Steve Berry/Hans Koller/ Louie Koller/ Sam Nicholls

A quartet of musicians from across the country and generations, celebrating the timeless music that brought them together. This quartet will perform a variety of compositions by members of the band and their favourite composers, including Thelonious Monk and Keith Jarrett.

Steve Berry - After two years studying Fine Art, Steve Berry’s professors noticed he was mostly absent, busy writing songs in his lodgings. In 1977 they suggested a year out, saying, “We think you might actually be a musician.” Now in his 47th gap year, it seems they were right. A series of fluke events— including his first encounter with Jazz—led Steve to London in 1979, where he took up double bass and became a founding member of Loose Tubes. Moving north to Lancashire, he combined playing with teaching, becoming Head of Jazz & Improvisation at RNCM in 2019. He still performs internationally, largely thanks to his long collaboration with Mike and Kate Westbrook.

Hans Koller - Pianist, composer, and arranger born in Landshut, Germany in 1970. Resident in London since 1991, he studied ethnomusicology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, and also jazz composition with Mike Gibbs and Bob Brookmeyer. Koller has played and worked with Steve Lacy, Evan Parker, Phil Woods, Harry Becket, Kenny Wheeler, Bill Frisell, Steve Swallow, Jeff Williams, the BBC Big Band, the NDR Big Band, and the WDR Big Band. He is part of the Jazz Department at Trinity Laban in London where he teaches composition, arranging, and improvisation.

Louie Koller - Trombonist (valve and slide) and pianist born in London in 2012, joint Julian Joseph's Jazz Academy and World Heart Beat at a young age. Taught and mentored by trombonist and composer Wilf Diamond, he has played with Byron Wallen at the Vortex and also worked with Tom Challenger. He was a semi-finalist at the 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year, playing with Steve Watts, Rod Youngs, and Robert Mitchell.

Sam Nicholls - Hailing from the Lake District, Sam carved his drumming from an early age under the tutelage of Dave Hassell and the fresh mountain air. Prior to moving to London, he was the Principal Percussionist of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and was part of the National Youth Jazz Collective. He is currently in is final year studying Jazz at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.