Three of a Kind is a six piece contemporary jazz group formed from regular players from the Woodbridge and Ipswich jazz jam sessions. The rhythm section consists of Tomi Farkas (guitar), Ben Watson (bass) and Mark Sewell (drums). Our front line is Ian Buzer (trumpet), Jonathan Farnhill (tenor saxophone) and John Lepley (alto saxophone).

In spring 2022, Jonathan and John formed a duo to play tenor saxophone duet arrangements made famous by Zoot Sims and Al Cohn. Jonathan and John were both delighted when Ian agreed to join them to form a trio later that same year. John and Ian have transcribed a number of three part harmony arrangements, performed by Chet Baker and arranger Lennie Niehaus.

Niehaus played in and arranged for Stan Kenton’s big band, but also arranged prolifically in the 50’s for smaller groups (sextet to octet). It is these arrangements, along with those by Jack Montrose for the Chet Baker ensemble, which form the basis of our “West Coast jazz” repertoire. One of Niehaus’s original scores was called “Three of a Kind” and this provided the name for our band.