**If you are having difficulties with this gig's booking form, please email us on [email protected] to make a reservation or call 020 8835 7070

Tickets £16, Doors 7pm, Music 9pm

Ray Gelato Giants with special guest Kai Hoffman

Ray Gelato - vocals/tenor sax
Kai Hoffman - vocals
Danny Marsden - trumpet
Andy Rogers - trombone
Ollie Wilby - sax
Gunther Kurmayr - piano
Matt Home - drums
Geoff Gascoyne - bass

Cab Calloway, Louis Prima, ‘Fats’ Waller, Louis Jordan – these superb artists were never afraid to entertain. As well as playing great music, they also looked like they were having the time of their lives whenever they set foot on stage. And today, this grand upbeat tradition of entertaining crowds with great ‘jumpin’ songs, storming jazz solos and a swinging world class band is continued by Ray Gelato – considered by many to be the next enduring name in that long line of classic jazz entertainers.

Expect to hear some foot-stompin’ big band tunes that are guaranteed to have you jumpin’ and jivin’ and leave you feeling uplifted and inspired. Ray and his Giants play a mixture of swing, jazz and R&B that are unmistakably the band’s own style. This, combined with Ray’s fun and original songs, makes for an unforgettable evening that will leave you wanting more!

Right from the early days of a thirty year career, Ray’s great showmanship helped pioneer a revival of interest in the swinging music of the 40s and 50s, as tours of the UK, Europe and Japan led to a string of albums and TV appearances. Moving to a seven piece format as the 90s arrived, Ray realised he had found the winning formula for his gigs and formed the Ray Gelato Giants in 1994, a line-up that has performed across the world to great critical acclaim, winning a Ronnie Scott’s “best band” award and securing Ray a Radio 2 nomination for best jazz vocalist. Regularly called on by other musical stars to perform at their events, he’s also played for the Queen and high profile BBC dates such as Proms in the Park and Strictly Come Dancing.

Tonight, with special guest Kai Hoffman (award-winning US Diva and Ronnie Scott’s regular), the show celebrates the magic of the classic boy-girl duets, popularised by great artists such as Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. They have developed a wonderful show, taking classic tunes from the great American songbook, all performed with fun, romance and swing!

Featured songs will include: That Old Black Magic, I’ve Got you Under my Skin, They all Laughed, Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off, Papa Loves Mambo, Baby It’s Cold Outside, When my Baby Smiles At Me, Something Stupid, and lots more!

“For all his zippy showmanship and slick patter, Ray possesses genuine artistry.” Evening Standard

“Gelato evokes an era when musicians understood that the point of jazz was not to keep the public at a polite distance.” The Times

“You close your eyes and hear shades of each tenor sax giant in his playing.” Jazzwax New York

“This may be good time music but it sure takes balls to play it this well.” Peter Vacher, Jazz Times

“He plays what he means, and means what he plays.” Jools Holland

“Taking swing to the masses... sheer fun and enjoyment.” The Times

“…he invests his singing and sax playing with buckets of emotion…” The Daily Telegraph