Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire -  Programme 2026 - 2027.

Monday, July 13, 2026

Jazz at Progress has announced its programme for September 2026 to March 2027. Events take place at the Progress Theatre, Reading. Fully detailed schedule attached.

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

Jazz at Progress | Five-Way Split | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 18 September 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00, £18.00 concessions, £10 under 16 plus 3.5% booking fee.
Vasilis Xenopoulos sax | Quentin Collins trumpet, flugelhorn Rob Barron piano | Matyas Hofecker bass | Matt Home drums
We start the new season with the fantastic Five-Way Split, featuring their 2026 album, “Modus Operandi”. The band has been playing together since 2020 and as is the case with jazz musicians, they have developed the understanding that makes a brilliant experience for us jazz fans. May 2024 was the last time at Progress and Trevor Bannister’s review of the gig ended; “The band launched into a blues. It was ‘All hands to the pumps’ as the excitement mounted for the grand finale – blistering solos, high speed exchanges, dramatic top notes … still the audience called ‘more!”. Nothing less is anticipated in 2026.
The new album contains original compositions from Rob Barron, Quentin Collins and Vasilis Xenopoulos alongside arrangements of tunes by Henry Mancini, Jimmy Van Heusen. Most compositions are of the rousing “hard bop” variety, if one has to use such terms. However, whatever term you use, a guaranteed night of great jazz is assured.
A final quote from The Jazzmann who attended the band’s London Jazz Festival gig in November 2025, when they played tunes from the yet to be released “Modus Operandi”.
“This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, the quality of the playing and the enthusiasm of the audience combining to create an unforgettable atmosphere”.

Jazz at Progress: Olie Brice Quartet | Reading | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 23 October 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00, £18.00 concessions, £10 under 16 plus 3.5% booking fee.
Alexander Hawkins piano, Rachel Musson tenor sax, Olie Brice bass, Will Glaser drums |
The Olie Brice Quartet play music from their 2025 debut album ‘All It Was’. Brice’s most personal album to date – with most of the music written shortly after the death of his father – ‘All It Was’ combines powerful freedom and exploration with memorable melodies, driving swing and emotional intensity.
The quartet features three of Brice’s closest colleagues, all among the most exciting and creative improvisers around; Alexander Hawkins on piano, Rachel Musson on tenor sax and Will Glaser on drums. Alex is recognised as one of the most important improvisers and composers of his generation, leading his own bands as well as working with the likes of the late Louis Moholo, Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton and Wadada Leo Smith. Rachel recently received the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award, and collaborates with Mark Sanders, Pat Thomas and Cath Roberts among others and Will is possibly the most in-demand young drummer in the UK, working widely in both the jazz and creative music scenes.
“The work of a truly extraordinary quartet. All It Was will be one of the records of the year” – Richard Williams, The Blue Moment
“With this album, Olie Brice achieves a remarkable synthesis of composition and improvisation, intellect and emotion—reaffirming his place as one of the most versatile and compelling voices in contemporary creative music” – All About Jazz

Jazz at Progress | Nick Tomalin’s ‘Shades of Shearing’ Quintet |  Tickets on sale soon
Friday 27 November 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00, £18.00 concessions, £10 under 16 plus 3.5% booking fee.
Nick Tomalin formed his ‘Shades of Shearing’ Quintet in 2021 to celebrate the remarkable musical legacy of iconic British-born, blind-from-birth, jazz pianist George Shearing. The band features the same line-up as his classic quintet which captured the imagination of fans world-wide with hit recordings like ‘September in the Rain’, ‘Conception’ and ‘Lullaby of Birdland’.
As a Guildhall School of Music student in 1994, Nick enjoyed the thrilling opportunity to feature in a televised masterclass with George Shearing himself.
Nick has been working as a professional jazz pianist in London for nearly thirty years. His tasteful bebop-inspired piano style has made him a regular on the London scene and he’s worked with some of the biggest names in UK jazz including Jim Mullen, Mark Lockheart, Alan Barnes, Stan Sulzman among many others.
“Well worth checking out, especially if you’re a Shearing fan. If you’re not, I guarantee you soon will be!” –  Lance Liddle (Bebop Spoken Here)

Jazz at Progress | The Songs of Satchmo and Sinatra | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 18 December 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00, £18.00 concessions, £10 under 16 plus 3.5% booking fee.
Denny Ilett vocal and guitar | Enrico Tomasso trumpet and vocal Colin Good piano | Stuart Barker bass | Sebastiaan de Krom drums
The Songs Of Satchmo and Sinatra is an intimate, heartwarming celebration of two musical legends who shaped the golden age of jazz and swing : Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong.
Denny Ilett is a self-confessed ‘Sinatraphile’ who has performed his personal take on the music of Frank Sinatra at festivals and clubs across the UK, Europe, the US and Australia.
Enrico Tomasso is an acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist who was personally mentored by Louis Armstrong in the late 1960s. From the great man, Enrico learned lessons that he continues to bring to every performance.
Together, they present the timeless hits of Frank and Louis backed by a world class rhythm section featuring Colin Good (piano) Stuart Barker (bass) and Sebastiaan de Krom (drums)

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

Fri 19 Feb 2027 – Coltrane and Hartman on Impulse!
Mark Lockheart sax, Marvin Muoneké vocals, Gary Crosby bass, Alex Webb piano, Alfonso Vitale drums
Information soon

Jazz at Progress | Jazz at Progress | Benn Clatworthy Quartet | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 19 March 2027 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00, £18.00 concessions, £10 under 16 plus 3.5% booking fee.
Benn Clatworthy tenor sax | Alex Hutton piano | Simon Thorpe bass | Matt Home drums
Benn was active in the London Music Scene in the 1970’s and was a protégé of Ronnie Scott. He moved to L.A. California in 1980 where he is now based. He was recommended for Horace Silver’s band and recordings followed. Having skills as a multi-instrumentalist (tenor, alto, baritone sax, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet) he has carved a career in the L.A music scene. He has worked with a huge array of class A musicians from the LA Philharmonic Orchestra to Cab Calloway. However, his main passion is playing Tenor Sax in a quartet setting – and his approach is unique. Playing from the songbook of Blue Note and more contemporary jazz, his tone is extraordinarily beautiful, and his melodic ideas come from the heart. As someone said recently ‘It’s as though he’s talking to us and telling us a story through the saxophone!’
Benn is joined by Alex Hutton (piano), Simon Thorpe (bass) and Matt Home (drums).
Alex Hutton is an established pianist on the London Jazz scene. Over the past 10 years, he has worked with most of the leading figures including Jim Mullen, Pete King and more. He began playing piano at the age of five. After completing a BA Hons degree in American studies, he turned his focus fully to jazz piano – winning praise from the late Ronnie Scott.
Simon Thorpe has worked with many of the great UK and US names in jazz, recording and touring. Outside the jazz sphere he has played with artists as diverse as Amy Winehouse, Imelda Staunton, Alexander Armstrong, Mica Paris, Sean McGowan, Rick Astley and more. He writes the music arrangements for Mitch Winehouse’s 7-piece band and he has also been a composer. Simon has written music for theatre, jazz ensembles, BBC TV and BAFTA award winning short film Wedding Espresso.
Matt Home was born in West Yorkshire. He started playing drums at the age of eight. After taking private lessons, he enrolled on a course in Jazz and popular music, graduating in 1994. He soon began playing professionally in Leeds, before moving to London. Matt has played with many of the leading musicians in London, UK and Europe including Alan Barnes, Jim Mullen and more. He has played with many US artists and has played in clubs, theatres and jazz festivals.

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.