The world loves competitions these days, and it seems people aren't interested unless there are judges whirling round in big red chairs, but music really isn't like that. The latest amazing group of jazz talent emerging from the top colleges work and play together, and we are proud to present a three-night festival to demonstrate that the whole is even greater than the sum of the parts. Collaboration, not competition. Very jazz... This weekend, Toulouse Lautrec will feature three ensembles, involving several BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year participants and their colleagues, in their natural habitat – playing together, performing their music, their way. Welcome to the future. As part of the Young Jazz Synergy weekend. We are proud to present our second night of our summer festival - a celebration of award-winning young jazz talent and a chance to hear The Redoubtable Ridouts with siblings Alexandra & Tom Ridout. Alexandra Ridout was crowned the winner of the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016 at the age of 17. Since winning the BBC Young Musician 2016 Jazz Award Alexandra has been interviewed on ‘In tune’ on Radio 3, interviewed on ‘Jazz Now’ on Radio 3 and hosted the ‘True Brit’ show on Jazz FM. She also performed with fellow BBC Young Musician Jazz Award finalists Noah Stoneman ( 2016 final ) and Freddie Jensen (2014 final) as a trio in the interval during the Classical BBC Young Musician final at The Barbican. Some of Alexandra’s recent performance highlights include performing with Dave Holland and the NYJC flagship band at the Houses of Commons, regularly depping in the main NYJO band, performing at the Pizza Express Soho with the RAM Junior jazz, performing with the Clark Tracey Quintet, performing with the RAM trumpets for the Kenny Wheeler Tribute at the Cadogan Hall, performing as a main act in the Manchester Jazz festival 2016 with her own quintet ‘The Alexandra Ridout Quintet’, performing at the 606 with a family band ‘The Ridouts’. “We were enchanted by Alexandra’s presence as a musician, her sound, but I think most importantly there was a relationship with the blues and swinging that sounds important in her playing” – Julian Joseph, Chair of the jury of the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016. “Her incredibly sweet, subtle and well-controlled tone….absolutely owning the stage and the room…melodic, fluent and engaging…great sound, and an emotional content to her playing, but again with superb control even in very high register…..Stevie Wonder’s Golden Lady, showed that she has similar expertise on flugelhorn” – Jazz Journal “Alexandra Ridout, just 17, showed her poise, shining tone, and instrumental command with an unaccompanied trumpet intro ………. a sparkling duet with Simcock on Herbie Hancock’s Sonrisa…..obviously a player of huge promise” – London Jazz News “Her unaccompanied intro had heads nodding and feet tapping even before the band joined in. There was also a grooving take on Steve Wonder’s ‘Golden Lady’ to close the set in style, with a sizzling exchange of fours with Gwilym Simcock” – Jazzwise Magazine Award winning saxophonist Tom Ridout (22) was predicted by Jazzwise Magazine in 2012 as an upcoming jazz musician to watch out for. A recent graduate from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music and finalist in the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016, Tom is a prolific composer who fronts his own bands playing his original compositions. Tom has performed at many venues across the country including Ronnie Scotts (both with his own Quintet and NYJO –The national Youth Jazz Orchestra), The 606, Barbican Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Buckingham Palace, Sage Theatre in Gateshead and many others. He is also on NYJO’s latest album, ‘NYJO Fifty’. Whilst at RAM, Tom studied with revered musicians such as Stan Sulzmann, Martin Speake, Iain Ballamy, Jean Toussaint and Gareth Lockrane, and through being at the Academy and in NYJO has had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Gregory Porter, Nikki Iles, Gwilym Simcock and Dave Holland. Tom has been the recipient of The Craig Ball Award, the Richard Turner Jazz Fund Award and the Essentially Ellington Outstanding saxophonist Award. “Names to note: … the very persuasive Tom Ridout on tenor” – Peter Vacher, London Jazz News “Tom Ridout on virtuosic recorder” – Mike Collins, London Jazz News “Fiery, focussed soloing by impressive tenor saxophonist Tom Ridout” – Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise Alex Ridout - Trumpet Tom Ridout - Saxes & Recorder Will Barry - Piano Flo Moore - Double Bass Phelan Burgoyne - Drums 1) Tickets are non-refundable with 48 Hours of the event. 2) We operate a Check-21. If you are lucky enough to appear younger than 21 you may be asked for photographic ID. 3) Seating is available on a first come, first served basis only. Latecomers may be required to stand until seating becomes available. 4) Reserved seating is only available for ticket holders of 7 or more people. We do not sell more tickets than we do seats.