Jazz Services - A voice for jazz

Since making its first live performance to a capacity crowd at the Brecon International Jazz Festival in 2004, the Dave Stapleton Quintet has gone from strength to strength, resulting in an outstanding debut album, When Life Was In Black And White. The album contains nine original Dave Stapleton compositions and includes special guest contributions by Deri Roberts on trombone and British jazz legend Paul Dunmall. In August 2005 the quintet supported Acoustic Ladyland on the Cardiff leg of its Barfly tour prior to its second sell-out Brecon Jazz Festival appearance.

Inspired by the contemporary jazz of Manfred Eicher’s ECM label, Keith Jarrett’s American and European Quartets, free improvisation, the avant-garde (Keith Tippett and Paul Dunmall) and individual forms of film and contemporary composition (Philip Glass, Yann Tierson), Dave Stapleton has developed a distinct identity in his work. Incorporating unusual time signatures, combined with infectious melodies and irresistible grooves he maintains a widescreen vision that allows the space for some exciting improvisation either in a free context or over an existing framework. Also interested in the relationship between jazz and free improvisation, his linear explorations have now grown to give this Cardiff based quintet a compelling sound.

After graduating in 2002, with a degree in classical piano from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Dave turned away from the classical tradition towards the freer and more expressive world of jazz and the avant-grade. Inspired by Keith Tippett's dedication and passion for free improvised music, Dave formed his first group Full Circle, a free improvised quartet with multi-instrumentalist and composer Deri Roberts, bassist Matthew Lovett and drummer Elliot Bennett, in April 2003. In February 2005, Dave recorded The Conway Suite; performed on church organ with Deri Roberts on saxophones, it includes six part composed/part improvised pieces which cross the boundaries between classical/spiritual music, jazz and contemporary minimalism.

Dave has also recently been accepted on to the Jerwood/PRS Foundation Take Five initiative, a significant artist development scheme for emerging jazz musicians produced by Serious.

Marcin Wright is a talented multi-instrumentalist and takes an active roll with a number of projects in South Wales in all genres of music. Aside from playing in the Dave Stapleton Quintet, Marcin regularly performs with his own jazz quintet, which has built up a very string reputation over recent years, the Welsh Jazz Composers Orchestra, Gareth Roberts Quintet, Dave Jones Quintet as well as Os Sambistas. Outside performing Marcin is also a highly respected teacher, producer and session musician.

Jonny Bruce is currently studying on the BMus (Hons) course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Elliot Bennett graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2001, and is now the drum kit tutor for the degree course. As well as playing with Dave Stapleton Quintet, Elliot is also drummer for the Welsh Jazz Composers Orchestra and Full Circle. Paula Gardiner's musical life started as a classical guitarist, studying under John Williams and Carlos Bonnell at Wavendon Allmusic Courses, and playing Cheltenham and Bath festivals. By the time she left college (where she studied guitar and flute) she was working as composer/musical director for a host of Welsh theatre companies and beginning to explore Afro-Cuban music. In 1988 she took up the double bass and enrolled on the Glamorgan Jazz Summer School. By 1992 she had set up a jazz quartet which played exclusively her own material. Paula is currently Head of Jazz Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.