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

Julian Costello plays tenor and soprano saxophones and is a graduate of Trinity College of Music. He composes the music for the Julian Costello Quartet and recently released an album called Transitions on 33Jazz Records which received excellent reviews in Europe and the USA and is frequently played on radio stations across Europe including a live in session and interview for the BBC.

It is quite a while since Freddie was at CJC so it is a delight to have him return to play the wonderful music of Clifford Brown. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, he rose to prominence through the John Dankworth Orchestra and has been a member of the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra for ten years.

Since being named 'Most Promising Newcomer' in the British Jazz Awards, Jonathan Gee has become "One of European Jazz's most celebrated musicians. His music is precise, lucid and original, and at times breathtakingly lyrical" – Visions of Europe.

Christian Garrick is an award winning British jazz violinist and was the first jazz violin graduate of London’s illustrious Royal Academy of Music. Christian met Stephane Grappelli in 1976 and he became his first instrumental idol. He now leads his Spirit O’ Stephane ensemble in a concert that recalls the incredible 79 year career of Grappelli - from Django Reinhardt to Pink Floyd.

The Harmony Less Quartet is a new project by alto saxophonist Tommaso Starace who has brought together a quartet of musicians that includes one of Britain’s best Tenor saxophonists Dave O’Higgins along with Alec Dankworth on bass and Chris Nicholls on drums.

A wonderful sextet of quality musicians, some of whom we have enjoyed previously at Chichester and a couple new to CJC but already establishing great reputations. The programme will be mostly jazz standards with unique interpretations.

Gaz first came to wider public attention as the original drummer in the Matthew Halsall Band and featured heavily on the early recordings of the Gondwana label. A highlight was recording the album "On The Go", which won The Best Jazz Album of the Year - Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards 2012 and was nominated Best Jazz Album MOBO Awards 2011.