Spike's Place presents the Tommaso Starace Quartet

Born in Milan, Tommaso Starace came to the UK in 1994 to study at Birmingham and later at the Guildhall School. With 10 albums as a leader to his credit, Tommaso is an outstanding saxophonist who was hailed as 'star material' from his first recording, and brings energy, virtuosity and creativity to every performance. He is a favourite with audiences due not only to his musical abilities but also hos relaxed and witty presentation.

The group this afternoon brings worlds of musical experience. John Turville at the piano studied classical music at Cambridge and the Guildhall, and is now an in demand sideman in a vast variety of contexts. He runs the E17 collective of jazz musicians, and is a successful educator and composer.

Tommaso's compatriot Mirko Scarcia plays bass and has an equally accomplished background in both classical and jazz music. Drummer Rod Youngs hails from washington DC and has a CV that includes some of the greatest names in jazz and other contemporary styles, and is also an established educator. If these four men don't know how to make great jazz, then no-one does...