulaye, Suzi Quatro, Ray Quinn (X Factor), Rick Guard (Platinum selling artist and musical writer), Kristyna Myles(Mobo nominated artist).

Most recently, Gaz has recorded his first album as band leader. The album features the music of the late, great Art Blakey. Recording this music felt like a very easy decision for Gaz as Blakey’s music has been a constant theme throughout his life. The first Jazz album Gaz bought was an Art Blakey Live record and it remains one of his most played and treasured albums. He continually comes back to this album and always finds something newto discover with every listen.The musicians on Gaz’s album feature a line up of some of the most influential musicians in UK Jazz scene today,including the superb talents ofAlan Barnes, Bruce Adams and Dean Masser. Gaz has worked with each of these musicians separately and found them all to be very inspiring and a joy to play with. He knew they would all contribute something very special when the time came to record his own album. A tour is currently being organised for early 2020 to support the release of the album.As well as performing and recording, Gaz’s teaching commitments include Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University