31st March 2016

It was another toe-tapping session at the Albion as the Mandrake Heritage Trio rolled back the years and brought a slice of sleazy Soho to the genteel streets of Hove. Back in the swinging ’60s the legendary Mandrake was the West End musicians’ club of choice, a drop-in centre for musicians where they could drink after hours, swap stories and play jazz into the early hours of the morning. Three of the regular sitters-in at the Mandrake were tenor-player Dave Quincy, bassist Gerry Higgins and jazz pianist Mick Hamer. The three musicians–the Mandrake Heritage Trio–were reunited for the gig at the Albion, recreating the sounds of half a century ago with tunes like Stomping at the Savoy and How high the moon.