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Music in Pinner Series 2026–2027 Final Season (for now!)

First concert: Sam Braysher Quartet & Annie Majin: Kurt Weill project. October 10th 7.30pm at Pinner Parish Church

The Music in Pinner Series 26–27 will be the final series, for the time being, as I shall step down as Director after the season. We present six concerts, with great variety of styles and genres, from October to March, at Pinner Parish Church (except January, which is at Pinner United Synagogue).

Concerts in October, November & March will be in the Evenings at 7.30pm, and in January at 8.00pm.

We shall hold December and February concerts at lunchtime, 1.00pm.

Tickets are £18, and will be available from 1st September via our website (card).

Or purchase at the door from 30 minutes before the concert (cash or cheques only) (except January).

On October 10th the Sam Braysher Quartet with Annie Majin will present: Kurt Weill, Michel Legrand and the American Songbook. Sam Braysher is a London-based alto saxophonist, who has received widespread critical acclaim. Rising star of London’s jazz scene, Annie Majin has a charming, powerful voice, inspired by Barbara Streisand, Blossom Dearie and classic Broadway shows. The superb rhythm section comprises the outstanding pianist Matyas Gayer, award-winning bassist Andrew Robb and ultra swinging drummer Steve Brown. Sam’s most recent album explores the work of Kurt Weill, at the intersection of European classical music, jazz, opera and American musical theatre. Next year, a new album will look at songs by French film composer Michel Legrand. We shall hear inventive interpretations of their music, in addition to some by adjacent American song composers.

November 14th brings us the versatile Chameleon Woodwind Quartet, playing arrangements of classics and contemporary pieces on up to 13 instruments: Cara Houghton – flute, alto flute & piccolo; Sarah Austen – alto sax, soprano sax & clarinet; Jess Tomlinson – clarinet, bass clarinet & tenor sax; Eleanor Mills - bassoon, clarinet & baritone sax. Chameleon are a versatile and award-winning woodwind ensemble whose performances feature an impressive array of woodwind instruments split between the four members, seamlessly transitioning between them to showcase the diversity of the woodwind family. Their programme is similarly varied, with their arrangements of Bach, Dvořák, Saint-Saëns, Gershwin, Beach, Holst and more – every piece influenced by nature in some form.

The lunchtime concert in December (5th) is given by outstanding violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen in Angels and Demons – solo music from Biber (Guardian Angel), Matteis (Fantasia in A minor), Tartini (Devil’s Trill Sonata) & Bach (E major Partita) to Paganini (selected Caprices) & Ysaÿe (Sonata #4). British American violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen is known for her visceral and deeply expressive performances in repertoire spanning six centuries. With musical storytelling central to her approach, she has gained a reputation for her “undeniably fabulous playing”, and poetic performances that go straight to the heart.

“... passion and musical imagination throughout, the fiendish multiple stops and alternations between bowed and plucked notes assured in tone and precise in intonation.” (BBC Music Magazine)

At our January 9th concert at Pinner United Synagogue (8.00pm), we shall welcome back the legendary Scott Hamilton Quartet, a Pinner favourite. Seasoned performer Scott Hamilton returns to Pinner with his regular UK quartet of John Pearce (piano), Dave Green (double-bass) & Steve Brown (drums), who have been playing together for over 25 years. They featured in the first season of Pinner Jazz in 1998, and have appeared regularly ever since, last here in 2024. Expect the highest quality classic jazz from Scott and his old friends as they present a mixture of jazz standards and originals – including tracks from their most recent CD and Vinyl releases. Scott’s playing has best been described by fellow tenor saxophonist and writer, Dave Gelly: “Following a Scott Hamilton solo is like listening to a great conversationalist in full flow. First comes the voice, the inimitable, assured sound of his tenor saxophone, then the informal style and finally the amazing fluency and eloquent command of the jazz language.”

Lunchtime jazz on 13th February is by the Paul Higgs Quartet in Shades of Miles, evoking the work of the brilliant trumpeter, Miles Davis, whose 100th Anniversary is in 2026. Paul is a composer and trumpeter, and he was a Musical Director at the National Theatre and the RSC. He has performed with Johnny Dankworth, Lulu, Tony Hatch, John Williams, and Nancy Wilson. Miles Davis, the most revered jazz trumpeter of all time, was at the forefront of major innovations in jazz from the mid '40s to the early '90s - bebop, cool, hard bop, modal, jazz funk and jazz fusion. The Quartet plays well-known favourites from these styles as well as some less familiar gems. Paul Higgs plays trumpet with a sublime tone and breathtaking technique; outstanding pianist Chris Ingham entertains with charisma and style; drummer George Double is subtle and dynamic; and the fine double bass playing of Jerome Davies underpins it all.

For our swansong concert on 6th March we feature the exceptional duo, Eleanor & Gus, whose multi-genre Seasons in Time offers a super mix of music across styles and centuries, with Eleanor Grant on vocals and double-bass, and Gus McQuade on guitar. A multi-talented duo on a mission to break down musical genre barriers, Eleanor Grant and Gus McQuade have been captivating audiences with their unique combination of voice, guitar and double bass since their debut recital at Wigmore Hall in 2023. Their concert programme encompasses a wide range of musical genres, from 16th-century lute songs to their own up-tempo arrangements of modern folk, jazz and original compositions, all presented with a winning combination of intimate storytelling and stunning musicianship. The programme, based around this inventive duo’s debut album, Seasons in Time, will include works from Dowland to Dankworth, Britten to Joni Mitchell, Elizabeth Poston to Harrow-born Rebecca Clarke and others. Eleanor and Gus will draw you into their musical world with a sublime combination of words, melodies, rhythms and harmonies.

After this, Music in Pinner Series will enter hibernation. The Series, held under the aegis of Pinner Parish Church, was the scion of Pinner Music Festival and of Pinner Jazz, benefitting from their rich musical traditions and discerning audiences. I am very grateful to the Vicar and PCC of St John’s Pinner for their oversight, to Stuart Nattrass and Peter Vacher for their wise counsel, to Shirley Wootten for marketing and support, to the Beachshore team for website and ticketing, to Trevor Mitchell, our amazing Stage Manager, to many colleagues at the Synagogue for their generous hosting of the January concerts, and to all our marvellous volunteers. It has been a pleasure to feature some amazing music from exceptional performers since we started in October 2018. If we are awakened, we shall announce it here!

In the meantime, enjoy this special final season.

Best wishes,

Anthony Pinching

Director, Music in Pinner Series