Morley Big Band: Celebrating Hank Mobley with Guy Barker and Jean Toussaint
About this Event
An extraordinary evening honouring the legendary Hank Mobley, featuring brand-new arrangements written exclusively for the Morley Big Band and Jazz Orchestra by the acclaimed Guy Barker. Jazz legend Jean Toussaint joins both ensembles on saxophone for what promises to be a very special night of music.
A Celebration of Hank Mobley Morley College Big Band: conductor Flavio Li Vigni on Friday 26 June 2026
This is a very special evening for Morley College and its Big Band.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Hank Mobley's untimely passing, commissioned by a member of the Morley Big Band in association with Morley College, the celebrated composer and trumpeter Guy Barker has written ten stunning new arrangements in Mobley's honour a suite that captures the beauty, swing, and soul he left behind, and a fitting tribute to one of the most distinctive and lyrical voices in jazz history. Mobley's warm tone, melodic intelligence, and deep swing made him a giant among musicians, yet he never quite received the wider recognition he deserved in his lifetime. This concert is a joyful and heartfelt effort to put that right.
A founding member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, considered alongside Miles Davis's bands as one of the most important groups in jazz history, and a launchpad for some of the greatest names the music has ever produced, Mobley helped shape the sound of a generation. That spirit lives on in this performance through the presence of a very special guest: the extraordinary saxophonist Jean Toussaint, himself a celebrated member of the Jazz Messengers, who brings a direct and living connection to that great lineage.
Two jazz legends. Ten world premieres. One unforgettable night.
The Morley College Big Band is honoured to welcome Guy Barker and Jean Toussaint to the stage and cannot wait to share this music with you.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 11.55
