Tribute To Dizzy Gillespie Byron Wallen :: Mark Armstrong at 606 Club

Tonight the 606 Club is celebrating the centenary of one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (born 21/10/1917). And for this celebration we have invited two UK trumpet greats of our own, Byron Wallen and Mark Armstrong, to perform music written by and associated with, Dizzy. One of Europe’s finest trumpet players, the multi-award winning Byron Wallen has been impressing with his fluent and dynamic playing since the early 1990’s. First coming to prominence working with the likes of Courtney Pine he has since been heard with the International stars such as Hugh Masekela, soul/groove icons Lonnie Liston Smith, Ronnie Laws and Chaka Khan and World class jazz artists such as Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Freddie Hubbard and McCoy Tyner. He is a composer of considerable note as well as awards and nominations from the BBC and MOBO. Mark Armstrong first came to prominence with Clark Tracey’s quintet in the early 2000’s before moving on to regular work with Stan Tracey, with whom he worked extensively. He was nominated in the Best Trumpet category of the 2007 Ronnie Scott Jazz Awards and still performs regularly with the Ronnie Scott Jazz Orchestra. He also performs with Pete Long’s “Gillespiana”, with the Times describing him as “pirouetting through Gillespie’s breaks quicker than a hummingbird’s wings”. So the right man for this gig! Mark has also been the Musical Director of NYJO since 2011 and is Jazz Professor at the Royal College of Music. The first set will feature Mark playing music from Dizzy’s early career. The second set will feature Byron with music more associated with Dizzy’s middle years and the last set will feature both Mark and Byron performing music from Dizzy’s Afro-Cuban canon. This promises to be a very special evening, dedicated to a very special musician, performed by some very special players!...

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Tonight the 606 Club is celebrating the centenary of one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (born 21/10/1917). And for this celebration we have invited two UK trumpet greats of our own, Byron Wallen and Mark Armstrong, to perform music written by and associated with, Dizzy. One of Europe’s finest trumpet players, the multi-award winning Byron Wallen has been impressing with his fluent and dynamic playing since the early 1990’s. First coming to prominence working with the likes of Courtney Pine he has since been heard with the International stars such as Hugh Masekela, soul/groove icons Lonnie Liston Smith, Ronnie Laws and Chaka Khan and World class jazz artists such as Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, Freddie Hubbard and McCoy Tyner. He is a composer of considerable note as well as awards and nominations from the BBC and MOBO. Mark Armstrong first came to prominence with Clark Tracey’s quintet in the early 2000’s before moving on to regular work with Stan Tracey, with whom he worked extensively. He was nominated in the Best Trumpet category of the 2007 Ronnie Scott Jazz Awards and still performs regularly with the Ronnie Scott Jazz Orchestra. He also performs with Pete Long’s “Gillespiana”, with the Times describing him as “pirouetting through Gillespie’s breaks quicker than a hummingbird’s wings”. So the right man for this gig! Mark has also been the Musical Director of NYJO since 2011 and is Jazz Professor at the Royal College of Music. The first set will feature Mark playing music from Dizzy’s early career. The second set will feature Byron with music more associated with Dizzy’s middle years and the last set will feature both Mark and Byron performing music from Dizzy’s Afro-Cuban canon. This promises to be a very special evening, dedicated to a very special musician, performed by some very special players!

“Byron Wallen…spectacular” Guardian; Armstrong.....consistently impressed with his.....fiery playing” The Jazzmann

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