Burrough Jazz presents The Brandon Allen Quartet

Born in Perth, Australia, but having made London his home for nearly twenty years, Allen's resume is as formidable as those of his heroes: head of The Brandon Allen Quartet, The Brandon Allen Band, The Brandon Allen Sextet, Double Whisky Amnesia and one-half of QCBA with trumpeter Quentin Collins, Allen has also lent his talents to projects by The Kyle Eastwood Band, Omar, Soweto Kinch, Reel People and Paloma Faith amongst many others. He has performed with scores of leading musicians including Eric Clapton, Paloma Faith, Kyle Eastwood, Mica Paris, Jools Holland, Gary Barlow, Neil Diamond, and has opened for artistes including Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Steve Gadd, BB King, George Benson, The Yellow Jackets, Mark Guiliana, Dave Douglas, Georgie Fame, Kurt Elling and many others...he has extensive international touring/recording experience as a saxophonist, improviser and bandleader.

Allen has also been prolific as a composer and arranger, writing for his own groups as well as other musical ensembles and artistes for the past 25 years. He has composed and orchestrated music for big band, strings, large orchestras and for many other diverse musical settings and genres. He composes music for Film, TV and other media platforms, and his distinctive saxophone sound has been featured on film soundtracks including ‘Alfie’ (2004) and 'The Look of Love' (2013).

“Brandon Allen is arguably the most exciting tenor player in Britain today. His playing is unashamedly emotional, soaked in the blues tradition”. Jazzwise

‘Allen proves himself to be a giant of the instrument on the exquisite title and ballad "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" and to my mind, he channels the great Charlie Rouse. What's apparent about this project is that it highlights Allen's versatility whether it be the early soul inflected R&B ballad of 'Ben' or the piercing chromatic blues on the soul jazz zip of "The Black Cat"’. Blues and Soul Magazine

Tim Lapthorn is an English jazz pianist. Born in Newmarket 1976 and raised in Cambridge, Tim initially studied French and philosophy at Leeds University and then decided to change paths, completing a jazz diploma at Guildhall School of Music in 2000 where he studied with Simon Purcell, Nikki Iles and Pete Churchill.

Since graduating Tim has lived and worked in London as a performer, composer and teacher. He leads his own trio with Arnie Somogyi and Stephen Keogh and also plays piano in groups led by singer Ian Shaw and saxophonist Brandon Allen.

Tim's many influences include Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk and Stevie Wonder. His favourite contemporary pianist is Fred Hersch.

Jeremy graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1994 and went on to work in Peter King's quartet and pianist Julian Joseph's trio.

Since then Jeremy has become much in demand in the UK and Europe as a backing soloists such as Charles Mcpherson, Deborah Brown and Curtis Stigers and working as the regular member of many groups including Blue Note Artist Stacey Kent, the BBC Big Band and the Anita Wardell quartet.

Jeremy is also part of a team of musicians playing under the baton of conductor John Wilson recreating the sound of the MGM years.

Canopus artist and English native Chris Higginbottom is commonly known as one of the U.K.’s top drummers and he has been playing professionally for over 20 years. Although an overtly accomplished drummer, Higginbottom actually began playing piano at age 7 and after a brief stint in choir he began playing drums at the age of 11. Subsequently, Chris graduated with First Class Honors from the Royal Academy of Music (London) in 2000 and he then moved to New York City in 2002 where he spent several years honing his craft performing with the likes of Seamus Blake, Aaron Parks, Mark Murphy, Brendan James, and Will Vinson, to name a few.

Returning to London, Chris became the house drummer at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London in 2012, and more recently he has steadily performed with Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, which has included regular tours of U.K. theatres as well as recurring international gigs including Zermatt Unplugged (Switzerland) and The Jazz Cruise (Caribbean). Additionally, Higginbottom has also been a member of, and toured internationally with, The Kyle Eastwood band since 2015 and he has played on the group’s last two albums; In Transit and Cinematic.

Higginbottom’s impressive body of work also includes performances and/or recording sessions with such well known artists as Van Morrison, Roy Ayers, The BBC Big Band, Westlife, Marti Pellow, Georgie Fame, Carleen Anderson, The James Taylor Quartet, Lisa Stansfield, Gabrielle, and, Omar. Complimenting that resume Higginbottom has also performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world including The Blue Note clubs in Tokyo and Beijing, Birdland in New York, the House of Blues in Chicago, and, The Roxy in Los Angeles, as well as performances at The Montreal Jazz Festival, The Marciac Jazz Festival, and countless others.

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