The Brandon Allen Groove Band

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Last Show: Friday 24 th March 2023

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Australian/UK saxophonist and composer Brandon Allen’s new groove project. The group performs brand new contemporary jazz/groove compositions as well as fresh interpretations of unheard material from Brandon’s previous funk outfit (Double Whisky Amnesia), rearranged specifically for this lineup. Musical influences include Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Harris, Lalo Schifrin, Tom Scott, David Sanborn, The Brecker Brothers and Vangelis. Expect funky baselines, otherworldly drum grooves, soaring synthesisers and intricate and intoxicating sax/guitar melodies.

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‘…a saxophone heavyweight, at the height of his powers…’

Blues and Soul Magazine

Brandon Allen is one of the UK's most in demand saxophonists, working with a wide variety artists across various genres.
He leads the Brandon Allen Sextet, The Stanley Turrentine Project and the Brandon Allen Groove Band.
The saxophonist with The Kyle Eastwood Band, touring internationally.
Has performed with Eric Clapton, Paloma Faith, Omar Lyefook, Gary Husband, Adam Nussbaum, Stefano Di Battista, Ibrahim Maalouf and numerous others.

Mike Outram is highly regarded as one of the UK's most accomplished and virtuosic guitarists.

Mike has toured and/or recorded with Carleen Anderson, Tim Garland, Chick Corea, Steven Wilson, Nikki Iles, Herbie Mann, The Cinematic Orchestra, Laura Rossi and others.
He is also an extremely respected jazz educator and in general, a bit of a 'guitar guru'.

Jim Watson has been the first call pianist/keyboardist/MD for many of the world's top artists for the last 20 years.
He has toured and recorded with likes of Katie Melua, Manu Katche, Incognito, Gary Moore, Zero 7, Marti Pellow, Sting and many others.
Jim is an extremely dynamic performer and he creates many different textural layers and rhythmic intricacies on the keyboards.

Laurence Cottle is somewhat of a UK national music treasure.
He leads many of his own his own projects including his critically acclaimed Big Band.
Predominantly an electric bassist, Laurence has toured and recorded with Brian Eno, The Alan Parsons Project, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Bill Bruford's 'Earthworks' and Black Sabbath!

Jamie Murray is the youngest member of the band but has proven himself to be one of the most versatile and explosive drummers on the scene today.
Jamie's leads 'Beat Replacement', a fiery post fusion band that has featured the likes of Gary Husband, Dave Preston and Mike Janisch.
He has also performed with Zhenya Strigalev, Tim Lefebvre, Sunra Arkestra stars Knoel Scott and Cecil Brooks, Quentin Collins and many of the UK's top jazz and crossover artists.

Band Line Up

Brandon Allen (saxes/keys)

Mike Outram (guitar)

Jim Watson (keyboards)

Laurence Cottle (electric bass)

Jamie Murray (drums)