Riverside Arts Centre Sunbury reviews by real event-goers

Reviews of Riverside Arts Centre in Sunbury

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Review of Art Themen - Riverside Arts Jazz

Overall rating: 3.5 Verified review

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Would you recommended: Yes

Review of Art Themen - Riverside Arts Jazz

Overall rating: 4.5 Verified review

Great to hear Art playing with excellent support from Terrence Collie, Marianne Windham and Bobby Worth!

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Review of Art Themen - Riverside Arts Jazz

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

Not much to say about this. Art Themen is a legend on the UK jazz scene, still going strong in his mid-80s and I have seen him live many times. Never fails to impress, but it was great to see him on this occasion in the company of another legend in Bobby Worth on the drum kit, plus our own legend T. Collie Esq on superb form. drawing appreciative noises from Art on more than one occasion. Not only this but there was the further bonus of the lovely Marianne Windham and her subtle and stylish support on double bass. Great choice of material too, including such classics as Bluesette (Toots Thielemans), Soul Eyes (Mal Waldron), Hanky Panky (Dexter G.), Lush Life (Coltrane and many others) and Sandhu (Clifford Brown). Great crowd-pleasing opener in Herbie H's Driftin', which is a favourite of mine. A highly enjoyable evening all round and thoroughly recommended to anyone who is not familiar with Mood Indigo Events high quality programme.

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Review of Art Themen - Riverside Arts Jazz

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

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Review of Art Themen - Riverside Arts Jazz

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

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Would you recommended: Yes

Review of RAJ - John Etheridge

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

Quite a coup for Terry and Janet to get world-renowned axeman John Etheridge as guest star for this date: not only a Soft Machine alumnus but also highly praised by, amongst others, Pat Metheny and Eric Clapton no less. And what a great set he delivered, ranging from jazz standards such as Sonny Rollins' Doxy, Georgia, Soul Eyes (Mal Waldron), Secret Love and Willow Weep For Me, not to mention a storming version of Caravan, all the way to bossa, reggae (Fungi Mama) and New Orleans funk (Cissy Strut). Cracking support from Our Man in SW London (TC) plus dependable Mark Rose on bass and the thunderous Tristan Banks on drums. I did wonder if the drum kit had been slightly over-miked as it was not always easy to hear TC's piano as clearly as usual. But El Tel didn't seem too bothered when I spoke to him after the show, so no damage done.

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Would you recommended: Yes

Review of RAJ - John Etheridge

Overall rating: 4.5 Verified review

John Etheridge played to a large audience in the Riverside Arts in a programme with a wide range of songs and some interesting chat.

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Review of RAJ - John Etheridge

Overall rating: 4.5 Verified review

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Review of RAJ - John Etheridge

Overall rating: 4.5 Verified review

A great evening of top notch music. I couldn't stop smiling. I was glad to be there. John Etheridge is a superb musician and a great communicator.

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Review of RAJ - John Etheridge

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

All the above. Can't remember the last time I enjoyed a musical event so much! Wonderful musicians! And a warm friendly atmosphere...

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Review of RAJ - John Etheridge

Overall rating: 4.5 Verified review

Stunning performance by a guitar virtuoso.

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Review of RAJ - John Etheridge

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

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Review of The Music of Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - RAJ

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

An unexpectedly high turnout for the first MIE gig in 2024 on a very cold evening. Obviously they must have known they would be in for a treat as the low temperatures were blown away for a couple of hours by some hot hard bop. Not easy to fail with an Art Blakey tribute and so it proved. It also helped that the choice of songs was by no means a collection of the usual suspects. Of course it was great to hear storming versions of A Night In Tunisia, Nica's Dream, not one but two Benny Golson compositions (Blues March and Along Came Betty) and the inimitable Moanin'. But less obvious inclusions were two Monk collaborations (In Walked Bud and Rhythming) plus two really unfamiliar choices in Yama and Miguel's Party. Excellent front line of Lester Brown and Paul Silver and dynamic support as always from Terry C. plus impressive rhythm section of Paul Michael and Matt Skeaping. I could have done without the slightly dodgy vocal on Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You which was inexplicably greeted by some whooping and hollering (why ?!!), but this was only a minor lapse and thankfully not repeated.

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Review of The Music of Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - RAJ

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

Great jazz! Fantastic line up and good audience response for a super evening of Art Blakey numbers

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Review of The Music of Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - RAJ

Overall rating: 4.5 Verified review

It was a wonderful evening. The musicians were on- point, playing some of my favourite Art Blakey tunes. Highly recommended!

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Review of RAJ Christmas Special

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

You really can't go wrong with three quarters of the lineup on Terry's latest album, fronted by one of my favourite reedsmen, Roberto Manzin. One of the few players I know who can comfortably hit those top notes and sustain it with great power. Excellent selection of mainly mid- and uptempo numbers, including Billie's Bounce, Along Came Betty, Caravan, Take The A Train and Jobim's Triste, plus two originals from the new alum, including my favourite, Brecon Blues. Can't wait to hear a repeat performance at the album launch. The show also highlighted Terry's ingenuity as an arranger with a unique version of Silent Night underpinned by Miles Davis' All Blues. Brilliant.
Nice too to hear Janet contribute a couple of selections to round off a super Christmas show with The Christmas Song and Some Other Time. All this and complimentary mince pies and mulled wine. A real no brainer.

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Review of RAJ feat. Alex Garnett

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

Not much to say really. Alex G. has been a stalwart of the British jazz scene for ages and the quality of the playing was never in doubt. Great selection of standards, including Speak Low, Love For Sale, I Can't Get Started, Dearly Beloved, Topsy and Bye Bye Blackbird. Fab support as always from Mr T.C. aided by a crack rhythm section including the ever excellent Clark Tracy. A no-brainer.

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Review of RAJ feat. Alex Garnett

Overall rating: 4 Verified review

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Review of A Night of Latin Jazz

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

Another triumph for MIE featuring everyone's favourite ex-pat French guitarist, Clement R. A great selection of Latin numbers most of which were unknown to me, several by the Brazilian master, Baden Powell (must have been a big fan of the Scout Movement), which I am planning to check out in their original recorded form. Terry Collie on great form as usual (surely at least a local treasure already) and a real treat of a three piece rhythm section, including the brilliant Matt Hodge on percussion. Hopefully a return visit next year (?).

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Would you recommended: Yes

Review of RAJ - Renato D'Aiello

Overall rating: 5 Verified review

Must confess that I'd never come across Renato D'Aiello before, but what a pleasant surprise. A lovely, rich and fruity tone to his saxophone sound, so much so that my companion asked if he was playing baritone. Nice choice of standards including If I should Lose You, Body and Soul, Autumn Leaves (which tantalisingly concluded with a nod to the intro from the famous Cannonball Adderley version) and Weaver of Dreams. A very enterprising set list also included lesser known compositions by A C Jobim and Hank Mobley plus his own original I Wish. Great support as always from Mr Collie, joined by the excellent Matyeas Hofecker on bass and Alfonso Vitale on drums.

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Would you recommended: Yes

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