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2011 Festival Line Up and Biographies
The 2011 line up - Main Stage
Friday Evening |
6:30 - 8:00 | Zoe Gilby Quintet- A young jazz vocalist who has been making a real impression on the UK jazz scene. Influences include Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Sheila Jordan and Roberta Gambarini to name but a few. |
8:15 - 10:00 | 7 Pieces of Silver featuring Alan Barnes- Seven Pieces of Silver is a band which really captures the excitement, swing and spirit of the Horace Silver groups. Great ensembles, solos, and hip arrangements of some of the greatest modern jazz compositions ever written |
| Late Night Sessions Courtesy of the Beverley Arts Trust |
10.00- 10.30 | Farino- flamenco with a touch of Hull! |
10.40-11.10 | Mean Eyed Cat- combine Americana, folk and soul to create a distinctive style |
11.20-12.00 | Alligators- perform 'no holds barred' rhythm and blues in the classic style |
Saturday |
1.00 - 2:30 | Matt Smith and Carlos Olmos- A Soul, funk and blues jazz repertoire |
2.45 - 4:15 | Nicola Farnon Quartet- an outstandingly swinging and propulsive bass player with an outgoing personality to match |
4:30 - 6:00 | Joel Purnell Quartet- Influenced by the American jazz masters of past and present they concentrate musically on a collective approach to melodicity, lyricism, jazz feel and expression in a contemporary jazz setting |
6:15 - 8:15 | Jacqui Dankworth Quintet- “One of the classiest acts in British jazz singing" (The Guardian) |
8:30 - 10:00
| Oli Brown- Oli brings a freshness and excitement to every performance and is at the forefront of the UK’s new Blues movement" Planet Rock Radio |
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| Late Night Sessions Courtesy of the Beverley Arts Trust |
10.00-10.30 | Holly Taymar- jazz with a bit of folk and folk with a bit of jazz |
10.40-11.10 | Farino- flamenco with a touch of Hull! |
11.20-12.00 | This Way Up- rock and blues band performing both classic covers and self penned material |
Sunday |
12:00 - 1:15 | Rob Law Trio- Lead by Rob, an accomplished piano player who has earned himself a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting young artists. |
1:30- 3.00 | Claire Martin- “For my money she's not only the finest female British jazz singer of her generation but possibly of all time.” The Times - Jazz Reviewer |
3.15 - 4.15 | Saffron's Sound Safari- Singer-Songwriter Saffron Byass performs songs from her new album |
4.30 - 5.30 | Octopus- Eight piece East Yorkshire group playing classic swing |
5.45 - 6.15 | Saffron and Simon - Organisers Saffron and Simon play out their festival. Saffron sings and Simon plays the sax. |
Claire Martin
Born in Wimbledon, South London, Claire Martin was born to sing. Growing up in a house full of music, she loved Judy Garland and learned all her songs by the time she was 12. But it was hearing Ella Fitzgerald’s legendary Song Books that changed her life inspiring her to go to Stage School and then to study singing in London and New York.
Throughout her career Claire has gathered a multitude of awards and continues to do so including her most recent Vocal Award at the 2010 British Jazz Awards.
Claire recording career has gone from strength to strength after Claire's 1992 debut The Waiting Game (Linn AKD 018) scored rave reviews and was chosen as a Times Album of the Year. Claire has recorded many successful albums and her latest release A Modern Art was recorded during March of 2009 and features the amazing talents of Nigel Hitchcock, Laurence Cottle (who also produced and arranged the sessions), Mark Nightingale, Phil Robson and Gareth Williams. Always keen to surround herself with the best musician's in town, the CD is a modern take on jazz singing in the 21st century. Two new original songs by Claire and Laurence are alongside new songs by Mark Winker, Joshua Redman, Lauren Kinhan, Colin Lazzerini and all time favourite writers Donald Fagan, Micheal Franks, Cy Colemand and Rodgers & Hart.
During the Spring of 2000 Claire was chosen by BBC Radio 3 to present a new weekly jazz show called Jazz Line Up. This is still going from strength to strength and next year will be celebrating it‘s 10th birthday. Claire has interviewed some of her all time musical hero‘s including; Pat Metheney, Brad Mehldau,, Tania Maria, Mike Stern, Joe Locke, Joshua Redman, Diane Reeves and the late Micheal Brecker. A 'dream job' as she rightly describes it!
Jacqui Dankworth Quintet
Given her musical pedigree – daughter of Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth - it’s no surprise that JACQUI DANKWORTH is considered to be “one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing”(The Guardian). Her third solo album, ‘Back to You’, was released to critical acclaim in autumn 2009, hitting the Top Ten jazz charts and firmly establishing this singer-songwriter extraordinaire as one of the UK’s most sought-after artists. The album is a heady mix of Jacqui’s own superbly crafted compositions - fusing jazz, soul, folk and blues - plus snazzy arrangements of a few contemporary classics by composers such as James Taylor and Sting.
Jacqui started her professional career acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre before taking leading roles in West End musicals. In 2003 she decided to concentrate on her skills as a singer-songwriter when her first major album, ‘As The Sun Shines Down On Me’, was released on Candid Records to a rapturous reception. Jacqui continues to make an enormous impression wherever she performs, either with her own band or touring with other prestigious musicians, such as the Brodsky Quartet. From Ronnie Scott’s and the Royal Festival Hall in London to The Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, she has been wowing packed houses at major festivals and other venues worldwide. Last year she performed with the legendary Marvin Hamlisch in New York to a standing ovation.
As well as receiving rave reviews for her live stage performances and albums, Jacqui has acquired countless accolades for her frequent appearances on TV and radio, both as performer and presenter. In between a busy schedule on both sides of the Atlantic, she completed an album started with her beloved father, before his untimely death in 2010. A fabulous mix of John/Jacqui's co-compositions and breathtaking arrangements of favourite standards, the CD is due for release later this year. Also in the pipeline is a new album with phenomenal Memphis-born singer/songwriter/pianist Charlie Wood, to whom she recently got married. The pair have been raising the roof at their concerts, notably at two highly acclaimed performances at The Barbican, as part of the 2010 London Jazz Festival
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“Jacqui Dankworth…. has made it in every sense. She can do a ballad and a gospel number with the same relaxed, easy mastery. Her timing is terrific, she can pack a punch… and she’s buoyed up by a quartet who are marvellous players in their own right….a total delight." Daily Telegraph
" Imaginative, moving, and adventurous with material and technique” The Guardian
Oli Brown
Late 2002 saw Oli pick up a guitar for the first time and just 2 ½ years later, at 15, he was invited to America, as the guest of American Blues band Blinddog Smokin', this first trip saw Oli play for Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal.
Whilst visiting America, Carl Gustafson the leader of the American Blues band Blinddog Smokin and dear friend, told Oli that he should form his own band and start singing. So in late 2006 Oli started rehearsing the newly formed Oli Brown Band (Oli, Simon and Fred) and their first gig was in March 2007 at The Walnut Tree Shades in Norwich. 2008 and Oli was signed to the German Blues label, Ruf Records, Thomas Ruf actually flew into the UK to see Oli perform and signed him there and then.
Oli's debut album, OPEN ROAD, was recorded and released in 2008 and received great reviews from both the UK and Europe and was voted the Number 2 Blues album of 2008, by readers of Blues Matters! magazine and, two years on, is still high in the Blues Charts.
During 2010 Oli gigged in Europe, the UK ( in association with HMV and Planet Rock), headlined at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival on the newly added Blues and Jazz Stage and appeared at G-Taranaki in New Zealand (which was headlined by Slash)
Oli received nominations in the prestigious 2010 British Blues Awards, the results of which are decided by a public vote and was both thrilled and honoured to have won the Male Vocalist of the Year and Young Artist of the Year, a result which further strengthens the belief in what this young man can achieve. (It is worth pointing out that Oli's drummer, Simon Dring, was voted Drummer of the Year)
"A British Bluesman to rival Trucks and Bonamassa" Uncut
"Blues prodigy set to shake the British scene out of its slumber" Classic Rock
"Oli is the most promising Blues man to emerge from Britain for a long time" Blues Matters!
The Nicola Farnon Quartet
Wiltshire born and now Sheffield resident, Nicola has a remarkable musical pedigree, both parents being professional classical musicians and her great uncle no less than the late Robert Farnon. After an early start on piano and cello (grade 8 in both by the age of eleven!), she followed her dad's love of the 'standards' into jazz via the double bass and an enchanting voice which was developed during her Performing Arts studies at Middlesex University.
Her sparkling trio and quartet appears regularly on the jazz circuit and the band's arrangements are all done by her - with some melodic and extremely catchy originals thrown in for good measure! She has played with such Jazz luminaries as Digby Fairweather, Jim Mullen, Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes and has supported class jazz acts as diverse as Courtney Pine, Georgie Fame, Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine, Humphrey Lyttleton and Acker Bilke. “What a fine group of Musicians….an absolute joy” Robert Farnon
“She’s a remarkable performer on stage, a fine singer and an outstandingly swinging and propulsive bass player with an outgoing personality to match...I declare that she is a class act who should be on every jazz festival in the land….A sure fire hit!” Humphrey Lyttleton
Jim Corry - Sax
A wonderful player whose already appeared at major venues and festivals all over the world. He has played with an eclectic mix of jazz, pop and soul artists including Bourbon Y Tequila, Capri, Jamil Sheriff, Andrew Colman Corinne Bailey Rae, Roy Wood, John Legend, Carleen Anderson, New Mastersounds and credits great saxophonists - Julian Cannonball Adderley, Phil Woods, Peter King, Kenny Garrett and David Newman as strong influences on his playing.
Andy Cholerton - Piano
Andy studied performance and composition at Bretton Hall College in Yorkshire and has since gone on to become a noted jazz pianist and composer performing throughout the UK. He has published works for piano, saxophone, jazz ensembles and big band. He has composed scores for musicals and plays and has worked as Musical Director for various theatre companies in the North of England. Andy has also worked with some of the county's leading jazz soloists including Tina May, Al Woods, Jim Mullen, Simon Bates, Dave Bishop and Richard Ingham.
Phil Johnson - Drums
Phil started his career with The Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra with which he toured extensively in the U.K. - and America and Poland. He has since backed many jazz artists including Bobby Shew, Alan Barnes, John Etheridge, Don Lusher, Barbara Thompson, Jim Mullen and Kenny Baker. A phenomenally popular and busy drummer, Phil plays regularly with The Squadronnaires and The Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra UK and The Kings of Swing Orchestra. In the words of her late, great Uncle, the much admired and highly esteemed composer and arranger –
“Nicola Farnon… the most important thing in music is poetry…She’s got it The next best activator is swing… She’s got it Love, laughter, looks and charm… She’s got it Her voice, whose choice? Mine… She’s got it!” ROBERT FARNON
Joel Purnell Quartet
A coalition of like minded, experienced and internationally recognised jazz musicians and educators presently all based in the UK (London, Manchester & Leeds). Performing both original jazz compositions and rearrangements of standard jazz repertoire, the band members are all clearly focused and passionate in their quest to seek out the all too often forgotten subtleties of jazz improvisation. Influenced by the American jazz masters of past and present we concentrate musically on a collective approach to melodicity, lyricism, jazz feel and expression in a contemporary jazz setting.
Joel Purnell (Tenor Sax)
Zoltan Dekany (Double Bass)
Jamil Sheriff (Piano)
Eryl Roberts (Drums
Zoe Gilby Quintet
Zoë Gilby Zoë Gilby is a North East based jazz vocalist. She studied music for two years at Newcastle College and later attended Fionna Duncan's Vocal Jazz Workshop in Glasgow.
Performances include: Wakefield Jazz Club, Fleece Jazz, Spice Jazz, Cork Jazz Festival, Derry Jazz Festival, Marsden Jazz Festival, Keswick Jazz Festival, Lichfield Real Ale Jazz and Blues Festival, Southport Jazz Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival and the Sage Gateshead International Jazz Festival.
Recordings include: Jan 2007 “Now That I am Real” with arrangements by drummer Tony Faulkner. April 2010 “Looking Glass” jazzaction the label. Featuring her quintet that Zoë tours the UK with.
In Spring 2010 Zoë recorded “Looking Glass” on the jazzaction label. Featuring her quintet that Zoë tours the UK with. The composers range from Ellington to Tom Waits to originals from Zoë and Andy Champion.
7 Pieces of Silver featuring Alan Barnes
5 Pieces of Silver is a Jazz Quintet dedicated to the performance of the music of Horace Silver, the great American Jazz Composer and pianist. The Band plays a large cross section of the composer’s music from 1950s right up to the present day. Over the last year have increased the number of musicians perform as 7 Pieces of Silver!!!
Featuring a 4-Piece horn section including marvellous Saxophonist Alan Barnes. The rest of the guys are James lancaster - Tpt, John Mckillup - Tnr sax, Matt Ball - Trmbn, Zezo Olimpio - Pno, Paul Baxter - D. Bass and Paul Smith - Kit. “Seven Pieces of Silver is a band which really captures the excitement, swing and spirit of the Horace Silver groups. Great ensembles, solos, and hip arrangements of some of the greatest modern jazz compositions ever written."
Matt Smith
Matt has been on the London music scene since leaving Brunel university. He plays guitar in an extremely wide range of styles, incorporating soul funk and blues into his jazz repertoire.
His playing has seen him in a variety of situations both nationally and internationally including residencies and tours in Austria, France, and the UK, including the 606 club, Ronnie Scotts, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Harvey Nichols, T4 and the London Astoria. As a busy guitarist, bass player and composer he has undertaken an equally varied amount of work, including London shows,studio and Tv work, ( For universal,Tzadik, IRL and Island Labels), ranging from reggae and hip hop through jazz to mutant klezmer.
Matt currently plays bi-weekly at the Browns Hotel, Mayfair and with the original band "The Leano", as well as with U.S. Dance Chart No.1, H-Boogie. He's currently trying to be a triathlete when his guitar will leave him alone.
Rob Law Trio
Rob Law on piano, Paul Baxter on bass and Kris Wright (drums). Rob is an accomplished piano player and has earned himself a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting young artists. The group will be performing a mixture of Jazz, Soul and Latin.
Late Night Sessions Courtesy of the Beverley Arts Trust
Beverley Arts Trust was formed in 2005 as a non-profit making organisation with the simple aim of promoting a wide range of arts throughout the East Riding. Since our inception we have brought the likes of Albert Lee, Elkie Brooks and Mike Sanchez to venues in the Beverley area. In addition we have organised the last three Beverley Puppet Festivals and developed the hugely popular late night venue at the Beverley Festival. We hope you enjoy our second late night programme at the Jazz Festival as much as everybody seemed to enjoy our first last year!!
Farino are a Hull based duo rapidly gaining a reputation as two of the best flamenco guitarists in the UK. They have delighted audiences throughout the area with their highly skilful take on one of the best loved forms of guitar music. They describe their music as ‘flamenco with a touch of Hull’. They will be performing on both Friday and Saturday night.
Circus Envy are enjoying wide airplay on many radio stations and deservedly so. Excellent song writing skills combine with a distinctive style combining Americana, folk and soul to produce a sound that is proving popular with audiences at many festivals and other events across the north of England. They are sure of a great future so catch them here while you can!
The Alligators return to this year’s festival by popular demand. They are a local trio performing no holds barred rhythm and blues in the classic style. All three members of the band are vastly experienced and this shows in the sheer energy and exuberance of their usually sold out gigs. Their performance at last year’s festival caused a riot of fevered dancing including some sharp moves from our host Simon
Holly Tamar has supported some excellent artists such as Boo Hewerdine, Rachel Harrington, Edwina Hayes, Ben Parker and Kate Aumonier, The Ruth Notman Band, and Rod Picott and Amanda Shires. She’s had recognition for her songwriting skills from the BBC's New Talent initiative, and also worked extensively as a session musician. Her widely praised musical style veers between jazz with a bit of folk and folk with a bit of jazz – highly original and captivating. After her performance at Burton Agnes last year, her stock of CD’s sold out within minutes
This Way Up are a Beverley based 5 piece rock and blues band performing both classic covers and self penned material. After supporting legendary blues outfit Slack Alice in 2010 they have been snapped up to perform at the Great British Blues Festival this year
Pocket Money Cinema: Gnomeo & Juliet (U)
