Jazz Services - A voice for jazz

EDUCATION

Incorporating the MusicEd website and drawing on Jazz Services' own Education resources, the Education section of the Jazz Site will help you further your development whatever your interest in jazz.  As well as reading the Education Blog, you can find information on Jazz Services' own Educational activities and the National Youth Jazz Orhestra, you can use the options on our Jazz Education Seach page to find a tutor, orchestra, course or institution to suit your needs...

Jen Wilson, founder of Jazz Heritage Wales has written an extensive and enlightening document on the country's history and connection to jazz in the mid-war years.  "Jazz in Wales between the Wars 1919-1939: fascists, feminism, fashion and some o’ that Old Time Religion" can be downloaded in full below, and the opening few paragraphs are below.  For more info, visit the Jazz Heritage Wales webstie:

www.jazzheritagewales.smu.ac.uk

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"There is no doubt that a cultural renaissance had taken place in South Wales during  the First World War.  A Café culture or Café Society had begun to evolve during 1915 providing a safe environment for single or bereaved women and acting as a support network.  Swansea alone had 12 cafes offering two floorshows daily, most produced and directed by women, with up to 1000 at each sitting.

Doris Page, Maye Price and Gretta John were singled out for commendation and were referred to in the vernacular as “right on” women.  Some floorshows had singing waiters and waitresses dancing along the bar counters.  The Cafés also provided extra work for the very popular African American revue and combo musicians touring the theatre circuit.

The word “jazz” first appeared in the South Wales press in 1919.  Music became noisy and brash with revues showcasing sleek production numbers and fast-paced sketches and songs, attracting some surprising customers like the US fleet of 50 submarine chasers at Swansea docks, towing a captured U Boat with 6 German officers and 27 crew on board enjoying the delights of Swansea's noisy night life of jazz in the cafes and assembly halls.

A dancing frenzy had hit Wales fuelled by the new “hot” and “syncopated” jazz music – consequently many local bands found themselves with plenty of work.  Businesses reopened and Victory Fetes, Galas and Reunions took place regularly over the next few years.   Music and dancing license applications flooded the town halls and café culture flourished.  The Café Chantant featured their new revue “Way Down South” with Sand Dancing, Buck and Tango Dancing, with an orchestra of “Cullud Gemmen”.   African American combos were able to fit in extra daytime shifts in the Cafés as well as their usual evening theatre tour bookings. The star of “Way Down South”  was Harrie Coonie, described as “the real article brought from the cottonfields and introduced to Wales by the Café Chantant regime”.

Jazz was performed in school halls, department store roof gardens, parks and the workhouse, all hosting regular jazz nights and dance exhibitions.  For example, in 1921 David Evans Department Store hosted a Follies night in aid of Swansea’s Aged Poor, performing songs and dances from the show “Going Back to Dixie”.  They also performed it in Swansea's Tawe Lodge Workhouse.   The Workhouse redesigned their dining hall as an old Kentucky Plantation and the inmates were entertained by Swansea’s White Eyed Coons and a jazz band.

South Wales was becoming increasingly multi-cultural with the press reporting that there were over 1000 “aliens” now residing in Swansea, described as Russians, Jews, Spanish, Italian and a fair number of Germans – men who had been interned during the war and returning to their old work."

Kairos 4Tet

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Adam Waldmann – Saxophones/Compositions

Jasper Høiby – Bass

Ivo Neame – Piano

Jon Scott – Drums

www.kairos4tet.com/

In Autumn 2012, following a whirlwind two years, saxman Adam Waldmann and his band Kairos 4Tet are about to embark on another extensive tour. Their 2010 debut, Kairos Moment, positioned them as one of the UK’s premier jazz acts bridging the elusive gap between crossover appeal and serious jazz credentials.  With a   fistful of 4* reviews and number 2 in MOJO Magazine’s 2011 Jazz Albums of the Year, the quartet even joined Adele, and Boyz II Men in collecting a 2011 MOBO Award.

Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment). Kairos 4tet was born out of a desire to explore times past, present and future, creating music with a sense of space, between the competing worlds of written melody and in-the-moment improvisation.  The band play the distinctive compositions of saxophonist Adam Waldmann, who has been described as "a young master in the making" by Time Out. Despite comparisons to some of his musical idols including Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd and former teacher Julian Arguelles, Waldmann's unique voice and approach on his instrument make him "one of the most distinctive saxophonists in the UK" according to the Manchester Evening News, while John Fordham of The Guardian stated in his 4* review that "Waldmann's luxurious tenor sound and poised phrasing are both tradition-rooted and restlessly contemporary”.

Kairos 4Tet are currently completing their new album (provisionally entitled ‘+1’), which is due for release in Spring 2013. The new material seeks to expand on the well-defined sound world that Kairos 4tet have created by augmenting the band with carefully selected guests. One of these is the legendary UK soul singer Omar who Waldmann met at last year’s MOBO ceremony. Having struck up a musical friendship, the singer joins the band as a special guest on the track Song For The Open Road, the latest fruit of the on-going collaboration between Waldmann and the lyricist, actor and award-winning film maker Rupert Friend. The accompanying video, made by Friend will be premiered at the 2012 London Jazz Festival.

Adam Waldmann – Saxophones/Compositions

Graduating from Trinity College of music in 2006, (receiving the award for ‘Outstanding Student’ from the Jazz Faculty), Adam received tutelage from British master saxophonists Julian Argüelles and Mark Lockheart as well studying under fine Dutch sax men Russell Van Den Berg and Yuri Honing. He has performed with the likes of Alicia Keys, Mark Ronson, Paloma Faith, Boy George, Beth Ditto, Tinie Tempah, beatbox sensation Shlomo with Polar Bear, The Sam Crowe Group, The Emilia Martensson Band, Will Vinson, Jim Hart, Jules Buckley, Mark Guilliana, Alan Hampton and Dutch band FinnSilver amongst numerous others. Adam was selected by Serious for the seventh edition of their Take Five initiative, and joins the ranks of previous esteemed participants including Gwilym Simcock, Soweto Kinch, Seb Rochford, Kit Downes and Jules Buckley.

Jasper Høiby – Bass

Copenhagen-born, London-based, bassist Jasper Høiby created the band Phronesis in 2005, following his graduation from the Royal Academy of Music in London.  Phronesis were nominated for 'Best Jazz Ensemble' in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in April, featured on the front cover of Jazzwise Magazine in August, and nominated for 'Best Jazz Act' at the prestigious 2010 MOBO Awards. Their third album 'Alive' (Edition Records), was released in July 2010 to great critical acclaim and chosen as 'Jazz Album of the Year' by Jazzwise and MOJO Magazines. Høiby has performed and recorded with a number of high profile projects including; Django Bates, Mark Lockheart, Julian Joseph, Marius Neset and Kairos 4tet to name but a few.

Ivo Neame – Piano

Ivo Neame is a distinctive jazz musician in that he is equally at home on saxophone and piano. This double life has seen him make notable contributions to some of the finest jazz groups in the vanguard of the dynamic UK jazz scene. Ivo studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he grappled with the hothouse music environment with varying degrees of success. Since leaving the Academy in 2003 he has reconnected more deeply with music, and has gone on to perform and record with highly esteemed musicians at home and abroad such as David Binney, Seamus Blake and Hermeto Pascoal.  As a bandleader he has recorded two critically acclaimed albums and has toured in the UK and abroad with the Ivo Neame Quintet.

Jon Scott - Drums

Manchester-born drummer Jon Scott has been based in London since 2005. He quickly established a reputation as a creative and flexible player on the UK jazz scene, while building up his international connections, playing extensively throughout Europe.  As well as performing with artists including Will Vinson, Julian Siegel, Julian Joseph, Byron Wallen, Nikki Iles and Mike Walker, he is the first call drummer for a large number of original groups, including 2011 MOBO “Best Jazz” award winners Kairos 4Tet, Hannes Riepler’s band, Dice Factory, Rory Simmons’ “Monocled Man”, and Anglo-German collaboration Paragon. Recent releases include Bruno Heinen’s “Dialogues Trio” album “Twinkle Twinkle” and Andrea Di Biases’s “Oltremare Quartet”, both on the Babel Label.

"Kairos 4tet bring a modern twist to the classic jazz quartet. Blurring the boundaries between accessible, tune-led music with heavy grooves and improvising of the highest order, this is a band whose time has come." - Mike Flynn, Jazzwise/Time Out

"Waldmann's troupe have resisted the zeitgeist to make music that is resolutely acoustic and unapologetically lyrical....Waldmann has a melodic gift as a writer and considerable grace as an improviser" - Metro

"Striking compositions... Waldmann's luxurious tenor sound and poised phrasing are both tradition-rooted and restlessly contemporary" - The Guardian, * * * *

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Needs Research – Giving You A Chance To Have Your Say

Over the next month Jazz Services is giving you the opportunity to voice your opinions on the needs of the jazz community through an online survey hosted on our website.  The purpose of the exercise is to ascertain the needs of the UK jazz constituency.

By completing the survey you’ll be helping to address those needs and ensure that the jazz scene in the UK continues to grow, develop and maintain its vibrancy in the light of public sector cuts and an historical imbalance in the public funding of jazz. It also helps us map the demographic of the scene and enable us to better understand our audience and those we’re trying to help.

The Chair of Jazz Services, Bob Blizzard, says, “Whoever you are in the jazz sector – musician, promoter, educator, producer, broadcaster, journalist, writer, listener and attender; whether your organisation is large or small, we want to hear from you!  What does jazz need to grow and widen its audience, nurture excellence and enhance its future?  Tell us so that others can hear from you!”

Complete the survey here.

Closing date is Monday 5^th November 2012.

Read the full press release about the survey and our needs research on our website:

Press release link.

Jazz Services:

Giving The Jazz Community a Chance to Have Its Say

Jazz Services Ltd is giving members of the UK jazz community the opportunity to voice their needs. This comes as part of a consultation project, commissioned by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) and launched by Jazz Services. The purpose of the exercise is to ascertain the needs of the UK jazz constituency, to address those needs and ensure that the jazz scene in the UK continues to grow develop and maintain its vibrancy in the light of public sector cuts and an historical imbalance in the public funding of jazz.

Bob Blizzard, Chair of the Jazz Services board, says, “Whoever you are in the jazz sector – musician, promoter, educator, producer, broadcaster, journalist, writer, listener or gig-goer; whether your organisation is large or small, we want to hear from you! What does jazz need to grow and widen its audience, nurture excellence and enhance its future? Tell us so that others can hear from you!”

The questionnaire can be accessed at http://www.jazzservices.org.uk/index.php/donations

The first phase of the consultation took place in November (2011) at the Jazz Open Space Conference funded by the Musicians’ Union. Reports from the day can be found at www.jazzopenspace.blogspot.com

The second phase is a consultation exercise using an online questionnaire. Details of the online survey will be emailed to the jazz constituency and there will be a four week period in which to respond.

The results from the questionnaire, along with desk and qualitative research, will be analysed and the findings presented to APPJAG in December 2012. The exercise is being undertaken using volunteer help. An Editorial Board has been established under the chair of Noel Dennis, Associate Dean of the Glasgow School for Business and Society – Glasgow Caledonian University - and Editor in Chief of Arts Marketing, an International Journal.

Oversight will be undertaken by the Editorial Board, the Jazz Services Touring, Educational and International Panels, along with editorial help from Roger Thomas, the Editor of Jazz UK. The report will be signed off by the board of Jazz Services and delivered to APPJAG.

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Notes to the editor:

Jazz Services Ltd

Jazz Services provides support, advice and information for UK jazz, promoting its growth, accessibility and development in the UK and abroad. www.jazzservices.org.uk

Jazz Services publishes Jazz UK, a listings magazine with a print run of 30,000 that is distributed by subscription and free through venues, colleges, libraries and shops.

Jazz Services works closely with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), which is an autonomous body that receives its Arts Council England funding through Jazz Services. NYJO also receives funds from private donors, Youth Music and the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund. Every year NYJO organizes over 100 open workshops for jazz musicians up to the age of 25 and more than 40 concerts.

Jazz Services gratefully acknowledges the support of Arts Council England and also the Performing Right Society for Music Foundation for their support on the Jazz Promoters Award Scheme.

For further information, contact Chris Hodgkins

Jazz Services, 132 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0SW

TEL: 020 7928 9089 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

The October/November issue of Jazz UK includes features on rising saxophone star Trish Clowes, Young Scottish Musician of the Year Peter Johnstone and the Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme, live reports in Scene & Heard, highlights from the latest issue of Gigs, CD reviews and much more.

Breach

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Graeme Stephen - guitar

Paul Harrison – Hammond organ, electronics

Chris Wallace – drums

www.breachtrio.com

Breach is an exciting new trio on the British jazz scene, which began when three of Scotland’s most accomplished and versatile musicians began hanging out and playing together; guitarist Graeme Stephen (Scottish Jazz Award for Best Instrumentalist in 2011), organist Paul Harrison (Scottish Jazz Award for Best Pianist in 2009 and Best Project in 2011) and Canadian drummer Chris Wallace.  The group takes the familiar organ trio format and move away from the usual clichés and into fresh territory, drawing from electronica, folk, free improv and rock, but with a refined jazz sensibility.  The group toured the US and Canada in the a summer and next is a UK tour to launch their new album, Borders.

Their debut album On The Walk is receiving international airplay and very positive reviews and the group is becoming renowned for their explosive and dynamic live performances.

Graeme Stephen - guitar
Guitarist Graeme Stephen is well known as a highly original guitarist and composer with various groups including NeWt, Fraser Fifield and his own Sextet.  Winner of the 2011 Scottish Jazz award for Best Instrumentalist he was selected for the Take Five professional development scheme in 2008. Graeme's latest project is a commission to compose a new soundtrack for the classic silent movie 'Sunrise'.

Paul Harrison – Hammond organ, electronics
In 2009 Paul Harrison won the award for Best Pianist at the first Scottish Jazz Awards, and received another Scottish Jazz Award in 2011 for his composition The Hospitalfield Suite. He has performed internationally with a host of world class musicians and has led his own successful groups, releasing two acclaimed albums with Trianglehead. He also produces electronica under the alias Phenoplastic.

Chris Wallace – drums
Since arriving in Scotland, Canadian drummer and composer Chris Wallace has worked with many of the country's top jazz musicians.  He is a member of the experimental trio NeWt, a group that has begun building international credentials via its recent collaborative work with Berlin saxophonist Silke Eberhard. His quartet Loose Grip recently released their debut album.

"The trio have real telepathy" - Musician Monthly

“...a level of collective understanding that normally comes some way down the line... a singular group identity that embraces spacious atmosphere building, teethy improvisation, precise punctuation and unashamed tunefulness.” - The Herald

“Rhythmically and harmonically adventurous, and their collective empathy and finely-honed interaction is always clearly evident, whether conjuring up reflective, atmospheric textures or stretching out in more energised workouts.” - The List

Trish Clowes’ Tangent

The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Trish Clowes - saxophone

Chris Montague - guitar

Gwilym Simcock - piano

Calum Gourlay – double bass

James Maddren - drums

www.trishclowes.com

Tangent is Trish Clowes’ ever morphing ensemble, playing as quartet, quintet and nonet on their autumn 2012 tour to promote the release of Clowes’ second album for Basho Records, And In The Night-Time She is There.  The band was originally formed in 2008 after Clowes received an award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund.  Tangent went on to record Clowes’ first album for Basho Records with special guests Gwilym Simcock and Kathleen Willison, and orchestra conducted by Jules Buckley of the Heritage Orchestra.

Since then the group have enjoyed various radio broadcasts and festival performances including BBC Introducing (selected by a panel of Jamie Cullum, Jez Nelson and Gilles Peterson) at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2011, London Jazz Festival 2010/11, BBC Proms Plus Late at the Royal Albert Hall 2011 and Clowes’ own festival Emulsion, funded by the PRSF at the Vortex Jazz Club in May 2012.

Trish Clowes - saxophone
Trish Clowes released her debut album ‘Tangent’ for Basho Records in November 2010, receiving praise for its integrity, luminosity and ambition.  The album features her sextet of the same name, as well as Gwilym Simcock and the vocalist Kathleen Willison.  Following the success of her debut album, Trish was selected by Jamie Cullum, Gilles Peterson and Jez Nelson to perform on the BBC Introducing stage at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2011.  The performance and a short interview with Trish were broadcast on BBC Radio 3.  Tangent (the group) was recently featured during the Proms Plus Late series at the Royal Albert Hall and they supported Regina Carter at the London Jazz Festival 2011.  In May 2012 Trish curated her own festival Emulsion with funding from the PRS for Music Foundation, featuring ECM artist Iain Ballamy and premiering four new commissions alongside existing music from Ballamy, Tangent, Rory Simmons’ Fringe Magnetic and contemporary classical group Ensemble Amorpha.

Chris Montague - guitar
Chris was born in Gateshead and began playing guitar at an early age.  As a musician Chris has performed at various places including; the Montreux Jazz Festival, Glastonbury, Bath International Guitar Festival, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex, 606 and other venues and festivals.  Some of the people and bands Chris been lucky to play with have included; John Williams, Paco Penha, Kenny Wheeler, Stan Sulzman, Pete Churchill, Will Young, James Taylor Quartet, Fraud, Matt Bourne, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Gerard Presencer, Nikki Isles, Nic Smart, BBC Big Band and Martin Speake.  He is currently based in London writing and performing with his trio ‘Troyka’, which includes Kit Downes (BBC jazz awards rising star 2008) on Rhodes and Josh Blackmore (BBC jazz award for best band 2008) on drums.

Gwilym Simcock - piano
Gwilym Simcock is one of the most gifted pianists and imaginative composers on the British scene.  Gwilym’s influences include jazz legends Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and John Taylor and classical composers such as Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky.  Aside from his renowned solo piano work, Gwilym has worked extensively throughout Europe with the cream of British and international jazz artists including Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, Bob Mintzer and Bobby McFerrin.  A winner of the Perrier Award, BBC Jazz Awards 2005. And British Jazz Awards 2005 Gwilym was the first BBC Radio 3 New Generation jazz Artist.  He was voted “Jazz Musician of the Year” at the 2007 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and nominated for the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards as Best Instrumentalist, as well as being nominated for a Mercury Music Prize in 2011.

Calum Gourlay – double bass
Double bassist and composer Calum Gourlay is a leading light amongst the new generation of creative improvising musicians in Europe.  As a bassist, he is known already for his deep warm tone, controlled execution as both a supporter and improviser, and rock solid time and pulse.  Calum was picked as the only jazz acoustic bass player for the Royal Academy of Music Class of 2004, which is one of the most competitive schools of higher learning to gain admission in all of Europe.  Already a very experienced young musician, Calum has performed or recorded with many illustrious names including the Kit Downes Trio, the Tommy Smith Group, Will Vinson, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra featuring Joe Lovano, John Schofield, and Kurt Elling, Martin Speake, Martin Kershaw, Stacey Kent, Sheila Jordan and Trish Clowes.

James Maddren - drums
James Maddren is highly gifted drummer who has in recent years become the ‘first call’ drummer of choice amongst the younger and even more established generation of jazz musicians in the UK.  Known for a musical maturity beyond his years compounded with a stand-out technique, while still at school he travelled to London to study with Jim Hart, one of Europe’s top multi-instrumentalists and someone who Maddren cites as a significant early influence and inspiration.  He has shared the stage with many artists and ensembles, including the Gwilym Simcock Trio, Kit Downes Trio, Marc Copland/Stan Sulzman quartet, the Mark McKnight Organ Quartet featuring Seamus Blake, Ivo Neame Qt, Phil Donkin, Will Vinson, Martin Speake quartet, Phronesis, Jonathan Bratoeff Quartet, and Tangent.

“She plays wonderful tenor saxophone with a lightness of tone reminiscent of the young Stan Getz and composes luminous music that inhabits that intriguing world at the ill-defined edges of jazz and contemporary classical music.” - Dave Gelly, The Observer

“Not many young women have broken through the ranks playing tenor sax but Trish Clowes is a stylish exception.  Her pure, lyrical sound has been likened to Stan Getz but I hear Charles Lloyd, especially in the upper register.  She writes remarkably well too…” – Jack Massarik, Evening Standard

“Clowes' promise – and ambitious vision – is palpable.” – John Fordham, The Guardian

“Clowes' tenor playing, which has been compared to that of Stan Getz, is warm and economical.  She also appears to be a refreshingly democratic and modest leader—there is nothing here that simply acts as a showcase for Clowes' tenor...Tangent is an impressive debut which makes clear Clowes' emerging talents as a musician, composer and arranger.” - Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz

* Features the string section of Thomas Gould and Thea Spiers (violins), Adam Robinson (viola) and Louise McMonagle (cello).  See Dates page on Trish Clowes’ website for full line-up details, including deps.

Sector7

 The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Sarah Ellen Hughes - vocals

Emma Smith – vocals

Billy Boothroyd - vocals

Paddy Clarke - vocals

George Moore - piano

Tim Thornton - bass

Chris Draper - drums

www.sector7.org.uk/

Sector7 is an exciting new septet, taking jazz and soul to a new dimension.  The group features a unique line-up of four singers and rhythm section (bass, drums and piano).  Sector7 was formed in December 2010, and in this time has recorded and released an EP, gained critical acclaim, and been invited to perform at such prestigious gigs as the Lancaster International Concert Series and the London Jazz Festival.  2012 has seen them featured on Jazz FM, and performing some incredible concerts including at Pizza Express Jazz Club, the LandesJazz festival in Germany, and The 606 Club.

Sector7 takes their inspiration from vocal groups such as Lambert Hendricks and Ross, Take 6 and New York Voices, while injecting a fresh delivery on favourite tunes, from Gershwin and traditional song, to Stevie Wonder and Jill Scott.  Sector7 is made up of seven superb musicians, each one highly acclaimed in their own right; amongst them are award-winning vocalist Sarah Ellen Hughes (winner of the 2010 International Jazz Competition Jazz Voices), and Emma Smith (London Jazz Award 2010 nominee).

Sarah Ellen Hughes - vocals
Award-winning vocalist Sarah Ellen Hughes has established herself as a notable presence on the London jazz scene and beyond.  She has gained International recognition, winning the 2010 International Jazz Singing Competition “Jazz Voices,” as well as being selected as a semi-finalist for the 2011 Montreux Jazz Festival voice competition where she was lucky enough to perform in front of Quincy Jones.  Quincy himself said “Great singing girl, keep doing what you’re doing.” Sarah caught the eye of distinguished singers Claire Martin and Ian Shaw early on in her career, and Ian appears on Sarah’s critically acclaimed 2010 debut album Darning the Dream.  Sarah’s second release, The Story So Far (2011) features a collaboration with top UK saxophonist Dave O’Higgins.

Emma Smith - vocals
Having already shared the stage with the likes of Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth 20 year-old Emma Smith is establishing herself as an important jazz vocalist in the UK.  Emma began singing with the Glen Miller outfit “The String of Pearls Orchestra,” at age 14, and only a year later was invited to be NYJO’s lead vocalist and vocal coach.  Her first album, “The Huntress,” has been incredibly well-received by the music press, and she has shown why she was a worthy nominee for the 2010 “Jazz vocalist of the year” alongside Norma Winstone and Christine Tobin.

Billy Boothroyd - vocals
A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Billy Boothroyd has enjoyed a number of years on the jazz and beatbox circuit as a featured vocalist.  Projects have included Backstep, the 2010 T-Mobile flash-mob advert, and most recently, two 4-week runs with Shlomo’s vocal orchestra at the E4 Udderbelly festival.

Paddy Clarke - vocals
Paddy Clarke, 25, started singing professionally during the final year of his Acting degree at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Since then, he has performed, written and recorded with and for various artists, including Paul McCartney, Ronnie Wood and Paul Barry. He is currently the resident singer at The Arts Club, in Mayfair, where he has supported the likes of Mica Paris and Mystery Jets, and performed for both literal, and rock royalty. He aspires to be a fully-fledged, touring singer-song-writer.

George Moore - piano
In-demand jazz pianist George Moore began playing piano and drums at an early age.  He graduated from the jazz piano course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2009, and since then has worked in a wide range of musical contexts as a pianist, arranger and musical director with artists including Goldie, The Metropole Orchestra (with Chaka Khan), and some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians including Juliet Kelly and Gareth Lockrane.  George worked as piano tutor to the actor Dustin Hoffman for his piano-playing role in the movie “Last Chance Harvey” and is currently working with, amongst others, Berlin-based singer-songwriter Jim Kroft and London soul vocalist Kwabs.

Tim Thornton - bass
Bassist Tim Thornton is a regular performer on the British jazz scene and graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire. He is a regular member of the Ronnie Scott's Allstars, led by James Pearson, and also performs and has recorded with many different groups including the Steve Fishwick Quintet, Emma Smith Quintet, Brandon Allen Quartet, Dave O’Higgins Quartet, Sector7 and the Julian Bliss Septet. Amongst others, Tim has also worked with Stan Sulzmann, Eric Alexander, Jim Mullen, Will Vinson, Guy Barker and Sir Willard White.

 Chris Draper - drums
A graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire, drummer Chris Draper has been in-demand for touring shows over the last few years, including the Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular.  He has toured in much of Europe, and in the UK has performed at Buckingham Palace, Saddlers Wells, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.  He is a respected teacher and has worked as a workshop leader with the award-winning outreach group “Impulse.”

"Possibly the most exciting thing to happen to the London jazz vocal scene" - Ian Shaw

“A treat for those hip to harmony: spot-on 4-part vocals on top tunes" - Jazz Journal

“They blew me away… well worth checking out” - Brian Blain, Jazz UK

“Sophisticated… classy… An impressive piece of work” - The Jazz Mann

Nigel Price Organ Trio

 The above band has received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme grant for their new tour.

Line-up:

Nigel Price - guitar

Matt Home - drums

Pete Whittaker - organ

www.nigelprice.biz/index.html

The Nigel Price Organ Trio, winners of the 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards for “Best Jazz Ensemble”, is led by one of Britain’s finest guitarists Nigel Price - ex James Taylor Quartet and also a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s.  His blend of flowing bebop lines, blues feeling and the will to swing has made him a big hit with modern jazz fans.  Together with Matt Home on drums and Pete Whittaker on Hammond organ this is one of the most exciting jazz bands in the UK today.

Formed in 2002, the trio has worked hard, playing hundreds of venues both in the UK and abroad, including six residencies at Ronnie Scott’s club in London.  The by-product of this amount of work is a tight-knit chemistry rarely seen between three musicians, an enormous repertoire and the ability to put on a well thought out gig which entertains from start to finish.  The band draws unashamedly upon its 1960s influences yet delivers an up to date take on the music with its intelligent, enthusiastic, well arranged, soulful and above all swinging brand of jazz.

The band will be playing hard swinging jazz including material from the latest CD Heads & Tales (voted 5^th best worldwide jazz album of 2011 in Mojo magazine) and from the recent album Nigel Price Organ Trio ­Live! (Jazzizit Records) which was in the top ten jazz albums of 2010 in the Evening Standard.

Nigel Price – guitar
Nigel is one of the top UK jazz guitar players.  He performed with the legendary David Axelrod at the Royal Festival Hall in 2004, spent three years with the James Taylor Quartet, has performed with the BBC big band and led his organ trio to first place in the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) awards for “Best Jazz Ensemble” in 2010.

Matt Home - drums
Phenomenal drummer Matt Home has toured with Barry Harris, Herb Geller, Scott Hamilton, Howard Alden Ken Peplowski, Jim Mullen, and many others. He is also a house band regular at Ronnie Scott's club and spent 3 years with Ray Gelato.

Pete Whittaker - organ
Dynamic organist Pete Whittaker, one of the few players who actually brings the real thing to gigs, has been involved with many jazz projects including Theo Travis' "Double Talk" and guitarist John Etheridge's "Blue Spirits".

“The skillful Price lovingly celebrated Montgomery's languidly bluesy lyricism and breezy swing, and the group heated up this 50 year-old style with an irresistible conviction.” - The Guardian

 “There’s an exhilarating tight-loose swing and old-school honestly about Price’s brand of soul-bop that leaves you panting” – Mojo

“Very few players could manage playing as fluent, imaginative and technically impeccable guitar as Price does here” – Evening Standard

“The neatness, tidiness and tightness of this band at full tilt in numbers like SOS by Wes Montgomery and Mozambique by Nigel Price was compelling. But they can also do low-down and loose. Price does skittering flautando harmonics disappearing up the fingerboard as well as any guitarist in the UK.” – LondonJazz

“Nigel Price is a blazing guitar player.  He has serious chops and is able to demonstrate them wonderfully in the context of the standard repertoire.” - Just Jazz Guitar