Name: Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats: Fats Waller’s London Suite
Start: 2026-06-06T19:30:00+01:00
Location: 60 Oxford Street, L7 3NY

$Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats: Fats Waller\u2019s London Suite$

Fats Waller wrote his six-movement London Suite during his trip to the UK in 1939. The Suite was later orchestrated for British bandleader Ted Heath. In their inaugural performance as a Tung Affiliate Ensemble, Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats Big Band present their unique version of the London Suite with internationally-renowned pianist Adam Fairhall as soloist. A 'transatlantic trip' becomes the theme for the second half, featuring the Cats' vocalists Jo Robinson-Howarth and Peter Whittles in a selection of swinging songs illustrated with photographs from the University's Cunard Archive.
Over the past fifteen years, Adam Fairhall has forged an international reputation as a jazz pianist and keyboard improviser of exceptional versatility and striking individuality. Based near Manchester, England and highly active on that city’s burgeoning creative music scene, he is perhaps best known as the pianist in Nat Birchall’s Coltrane-inspired band, and as an eclectic, ‘Ragtime-to-Free’ solo pianist.
Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats big band was formed in 2002 by musical director Catherine Tackley, Professor of Music at the University of Liverpool. Featuring two fantastic vocalists, the band has a wide repertoire, with a particular reputation for authentic performances of swing from the 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. As a result, the band is in high demand to play for vintage dancing.
In 2022 the band celebrated its twentieth year with a concert in the Tung Auditorium. Other highlights from the past two decades include performances at venues as diverse as the Royal Northern College of Music, Tatton Park, the Troxy in London and Invisible Wind Factory in Liverpool as well as tours to Ireland, Cornwall and London.
Promoted by Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats.