Clive Peacock reviews Josh Bailey Trio, Kenilworth Jazz Club, Kenilworth Rugby Ground, 5 October, 2026.

With their strong links to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), the three young musicians who comprise the Josh Bailey Trio are anchored by a creative drummer, Don Holyoake and a talented bassist, Casper Hamilton.

Youngest of the three is keyboard player, Josh Bailey, a product of Light Hall School, Shirley, West Midlands. Bailey, now a second year student at RBC, is a young man with considerable potential as composer and musician.

The use of his electric keyboard in Kenilworth did not showcase his talents to their fullest potential; his own compositions and his interpretations of some of the great pianists will be better served by hearing his efforts at the piano.

No better evidence than his opening number, Rhythm-A-Ning, a Thelonius Monk special, a man known for the humorous and playful quality of his piano work; how very different would be the Josh sound from a piano!

There is a piano in a corner of the rugby ground bar, why not use it?!!

Having studied classical piano 'till grade 6, Josh sought the opportunity to embrace jazz and studied jazz at the junior section of RBC, developing his own composition skills at the same time. His very first effort was one of the highlights of the night, "Springs Window", an extremely enterprising piece full of thoughtful 'horizontal' melody lines.

Erskine Hawkins' "After Hours" was the moment for Don Holyoake to shine with a most tender contribution to the trio with a fine solo, too. "Stablemate", with lyrics and song by Barry Golson was a successful conversion to a jazz trio.; the trio also took John Coltrane's infamous "Central Park West" with its extremely plaintive opening and a vast right hand dependency to create another highlight.

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Bassist, Casper Hamilton led his own composition "Abstract Hands" with once again, sensitive drumming by Holyoake. Josh continued his support for the work of Thelonius Monk, choosing to play "We See" with a clever interpretation, before tackling the work of jazz saxophonist Gigi Gryce, to close a truly enjoyable evening in front of a good house in Kenilworth.