Top Row Left to Right: Vasilis Xanopoulos, Nete Robinson, Tony Kinsey, Tony Woods Second Row: Kate Williams, Pete Hurt, Chris Biscoe, Flo Moore Third Row: Dave Jones, Jimmy Hastings, Emily Saunders, Tim Whitehead Last Row: Mick Sexton, Tom Millar, Matt Wates, Gary Willcox,

The  Way Out West Wednesday musician-led gig series has become one of the cornerstones of the London jazz scene. It has been in existence for ten years, and now in its third venue at the Bulls Head in Barnes.

CHRIS BISCOE has been an active member of the collective from the start. Not only has he run his own gigs across a range of styles, he has also given consistent time and effort behind the scenes. Here, Chris writes about the current tenth anniversary series: 

Way Out West is a west London based collective of jazz musicians, composers and bandleaders. Founded by Tim Whitehead in 2004, with a membership including Kate Williams, Stan Sulzmann, Tony Woods, Nette Robinson, Chris Biscoe, Tony Kinsey and the late Eddie Harvey, The membership has grown to 16, More than 200 musicians have taken part in gigs. Just a selection from the many saxophone players who have appeared for us gives a clue to the strength and diversity of our promotions: Bobby Wellins, Ingrid Laubrock, Evan Parker, Tony Kofi, Sir John Dankworth, Alan Barnes, Karen Sharp, Don Weller.

In October Way Out West celebrates 10 years of promoting jazz concerts in west London. In more than 400 concerts it has presented music from mainstream through bebop, cool, Latin, free jazz and improv, fusion and contemporary sounds, reflecting the wide-ranging interests of the members no less than our uniquely diverse membership, ranging in age from 21 to 85.

We started at the Bull’s Head, Barnes on October 8th with a celebration of the music of Eddie Harvey, one of the founder members of Way Out West. There are weekly gigs at the Bull plus two concerts at the Café Posk in Hammersmith. Current.  Past members including Tim Whitehead, Emily Saunders and Larry Bartley play new original compositions, and the collective comes together during the London Jazz Festival on November 14th and 19th with a fresh look at music past and present.

WEBSITE: www.wowjazz.org

PROGRAMME:

Wednesday Gigs at The Bull’s Head, 373 Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9PY start 8.30pm

October 8th – A celebration of the music of Eddie Harvey
October 15th – Emily Saunders ESB
October 22nd – Tony Kinsey Quartet
October 29th – Vasilis Xenopoulos
November 5th – Nette Robinson
November 12th – Larry Bartley – Just Us!
November 19th (EFG LJF)– Way Out West Collective re-imagines music from 1959 –
the year the Bull’s Head opened for jazz.

Concerts at Café Posk, 238-246 King Street, London W6 0RF start 8.30pm

October 10th – Tim Whitehead and Cleveland Watkiss – JazzLiveDance
November 14th (EFG LJF) – Way Out West Collective new music for large ensemble – SEE FEATURE BY TIM WHITEHEAD