June 2009

7th June 2009.........................................Soul Jazz Collective

The Soul Jazz Collective play a variety of styles throughout their sets. You can gaurantee a full on evening of musical entertainment.

The line up tonight is Kelvin Christiane-saxes, Leon Greening-keys, David McLeod-bass and Noel Joyce-drums.

14th June 2009........................................Shane Hill-Guitar

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, Val Mannix-bass, Noel Joyce– Drums.

21st June 2009............................................Vasilis Xenopoulous-sax

Vasilis was born in Athens, Greece where he had his first musical training at the age of 10, on piano and clarinet. In 1999 he graduated from Phillipos Nakas Conservatory in Athens as a saxophonist, while he had already won a scolarship for the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston MA.

After his graduation in 2001, he moved permanently to England and West London. He is a member of the Sound of 17 Big Band, and Eddie Harvey's quintet with many appeareances around London. Vasilis formed his trio in 2002, and has'nt looked back since.

James Fenn

Guitarist James Fenn's melodic and harmonically sophisticated style has been gracing the scene for the last 10 years. Amongst others, he has played with the stellar talents of The James Taylor Quartet, The Filthy Six, Dave O'Higgins, Gareth Locrane, Finn Peters, Ola Onabule and Jonny Boston.

Lydian Blendi Dhami
Upright and Electric Bass Player

Lydian began study of his first instrument, the cello, at age 6. He switched to upright bass at age 12 and was sent to a special music high school. After graduating from the College of Fine Arts of Albania with a degree in double bass performance,
Lydian attended the Phillipos Nakas Conservatory in Greece. He graduated with a degree in Jazz Performance, doubling on upright and electric bass. In 2002 he went to the United States to attend the Berklee College of Music and in 2005 graduated with a Bachelors degree in performance and the award of the ''Outstanding Performer''. In February 2008 he moved to London and has been playing and working as a professional musician.

In Greece, Albania, United States and the UK Lydian has been in demand, supporting a great number of significant artists. He has also performed Internationally in Festivals, tours, and he has worked for television, radio and studios, playing in a variety of styles.

28th June 2009......................................Jim Hart-Vibes

Originally from Cornwall, Jim Hart began playing Drums and Piano at age four and soon furthered this to include tuned and orchestral percussion.
Formerly the drummer for NYJO he is now one of the most in demand musicians on the London scene on Drums, Vibes and Piano. He plays regularly with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Neon with Stan Sulzmann and Gwilym Simcock, The Liquorice Stick allsorts with Alan Barnes and Paul Clarvis and Martin Drew's New Jazz Couriers to name just a few. A founder member of London’s LOOP collective he is also busy with his own projects - Gemini and The Jim Hart Quartet.
He has also played with Phil Woods, Joel Frahm, Richie Barshay, Franco Ambrosetti, Julien Arguelles, Shaun Escoffery, The Herbaliser and The Heritage Orchestra.

A British Jazz award winner in 2006, 2007 and 2008 he also received the Worshipful company of musicians Bronze medal in 2006. He is a participant of the Jerwood/PRS Foundation Take Five Initiative 2009.

The line up tonight is Jim Hart-Vibes, Mick Coady-Double Bass, Ivo Neame- Piano, Noel Joyce- Drums.