A Night of Classic and Contemporary Jazz Teturns to The Duck and Ball
The Phil Brown Swingtet settles back into its regular slot
The band playing with guest vocalist Diane Slater. Picture: Tim Wacher
March 27, 2026
A lively night of classic and contemporary jazz returns to Chiswick as The Phil Brown Swingtet settles back into its regular slot at The Duck and Ball, Riverside Drive.
The six-piece band will perform on Thursday 16 April, and then on the third Thursday of every month throughout the year, offering audiences an evening of high-energy swing, rich harmonies and virtuoso improvisation.
The Swingtet is led by veteran trombonist Phil Brown, whose decades of experience anchor a group that moves effortlessly across the jazz spectrum — from Armstrong’s early traditional sound to Basie’s big-band swing and modern classics. His son Lester Brown brings trumpet and flugelhorn to the frontline, joined by multi-reed specialist Mark Aston on clarinet and saxophones, Mike Bennett on double bass, and brothers Andrew and David Clancy on piano/keyboard and drums.
Their sets are known for variety, warmth and spontaneity, with each musician given space to shine. Whether it’s a tight ensemble arrangement or a free-flowing solo, the band’s chemistry is unmistakable.
The most recent session on 19 March showcased the band’s range, opening with Earl Hines’ Rosetta and moving through Duke Ellington favourites such as Satin Doll and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore. The evening also featured Sonny Rollins’ St Thomas, Benny Goodman’s Sometimes I’m Happy, and a rousing finale of Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man, driven by David Clancy’s “thunderous” drumming.
Guest musicians are a hallmark of the Swingtet’s nights, and regulars include vocalists Diane Slater, Isabel Saunders, Teresa Jennings, Stephan O’Goodson, and occasionally Tim Wacher, alongside trumpeters Chris Hodgkins and Anthony Cox, and members of the extended Clancy musical family. The March session also welcomed the Lindy Circle Dancers, whose elegant swing dancing added an extra layer of atmosphere — and who are warmly invited back.
The Duck and Ball, located at 12 Riverside Drive (W4 2SP) opposite Dukes Meadows, offers a relaxed bar setting with t food and a dedicated event space inside the Chiswick Cricket Club pavilion. Entry is free, parking is available, and music runs from 8pm to 10.30pm.
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