House Band

Meet the house band

The Marlborough Jazz Platform is a group of highly talented and dedicated jazz musicians from across history who have each pushed music and the genre of jazz to new heights. With a deep appreciation for the rich history and tradition of jazz music, the Marlborough Jazz Platform is committed to preserving and promoting this unique art form for future generations. Drawing inspiration from the great jazz masters of the past, as well as contemporary jazz innovators, the band's sound is a dynamic blend of classic jazz styles and modern sensibilities. But the Marlborough Jazz Platform is more than just a band - they are a jazz platform offering you the opportunity to play with some off jazz history’s greatest players. With a mission to support and showcase emerging jazz musicians, the band has established a regular jazz night at a local club, where they invite up-and-coming artists to join them on stage. As some members of the band are no lnger with us the Marlborough Jazz Platform is using state of the art AI techology to recreate real time performances for your enjoyment.

Miles Davis

Trumpet

Miles Davis was a legendary jazz musician born in Alton, Illinois in 1926. He started playing the trumpet at 13 and began his professional career at 18. Davis played with Charlie Parker's quintet and later formed his own band, which included renowned jazz musicians such as John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, and Bill Evans. Davis was known for his innovative approach to jazz, breaking from traditional chord progressions with his use of modal harmony. In the late 1950s, he recorded Kind of Blue, an album that is considered one of the greatest jazz recordings of all time. Throughout the 1960s, Davis continued to experiment with his sound, incorporating elements of rock and funk. In 1969, he released Bitches Brew, a groundbreaking album that fused jazz with rock and electronic music. Despite his musical success, Davis struggled with drug addiction and personal demons throughout much of his life. He had a volatile personality and frequently made headlines for his unconventional behavior. Davis continued to perform and record until his death in 1991 at the age of 65. Miles Davis' influence on the world of music is still felt today, and he is widely considered one of the most important and influential musicians of the 20th century.

Django Reinhardt

Guitar

Django Reinhardt was a Belgian-born jazz guitarist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential musicians of the 20th century. He was born in 1910 in Liberchies, Belgium and grew up in a Romani (Gypsy) family. Reinhardt began playing the guitar at a young age and quickly developed his own unique style, fusing traditional jazz with Romani music. In the 1930s, Reinhardt formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France with French violinist Stéphane Grappelli. The group was one of the first to use guitars as lead instruments in jazz, and their recordings became hugely popular in Europe and the United States. Reinhardt's use of fast, virtuosic runs and his melodic improvisation set a new standard for jazz guitar playing. Reinhardt's career was interrupted by World War II, during which he and his family were forced to flee Paris to avoid persecution. He continued to play and record after the war, and his influence on jazz guitar playing continued to grow. Reinhardt died in 1953 at the age of 43, but his legacy as a pioneering musician lives on. Reinhardt's influence can be heard in the work of countless jazz guitarists who followed him, and his unique blend of Romani and jazz music continues to inspire musicians around the world. He was posthumously inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1984 and remains one of the most important figures in the history of jazz.

Herbie Hancock

Keys

Herbie Hancock is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer, born in 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. He began playing classical music at a young age and later transitioned to jazz. Hancock's musical career began in the 1960s, where he played with Miles Davis and contributed to Davis' innovative album, "Kind of Blue." Hancock's own music is characterized by his fusion of jazz with funk, rock, and electronic music. He is known for his experimentation with new sounds and technology, and his use of synthesizers helped to popularize electronic music in jazz. Some of his most famous works include "Cantaloupe Island," "Watermelon Man," and "Rockit." Throughout his career, Hancock has won numerous awards, including 14 Grammy Awards, and has collaborated with countless musicians across different genres. He has also composed music for film and television, including the soundtrack for the 1986 film "Round Midnight." Hancock's influence on jazz and popular music is immeasurable, and he continues to innovate and inspire new generations of musicians. He was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2013 and was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government in 2010. Herbie Hancock remains an iconic figure in the world of music.

Jaco Pastorius

Bass

Jaco Pastorius was an American jazz bassist and composer born in 1951 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He began playing music at a young age, starting with the drums before switching to bass. Pastorius is known for his technical proficiency and innovative approach to the bass guitar, which helped to redefine the instrument in jazz music. Pastorius gained national attention when he joined jazz fusion band Weather Report in the 1970s, and his virtuosic playing quickly became a defining element of the group's sound. He also released several solo albums, including "Jaco Pastorius" and "Word of Mouth." Pastorius was known for his flamboyant personality, which sometimes caused controversy. Despite his success, he struggled with addiction and mental health issues throughout much of his life. He died tragically in 1987 at the age of 35 after a violent altercation. Pastorius' influence on bass playing and jazz music is still felt today. He expanded the role of the bass in jazz, using it as a lead instrument rather than just a rhythm instrument. His innovative playing techniques and use of harmonics and percussive slapping continue to inspire bass players across genres. Jaco Pastorius remains one of the most influential and celebrated bassists in the history of jazz.

Steve Gadd

Drums

Steve Gadd is an American drummer born in 1945 in Irondequoit, New York. He began playing the drums at a young age and later attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Gadd is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time, known for his incredible technical ability and versatility across genres. Gadd has played with countless musicians across different genres, including jazz, rock, and pop. He has worked with artists such as Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Chick Corea, and James Taylor, among many others. His work on Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and Steely Dan's "Aja" are particularly notable. Gadd's playing is characterized by his use of complex rhythms and his ability to create a dynamic groove. He is also known for his use of the "Steve Gadd Shuffle," a signature groove that has been widely imitated by other drummers. Gadd has won numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to music, including induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame and the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. He continues to perform and record, and his influence on drumming is immeasurable. Steve Gadd remains one of the most respected and admired drummers in the world.