Multi-Award Winning Jazz saxophonist Karen Sharp

After graduating in composition and piano at the Royal Northern College of Music, Karen discovered a love of jazz and was inspired to play the tenor sax by two giants of improvisation - Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins.

On relocating to London in 2000, Karen's career took off when she was asked to join Humphrey Lyttleton's band with whom she toured the UK and Europe for four years. During this period Karen also worked hard to establish her own band, recording the first of five albums under her own name and touring at festivals and jazz clubs. She has also toured and recorded extensively with some wonderful musicians that include Tina May, Nikki Iles, Alan Barnes, John Dankworth, Scott Hamilton and Warren Vache. Highlights of this period include the Ginza Festival in Tokyo, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Singapore International Jazz Festival as well as performances at the BBC Proms, playing with the Guy Barker Big Band at the Albert Hall.

A busy and popular musician with an accessible yet distinctive style, Karen has won the tenor saxophone category of the British Jazz Awards on numerous occasions and is regularly nominated in the baritone sax category of the USA 'Downbeat' critics and readers poll. Karen plays with numerous larger ensembles including the 'Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra', the 'Steve Waterman Big Band' and 'The Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra' and she tours regularly with her quartet which features Nikki Iles, Dave Green, and Steve Brown and her Trio with Colin Oxley and Simon Thorpe. More recently, Karen decided to broaden her musical experiences and joined a prog rock/fusion band called Hatfield and the Health', a five piece band which focuses on the Canterbury Scene, music of 'Hatfield and the North', 'National Health' and 'Matching Mole' amongst others. A world apart from playing jazz standards but enormous fun and fabulous music.

Karen is supported by the Craig Milverton trio, which includes the man himself on piano, plus Ashley John Long on bass and Coach York on drums.

Performance starts at 7:30pm, doors from 6:30pm with bar available.

Tickets:
General admission: £20
Students: £5 with valid student ID
Children 12 and under: Free, accompanied by a paying adult (max 3 children per adult)

Tickets can also be purchased by ringing 01460 54973 or visiting us during opening hours.