I’m very proud of our wonderful new club ‘Sands by the Sea’ opened in conjunction with my great friend Philip Miller, the visionary behind Southend’s sensational ‘Adventure Island’ . And every last Thursday of the month we aim to bring the very best of British jazz talent to the club we like to call ‘Southend’s own Ronnie Scott’s’! Well this month I’m especially pleased that – with myself, Roger Curphey(bass) and Alan Clarke (drums – our star visitor is NICK DAWSON: the man who (for me) is both the greatest jazz pianist in the UK and the finest jazz singer as well! Quite a double! Regularly to be heard both playing and singing at Ronnie Scott’s, Nick nonetheless has spent over ten years as principal Musical Director for the West End production of ‘Mamma Mia’; the Abba musical which (because of its inevitable over-familiarity these days!) he now calls ‘the Swedish play!’. Away from Swedish duties however Nick is a piano maestro as capable of rocking through Meade Lux Lewis’s ‘Honky Tonk Train Blues’ as racing through any Art Tatum tour-de-force without breaking sweat. And his singing – a lyric combination of Mel Torme and (maybe?) Vic Damone – leaves the opposition way down in the polls! As if this weren’t enough tonight at the Sands we have another extra special guest HANNAH LEIGH-MILLER; dropping in after a bill-topping season on board ship for a world cruise to bring us some choice selections from the great songbooks. Definitely a night to remember, so do book early: 01702 468123. The address is: Sands by the Sea, Icon Building, Adventure Island, Western Esplanade, Southend SS1 1EE; dining starts at 7.15; music from 8.30 and there’s plenty of parking on the sea front from 6pm! We look forward to seeing you!