August 2010

1st August 2010.......................Shane Hill-guitar/Dick Pierce-trumpet

Had first guitar lessons from his father around 12 years of age. Interest in jazz was fostered by local guitarists Brian Barnard and Brian Gibbs - then in his teens studied with former CBS Fender Guitar Company Demonstrator Peter Dyke- session guitarist Andre Emond and classical guitarist Denis Duffel. Went on to study at Leeds College of Music with jazz specialists Adrian Ingram, Andy Watson and Trevor Owen Also studied with renowned professor of classical guitar, and Segovia biographer, Graham Wade.

Played at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club as a member of the Dick Pearce Quartet and with Kymaera. Festival performances include (Lisbon, Jersey, Grassington, Dorset and Docklands). Numerous club and theatre dates particularly accompanying singers including UK tour with Maria Ewing, one night shows with Tina May, Elaine Delmar and Kate Dimbleby. Radio broadcasts include original material by Kymaera played on BBC radio by Humphrey Littleton and live performances on Womans Hour and the Ned Sherin show: Loose Ends. The duet album Maintaining Standards featuring Dick Pearce and Shane together ,has also received airplay on Jazz FM. Session work has included playing on a Bob Marley remix for Island Records and numerous dance track remixes- with artists such as Gina G , Lionel Richie and Mary J Blige- for Moto Blanco Productions. Performed and recorded with Don Rendall, Don Weller, Martin Drew, Dave Green and Tal Farlow. Co-founded latin fusion band and production company Kymaera. Other musicians involved include former Eric Clapton and Joan Armatrading bassist Dave Markee, Acoustic Alchemy co-founder Simon James ,former Ronnie Scott Band trumpeter Dick Pearce and drummer- percussionist Michele Dress who also played in the Kirsty Mac Coll band and with the likes of Mica Paris. Kymaera’s first commission was to record a tribute album for MCI Records of Antonio Carlos Jobim's music. Shane's electric and acoustic guitar playing can be heard on numerous compilations including Smooth Jazz Two (Union Square Music) The Most Relaxing Album In The World Ever (EMI Music) and Brazil 500 (Demon Music Group). Other recording projects have included collaborations with Sting Band pianist Jason Rebello, saxophonist Dave O’ Higgins and Jan Garbarek Band pianist Rainer Bruninghaus. Original compositions have also been placed on a guitar library album commissioned by EMI / KPM.

The line up tonight is Shane Hill-guitar, Dick Pearce-trumpet, Bill Mudge-organ, Noel Joyce– Drums.

8th August 2010.....................Gareth Lockrane Big Band

THE GARETH LOCKRANE BIG BAND

Gareth Lockrane (compositions&arrangements/flutes), Steve Fishwick, Robbie Robson, Tom Walsh, Freddie Gavita (trumpets), Mike Feltham, Calum Au, Nat Witts, Lewis Edney (trombones/tuba) Sam Mayne, James Gardiner-Bateman, Alex Garnett,
Josephine Davies, Bob McKay (saxes), George Moore (piano/hammond), Mike Outram (guitar), Ryan Trebilcock (bass), Nick Smalley (drums)

Making their debut in the 2008 London Jazz Festival and subsequently playing to packed houses at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club,the Gareth Lockrane Big Band is a natural extension of Gareth's other projects, award winning hammond combo
Grooveyard and his septet, whilst at the same time being a fiery and unruly animal in it's own right. Playing exclusively Gareth's dynamic compositions that blend contemporary jazz with hard bop, gospel, film music, funk and world music influences, the band is influenced greatly by Gil Evans, Maria Schneider, Mike Gibbs, Lalo Schifrin, Jaco Pastorius, Kenny Wheeler, Jim McNeely, Thad Jones, Basie, Mingus and many more. The band blends heavy grooves and luscious orchestrations with blistering improvisation to spectacular effect.

ABOUT GARETH

Gareth plays flute, alto and bass flutes and piccolo and has been based in London since the mid-90's, when he moved down from Stoke on Trent to study at London's Royal Academy of Music. He's currently focusing on three groups of his own,all playing his compositions - hammond band Grooveyard, his septet and 18-piece big band,all of which regularly gig around the UK and London jazz scene. He also recently completed his MA in film composing at the National Film&Television School. He was a member of the late great South African pianist and composer Bheki Mseleku's last group from 2005-2008, and has also performed or recorded with Jack DeJohnette, Incognito,The James Taylor Quartet, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Bays, Xantone Blacq, Heritage Orchestra, Tom Richards Jazz Orchestra,Hans Koller and bands led by young lions of the Uk jazz scene such as Phil Donkin, Calum Gourlay, Kate Williams,Paul Booth, Nia Lynn, Georgia Mancio, Natalie Williams and Gwilym Simcock. He was a finalist in the Young Jazz
Musician of the Year in 2000 and he's led the group Grooveyard with saxophonist Alex Garnett since 2002, which won Best European Jazz Group in 2003 in the Granada Jazz Festival. He was named Rising Star on Flute in 2008's US Downbeat Critics Poll,was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2010 and the debut album with his septet "No Messin'" recently won Best Jazz Album in the 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

PRESS

" Lockrane's playing brings a rare muscularity to jazz-flute improv....a
stunning display of sharp-accented runs, earthy whoops and constantly refreshed
melodic ideas.”
John Fordham
The Guardian

“...next big thing... since leaving the National Youth Jazz Orchestra,in which
he was the star soloist, flautist Lockrane has become one of London's busiest
freelancers. The lean and hungry Lockrane is the most exciting and inventive
instrumentalist in the country.”
Jack Massarick
London Evening Standard

“...Lockrane's flute work is exceptional, combining a relaxed fluidity on the
one hand with an acute adventurousness on the other...”
Peter Quinn
Jazzwise

“...Lockrane is an exceptional soloist with an improvisatory confidence that's
quite startling...”
Peter Vacher
Jazzwise

“...the main feature of this cd is that it strongly features the flute, an
instrument which has still not achieved a firm foothold in jazz. If the
brilliant playing of Gareth Lockrane is anything to go by, that state of affairs
may change...” Dave Gelly
The Observer

“..Flute phenomenon!...”
Jack Massarick
London Evening Standard

“a new star on his instrument”
Jim Mullen

15th August 2010…..............Gabriel and Michael Garrick

The Garrick Group is Gabriel Garrick's trumpet led quintet. With a bias toward melody and the processes regarding variation on a melodic idea The Garrick Group plays alot of original material by Gabriel but also enjoys playing a variety of material through different styles of jazz; swinging blues, be-bop, hard-bop, modal forms, contemporary jazz and funk.
An entertaining, tuneful, groovin' night is guaranteed!

Useful links: www.myspace.com/thegarrickgroup www.myspace.com/gabegarrick

The line up tonight is Gabriel Garrick-trumpet, Michael Garrick-piano, Dave Chamberlain-bass, Noel Joyce-drums.

22nd August 2010…………Neville Malcolm-bass

'Level' Neville Malcolm is an understated star on both acoustic and electric bass. Coming from a background in Gospel music, he started out playing organ and guitar but soon switched to bass, turning professional in the early 1990s. He was involved in the development of London's 'Acid Jazz' scene, working with Philip Bent and Steve Williamson. He has since performed all over the world and recorded with major artists such as Billy Cobham, Gabrielle, Tom Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Incognito, Us3 and Joss Stone.

The line up tonight is Neville Malcolm-bass, Fulvio Sigurta-Trumpet, Sean Hargreaves-keyboards, Noel Joyce-drums.

29th August 2010…………Jo Fooks-sax

Jo Fooks, born in Edinburgh, began learning the saxophone at 16. In 1992 she won the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year. Inspired and encouraged by local Edinburgh musicians, she went on to study Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music in London (1995-1999). Jo also studied at the Berklee School of Music in Boston after receiving a full fee scholarship for the summer Jazz program.

Her influences include Illinois Jacquet, Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins and her mellow tone is often compared to Stan Getz and Zoot Simms.

She began to compose her own music in 2004. After recording her debut album “Here and Now”, the ledgendary Brittish trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton invited her to join his eight-piece band. She recorded 3 CD’s with Humph’s band and gigged up and down the country. She has also worked along side Acker Bilk, Tina May, Joe Temperley and Jim Mullen.

Jo released her second album ‘playin’ which features her quintet, and is 11 tracks of original upbeat and bluesy tunes.

The line up tonight is Jo Fooks-sax, Ted Beaument-piano, 'to be confirmed'-bass and Noel Joyce-drums.