Billy Cobham Band, Support 18/19: Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 5 band, Support (16/17) Emily Remembered: Deirdre Cartwright and Kathy Dyson Wednesday 16th February - Saturday 19th February

Billy Cobham – drums, Jean-Marie Ecray – guitar, Christophe Cravero – keys/violin, Kevin Reveyrand – bass, Camelia Ben Naceur – keys, Junior Gill – steel pans

Buying jazz tickets in London this month just got bigger with the return of legendary drummer Billy Cobham on his Palindrome 2012 tour.

The legendary drummer, with his matchless, dazzling, ambidextrous skills has applied the same insistent fervor to his long list of monumental achievements. He’s an accomplished composer and record producer.

It is a rarely known fact that he was at the forefront of the electronic music industry and its development through Jazz. He was one of the first percussionists, along with Max Roach and Tony Williams to utilize the Electronic Drum Controller made in 1968 by the Meazzi Drum Company in Milano, Italy, while on concert tour with Horace Silver in Europe. He is one of the few Percussionists, specializing in the Jazz drum set to lead his own band. The award winning Cobham has custom designed trend setting acoustic and electronic drum sets and has endorsed products that he created and refined.

Performing soon at Ronnie Scott’s, Cobham will enjoy speedy ticket sales and we recommend our guests book early to buy some of the best jazz tickets in London this year.

Support all 4 nights from Arnie Somogyi's Ambulance

Described as 'five of the UK's most exciting jazz musicians' Arnie Somogyi’s improvisational vehicle, Ambulance, features the innovative talents of saxophonists Paul Booth and Rob Townsend, pianist Tim Lapthorn and drummer Dave Smith.

Self-styled “specialists in musical accident and insurgency”, the band first created a stir at its launch  as a quartet in November 2004 at Ronnie Scott’s Club in Soho, later returning to similar acclaim in July 2005 opposite American vocalist Diane Schuur, and catching the ear of The Guardian’s John Fordham.

‘Over two intense sets, the six musicians make an overwhelming case for jazz that is visceral, intellectual and disciplined, while wowing an audience of musicians, fans, hacks and punters.’

The Guardian - **** Live Review @ Ronnie Scott’s

In 2006 the band was the first-ever jazz group to be awarded a creative development residency at the prestigious Snape Maltings venue and music centre in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Joined during the two-week residency by the band's fifth member - sax player and laptop sound artist Rob Townsend - and inspired by beautiful Suffolk coastlines, fresh fish and Adnams beer, they created a whole new repertoire of original, inventive material - from samples of Maggi Hamblin's Scallop Sculpture on the shingle beach, to the living legend of Captain Courageous. This was followed by a UK tour, featuring US trumpet legend, Eddie Henderson.

"Hip as hell"

- Jazzwise

The subsequent CD, 'Accident and Insurgency', was released on Linn Records in January 2008, and supported by another UK tour, again as a sextet with Eddie Henderson, which included leading Southport Jazz Festival and a headline slot at Ronnie Scott's. This was followed by appearances at Cheltenham, Glasgow and Brecon International Jazz Festivals.

The tour and CD attracted significant critical acclaim, including 4 **** reviews in The Guardian, The Times, BBC Music Magazine, Jazzwise and The Scotsman; and was featured Gig of the Week and Critic's Choice in Time Out. The band was also cover feature in Jazz UK and Jazzwise magazines.

On the strength of the CD, and renowned for their exciting and unpredictable live performances, Ambulance were nominated as Jazz Ensemble of the Year, 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Accident and Insurgency was nominated CD of The Year at the 2008 BBC Jazz  Awards.