This Band is definitely for those people who enjoy the music of the Blue  Note era, that period just after the bebop revolution when Horace Silver, Clifford Brown et al were writing some of the best jazz themes ever. Geoff Mason (Ronnie Scott’s Big Band,Chris Smith’s String of Pearls)on trombone a long standing admirer of J.J.Johnson is partnered by Roland Lacey(Bobby Shew Quintet,Slim Gaillard Band), a very popular tenor saxophonist and flautist with a great insight into the music. Formed in 2002, the Quintet is building up a considerable reputation as fine exponents of Blue note era jazz. The Band has appeared at the Watermill Jazz club, The Bull’s Head Barnes, Ealing jazz Festival, “Jazz in the Park” at Regents Park and The Scarborough jazz festival. The Band toured the UK in 2004 with help from Jazzservices and their Album was featured on BBC Radio 2’s “Best of Jazz”

The group includes three leading lights of  British Jazz, Alan Berry on piano and Trevor Tomkins on drums. Completing the top class rhythm section is Val Mannix, Bass,  he arrived in the UK in 1970 from Sri Lanka. And is very sought after, both as a Jazz soloist and a section player.

Top quality UK bop from Geoff and Roland,small band teamwork at its finest

(Keith Ames,Musician Magazine)

Fine proponents of Blue Note era swing

(London Evening Stantard)