Martin Speake’s Charukesi at Jazz at Progress, Reading, Berkshire.

Date: Friday, January 29, 2027

Featuring: Martin Speake

More details

From;
https://www.jazzinreading.com/

Jazz at Progress | Martin Speake’s Charukesi | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 29 January 2027 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00, £18.00 concessions, £10 under 16 plus 3.5% booking fee.
Martin Speake alto saxophone | Alyson Cawley tenor saxophone | Mike Outram guitar | Richard Fox tuba | Tom Hooper drums.
For 30 years alto saxophonist, composer and improviser Martin Speake has been exploring non-Western rhythmic and melodic approaches inspired by the music of many cultures. In particular Indian, Arabic, Turkish, African and Jazz traditions.
The latest incarnation is Charukesi, named after an Indian raga. It is direct, groove-based music with compelling and memorable melodies rooted in a dynamic tuba and drums rhythm section with impassioned soloing and interaction from Alyson Cawley’s tenor, Mike Outram’s guitar and Martin’s alto saxophone.
“Martin Speake is one of the most interesting and rewarding alto saxophonists now playing jazz on any continent.” – Thomas Conrad (Jazz Times)
“Speake is a strikingly talented improviser with a seemingly bottomless well of inspiration.” – Encyclopaedia of Popular Music

Progress Theatre
progress theatre - jazz in reading
http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk | The Mount, Off Christchurch Road, Reading RG1 5HL
Bar at all gigs from 7:00pm. Drinks may be taken into the auditorium during performances.
Progress Theatre is a self-governing, self-funding theatre group founded in 1947, maintained by volunteers. The Theatre itself is an intimate 95-seat venue. It is the oldest operating theatre in Reading and has a fully licensed bar. There is wheelchair access to the Theatre with a space for disabled patrons. In 2011 Sir Kenneth Branagh became the Patron to Progress Theatre.