September 2026 – News +

Hi everyone,

We mentioned this a while ago, and reminded everyone who came along to KLJC last week, but we just need to make sure that everyone is up to date with what is happening at the Services Club during September.

1st September we are hosting the wonderful Annie’s Band, with Annie Dehaney-Steven on vocals, Jonathan Grogan on guiter, John Davis on both keys and alto sax and Roger Hudson on bass. A great night is guaranteed.

Then we will be absent for 3 weeks whilst the Services Club are in the process of upgrading the light and sound systems in the Theatre Bar. Ultimately it means we will have the most modern tech to support our visiting bands and musicians, but the pain is that we must be jazz-less for 3 weeks whilst the works go on. So:

8th September – No Jazz Club

15th September – No Jazz Club

22nd September – No Jazz Club

29th September – THE GRAND RETURN when we host the Hertswing Big Band, to recommence “business as usual” in KLJC’s ambition to host the best possible jazz musicians in the area together with the occasion “special evenings” when we are so fortunate to be able to attract some of the best professional jazz musicians in the country to come and entertain us in Kings Langley.

Specials still to come this year are:

13th October – Alan Barnes (clarinet, tenor, alto, baritone etc etc) who has had more musical accolades than you can swing a cat at – and boy does the music swing when he is in town.

8th December – Pete Long (clarinet, tenor, alto, tenor etc etc) – so delighted that he accepted our invitation to come along for his first visit to KLJC – with a bag of instruments to choose from but with a request we hear a lot of his most wonderful clarinet playing.

2027 – Plans

Plans are already well on the way to organizing and soon booking our bands for 2027. So far, we are have/are hoping to achieve the following:

1. Welcoming students from the Purcell Music School with one of their famous tutors to lead them (think Simon Allen, Martin Shaw, Oly Hayhurst, Pete Billington all tbc) – encouraging the next generation of jazzers is our aim.
2. For the traditionalist amongst you, Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends will be returning early in the New Year – 12th January to be precise.
3. On 23rd February we will be hosting one of the most exciting modern jazz trios in the country (if not the world) the full Nigel Price Organ Trio – so Nigel on guitar, Ross Stanley on Hammond Organ and Joel Barford on drums. If you have heard/seen them you know what a treat is in store, if you haven’t you will be astounded by the musicality, the originality, the exceptional musicianship and all coming to play for us at KLJC. Couldn’t be more excited!
4. Plus, what has become our regular programme of “Special Evenings” – working with Ronnie Fenn, and a grand backing band, we are in the process of confirming dates with some of our favourite UK jazz musicians from this and last year. And, moreover, having been wowed by his playing at the Swanage Jazz Festival in July 2027, we can let you know that Ronnie has already secured the most amazing American tenor player, Greg Abate, to be one of our specials – he will be with us on 13th July 2027. So now we can say that KLJC hosts International Jazz stars.
5. Catherine Lima – a KLJC favourite vocalist – will be bringing her own band – “The Beat Goes On” on 13th February. Another exceptional night to be had by all. A long time coming as we had to postpone Catherine from 2026 due to the footie.
6. The Gary Wood Swing Band – delighted to confirm that Gary (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocalist) will be bringing his own band to KLJC this year – bad jokes, great swing music, super musicians.
7. As for the Big Bands, we are in discussions with: Hertfordshire Big Band, Hertswing (of course), the Mid Herts Jazz Orchestra (a new one for KLJC), Phoenix Jazz Orchestra with Robert Haberman revisiting their 2026 Frank Sinatra show, the superb Stellar Big Band led by Veronica Dowdeswell, Jim Phillips Big Band (Tim Wait), and JJ and the Conchord Big Band

You’ll have to watch this space for more information as we get the 2027 Programme together.