Time Is Of The Essence

“An enjoyable and entertaining performance … excellent playing throughout…the beautiful performances of the Bernstein and Simon ballads were definite set highlights” The Jazz Mann

Time is of the Essence bring their splendid fusion of Hammond jazz to the scene… a mix of 60s groove, contemporary originals and standards – including works by Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny and John Scofield.

The band features one of the tastiest tenor players on the UK scene, Ollie Weston. Ollie's credits run a whole smorgasbord of styles, including stints with Jamie Cullum, Amy Winehouse, Sax Appeal, Stornaway and current hipsters, The Hackney Colliery Band! A player with a distinctive muscular, yet thoroughly soulful sound.

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Steering the band harmonically and taking care of all bass duties is the ambidextrous keyboard maestro, Martin Pickett. Martin has accompanied countless stars of the national jazz glitterati and is also known for his fabulous compositions.

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Guitarist Pete Oxley is already well known to JATE regulars. A consistently engaging soloist and accompanist, Pete has recently been leading 7-piece Hejira on substantial UK tour performing the music of Joni Mitchell to great acclaim, and also featuring Ollie and Rick in the band.

A full-time professional drummer, percussionist and teacher since 1983, Rick’s performance credits include Just East, Liane Carroll, Si Cranstoun, Des O'Connor, Jacqui Dankworth, Sinéad O’Connor and Mari Wilson.

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He secured his first West End show chair at the age of 24, and his subsequent career as West End theatre drummer has included a 22-year run at Blood Brothers as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Chess, Time, and has seen him accompanying stars like Mel C, Natasha Hamilton, Marti Pellow, Cliff Richard, Stephanie Lawrence, David Cassidy and David Soul.

His love of jazz has led to performances with many of the finest UK Jazz soloists including Ian Shaw, Martin Speake, Derek Nash, Gilad Atzmon, Tina May, Ed Jones, Jim Mullen, Julian Stringle, Jonathan Gee, Roger Beaujolais and many others.

Television includes: Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Parkinson, The Jethro Junction, The Late Show.

An innovative and enthusiastic teacher, Rick has directed workshops in Jazz and Latin-American percussion, as well as the business of music. He has taught at many schools and colleges including Trinity College of Music, Middlesex University.

Rick writes for, plays in and manages jazz/world quartet Just East and their record label Just East of Jazz. Lately he’s been touring with Hejira: Celebrating Joni Mitchell

One of the tastiest tenor players on the UK scene, Ollie's credits run a whole smorgasbord of styles, including stints with Jamie Cullum, Amy Winehouse, Sax Appeal, Stornaway and current hipsters, The Hackney Colliery Band! A player with a distinctive muscular, yet thoroughly soulful sound.