Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson Quartet with Robert Mitchell , Larry Bartley and Mark Mondesir

Event information

Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson - Sax
Robert Mitchell - Piano
Larry Bartley - bass
Mark Mondesir -  drums

Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson returns to the East Side after last years wonderful performance.  Vaughan has played and performed with many of the greats of the British jazz scene over the years. This is sure to be an evening filled with uplifting and swinging music.

An accomplished saxophonist and composer, Vaughan has recorded six albums with many of the leading lights of Jazz.
Vaughan was born on 24th May 1968 in London, to a Jamaican mother and Antiguan father, he took up the saxophone at 14 and by 17 was accepted into Berklee College of Music, U.S.A where he studied composition.
At the age of twenty he had already recorded two albums and performed with world class musicians such as Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Courtney Pine and Bobby Watson. His second album The Path featuring Julian Joseph and Mark Mondesir. After finishing his studies, Vaughan had begun questioning the role of the musician in contemporary society.
An intensive journey of self-exploration followed. It was not until 1995 that Vaughan returned to music in with the aptly titled Emergence. Emergence has been described as "...an accomplished, powerful and spiritually uplifting album..." (Straight No Chaser magazine).

1999 saw the release of See You There, which featured the late great South African pianist Bheki Mseleku, Mark Mondesir on drums and Jeremy Brown on acoustic bass.

In 2005 Vaughan wrote The Freedom Suite which receiving its premier performance at The Purcell Room in London featuring Julian Joseph on piano and Gary Husband on drums.

In 2019 Vaughan turned his hand to classical music and premiered his first string quartet and saxophone quintet with the Leon String Quartet at St Augustine’s Church, Ramsgate. He continues to compose in a wide range of styles and genres.

He is supported by a top class band . Robert Mitchell on piano . Over his 30 plus years entrenched in the art of music, Robert has released 13 albums of his own projects, participated in over 100 projects as a sideman, has performed/toured in 40 countries and is achieving a growing reputation as an inspirational educator. Robert was conferred the title of professor in June 2022 (from Guildhall School of Music/Drama). He has been a Steinway Artist since 2009.

On bass is Larry Bartley . Larry has become one of the most sought after bass players on the London jazz scene. He studied at Goldsmith College from 1988 - 1991 with Howard Riley and Laurence Couty giving him a wide and open outlook to the music scene. Larry Bartley's presence can be felt through his identifiable sound and through his deep commitment to music.

Larry Bartley has worked with bands led by Courtney Pine, Jean Toussaint, Denys Baptiste,Cleveland Watkiss, Byron Wallen ,Steve Williamson, Julian Joseph, AndySheppard, Soweto Kinch, Juliet Roberts, Alex Wilson and Robert Mitchellas well as backing visiting musicians such as Stanley Turrentine and Steve Grossman. Larry Bartley has also on the stage of the Royal Opera House with dancer Sharon Wrey's.

Larry Bartley's playing is featured on many recordings by some of London's best-known jazz players

On drums the wonderful Mr Mark Mondesir . Mark certainly is one of the most astonishing drummers on this planet with a mind boggling concept of time, creativity and speed that is bordering the super human. Marks never ceases to amaze audiences with his awe-inspiring technique, subtle feel and sheer inventiveness. He has played with Courtney Pine, Jazz Warriors, Julian Joseph, John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck with Jan Hammer, Ronnie Wood, Imogen Heap etc, McCoy Tyner , Kevin Eubanks with Dave Holland, Bryan Ferry, David Sylvian, Toni Childs, Ravi Coltrane, Gary Thomas, Matthew Garrison,The Jazz Crusaders with Wayne Henderson & Wilton Felder, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, Thijs Van Leer(Focus), Andy Sheppard, Annette Peacock, Joanne Brackeen, Ray Bryant, Ronnie Matthews, Art Farmer, Hamish Stuart, Chante Moore, Joe Zawinul & London Symphony Orchestra, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Leni Stern, Keith More, Ron E Carter, Scott Henderson & Gary Willis, Barbara Dennerlein, Loose Tubes, Art Blakey, Yes No People(Creators of “Stomp”),Gary Husband,(Director/Musician)Mike Figgis with Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Lulu, Jon Cleary etc, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley with Bobby Byrd, Vicki Anderson etc, Hermeto Pascoal…..and the rest he can’t remember