The Night
Friday at Alfie's starts from the bottom up: bassist Stuart Barker brings his trio to the studio grand room above Greek Street, with Dave Ferris on piano and Alfonso Vitale on drums. Two houses, 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Fridays here have a habit of selling through. The martinis are proper, the room is close, and a piano trio this tight is the best argument there is for sitting near the front.
The Music
Stu Barker picked up the double bass at fourteen and graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire, with masterclasses from Dave Holland, Jeff Ballard, Mark Turner and John Taylor along the way. He has worked with the Clark Tracey Quintet, leads his own quartet ULV, has supported Laura Mvula, and has played the 606, Ronnie Scott's, the Barbican and the Cheltenham and Brecon festivals.
His trio plays standards and originals with the bass right at the centre of the conversation, the kind of playing that makes a room lean in. Sophie's Dad's Old Car, filmed at the Piano Bar, is a fair taste of what is coming. At the piano, Dave Ferris: Cornish born, a first class graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire, winner of the Mike Gibbs Prize for composition, and leader of a septet whose album Sketches featured the American guitarist Peter Bernstein. Alfonso Vitale, a regular in Tony Kofi's Portrait of Cannonball quintet, keeps it swinging. The early house suits conversation. The late house suits none at all.
Plan Your Visit
above 49 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4EG
///books.ranks.fans
· Tottenham Court Road 3 min
· Leicester Square 6 min
Sets (6.30-7.00PM, 7.15-8.00PM) & (8.30-9.15PM, 9.45-10.30PM)
Transfers or refunds are available up to 48 hours before the event. Members receive 50% off advance tickets and walk-in privileges. For assistance or private hire, email concierge@soho.live. Please check the date on your booking before checkout. Full terms.
