Mornington Lockett with special guest Henry Lowther
“Saxophonist Mornington Lockett must be one of the most complete masters of the instrument alive today”
Observer
The first person in the UK to gain a degree qualification for jazz saxophone (1983), saxophonist, composer and teacher Mornington Lockett joined the Jim Mullen Quartet in 1989, leading to an invitation to join the Ronnie Scott Quintet in 1990, with whom he toured the world for 5 years. There then followed work with a host of high profile International artists, including Jimmy Smith, Arturo Sandoval, Jon Hendricks, Georgie Fame and Jack DeJohnette. Between 2000 and 2010 Mornington was busy working and recording with the late Martin Drew (Ronnie Scott) with their co-led group “New Jazz Couriers”, releasing four critically acclaimed albums and winning the 2002 British Jazz Award for Best Small Group. He was also an integral part of legendary British pianist and composer Stan Tracey's various bands for more than 15 years. Mornington's fluent, creative and powerful post-bop playing is probably best known at the Club these days for his regular appearances with the brilliant late UK saxophonist Peter King, with whom he performed at the Club for over a decade. And if all that wasn’t enough, we have invited a Special Guest, trumpeter Henry Lowther, to join the band for this evening's performance. One of the UK's finest and most respected jazz trumpet players, over the last 50 years Henry has performed with the likes of John Dankworth, Keef Hartley Band (Woodstock,1969), Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Stan Tracey and Elton John and was a member of the Peter King quintet throughout the 1980's. Making up the rest of the band will be Mornington’s regular rhythm section of Geoff Gascoyne-bass and Mark Fletcher-drums, along with Gareth Williams (Claire Martin, Us3) on piano.
"One of the country's most accomplished...improvisers" Time Out; "Saxophonist Mornington Lockett must be one of the most complete masters of the instrument alive today." The Observer; “World class” Jazz Journal; “Lockett…plays with tremendous fluency and drive” Evening Standard; “Henry Lowther…smooth perfection” Guardian