Jazz at The Horsebridge

Jazz at The Horsebridge is a new monthly event celebrating the best of live jazz in all its forms. To be held on Sunday evenings, each month will feature a different performer from across the jazz, blues and world music spectrum. Featuring top notch vocalists and musicians from across the county and beyond, Jazz at the Horsebridge is an exciting new addition to the Horsebridge performance calendar and to the Whitstable music scene.

With a tremendous passion for vocal and instrumental jazz, Broad Reach Records presents a fantastic range of high-calibre artists, led by Artistic Director Kai Hoffman. 

bar opens 4pm

Vocalist Louise Cookman presents: Queens of Swing

Celebrating the great female vocalists of the swing era.

In the 1930s and 1940s, swing music dominated the airwaves and dancefloors of America and beyond. Bandleaders such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and the ‘King of Swing’, Benny Goodman, were hailed as musical royalty, and their singers - vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and PeggyLee - were hugely popular. But these women were more than just jewels in a bandleader’s crown: by bringing their own sound, style and glamour to the bandstand, they challengedthe accepted image of the decorative girl singer (or “canary”) and instead became a central part of the music, stepping intothe spotlight as the indisputable Queens of the Swing Era. Renowned swing era vocalist, Louise Cookman and her musicians, present a tribute to the talented women whose voices define the sound of the swing era, featuring songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Anita O’Day and more! Louise has been the vocalist with many of the best known swing and big bands in the UK, from the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and The Glenn Miller Orchestra, to the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and the BBC Big Band. She also assumes the role of Martha Tilton in Pete Long’s acclaimed recreation of Benny Goodman’s famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert and has presented special shows for the Jazz Centre UK and other venues exploring the technique and vocal style of the 1930s and 1940s.

Paul Booth is the in-demand sax man of today’s UK music scene. His ability to blend into any musical surrounding coupled with his talents as a multi-instrumentalist has led to him being regularly chosen to perform with many well-known artists. Paul has toured, performed and recorded around the world with The Eagles, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Jamiroquai, Gregory Porter, Barry Manilow, Marti Pellow, Eddie Henderson, Geoffrey Keezer, Clarence Penn and Ingrid Jensen. He has worked with Incognito, Brand New Heavies and The BBC Big Band. Paul currently performs his own music with a number of different groups including this new quintet for which has written new music which will be performed a this event along with some choice standards.

bar opens 4pm

One the UK’s finest jazz vocalists, Trudy Kerr has performed at major venues around the world and collaborated with major artists, including Jamie Cullum, Jim Mullen and Georgie Fame. Her evening show will feature an eclectic repertoire including compositions by instrumentalists like Chick Corea, John Coltrane and Bill Evans as well as songwriters like Antonio Carlos Jobim and Fats Waller as well as some Christmas favourites. As a prolific lyricist, Trudy has penned many vocalese (putting words to instrumental solos) which will add a unique dimension to the show.

bar opens 4pm

doors open 1.30pm

Jazz singer Trudy Kerr presents her family show Jazz for Juniors.

Trudy has a real passion for jazz music and has performed around the world for many years. She's always been involved in jazz education and enjoys sharing her love of jazz with others, especially children. Trudy was inspired by own children to record a jazz cd for kids and released Jazz for Juniors to critical acclaim. After the success of the CD, Trudy thought it would be a great idea to perform the songs to a live audience. Now we have our family friendly show ‘Jazz for Juniors - the live show’.

During the Jazz for Juniors performance we take the audience on a jazzy adventure, bringing jazz music to families in a fun and exciting way. We love to get the kids involved as much as possible with lots of audience participation from singing and clapping to marching and dancing there’s even a drum lesson for a lucky volunteer. 

Originally from Boston, MA, USA, Kai Hoffman has over twenty years experience as a jazz, swing and blues singer, as well as a songwriter, bandleader and recording artist. Now based in Kent, her career highlights include over 100 performances at Ronnie Scott’s Club as a resident singer as well as performances for London Jazz Festival, Southbank Centre, the Metropolitan Room in New York City and The Blue Note in Milan as well as shows in countries as varied as Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Russia. Other artistic programming projects include a monthly jazz series at Macknade in Faversham and the multi-day, 30-event Herne Bay Jazz Festival in August.

“There is no denying that Hoffman has a very special voice: rich, super smooth and full of old time sparkle… It is a joy to listen to her sing.” - Broadway Baby

Kai Hoffman is a jazz, swing and blues singer, as well as a songwriter, bandleader and recording artist.  Based in the United Kingdom, Kai’s international shows have included Don’t Tell Mama and the Metropolitan Room in New York City, The Blue Note in Milan and the European Jazz Expo, with further performances in countries as varied as Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Russia.

In London, Kai is a favourite performer across the city, including an eight-year residency at Europe’s oldest jazz venue, Ronnie Scott’s, shows at the Elgar Room of the Royal Albert Hall, the London Jazz Festival, City of London Festival, Southbank Centre, 606 Club and more. Kai is the artistic director of Herne Bay Jazz Festival CIC. Read more at www.kaihoffman.co.uk