Sandy Suchodolski Trio (Ray Brown Tribute)

Top bassist Sandy Suchodolski presents his tribute to Ray Brown with Graham Harvey (piano) and Josh Morrison (drums).

Ray Brown’s illustrious career spanned the be-bop days of jazz after the War to later eras of jazz up to his death in 2002. At the age of 20 he was hired on the spot by the great Dizzy Gillespie and later in 1947 he met Ella Fitzgerald when she joined Gillespie’s band. The two were married in the same year and Ray became Ella’s musical manager. They later divorced and Ray went on to perform with many jazz greats and with his own trio, leaving a hugely impressive body of recorded work. 

Sandy's trio will perform numbers from their cd Remembering Ray in a homage to Ray Brown’s trio music, ranging from hard-swinging standards to relaxed bossa nova and ballads. The trio also features a star cast of pianist Graham Harvey and drummer Josh Morrison. 

Sandy Suchodolski
Sandy is a graduate of The Royal Academy of Music. As well as fronting ‘The Sandy Suchodolski Trio’, he is one of the founding members of the ‘John Cervantes Quintet’ which also features Gareth Lockrane. He can be heard at Ronnie Scott’s with ‘The Quentin Collins Quartet’ – and with various other bandleaders.

As well as Ronnie Scott’s, Sandy has performed at The 100 Club, The Spice of Life, The Hammersmith Apollo, The 606, The Prince of Wales, Dominion, Vaudeville and Noel Coward West End Theatres and many other venues across the UK and Europe. He has performed with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, The BBC Big Band, Jay Craig and his Orchestra, John Wilson, The Gordon Goodwin UK Band (featuring Wayne Bergeron, Eric Marienthal and Gordon Goodwin), Scott Hamilton, Claire Martin, Tina May, Ken Peplowski, Alan Barnes, Gilad Atzmon, Mark Fletcher, Criag Milverton, Sam Miles, James Maddren, and Matt Skelton to name a few.

Graham Harvey
Graham initially started off as a classical pianist, before moving to the USA to study jazz, later returning to the UK to become director of jazz/funk outfit Incognito, before beginning an ongoing stint as pianist for Grammy nominated singer Stacey Kent. He's also performed with Stevie Wonder, recorded with George Benson and played with Clark Terry and Warren Vache.

Josh Morrison
Drummer Joshua Morrison was born in London in 1985. In 2003 he received a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music. He returned to London in 2005 and has maintained a busy schedule since, playing throughout the UK and Europe. He has appeared with many of the UK's foremost jazz musicians, as well as international stars such as NYC based tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart. In 2012 he began working with vocalist Stacey Kent, with whom he continues to tour internationally. He is featured on her 2013 album, 'The Changing Lights'. Josh also works regularly with groups lead by pianists Rob Barron and Gabriel Latchin

Hear the trio play "Freddie Freeloader"

Sandy's Website