The AJL Trio

Performance information

Line-up	Sax; piano; double bass
Performance duration	2 x 60 minute or 3 x 40 minute sets
Interval music	Yes (included in price)
Lighting	Yes (included in price)
Arrival & set-up	60 minutes before start
Requirements	Space of 3 x 2 metres; power supply

Booking options

What people say

• We had a great day on our 40th Wedding Anniversary. Although we had a replacement for one member of AJL Duo because one had an operation and could not attend, the guys who turned up were great. They made our day so special, you can't beat live music. We had a saxophone and keyboard which set the mood in the Rose Garden perfectly. I would not hesitate to use Function Central in the future. Thanks again for making our special day that little bit more special.

  Brenda, 40th Wedding Anniversary, London, September 2009

• The band were absolutely brilliant. They played a range of songs and were a hit with all our guests at the evening wedding reception. Thanks! Would recommend them in a
  heart beat.

  Nia & Graham, Wedding, Surrey, April 2009

• Dear John, hope you are well. We just wanted to say a big thank you to you and your band for performing at our wedding on 10th January at Cooling Castle Barn. You were so friendly and professional from start to finish and your playing really did add something magical to our wedding - you were all fantastic. So many of our guests commented on how great 'The Jazz band' were - your choice of music was spot on - really up beat - just what we wanted. Many thanks again.

  Julie & Chris, Wedding, Kent, January 2009

• It was not easy trying to select the live music for wedding and knowing whether it will live up to your hopes and expectations. In the case of The AJL Trio, we should not have worried. They had a great reportoire and their performance of each piece was excellent. We and our guests thoroughly enjoyed their performance and we have been subsequently asked for their contact details for other events. I would like to that you and The AJL Trio for making all the arrangements and for the superb performance.

  Clive Young, Wedding, Sussex, September 2007

• Hi John, Just to let you know that Tim didn't speak to the customer until Friday to make sure that everything was OK and the feedback was that you guys were great and they were very, very pleased. Tim has asked me to relay this to you. He has all your details so if he needs musicians again in the future he will most definitely use you again.

  Clare, Corporate Party, April 2007

• Dear John, This is just a quick note to thank you all very much for your wonderful playing on Monday. We all enjoyed it and both my Manager and the Sales Director have told me how good it was. We shall definately keep you in mind for future events. Please pass on my thanks to the other band members. Hope to be in touch soon.

  Miranda, Corporate Trade Event, January 2007

• Dear John, Please convey my thanks to 'Ray' and his colleagues for their playing at my party last Saturday evening.It proved to be a very busy evening for me and I did leave the band to look after themselves. However they did say they had enjoyed it so I hope they did and that they did have enough to eat and drink.Many of my friends have since said how much they enjoyed the music and that the jazz and band were excellent so again many thanks. Also thanks to you for your prompt response to my initial enquiry and the follow up which was so helpful and friendly.

  Jane, Birthday Party, November 2006

• ...the living room is still in its opera configuration, so I have to switch everything around and get the piano back in. The futon fits neatly in the bath, I notice. Estimated mouths to feed (performers and audience): 18.
  
  The first thing to strike me when the musicians arrive is that I don't think they understood the sort of venue they're playing in tonight. They played Shepherd's Bush last week and have Ronnie Scott's coming up, but, like true jazzmen, they take my living room in their stride. Unlike true jazzmen, they are here on time.
  
  It was going to be a quintet - Ray Guntrip (piano), Joe Caddy (drums), Dick Pearce (trumpet), Val Maniks (double bass), and their leader, John Worthington (sax) - but they asked along Kofi Karikari (percussion) for good measure. I'm told he plays for Jamiroquai. John has been pure cool all along. I had to call him this morning just to reassure myself that they were coming.
  
  Everyone is lined up: performers on one side, audience on the other. A promoter called Clement is here, too. Kofi has given each of us something to shake. There is a small scuffle over the sleigh bells. "That's the percussion discussion," observes Kofi jazzily. The band begins.
  
  Within five minutes, I'm struggling with a horrible reality: these guys are plainly too good for my living room. Fluent and expressive, thoughtful and funky: this is the best live jazz I've ever heard. Everyone should save up and hire these guys. The room is grooving openly now. Mesmerised by another of Dick's trumpet solos, I forget to stop filling my glass and pour beer all over the floor.
  
  Some more of Kofi's friends arrive. Mike and Tracey are from Atlanta; they won a sort of songwriters' Pop Idol in Prague. Their friend Ola is a singer who turns out to live 200 yards away. I get them some chairs. Dick has been enjoying the nibbles, but shifts them out of reach. "I'm going to move the crisps away because they might catch the drips from my trumpet," he hollers at me over a drum solo.
  
  Things turn into a bit of a party. Mike's friend Tony has turned up; he's a pianist and producer, I think. Someone called Valentine is here, too. Joe, Kofi and their mates are having a soul and funk jam session - an appropriate term in this room. My friend starts singing with them. Everybody's dancing. We have eight minutes - I made a deal with the neighbours - and 93% of dinner left. I feel, drunkenly, that I will never have a better time at work...

  Guardian Music Feature, July 2006