JCUK presents Martin Speake and Colin Oxley

Martin Speake has been a professional musician for some 40 years. He first came to prominence in 1986 with the saxophone quartet Itchy Fingers, touring the world with them for two years. In 1988 he has embarked on a solo career and has been a prolific writer and recording artist. Speake’s music is difficult to categorise as he has many influences and he has worked in many contexts including straight ahead, Indian/Arab music, free improvisation, improvising on Bartok themes, and much original music. 

Colin Oxley draws on a vast experience of musical settings which include a long-standing association with Stacey Kent. "I heard contemporary players like Pat Metheny and John Scofield first, but I quickly discovered their heroes, Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery. Jim and Wes are my two main inspirations, I think. Jim Hall is my main influence. He seemed to both define and transcend the instrument. His music has a strong emotional effect on me and this is what I’m really looking for."

Two of Britain’s finest jazz musicians, alto saxophonist Martin Speake and guitarist Colin Oxley perform the music composed or associated with Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Lester Young, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Lee Konitz, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Kenny Wheeler, Ornette Coleman and others. Alongside these compositions by the greatest innovators will be versions of songs by some of the influential songwriters of the 20th century such as Jimmy Van Heusen, Cole Porter, Johnny Green, Irving Berlin, Victor Young and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

The intimacy of the duo allows for close improvised interplay that is melodic, lyrical and infused with a harmonic richness. The result is a performance of unique, personal interpretations of some of the greatest music in the jazz repertoire.