Heads South plays superb Latin Jazz combining Cuban and other Latin rhythms with distinctive melodies in an exhilarating repertoire of original and classic tunes. The Band is led by John Harriman piano/organ and features top UK trumpeter Steve Waterman, Venezuelan bassist Adolfredo Pulido, Cuban percussionist Chino Martell Morgan on congas, bongos, cajon, guiro and Buster Birch on drums, timbale, castanets, frame drum.

The Band has released two albums to critical acclaim, it was chosen to perform a national tour of Wales sponsored by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and Arts Council of Wales and was selected from more than 75 bands nationwide as winner of the UK Jazz Services/National Touring Forum award . Read more>

“Heads South is a refreshing cultural mix of players with outstanding jazz credentials... Cuban rhythms dominate, rocking syncopated percussion... well worth seeing”

— The Gig Guide

“Exciting, liberating” “Excellent show, glad we came” “Brilliant. Will come again” “Thank you for your fabulous music.”

— Lancashire Tour

PAST (PUBLIC) GIGS INCLUDE:

Featured

Jan 9, 2023

2022 a better year for live music !

Jan 9, 2023

started by Heads South !

Jan 9, 2023

Aug 31, 2022

Saturday September 17th 2022

Aug 31, 2022

In a rare outing to the Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells …..

Aug 31, 2022

Dec 29, 2021

2022

Dec 29, 2021

Heads South will be playing at Guildford Jazz Club on Wednesday January 12th 2022. The Concert has already completely SOLD OUT !!

Please do Contact the venue for a chance of any returns https://guildfordjazz.org.uk/

🙏🙏🙏 covid permitting..

Dec 29, 2021

Jan 4, 2021

2021

Jan 4, 2021

Yaaaay, adios 2020, good riddance, welcome 2021. Hope that before tooo long we'll all be able to get back to live music....with people ! For now Stay Safe And this is a vid of another live track previously unpublished from Lincs Jazz Festival (single cam)

https://youtu.be/UiUPwala4sU

Jan 4, 2021

Jan 3, 2020

Wed March 11 2020 St Martin in the Fields

Jan 3, 2020

Heads South will be at ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS Trafalgar Square London WC2 8-10pm Tickets : £8/12/15 Booking https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whatson-event/heads-south/ Tel 020 7766 1100 boxoffice@smitf.org buffet available Steve Waterman John Harriman Adolfredo Pulido Chino Martell Morgan Buster Birch

Jan 3, 2020

Jan 2, 2020

Tuesday August 20 Southampton Jazz Club

Jan 2, 2020

Heads South will be playing at the Southampton Jazz Club on Tuesday 20 August Southampton Jazz Club 8-10.30pm http://southamptonjazzclub.co.uk/next-concert-3/ Dolphin Hotel, 34 High St, Southampton SO14 2HN Tickets £15 - 6. sjcbookings@gmail.com Steve Waterman John Harriman Adolfredo Pulido Chino Martell Morgan Buster Birch

Jan 2, 2020

Jan 1, 2020

News Bits

Jan 1, 2020

In these sad times, we above all hope that you are well, and safe. A couple of bits of news. We were next due to play at Orpington Jazz Club, which of course is cancelled but….the Club has started a "Virtual Jazz Club", and Heads South is the very first of these events, taking place Friday May 8 8 - 9pm Go to http://www.busterbirch.co.uk/virtualjazzclub to sign up for Zoom club membership.

Jan 1, 2020

Jul 10, 2019

Wednesday October 9 St Martin in the Fields Trafalgar Square

Jul 10, 2019

Heads South will be at ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS Trafalgar Square London WC2 8-10pm Tickets : £8/12/15 Booking https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/book-now/?instances-id=67415 Tel 020 7766 1100 boxoffice@smitf.org buffet available Steve Waterman John Harriman Adolfredo Pulido Chino Martell Morgan Buster Birch

Jul 10, 2019

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THE BAND

HS The Band

John Harriman

John Harriman’s life in music began at the age of 7 as a chorister in Westminster Cathedral Choir where he went on to became Head Chorister and then a soloist for the Royal Opera. Having trained as a classical pianist he became interested in jazz in his teens and taught himself to play. He lived in California for nearly 10 years where he was active in the music scene and briefly attended Dick Grove Workshops in LA, one of the first 'jazz' schools. He has worn more than one hat: he studied law at University of California Berkeley, where he was pianist for the jazz ensemble, and held a demanding 'day job’ for a time. John performs regularly in a variety of jazz settings in mainstream and Latin jazz and is also an occasional Church organist. John's music mirrors his diverse personal background with Irish, French and English grandparents and his Spanish wife, to whose Castilian homeland they decamp when they can.

Steve Waterman

Steve Waterman is renowned as one of the top British jazz trumpet players both at home and on the international scene. He began his career while studying at the Trinity College of Music and since then has performed extensively in the British and European jazz scene. Steve has a remarkable recording career spanning 20 years including 7 critically acclaimed albums under his own name. Steve has regularly worked with a host of renowned jazz artists and he has performed at the Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba. Steve co-wrote the highly acclaimed Jazz Method for Trumpet tutor book and he is professor of Jazz Trumpet at Trinity College of Music in London and visiting Jazz Trumpet specialist at The Royal Northern College Of Music and The Purcell School.

Adolfredo Pulido

Adolfredo Pulido was born in Venezuela and by the age of 7 was playing drums, then also tuba, trumpet and trombone before taking up bass at the age of 14. He studied at ARN NOVA music school in Venezuela and toured Central America with a number of bands. In 1999 he moved to the United States to further his studies, attending the Players School of Music in Clearwater Florida where he studied with Bass master Jeff Berlin. He subsequently went to Berklee School of Music where he graduated in 2003. Adolfredo is now based in the UK and is much in demand in Europe on the Latin, Jazz and World Music circuits.

Chino Martell Morgan

Chino Martell Morgan grew up in Cardenas in Matanzas province in Cuba. He started playing percussion in his teens, influenced by hearing the elderly locals play percussion in the district bars. He briefly attended Cuban music school and played with renowned Cuban drummer Miguel Zulueta and a number of Latin jazz bands. Chino now resides in the UK where he is in demand on the Latin scene and has frequently played at leading venues such as Ronnie Scotts and throughout Europe.

Buster Birch

Buster Birch has a degree in music from the University of London and a post-graduate diploma in jazz performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He also studied at the Drummers Collective in New York City and privately with Joe Morello. He has been a freelance professional musician for over 20 years in a wide variety of musical fields and has performed at virtually every major concert hall and jazz club in London as well as major international festivals and toured in over 30 countries. He has backed some of the UKs finest jazz musicians, recorded with critically acclaimed "world" music groups, freelanced with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, played for west end shows and commercial pop studio sessions. He is also a member of the jazz faculty at Trinity Conservatoire of Music and has lectured at several FE and HE institutions on many different areas of music