Alex Clarke Quartet
Schedule
Sat Mar 21 2026 at 07:30 pm to 10:30 pm
UTC+00:00Location
Verdict Jazz | Brighton, EN
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Performing with her stellar quartet — featuring some of the finest names in British jazz — audiences can expect an evening of fiery straight-ahead jazz, innovative arrangements, and thrilling interplay.★★★★ — Jazzwise
‘Out of the Woods’ — 2026 Album Tour
Touring in 2026, Alex Clarke presents her latest album, Out of the Woods, celebrating the legacy of alto saxophonist Phil Woods. Featuring fresh reworkings of both classic and lesser-known Woods repertoire, alongside original compositions inspired by his distinctive sound, this exciting project showcases Alex’s deep connection to the bebop tradition.
Performing with her stellar quartet — featuring some of the finest names in British jazz — audiences can expect an evening of fiery straight-ahead jazz, innovative arrangements, and thrilling interplay.
★★★★ — Jazzwise
"It’s easy to see why Clarke has become such a popular figure with British jazz audiences" — Ian Mann
"Small group jazz of the highest quality and unreservedly recommended" — Jazz Views
As a finalist in BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards, and a three-time nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Alex Clarke is widely recognised as one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists to emerge on the British jazz scene.
Praised for her intelligent ear for harmony and deep knowledge of repertoire across a broad spectrum of styles, Alex’s sound is steeped in the tradition of bebop. Her respect for the heritage of the music is heard in a fiery, melodic approach inspired by Phil Woods, Sonny Stitt, and Cannonball Adderley.
As a bandleader, Alex leads her quartet featuring some of the UK’s finest musicians: David Newton (piano), Dave Green (bass), and Steve Brown (drums). In Autumn 2025, she released her latest album, Out of the Woods, celebrating the legacy of alto saxophonist Phil Woods. The quartet has toured extensively, appearing at leading clubs, theatres, and festivals including Swanage Jazz Festival, PizzaExpress Jazz Club Soho, and Scarborough Jazz Festival.
Alongside her work as a leader, Alex performs with many of the UK’s most respected jazz artists including Alan Barnes, Alex Garnett, Mark Nightingale, Bruce Adams, and Art Themen, and regularly works with prestigious larger ensembles such as The Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, the Simon Spillett Big Band, and Down for the Count.
As a session musician, Alex has recorded for numerous projects ranging from folk to Northern Soul, including sessions at Abbey Road Studios. In musical theatre, she held the woodwind chair on the 2024 UK & Ireland tour of 101 Dalmatians.
As an educator, Alex worked in the Music Department at Warwick School for three years and has tutored for organisations including the National Youth Jazz Collective and the Royal Northern College of Music, delivering workshops, summer schools, and saxophone days across the country.
Alex is proud to be an official Vandoren Artist, using Vandoren reeds and accessories across all horns.
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Where is it happening?
Verdict Jazz, 159 Edward Street,Brighton and Hove, Brighton, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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