Canadian-born Mike Coates is one of the busiest, versatile and most respected saxophonists on the jazz music scene.  He is a supremely gifted soloist and sidesman, highly regarded throughout the profession and a total joy to listen to. His playing combines authority, swing and musical intelligence with a warm, engaging and open personality that connects instantly with audiences.

His achievements include winning BBC Jazz Saxophonist of the Year and a period as featured saxophonist with the BBC Radio Big Band, confirming his standing as a musician of exceptional calibre. Mike’s wide-ranging career has seen him perform with an impressive list of artists and ensembles including Alison Moyet, the Sid Lawrence Orchestra, the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, Johnny Mathis and Michel Legrand, reflecting both his stylistic versatility and international reputation.

As a bandleader and composer, Mike’s debut CD This Is features all-original material and highlights his distinctive musical voice, rooted in the great jazz tradition yet always personal and expressive. Beyond jazz, he has appeared in numerous musicals, live television broadcasts and high-profile session recordings on the London scene, and has toured extensively across France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain and Sweden, appearing at major venues and international festivals.

In The Beauty of Benny Golson, Mike Coates celebrates the legacy of one of jazz’s greatest composers and tenor saxophonists. Benny Golson was a master melodist whose music combines elegance, emotional depth and irresistible swing. His compositions — including I Remember Clifford, Killer Joe, Whisper Not, Along Came Betty and Blues March— have become timeless jazz standards, loved by musicians and audiences alike.

This special programme honours Golson’s extraordinary contribution to jazz, bringing his beautifully crafted melodies and soulful hard-bop language vividly to life. Expect classic tunes, deep swing and lyrical improvisation, delivered with respect for the tradition and a clear sense of joy in the music.

Band
Mike Coates — Saxophone
Jim Treweek — Piano
Andrew Clyndert — Double Bass
Mike Osborne — Drums