Close To You & Wee Small Hours

Matt Ford sings intimate Sinatra - Close To You

featuring James Pearson & The Tippett Quartet

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Last Show: Saturday 10 th December 2016

Inspired by Sinatra's legendary collaboration with the Hollywood String Quartet and Produced by drummer Matt Skelton, Close To You features a unique collective of handpicked musicians chosen for their sound and empathy for this extraordinary music. Matt Ford, celebrated soloist with both the John Wilson Orchestra and BBC Big Band joins the internationally acclaimed Tippett Quartet as well as hugely talented trombonist, arranger Callum Au, Ronnie Scott's artistic director James Pearson and other Grammy-nominated jazz instrumentalists.

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“Where else would you hear such distinctive, timeless music tailored with such care yet still sounding fresh?”

Peter Vacher - London Jazz News

Since their 2014 PizzaExpress Jazz Club debut they have delighted audiences at many festivals such as Henley, Thaxted, Cheltenham, Winchester and Aldeburgh at the 2015 Snape Proms.  In 2015 they also presented Close To You at London's Cadogan Hall.  This year sees the ensemble debut our Maidstone venue as well as a return visit to Dean Street with an entirely new programme that will feature adaptations of timeless Sinatra cannon taken from such masterpiece albums as 'In the Wee Small Hours' & 'Only the Lonely' punctuated with bespoke original settings by Callum Au.

Expect to savour a finely balanced evening of lush ballad settings and elegantly swinging re imaginings all in celebration of the art of song.

The celebrated Tippett Quartet has delighted critics and audiences alike with its animated, virtuosic performances and it’s inspired and attractive programming. They have performed at the BBC Proms, Cheltenham Festival, Snape Proms and numerous festivals throughout the UK and abroad, including tours of Europe, Canada and Mexico. The quartet regularly appears at Kings Place, Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Bridgewater Hall and frequently performs on BBC Radio 3.

They are delighted to be collaborating with Matt Ford and the James Pearson Quintet in recreating the 'golden sound' of Hollywood. 

Band Lineup


Matt Ford (vocals)
John Mills (violin)
Jeremy Isaac (violin)
Lydia Lowndes Northcott (viola)
Bozidar Vukotic (cello)
Hugh Webb (harp)
James Pearson (piano)
Callum Au (trombone / bass trumpet)
Howard McGill (saxes & woodwinds)
Jeremy Brown (double bass)
Matt Skelton (drums)