Hadleigh Jazz Club's promotor George Double is always excited by the discovery of exciting new local talent. So much so, that at the Club's recent show, he gave over a slot to Oscar Lyons to reveal his piano playing to the packed audience.

Backed by Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and George on drums, sixteen-year-old Oscar commenced his set with a sparkling rendition of Herbie Hancock's Driftin'.

This was followed by Isham Jones' There is no greater love, another number recorded by Hancock; obviously an influence and great favourite with Oscar.

Showing its appreciation, the audience gave him an enthusiastic and sustained ovation. For me, in addition to his undoubted playing ability, I was equally impressed by his maturity and genuine feel for the music.

Following the show, George took time-out to tell me more about Oscar: "Chris Ingham had told me about this gifted young player he'd been teaching. When Oscar came to play a couple of tunes at the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds with Geoff and me, I was knocked out! Oscar had bags of jazz vocabulary, all served up with swinging irresistible authority."

George added: "I couldn't wait to book him for a guest spot at Hadleigh Jazz Club, because I knew everyone would love to see a young man with this kind of talent and such a sense of excitement in his playing. He has a great future ahead of him, and just gets better and better each time I hear him."

Oscar commenced playing the piano at the age of five, and the alto sax at eleven. He was part of the Aldeburgh Young Musicians programme and has participated at the National Youth Jazz Collective summer schools, and will be performing with them later this year in London.

Oscar is currently attending the Royal Academy of Music's junior jazz programme, and will soon be appearing with them in another London performance for him.

From it all, Oscar is starting to develop his own compositional style and is looking forward to showcasing his music, with the aim to become a professional musician.

Watch out for Oscar – a Suffolk star of the future.

The Club's next show, Jazz at the Movies: A Swinging Christmas, is at the Town Hall on 18 December.

This annual seasonal show is always popular, and tickets are selling fast.

To get yours, log on to www.ticketsource.co.uk/Hadleigh-jazz-club.

For advance information about HJC gigs, email [email protected], and ask to be added to the club's mailing list.

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