Fête - Jazz Night / Simon Hurley Trio

Starts at 7 pm
Show at 8 pm

Special Fête Fringe/Jazz menu

Simon Hurley Trio

Simon is a fluent soloist as well as accompanist, often simultaneously mixing chords, walking bass lines and single note passages. His jazz playing is much inspired by that of Joe Pass and Martin Taylor, who described his playing as ‘Just beautiful’.

This Group will be playing a range of repertoire that spans from the Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie era right up to the present day.

Simon Hurley - Guitarist
Simon first picked up the guitar 30 years ago and, after having been self-taught, decided to embark upon his first formal musical education in 2006. In 2010 he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from Colchester Institute, also being awarded the Centre Prize for Music. It was here that he began to study jazz under the tutelage of session guitarist Andy Watson.

As a freelance musician, he has performed in many musical styles from rock and blues to country, swing and funk in venues and theatres across the South-East, having performed with Heather Peace and Marc Almond.

Simon also performs as a jazz soloist or bandleader in various ensembles and fronts the Simon Hurley Quartet and The Djangoliers who have both performed at the Writtle Jazz Festival. He is a regular member of Simon Brown's 'Back to Birdland' ensemble and recorded the album 'My Favourite Things' with the Crissy Lee Quartet

He is a fluent soloist as well as accompanist and his jazz playing is much inspired by that of Joe Pass and Martin Taylor, who described his playing as ‘Just beautiful’.
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Through his time playing at jazz clubs in the South-East, he has had the pleasure of playing alongside artists such as Simon Spillett, Alan Barnes, Georgina Jackson, Martin Shaw, Brandon Allen, Josh Kemp, Simon Allen, Matt Waies, Martin Speake, Nigel Price, Osian Roberts, Steve Fishwick, Quentin Collins, Roger Beaujolais, Mick Hutton, Digby Fairweather, Jacqui Hicks, Julian Stringle, Dominic Ashworth...

Simon divides his times between teaching, recording, accompanying and performing in and around the Essex area.

In another life he has also been the 5-string banjo player and singer in the Bluegrass quintet ‘The Ragged String Band’ with many high profile appearances to their name including the Maverick Festival, Camp Bestival and Harvest at Jimmy’s Farm (supporting Newton Faulkner and Ed Sheeran).


Zak Barrett
As a saxophonist, Zak has appeared with various artists such as Mick Hucknall, Narada Michael Walden, Bernie Marsden, Ashley Slater (Freak Power), Nick Kershaw, Peter Andre and ‘the Foundations’ and has also supported artists such as Mica Paris and Martha Reeves. As a performing jazz musician, he is a member of "the Fellowship" band which features Renowned guitarist, Guthrie Govan and has performed in various venues and festivals in both Europe and the United States.

Andy Staples
is a regular contributor to the Essex jazz scene and has played with many of the county's excellent musicians. As well as playing live he also writes and records for "Rhythm" magazine and teaches throughout the county.