This summer, Cadogan Hall will welcome the return of Out to Lunch – a series of lunchtime concerts bringing world-class jazz performances and renowned artists to the heart of Chelsea. Out to Lunch offers an invitation to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life for a midday rendezvous with unforgettable music.

Based in Cadogan Hall’s Culford Room, the series presents concerts every Tuesday and Thursday at midday from 18 July – 24 August, featuring artists from across the jazz world, including Tara Minton, Lulu Pierre, Tony Kofi and Paul Higgs. Free standing tickets are available for each concert, as well as seated tickets costing £5.

Performances run from 12-2pm with a 30-minute interval. Cadogan Hall invites audience members to join for as long as they are able, whether it be a brief twenty-minute visit or a mesmerising two-hour experience; all are welcome to Out to Lunch.

Rebecca Stewart, Concerts Manager at Cadogan Hall, says:

‘We are thrilled to bring back our Out to Lunch series again, for its 13th year. This summer, we are delighted to welcome 12 fantastic line-ups to our foyer, starting with Phil Veacock with Jim Watson & George Double on Tuesday 18 July, and finishing with Paul Higgs presents ‘Cool School’ on Thursday 24 August.

‘For the first time, we welcome a harpist to the series – Tara Minton’s ‘Two for the Road’ (10 August) – and vocalist Lulu Pierre (15 August) – alongside some familiar faces who have featured in the series before, including Nick Costley White (20 July), Sophie Alloway (3 August) and Rob Barron (1 August).

‘Whether you are a regular customer of Cadogan Hall, or have just discovered us, these events provide a lovely opportunity to come to the venue for free (or £5 to guarantee a seat) and listen to some incredible musicians perform. We look forward to seeing you there!’

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Phil Veacock with Jim Watson & George Double
Tuesday 18 July 2023, 12 – 2pm

Best known as the main arranger, musical director and tenor saxophonist of Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Saxophonist Phil Veacock, is joined by Jim Watson and George Double for an exciting concert marrying the sounds of tenor saxophone, organ and drums. This trio guarantees an afternoon of good time rhythm and blues, boogie and soul.

Nick Costley-White Trio
Thursday 20 July 2023, 12 – 2pm

Guitarist Nick Costley-White presents an afternoon of effortless swing to soothe the stress of day-to-day life alongside bassist Tom Farmer and drummer Josh Morrison.

Oxley-Meier Guitar Project
Tuesday 25 July 2023, 12 – 2pm

Expect a dazzling display of contemporary fare, ranging from Turkish panache to soundscapes of Latin America to English pastoralism. Hear this played on nylon string, steel string, electric, 12-string, fretless, slide, guitar-synth, Glissentar guitars and more!

For their live gigs, the Oxley-Meier Guitar Project aim to entertain by playing with a spontaneity and an intuitive interplay between them that keeps them fresh and fired up from gig to gig. Guitarists Nicholas Meier and Pete Oxley, along with bassist Andy Hamill and drummer Paul Cavaciuti invite audiences to expect the unexpected!

Phil Merriman Trio
Thursday 27 July 2023, 12 – 2pm  

The Phil Merriman Trio presents a sinuous landscape of compositions and improvisations. Expect lyrical, folk-inspired melodies, harmonies that blend shades of Bartók and Messiaen with darker hues of gospel, underpinned by shifting rhythms and basslines rooted in contemporary jazz.

Well-established London musicians, Simon Roth (drums) and John Williamson (bass) join pianist Phil Merriman to form this long-anticipated new group.

Rob Barron Trio
Tuesday 1 August 2023, 12 – 2pm  

London-based jazz pianist, arranger and composer Rob Barron offers listeners an exciting and creative approach to jazz. For this performance, he will be joined by Conor Chaplin on double bass and Josh Morrison on drums.

Sophie Alloway Quartet featuring Mornington Lockett
Thursday 3 August 2023, 12 – 2pm  

London-based drummer Sophie Alloway is joined by saxophonist Mornington Lockett, alongside pianist Will Barry and bassist Flo Moore.

Joanna Eden: Embraceable Ella
Tuesday 8 August 2023, 12 – 2pm

Vocalist Joanna Eden, pianist Chris Ingham and bassist Andrés Lafone celebrate the music of Ella Fitzgerald with a heart-warming collection of songs and anecdotes.

Tara Minton
Thursday 10 August 2023, 12 – 2pm

Tara Minton is an Australian-born harpist, vocalist and composer. Sought after as both a harpist and vocalist, Tara has worked with Björk, ESKA, Stan Sulzmann, Geoff Gascoyne, the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars and the Australian World Orchestra. This performance will see her joined by Ed Babar (double bass) and David Ingamells (drums).

Lulu Pierre Quartet with special Guest Tony Kofi
Tuesday 15 August 2023, 12 – 2pm

Already making waves on the London jazz vocal scene, Lulu Pierre has proved herself to be a classic Torch Song stylist with the sass of Nancy Wilson and the swing of Sarah Vaughan – and a knack for heart-breaking ballads too. She is joined by multi-reedist Tony Kofi on tenor sax, Alex Webb on piano, Menelik Claffey on bass and Dan Hester on drums.

Andy Panayi Quartet
Thursday 17 August 2023, 12 – 2pm

Andy Panayi, a stalwart of the British jazz and session scenes since the 1980s, has always set himself the highest musical standards. While many saxophonists “double” with varying degrees of success, Andy plays the piccolo, concert, alto and bass flutes like a specialist. Matched with his infallible ear, lovely time feel, and fertile imagination, they result in superb jazz performances. Pianist Mark Edwards, double bassist Oz Dechaine and drummer Joe Edwards celebrate Andy’s album Flute to the Power of 4.

Tori Freestone Trio
Tuesday 22 August 2023, 12 – 2pm

Tori Freestone has been creating a stir in the UK and abroad in recent years with her unique writing style – not only steeped in the jazz tradition but reflective of her roots in folk music and also influenced by Latin and Brazilian music.

Tori plays these compositions with the melodic yet robust approach that she has become so well known for and the Trio, with her long-time colleagues Tim Giles (drums) and Dave Manington (bass), themselves much in demand on the London jazz scene, has an incredible rapport and interaction that gives audiences a buzz and sense of excitement in a live setting.

Paul Higgs presents ‘Cool School’
Thursday 24 August 2023, 12 – 2pm

In this show, jazz trumpet ace Paul Higgs presents an afternoon of music in the Cool Jazz style. Characterised by a relaxed mood, the style is known for its emphasis on melody, structure and counterpoint. Paul plays tunes by the giants of Cool Jazz – Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Shorty Rogers, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, the Modern Jazz Quartet and Lester Young, amongst others.

Paul and his band will be playing these classics, with some narrative background woven throughout. Pianist Gabriel Keen, drummer Neil Bullock and double bassist Jerome Davies join Paul for this final concert of the series.

ENDS

For booking: CadoganHall.com/OutToLunch