Brighton Jazz Festival - Randy Brecker & Deschanel Gordon Trio + support

Saturday October 2025

9.30pm - Randy Brecker & Deschanel Gordon Trio

8pm - Atlanticus

7.30pm - Doors

9.30PM - RANDY BRECKER & ADA ROVATTI WTH THE DESCHANEL GORDON TRIO

Randy Brecker is seasoned jazz veteran, virtuosic trumpeter and prolific composer, his horn has graced the bandstands and recordings of Horace Silver, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Charles Mingus, Clark Terry, Joe Henderson, Duke Pearson, Frank Foster and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. As a first call studio player, Brecker’s trumpet has also energized innumerable studio sessions by artists ranging from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Parliament-Funkadelic to David Sanborn, Jaco Pastorius, and Frank Zappa.

In the realms of cutting-edge jazz-rock fusion, Brecker has been a major contributor to Blood Sweat and Tears, Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House and Dreams, a group he co-founded with his brother Michael and drummer Billy Cobham.

After departing BS&T in 1969, Randy appeared with Horace Silver and many other jazz acts feeling a need to stretch his desire to improvise freely. By 1973, Randy and his sax playing brother, Michael had become the most in-demand studio players in New York City. In 1975 they decided to form their own band, “The Brecker Brothers”.

The Brecker Brothers became a band of immeasurable influence and impact. Hailed by pop and jazz critics alike, their first album, which Randy produced, was nominated for four Grammy awards. The Brecker Brothers went on to record a total of 6 albums and receive seven Grammy nominations between 1975 and 1981. In the late 70’s, Randy also recorded on Charles Mingus’ last album, Me Myself an Eye. He has since performed on various incarnations of Mingus Dynasty and the Mingus Big Band.

After the Brecker Brothers took a hiatus in 1982, Randy toured and recorded extensively as a key member of Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth. Several more solo projects followed with numerous tours around the world with many different artists.

A ten year break from the Brecker Brothers ended in 1992 with the release of the GRP project “Return of the Brecker Brothers” and “Out of The Loop” in 1994 which received 2 Grammy awards and resulted in both USA and European tours.

Randy has been heavily influenced by Brazilian music. For the 1998 Concord Jazz release “Into The Sun” Randy received the Grammy award for best “Contemporary Jazz Performance”.

In the past few years he has made recordings and concert appearances with The Trumpet Summit band (featuring Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Terrel Stafford), The Jazz Times “Superband” (featuring organist Joey DeFrancesco, drummer Dennis Chambers and tenor saxophonist, Bob Berg), Brecker Brothers Acoustic Band , and special reunion of Larry Coryell’s 11th House.

Randy is now signed with ESC Records. First Cd on this label was “Hangin’ in The City” which was released worldwide in April 2001 to considerable commercial and critical success. The release included all new funk/hip-hop and jazz compositions featuring the cream of the crop of NYC players.

Randy’s latest two CDs as a bandleader won both a Grammy:

In 2003 his CD “34th N Lex” for the ESC label featuring Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Fred Wesley, Ronnie Cuber and his regular working band won a Grammy as “Best Contemporary Jazz Album”.and the newly released CD “Some Skunk Funk” featuring Michael Brecker and the WDR Big Band just won this past February another Grammy as ” Best Large Ensemble CD”.

Randy Brecker is a true musical pioneer who continues to perform extensively around the world in a variety of settings. His quest for musical excellence while constantly expanding his trumpet style and encyclopedic catalogue of compositions are unparallel.

Ada Rovatti is an Italian native Ada Rovatti started playing saxophone in high school after years of classical piano training.

After winning a scholarship from Berklee College of Music in Italy she divided herself between Boston where she studied with Joe Viola, George Garzone and Fred Lipsius and Italy where she was regular working in Big Band with guest artists such as: Phil Woods, Lee Konitz and many more.

After spending one year in Paris touring Europe and Africa she moved in New York City. She has performed in important festivals such as JVC in NYC Rochester Jazz Festival, IAJE, Detroit Jazz Fest, Montreal Jazz Fest, San Francisco Jazz Fest, NorthSea Jazz Fest and a regular on the JazzCruise, appearing and performing with an impressive and diverse list of artists and bands such as: Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Patti Austin, Joe Bonamassa, Mike Stern, John McLaughlin, Anne Ducros, Bob Mintzer, Joanne Brackeen, Tony Levin, James Moody and many others.

In 2003 she released her first 2 CDs as a bandleader with the Elephunk Band and with her quartet with guests: Randy Brecker, Mike Stern and Don Alias.

Ada was part of 2 Grammy winning CDs by Randy Brecker –“34 th N Lex” and “Rocks” with NDR Big Band along with David Sanborn, and on the acclaimed CD of John McLaughlin “Industrial Zen” and also appeared in the movie ‘Mona Lisa Smile’ featuring Julia Roberts

As a band leader she has released 6 CDs: Ada Rovatti & The Elephunk Band, Under The Hat, Airbop, Green Factor, Disguise and Brecker Plays Rovatti -Sacred Bond.

She has toured with the Brecker Brothers Band Reunion with whom she recorded a live double DVD/CD from the Bluenote Jazz Club in NYC.

In 2021 she was invited as a guest to perform with the WDR Big Band of Cologne, Germany in a special concert titled “4 tenors” along with Bob Mintzer, Bob Malach and Paul Heller.

In the last couple years she has been extendedly touring and recording for various artists, arranging and producing and working on her brand new released project “The Hidden World Of Piloo” introducing her also as songwriter and string orchestrator with special guests Fay Claassen, Niki Haris, Kurt Elling and many more.

Deschanel Gordon, the 2020 BBC Young Jazz Musician winner, showcases a blend of originality and versatility in his performances. Collaborations with artists, including Mark Kavuma, Cassie Kinoshi’s Seed, Nubya Garcia, and Courtney Pine, highlight his adaptability. His music embodies swing, groove, and his Jamaican heritage. Gordon’s ability to navigate various styles and collaborate seamlessly makes him a standout figure in the contemporary UK jazz scene.Tonight, Deschanel explores new original compositions in preparation for his debut studio recording, featuring the incredible talents of Will Sach on bass and Will Cleasby on drums.“Gordon…delivers a flowingly expansive piano solo…exhibiting a…relaxed fluency' - The Jazzmann“The piano man to watch…Deschanel Gordon” - London Jazz News

8PM - ATLANTICUS

ATLANTICUS is a unique British-American musical partnership bringing together two powerfully distinct musical personalities to explore their common interest in the rich transatlantic heritage of jazz.Tenor saxophonist and composer Peter Fraize has established a formidable presence as player, composer and educator in his native Washington DC and across the East Coast jazz circuit. A trip to the UK in 2016 saw him establishing a connection with keys man Terry Seabrook, a prime mover on Brighton’s vibrant jazz scene with a national reputation as a forward-looking and original bandleader. The pair bonded over their mutual fascination with the timelessly popular Hammond organ jazz format, looking back to the masters of the genre such as Jimmy Smith and visionary modernists like Larry Young, and forward to contemporary practitioners Joey DeFrancesco and Larry Goldings. Swiftly recruiting firebrand young trumpeter Jack Kendon and powerhouse drummer Milo Fell to complete the classic quartet line-up, the new band set out on a comprehensive UK touring schedule that included a show-stopping performance at Love Supreme Jazz Festival alongside appearances at a string of major UK jazz clubs in 2018. At the end of that 20-date tour, the band entered the studio to record their debut album Blue Haven in a single day, capturing the excitement of their live set and the almost supernatural road-tested empathy of the band in eleven thrilling performances. They have since embarked upon several month-long tours of the UK, recording a follow-up album at the conclusion of each. The most recent, 2023’s Oceanic Tour, featured the premiere of the multimedia ‘Oceanic Suite’ which explored themes of wildlife, sustainability and climate change, supported by Arts Council England.The band's repertoire is based around original compositions by Peter and Terry, with some re-workings of material from the classic repertoire. Blue Haven and 2022’s Upstream encompass a range of the classic sounds associated with the organ genre, revitalised for the contemporary scene: the hot modal swing of ‘That’s What’, the punchy hard bop stylings of ‘Blue Haven’ and the bluesy swagger of ‘Let’s Walk’ are balanced by the intricate boogaloo groove of ‘Swank’, the angular funk of ‘Upstream’ and the montuno-infused misterioso vibe of ‘The Mentalist’. “Blue Haven was a chance for us both to really get into something new,” says Peter. “Terry really has all the proper Hammond organ skills on top of the modern harmonic chops that makes him a great match for my music.” “For me jazz is a global music, but it has its history in the United States and this project is an opportunity for me to further my connection with the whole amazing story of American jazz - there’s a particular energy in Peter’s playing and his compositions that is so inspiring!” says Terry.ATLANTICUS is a fresh take on a deep tradition, given new impetus by the transatlantic meeting of four superb musicians. Utterly authentic, effortlessly swinging, it acknowledges its roots without ever being overwhelmed by them to produce a truly original and satisfying statement.