Duelling Vibes: Chuck Redd & Nat Steele

After an unforgettable show in October 2024, American jazz legend Chuck Redd will be returning to PizzaExpress Live Soho to perform another "Duelling Vibes" show alongside fellow vibraphonist Nat Steele. These two masters of their instrument will present a concert detailing the history of the vibraphone in jazz, playing tunes associated with many legends of the genre including Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Terry Gibbs, Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Pike, Victor Feldman, and countless others. They will be joined by a world-class rhythm section led by pianist Hugo Jennings. This unusual combo of two vibraphones + piano trio will present make for a top class showing as they play a varied programme of music.

Chuck Redd, an internationally-renowned vibraphonist and drummer, will be coming over from America to celebrate the music of many legends of jazz vibraphone, and perform with some of London's finest musicians. He will be performing alongside Nat Steele in an unusual combination of two vibraphones, backed by a rhythm section led by pianist Hugo Jennings. The programme will detail the history of the vibraphone's role in jazz.

Chuck Redd is well-known internationally as a performer on drums and vibraphone. Chuck began recording and touring the globe when he joined the Charlie Byrd Trio at the age of 21. To his credit are 25 European tours and six tours of Japan with some of the biggest names in jazz. Other career highlights include a concert with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Africa for the Namibian Independence Celebration, a recital at the White House with the Barney Kessel Trio, concerts at Carnegie Hall with Mel Torme's Quintet, and appearances on The Tonight Show. Chuck has known vibraphonist Terry Gibbs since the 1990s and toured Japan with him in the 2000s, eventually being asked to lead the Terry Gibbs Dream Band at a variety of concerts, including the final concert before Gibbs's retirement. Chuck has presented many big band concerts across the US featuring charts given to him by Terry himself, as well as concerts across the world featuring the music of other vibes legends such as Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Victor Feldman, and countless others.

Nat Steele is one of the top vibraphonists in the UK. His 2017 album “Portrait of the MJQ” garnered rave reviews in the press, winning album of the month in BBC Music Magazine. He has recently released a new album, a follow-up to the MJQ album featuring the great Scott Hamilton, and also recently recorded a tribute to Milt Jackson, which was recorded in New York with Jackson’s old band at the Rudy van Gelder studio. He’s worked both as a bandleader and sideman with artists like Grammy winner Alan Broadbent, Grant Stewart, and Dave Newton.

Hugo Jennings is a young pianist and singer on the London jazz scene who has developed a reputation for his playing, knowledge of the music, and work as founder and director of the Battersea Jazz Festival. He has appeared at venues including the Clapham Grand, Pizza Express Dean Street, ExWide in Pisa, and performed alongside musicians including Steve Fishwick, Alex Garnett, Tom Smith, Quentin Collins, and American artists including Chuck Redd, Gabrielle Stravelli, Pat O'Leary, and Adam Moezinia.