Dom Franks Quartet: Music from Round Midnight

Swinging, sophisticated jazz at Isbourne Arts from the Dom Franks Quartet.

Award-winning saxophonist Dom Franks brings his quartet to Isbourne Arts for a special evening celebrating the music of two giants of jazz: Dexter Gordon and Herbie Hancock. Dom is a local star with a national reputation and he's played with some of the biggest names in jazz, soul and Latin music. 

The inspiration for the evening is the classic 1986 film Round Midnight, starring Dexter Gordon as a jazz musician living in Paris. The film featured an Oscar-winning score by Herbie Hancock and brought together some of the finest musicians of the era.

Expect timeless jazz favourites including ‘Round Midnight’, ‘Body and Soul’ and ‘Driftin’, alongside hard-bop classics associated with Dexter Gordon and classic 1960s compositions by Herbie Hancock.

Dom and the quartet will explore music from Hancock’s celebrated debut album, Takin’ Off, which featured Dexter Gordon on tenor sax, alongside tracks from Round Midnight and highlights from the extraordinary careers of both musicians.

Swinging, melodic and funky, he is perhaps best known for his original group Dom Franks’ StrayHorn, whose 2025 album Duality Pt. 2 received glowing reviews across the jazz press and was playlisted by Jazz FM, One Jazz and BBC Radio 3.

The quartet features Dom on tenor and soprano saxes, along with Alex Steele (piano), fresh  from performing in Paris, and top-call Birmingham musicians Mike Green (bass) and Euan Palmer (drums).

And we're really excited to announce that the Dom Franks Quartet will be supported by The Watson Quartet. These rising stars of the Gloucestershire Music Scene, two of whom are currently studying Jazz at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, will bring you a snappy set of sophisticated live jazz at the start of an evening at the Izzy that celebrates the music, musicianship and enduring legacy of two of the all time greats.

Tickets £18.50 standard and £14 under 26

Show starts at 7.30pm with doors and bar opening at 6.45pm.

A compelling force both as a saxophonist and as a composer…warm, supple saxophone work...compelling from start to finish’ - AllaboutJazz review of Dom Franks' StrayHorn, 2025