Jazz at the Barn turns five years old! This season, from September 2026 to July 2027, local musician Matt Ward invites guests to join us in celebration at the Barn Theatre for a gig list packed full of the UK’s top jazz musicians, young rising stars, as well as some familiar and favourite local faces along the way.

The first gig of 2027 on Friday 29th January, we shake off the post-New Year blues with hard bop, Latin numbers, ballads, and original compositions from rising star tenor saxophonist, Ethan Townsend. For his gig at the Barn Theatre, Ethan brings a sextet of some of London’s finest young musicians, many of whom are recent graduates from courses at the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Ethan is a jazz and classical saxophonist and woodwind musician based in London. He leads his own group, performing original music, and co-leads Soul Resonance, a duo project exploring the intersection of saxophone improvisation, electronics and wellbeing-focused practice.

In addition to being Syd Lawrence Orchestra’s lead tenor player, he has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Ballet and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. His work has taken him to major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre, Royal Festival Hall and Royal Opera House.

As a jazz musician, Ethan has performed at a sold-out Ronnie Scott’s alongside Orphy Robinson, for the Vibes Describes show, and has appeared at other renowned jazz venues including Pizza Express Live Soho, Crazy Coqs, Soul Mama, and The Watford Pumphouse.

A former Neville Wathen Scholar, he is a recipient of the Henry Wood Trust Award from the Royal College of Music and holds a Master’s degree in jazz Saxophone from the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with an entrance scholarship. He was also granted a Help Musicians Postgraduate Award for the 2024/25 academic year to support his studies.

Performing at this event:

• Ethan Townsend – tenor saxophone
• Lewis Kentaro Isaacs – vibraphone
• Sacha Bistany – guitar
• Will Inscoe – keyboard
• Ben Boardman – double bass
• Oscar Williams – drums