Roll up for Rollins (From Gazette Series)

Roll up for Rollins

A JAZZ extravaganza is all set to take place at Wotton Town Hall on Saturday, January 28 and people will be flocking from miles around to enjoy the experience.

Hailed as the foremost jazz-funk trombonist in the world today and a genuine star, musician Dennis Rollins will be the big attraction of the evening.

He has toured and recorded with many prestigious musicians and bands, including Jamiroquai, Cypress Hill, Brand New Heavies, Blur, Tom Jones, Erykah Badu, Courtney Pine, Sting, Gorillaz, Lonnie Liston Smith, George Clinton and Baaba Maal.

To find out more about Dennis, go to www.dennisrollins.com

Local people will also be able to share the treat of seeing young musicians they know playing music on stage with Dennis Rollins.

During the afternoon, he will be running two workshops for 11 to 18-year-old instrumentalists and singers of all standards, many of whom are members of the Groove Project run by Katie Elliott and Under The Edge Arts.

The workshops run from 1-2.30pm and 3-4.30pm and there will be the opportunity to learn a new tune, work on improvisation and prepare the performance for the evening Jazz Extravaganza. Participants will be entitled to a concessionary ticket at the evening event.

In the evening (doors open at 7.30pm), Dennis Rollins will be playing with the house band: Katie Elliott (flutes), Anders Olinder (keyboards), Martin Harvey (double bass) and Tony Orrell (drums).

The extravaganza will be partly a gig and partly a jam session.

The last part of the evening will turn into a session where musicians from all around the area are invited to come and sit-in. For those wishing to play, booking is essential. For those wishing to come simply to listen, booking is strongly advised.

Katie Elliott said: "Under The Edge Jazz Club is very proud to present this event, and as at all our events families are welcome, there is always a friendly atmosphere and there will be a bar."

For further information and to book contact Katie Elliott on 01453 845705, 07790 635378 or e-mail katie@thegrooveproject.co.uk