Keith Nichols and the wonderful music of Fats Waller

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Sunday 9 th July 2017

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

For this lunchtime concert, the outstanding pianist Keith Nichols, with his sextet, capture not only the music of Fats Waller, one of the greatest pianists and composers jazz has ever known, but also the style and personality of the jazz world’s most exuberantly funny entertainer. Fats Waller’s extraordinarily light and flexible touch allowed him to swing as hard as any pianist in his classic James P. Johnson-derived stride manner, with a powerful left hand.

“ I've heard a lot of pianists, but Keith Nichols plays the nearest to my father”

Maurice Waller, Fats Waller’s son

As a composer and improviser, his melodic invention rarely flagged, and he contributed fistfuls of joyous yet paradoxically winsome songs like "Honeysuckle Rose," "Ain't Misbehavin,'" "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now," “ I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter” , “Your Feet’s Too Big” and the extraordinary "Jitterbug Waltz".

Keith Nichols, one of the foremost authorities and an in demand pianist specialising in all older piano styles, returns to Dean Street following several sold out Sunday lunchtime shows to play the music of Fats Waller supported by Andy Moon– trumpet, Trevor Whiting – clarinet & saxophones, Martin Wheatley – guitar, Louis Thomas – double bass & Lizzie Exell – drums