Alan Barnes
Sax
Alan Barnes is a prolific international performer, composer, arranger, bandleader and touring soloist. He is best known for his work on clarinet, alto and baritone sax, where he combines a formidable virtuosity with a musical expression and collaborative spirit that have few peers. His range and brilliance have made him a “first call” for studio and live work since his precocious arrival on the scene more than thirty years ago.
His recorded catalogue is immense. He has made over thirty albums as leader and co-leader alone, and the list of his session and side-man work includes Bjork, Bryan Ferry, Michel LeGrande, Clare Teale, Westlife, Jools Holland and Jamie Cullum. He has toured and played residencies with such diverse and demanding figures as Ruby Braff, Freddie Hubbard, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Ken Peplowski, Harry Allen and Conte Candoli.
In British jazz, the young Barnes was recognized – and hired – by the established greats of the time: Stan Tracy, John Dankworth, Kenny Baker, Bob Wilber, and Humphrey Lyttelton. But he is equally respected for his longstanding and fruitful collaborations with contemporaries such as David Newton, Bruce Adams, and Martin Taylor.
Alan Barnes’s unique musicianship, indefatigable touring, and warm rapport with audiences have made him uniquely popular in British jazz. He has received over 25 British Jazz Awards, most recently in 2014 for clarinet, and has twice been made BBC Jazz Musician of the Year.
Barnes’ melodic sense bypasses the usual scale-running clichés that pepper the playing of lesser bop disciples.
Peter Marsh, BBC Music Review.
His stylistic range is quite phenomenal… He has a wonderful capacity for suggesting a given style without actually imitating anyone
Dave Gelly, Masters Of The Jazz Saxophone.
I was relishing the prospect of Barnes’s casually consummate musicianship, deadpan humour (he could be a comedian, if jazz ever fails him), and indomitable belief in a respected place for the music’s rich history in this eclectic and often forgetful world.
John Fordham – The Guardian.
Barnes plays music that was radical 50 years ago but he infuses it with so much passion and energy you could believe it was minted on the spot, which is always part of the story with jazz.
John L. Walters, The Guardian.
Barry Green
Piano
Barry studied classical and jazz piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,graduating in 2002. He regularly performs with Ingrid Laubrock, Mark Lockheart, Bobby Wellins and Bob Martin and is a member of Larry Bartley’s trio and octet.
He appears frequently with the Generation Quartet featuring Martin Speake and Still Waters led by Henry Lowther.
His first CD as a leader, Timings, reflects the varied styles that Barry enjoys playing, as well as documenting his relationships with the musicians that have formed over the past few years. He has also recorded a duo Cd with the legendary UK bassist Dave Green.
He is a skilled accompanists working with many up and coming vocalists in London as well as more established artists such as Brigitte Beraha and Anita Wardell.
Find out more at www.moletone.com
Brigitte Beraha
Vocalist
Brigitte studied Music at Kingsway College, Goldsmiths College, and Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music. She is now recognized as one of the most versatile and interesting vocalists to emerge on the London jazz scene recently.
As well as performing and recording with musical luminaries such as Kenny Wheeler, Chris Laurence, Paul Clarvis, John Parricelli and Henry Lowther she is closely involved in the work of the new generation of jazz musicians and in particular the Loop and E17 jazz collectives.
Both her album releases show a wide range of musical influences. Prelude to a Kiss, is a more straight-ahead collection of standard songs and originals. Flying Dreams contains a very personal collection of original compositions, influenced by Anglo-European and Latin Jazz.
An experienced educator, Brigitte leads jazz workshops and teaches on a one to one basis at Goldsmiths College, The Guildhall and the Welsh College of Music. She has performed and led workshops in the United States, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, Turkey, Nepal and the UK.
2011 will see the release of two new albums: a standards album with John Turville & Bobby Wellins, and an album of mainly original music with “Babel Fish”, featuring Barry Green, Chris Laurence and Paul Clarvis.
Find out more at www.brigitteberaha.com
Flo Moore
Bass
Flo Moore is a recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London. She has performed with artists such as Pete King, Bobby Watson, Jason Rebello and Anita Wardell, and has played at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the North Sea Jazz Festival
Flo plays regularly with a variety of ensembles and co-leads Hourglass, a James Taylor tribute. She has recently been touring with acclaimed New Zealand artist Jordan Rakkei with European and Australian tours and appearances at the Brixton Academy.
Flo can be seen backing a wide variety of new and established artists in London such as Emma Rawiecz, Sam Leak’s Looking Glass , Nick Smart’s Kenny wheeler ensemble and many more.
She was a finalist in both the Worshipful Company of Musicians ‘Young Jazz Musician of the Year’ and Cork Jazz Festival ‘Jazz Futures’ competitions, and is a past member of Tomorrow’s Warriors, Narija and Ezra Collective.
Gareth Lockrane
Flute
Gareth has performed and recorded with Jack DeJohnette, Bheki Mseleku, Kate Williams, Hans Koller, Sirius B, Natalie Williams, Tom Richards Jazz Orchestra, The James Taylor Quartet, Gwilym Simcock Nonet and big band, Paul Booth, NYJO (also contributing many compositions and arrangements), Pete King, Anita Wardell, Georgia Mancio and The Pasedena Roof Orchestra.
He runs several bands: the Gareth Lockrane Septet, Grooveyard and an 18-piece big band, formed in late 2008 whose members include Alex Garnett, Steve Fishwick, Adrian Fry, Mike Outram, Ian Thomas, Craig Wild, Robbie Robson and Sam Mayne) and which plays exclusively Gareth’s compositions and arrangements. They released a debut album in 2018.
He is also involved in the world of film and TV composition, having recently graduated from the film composition MA course at the National Film & Television School and is in demand as a teacher at Richmond College and on various summer schools.
Find out more at www.garethlockrane.com
Jeremy Brown
Bass
Jeremy studied at the Royal Academy of Music in the early 1990’s and is now one of the most sought after players in the UK.
He is currently a member of Stacey Kent’s touring trio and the John Wilson orchestra.He performs frequently with Peter King’s quartet and Kate Williams, quintet as well as visiting American stars including Johnny Griffin, Art farmer, Brad Mehldau, Ed Simon, Charles Mcpherson and Mark Turner.
Mark Ridout
Guitar
Mark is an experienced guitarist having performed in many of the UK’s major jazz venues and festivals with such names as Jimmy Smith, Babara Dennerlein, Tony Martin, Natalie Cole, Jane Monheit, Eddie Parker etc.
He has appeared on albums for various jazz artists including Jacqui Hicks, Andrea Vicari, Stuart Curtis, Simon Thorpe’s Improphonics and also pop and rock albums. Also as a session guitarist Marks playing is featured on some computer and wii game soundtracks.
Mark toured the US with Jazz funk band ‘Down to the Bone’ in 2001. He has performed on TV for ‘Strictly come dancing’ and with Alison Moyet on the ‘Lesley Garrett show’ and is regularly to be heard on the radio in the bbc big band.
Mark has a busy teaching schedule and has taught on the Wavenden Jazz Summer school amongst others. Mark has an interest in all areas of guitar playing but is often sought out by students for his in depth knowledge of jazz improvisation.
Mick Foster
Sax & Clarinet
Mick Foster is a saxophonist, clarinettist and composer who is particularly noted as a specialist in the baritone saxophone. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London and has since worked extensively in the fields of jazz, commercial and classical music. He has appeared with many ensembles which include the big bands of John Dankworth, Stan Sulzmann and Mike Garrick, the Back to Basie Orchestra, Alan Barnes + 11, The Humphrey Lyttelton Band, Ginger Baker’s Air Force and The London Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has also worked with Cleo Laine, Jacqui Dankworth, Trudy Kerr, Mark Lockheart, Guy Barker, Digby Fairweather, Swing Out Sister, The BBC Concert Orchestra, English National Opera and The Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Mick has recorded three albums under his own name and is in demand as a session musician, having played for many film and TV soundtracks.
As a composer Mick has written for various ensembles which include the London Jazz Orchestra, Quartz Saxophone Quartet, Docklands Sinfonia and Onyx Brass. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3; some of his pieces are published by Saxtet Publications and are included on both the ABRSM and Trinity College London exams syllabuses.
Mick is active as an educator; he teaches at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Goldsmiths College; he is also a tutor for the National Youth Jazz Collective.
Mike Gorman
Piano
Since moving to London in 1995 to attend the Guildhall School of Music, Mike has been an integral part of the London and UK jazz scene performing with virtually every UK horn player and vocalist of note. These include Peter King, Don Weller, Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore, Bobby Wellins, Art Themen, Stan Sulztmann and Alan Barnes and Tina May and Clare Teal to name a few.
Mike has also performed with leading international Jazz artists including Jimmy Witherspoon, Scott Hamilton, Bill Watrous, Stacey Kent, Georgie Fame, David Binney and Michael Urbaniak.
As a jazz organist, Mike is a key member of the Jim Mullen Organ Trio, with whom he as recorded 3 acclaimed albums.
Mike is also in great demand as a session player touring and recording extensively with a wide variety of artists in the field of popular and commercial music, including Boy George, Mica Paris, Incognito, Us3, Van Morrison, Hamish Stuart, Marty Pellow, Marlena Shaw, Gwen McCrae, Andrea Bocelli and Tom Robinson.
Nia Lynn
Vocalist
Nia Lynn is a highly skilled contemporary performer who is most widely regarded for her outstanding knowledge in the area of jazz performance and contemporary vocal pedagogy. Her initial training at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama Specialising in Jazz voice, has expanded to include further studies into community music, improvisation and composition, interpretation and delivery of text, body and breath, contemporary performance and vocal pedagogy.
She is a Voice Coach for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Theatr Genedlathol Cymru. Nia is currently the Principle Study jazz singing teacher at the Royal Academy of Music and The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Nia also leads a critically acclaimed jazz trio (The Bannau Trio), exploring standards, songs, and originals in a chamber jazz setting with Gareth Lockrane & Ross Stanley. Their third album, Points of View, features Norma Wintsone and has won glittetring acclaim. They are currently working toward their fourth album due for release 2016. Nia Is also a fully accredited Yoga teacher with the British Wheel of Yoga and shares her time between her home in Cardiff, London and abroad.
Rob Barron
Piano
Rob Barron graduated from Leeds College of Music in 2003, having been awarded prizes for jazz performance 3 years running. He subsequently completed the Guildhall postgraduate jazz course studying under Simon Purcell.
Rob is very busy on the London jazz scene as a member of many of the new generation of bands.
He is also in demand for sessions and recordings. Rob, until recently held the piano chair with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and recently toured the UK and Europe with several shows and theatre productions. Artist credits include Bob Mintzer, Phil Woods, Soweto Kinch, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Heath, Anita Wardell and Alan Barnes.
Stephen Fishwick
Trumpet
Steve Fishwick is widely considered to be one of the best jazz trumpet players ever to come from the UK, and is rapidly gaining a global reputation thanks to his flawless technique and his beautifully flowing, harmonically rich improvisations.
He has often worked in partnership with Welsh tenor saxophonist Osian Roberts. Together they have recorded with NYC luminaries Cedar Walton, Peter Washington, Frank Basile, Jeb Patton and Mike Karn. In 2014 they were invited to perform at Dave Douglas’ prestigious Festival of New Trumpet Music in NYC, being the first UK led group to appear at the festival.
Steve has worked with most of the major jazz musicians in the UK and Europe including the BBC Big Band, the WDR Big Band (including projects with Ron Carter, Peter Erskine, Terrell Stafford, Dick Oattes, Jimmy Heath, and Michael Abene) and many others.
As well as being an official Schilke artist, Steve teaches at Leeds College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Tristan Mailliot
Drums
Tristan is active on the UK jazz instrumental scene leading his own acoustic and electric quartets as well as with CD releases including the Jim Mullen Volunteers , Ben Croft Project , Jim Hart quartet, Kate Williams quintet and septet and Anita Wardell’s group.
During the early 90’s he toured the US with the acclaimed smooth jazz guitar group Acoustic Alchemy. Since then he has performed with many top American and UK jazz artists such as Art Farmer, Jim Hall, Stan Tracey, Steve Grossman, John Dankworth, Fred Hersch, Jim Mullen, Bobby Wellins…
Tristan has toured with most of the leading UK jazz vocalists including Stacey Kent, Anita Wardell, Jackie Hicks, Tina May, Norma Winstone , Claire Martin and Lily Dior and has appeared at Ronnie Scott’s with US vocalists Jackie Ryan, Judy Niemack and Karyn Allison.
He is currently working with the Jim Mullen organ trio, Josh Kemp “Love Supreme” project and Mick Foster’s quartet. He has previously been a drum tutor at the LCCM London, Drumtech, Trinity Laban and Musician’s Institute London. He is director of Loire Music Ltd (summer schools and courses)