The Duck and Ball Welcomes Back the Phil Brown Swingtet
Popular monthly Jazz nights continuing through the summer
Diane Slater singing a superb 'Exactly Like You' with the Band. Picture: Tim Wacher
August 1, 2026
The Duck and Ball will be swinging once again this August as the Phil Brown Swingtet returns to its Chiswick home for another evening of live jazz. The six-piece ensemble, a fixture of Riverside Drive’s Thursday-night music scene, will perform on Thursday 20 August , and then continue on the third Thursday of every month for the rest of the year.
The band has built a loyal following at the venue, thanks to its easy warmth, deep musicianship and a repertoire that roams freely across the jazz tradition. Led by trombonist Phil Brown, the Swingtet moves comfortably from Armstrong to Basie, from traditional standards to modern classics. Phil’s son Lester brings trumpet and flugelhorn, while Mark Aston covers an impressive range of reeds – clarinet, alto, tenor and baritone sax. Anthony Cox anchors the group on electric bass, with brothers Andrew and David Clancy on piano and drums, giving the ensemble its rhythmic backbone.
Regulars know that part of the joy of these sessions is the parade of guest musicians who drop in. Vocalists Diane Slater, Isabel Saunders, Teresa Jennings, Stephan O’Goodson and the occasionally-appearing Tim Wacher are familiar faces, as are trumpeter Chris Hodgkins, trombonist Pete Clancy, clarinettist Steve Clancy, saxophonist Eric Gilchrist, and many others. The Duck and Ball has become a place where musicians of different generations and styles meet, mingle and play.
Last month’s session on 16 July offered a typically wide-ranging programme. The band opened with Johnny Hodges’ Hiya, moved through Took a Trip on a Train with guest pianist Nigel Fox, and continued with Jazz Me Blues and Blue Turning Grey, featuring Lester and Mark. A lively sequence followed: Swinging the Blues into Johnny Dankworth’s Curtain Up, which in turn morphed into Count Basie’s One O’Clock Jump. Charlie Parker’s Little Suede Shoes closed the first set.
The second half brought vocals to the fore. Phil led Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean a Thing, followed by Isabel Saunders’ tender rendition of Beautiful Love and Diane Slater’s swinging Exactly Like You. Guests Chris Hodgkins, Eric Gilchrist and Pete Clancy joined for Royal Garden Blues and Trouble in Mind, with Eric delivering a classic vocal. The evening wrapped up with Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man, driven by a standout performance from drummer David Clancy.
Adding to the atmosphere were Dan Guest’s Lindy Circle Dancers, whose swing dancing has become a popular part of the night.
Entry to the Duck and Ball’s jazz evenings is free, with sessions running from 8pm to 10.30pm. Parking is available, and buses E3, 190 and 533 stop nearby. The venue, located at 12 Riverside Drive (W4 2SP) opposite Dukes Meadows, occupies the pavilion of Chiswick Cricket Club.
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