Saxophone greats Peter King and Jean Toussaint (pictured) will pay tribute to bandleader and trumpeter Abram Wilson, who died on 9 June, at Surrey’s long established monthly Watermill jazz night at the Friends Life Social Club on 26 July. The gig was originally part of Wilson’s UK tour and rather than cancel the event King and Toussaint will instead use the opportunity to perform the trumpeter’s Olympic commissioned composition ‘Running With The Flame’, playing alongside members from Wilson’s touring septet.

The gig takes place the day after the public memorial service that will be held in London on 25 July that will begin in the afternoon with a New Orleans style funeral procession starting at 1.30pm near St John's Church, Waterloo Road, SE1 8TY. The exact meeting point for the procession will be confirmed nearer the date. Abram’s website also states; “This is a celebration of life and Abram loved colours, therefore please wear something colourful!”

Wilson’s family have also announced that there are plans to start a foundation to both honour and further the music and education work that he was so deeply involved in – the first project will be to see that his last album Philippa is completed and gets a full album release. Also look out for award-winning writer Kevin Le Gendre’s thoughtful tribute to Abram Wilson’s life, music and legacy in the August issue of Jazzwise.

For more details visit www.abramwilson.com and further gigs at Watermill Jazz visit www.watermilljazz.co.uk

– Mike Flynn