The Jazz Defenders

Album Launch

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Featuring George Cooper (piano/keyboards) Will Harris (bass), Ian Matthews (drums), Nick Malcolm (trumpet), Jake McMurchie (tenor sax). PizzaExpress is delighted to promote the return of The Jazz Defenders for their UK album launch ‘Memory in Motion’. Led by one of the UK's most formidable jazz pianists, George Cooper, The Jazz Defenders are a group born from a deep love of Blue Note jazz, drawing on a wealth of inspiration to craft their own raw and vibrant compositions. Having played several shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club as well as many other prestigious venues in the UK, they continue to electrify audiences with their energy and virtuosity.

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"Absolutely storming"

Jamie Cullum

Book tickets for The Jazz Defenders

The hard bop recordings of Horace Silver, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan and Art Blakey were highly regarded for a reason - catchy horn lines and incredible musicianship combined with Rudy Van Gelder's engineering skills mean they will forever be regarded as classics of the genre. The Jazz Defenders are a group that defend the legacy of those recordings whilst creating its own original identity and distinction. The music they produce together is a modern soul jazz slant on this classic hard bop, effortlessly channelling the spirit of the golden Blue Note era of jazz. 

The group's brainchild, pianist and composer George Cooper, has at a young age already amassed a comprehensive repertoire of musical credits including Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, U2, Omar, Slum Village, MF Doom, The Brand New Heavies, Lisa Stansfield, Wet Wet Wet, The Haggis Horns, Abstract Orchestra and Lack of Afro.

Band Line Up

George Cooper (piano/keyboards)

Will Harris (bass)

Ian Matthews (drums)

Nick Malcolm (trumpet)

Jake McMurchie (tenor sax)