Spice Jazz Soho Presents: Chris Rand’s The Gathering

After 25 years of solid jazz promoting in the basement bar at The Spice of Life Soho, nurturing upcoming talents as well as established masters of the music, the SpiceJazz Team (Tara Minton, Clement Regert and Paul Pace) are excited to relocate their acclaimed operation to the well-appointed and stylish music room of Crazy Coqs.

A multi-instrumentalist and composer, Chris Rand’s affinity with the saxophone is the driving force behind his music. His second album under his own ‘Gathering: Rebound’ released on Lunaria Records; encapsulating the warm conviviality of a late night jazz club, it is an exploration of the contrasting musical influences which have shaped his sound.

Line-up:
Chris Rand – saxes
Rob Updegraff – guitar
Andrew Noble – organ
Jason Reeve – drums

A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music, Chris has performed and recorded with many of the UK’s top Jazz and Blues artists, including names such as Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Dennis Chambers, Mick Taylor and Jools Holland. He has been part of the Bad Manners cohort, as well as touring with The James Hunter Six, Nine Below Zero, Tankus The Henge, Crowd Company, The Ben Waters Band, and Squeeze.

Pursuing his passion for creating original music, Chris formed his own band in 2016 and released his debut album ‘Gathering’, featuring special guests Derek Nash, Dave Green and Ben Waters. Since then, in addition to his own projects, he has collaborated with many bands, contributing both dynamically on stage and artistically behind the scenes.

Chris has been touring worldwide now for 15 years. Across the UK, he has performed in venues such as Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Jazz Club; The Albert Hall, O2 Indigo; The 100 Club and Shepherd’s Bush Empire. He has played both local and international festivals including Glastonbury and London Jazz.

He is a Sax player with a sound that packs a punch. The unswerving dedication, energy and commitment of his playing is gaining huge ground; he’s a wanted man with heavy weight credentials.

“A true musician’, musician” – Blues & Soul Magazine
“A self-confessed Rock ’n’ Roller’ who flirts with Jazz” – Jazzwise Magazine
“engaging listening and a thoroughbred” – Jazz Views