Jazz festival artist profiles
Thursday 24 July
Walpole Park
Main stage:
Ken Baldock Quintet: 5.45pm-7pm
Henry Lowther - trumpet, flugel
Stan Sulzmann - tenor sax
John Critchinson - piano
Ken Baldock - bass
Martin Drew - drums
'Modern jazz standards and originals played by world acclaimed musicians assembled and led by veteran bassist Ken Baldock. The Quintet features:- Henry Lowther - trumpet/flugel, Stan Sulzman (Tenor Sax') John Critchinson (piano) Ken Baldock (Bass) and Martin Drew (drums). This year we dedicate our performance to the fond remembrance of our late colleagues:- Tommy McQuater (Trumpet) and Allan Ganley (Drums)
Gill Cook Quintet: 7.30pm-8.45pm
Gill Cook - vocals
Simon Spillett - tenor sax
Alex Hutton - piano
Jeff Clyne - bass
Paul Cavacuitti - drums
Ealing vocalist Gill Cook returns to the Festival following her debut appearance last year, when she grabbed the attention of a rapt and appreciative crowd. Jazzreview.com in the USA wrote of Gill, "The true mark of a jazz singer isn't the ability to perform a song, but the ability to take ownership of it. Gill Cook sounds very much like the future of British Jazz. She's a jazz natural". Gill's ability to convey and interpret lyrics connects intimately with audiences and her recordings and live performances over recent years have featured such leading British jazz musicians as Arnie Somogyi and Steve Waterman.
Frank Griffith Nonet: 9.15pm-10.30pm
Henry Lowther - trumpet
Robbie Robson - trumpet
Mark Nightingale - trombone
Bob Martin - alto sax
Frank Griffith - tenor sax, clarinet
Mick Foster - baritone sax
Tim Lapthorn - piano
Jeremy Brown - bass
Paul Clarvis - drums
Georgia Mancio - vocals
The Frank Griffith Nonet was originally formed in New York City in 1984. The UK version was created in 1997 and features leading lights of the modern British jazz scene like Henry Lowther, Bob Martin and Tim Lapthorn, among others.
As well as regular appearances throughout the London area, the Nonet has performed annually at the Ealing Jazz Festival since. In 2006 Frank received a London Borough of Ealing commission for new music, which resulted in a piece entitled `Agent W5`. A tribute to the 1960s spy thriller soundtracks associated with Ealing Studios, it was premiered at the Ealing Jazz Festival in July 2006. The band will be featuring the fast-rising singer, Georgia Mancio, in their July 2008 Ealing show.
Crypt stage:
Jess Blatchley: 5.45pm-6.45pm
Appearing for the first time at the Ealing Jazz Festival, Jess Blatchley is already well known to many jazz enthusiasts in west London. Her jazz collaborators include Pete Churchill, The Eric Gilchrist Quartet, Nigel Fox, Chris Hodgkins, and Costas Karageorghis among many others. She is known as a singer who uses her voice like an instrument following in the tradition of the great Jazz Divas Ella Fitzgerald and Cleo Laine, and is particularly famous for her scat singing. Jess is appearing with the Lincoln Noel Trio (Andy Gemmell, drums; Alan Prosser, Bass; Lincoln Noel, piano).
Dave Bitelli Trio: 7.15pm-8.30pm
Former Loose Tubes reedsman Dave Bitelli delivers his unique take on the tenor/bass/drums genre, with Miles Danso (bass) and Rod Youngs (drums). The band will explore some rarer jazz standards.
Hai La Drum: 9pm-10.15pm
Four versatile musicians who met playing gypsy swing music in the late '90s. Led by the incredible Baz Stanescu on violin. Traditional Romanian gypsy forms, improvisations and unusual arrangements of gypsy jazz tunes. Baz Stanescu (violin), Jonny Hepbir (guitar), Pete Watson (accordion), Dan Sheppard (bass).