Jazz festival artist profiles
Wednesday 23 July
Walpole Park
Main stage:
Roland Lacey/Geoff Mason Quintet: 7.30pm-8.45pm
Roland Lacey - tenor sax
Geoff Mason - trombone
Alan Berry - piano
Val Mannix - bass
Trevor Tomkins - drums
This year`s Ealing Jazz Festival is launched by the band formed in 2002 by trombonist Geoff Mason and Ealing tenor saxophonist and Festival mainstay Roland Lacey. With Geoff`s keen admiration for J J Johnson, Roland`s great affinity for the Dexter Gordon school, a formidable rhythm section renowned for accompanying many top international jazz artistes, a Jazz Services-assisted UK tour in 2004 and a CD feature on BBC Radio 2's Best Of Jazz earlier this year, the quintet has built a considerable reputation as fine exponents of the Blue Note Era.
Paul Carmichael’s Flight featuring Vanessa Haynes: 9.15pm-10.30pm
Vanessa Haynes - vocals
Martin Shaw - trumpet
Nigel Waddington - trumpet
Alistair White - trombone
Rob Hughes - saxes
Dave Ital - guitar
Rick Laughlin - keyboards
Paul Carmichael - bass guitar
Simon Pearson – drums
Roberto Pla – percussion
This year we bring back the amazing Roberto Pla, on Percussion. One of the great Timable players in the UK. Our regular featured soloists are Rob Hughes on Sax, and Martin Shaw on Trumpet. Paul Carmichael's Flight also features stunning vocalist Vanessa Haynes who is proving herself to be the UK's new jazz and soul diva following the successful release of her debut album `Stay With Me`, produced by Paul Carmichael. In a funky set with great soloists, this year's show will spotlight four new instrumental compositions and three new songs from Vanessa plus some Ealing Jazz Festival Latin jazz favourites.
Crypt stage:
The Mehr Clef Workshop Band: 7.15pm-8.30pm
Based in Roehampton, MEhr Clef organises Jazz courses, Masterclasses, Workshops, Tuition and Live Jazz Events. Everyone involved in the company is an experienced musician/performer and teacher and has, first and foremost, students’ and musicians' interests at heart. This adult student band presents a diverse jazz repertoire including Mingus, Weill and Frishberg.
Big Band Metheny: 9pm-10.15pm
Big Band Metheny is a new project by saxophonist Simon Gilby. This 18 piece big band is based around the music of jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and the Pat Metheny Group. Metheny's music is at once highly melodic but also very intricate, crossing musical boundaries by having its roots in jazz, rock and country music, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Saxes: Simon Gilby , Nigel Penfold, Nick Wilkinson, Charlotte Glasson, Erica Clarke.
Trombones: Alastair Warren, Chris Lowe, Ben Greenslade, Vicky Johnson
Trumpets: Stuart Quinlan, Giles Straw, Andy Gibson, Gabriel Garrick, Matt Wynch
Piano: guest pianist
Bass: Davide Mantovani
Drums: Nigel Appleton
Percussion: Tim Gunnell