One of the most distinctive musicians on the UK jazz scene, and a frequent performer at jazz festival, Bryan is the equal of any trumpeter in the country and is developing rapidly as a composer. He is accompanied by regular pianist Levi French, another notable local talent capable of raising the roof at festivals.
"Talent to watch: sooner or later the Birmingham-based trumpeter Bryan Corbett is going to burst onto the national scene and blow everyone away." Sholto Byrnes, Independent
Bryan Corbett trumpet // Levi French piano
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Indelibly associated with the 60s Jazz and R&B scene, Fame scored chart success with hits like Yeh, Yeh and Getaway. Nevertheless, his own musical preferences always drew him back to his jazz roots and '67 and '68 found him singing with the Count Basie band. Writing credits for film scores and a musical followed, along with musical partnerships with Van Morrison and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings during the 90's. Throughout the years he has maintained a stream of live appearances in the UK and abroad often in the company of tenor saxophonist Alan Skidmore – another survivor of that 60s scene and well-known to jazz fans for his dedication to the work of the late John Coltrane. For this performance, Alan's regular quartet join forces with Georgie to explore many of the classic songs on Georgie’s critically-acclaimed CD, Poet in New York (voted Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2000 by the Academie du Jazz in France) as well as other favourites.
Georgie Fame piano and vocals
Alan Skidmore saxophone
Steve Melling piano
Ian Palmer drums
Aidan O’Donnell bass
A graduate of Tomorrows Warriors and Gary Crosby's Nu Troop plus funky crossover bands Quite Sane and J-Life, Robert Mitchell has developed a formidable reputation (his J-Life colleagues nicknamed him the dark scientist) as a pianist and composer. A member of the burgeoning F-ire Collective, the loose collective for young musicians with wide horizons and inner fire, Robert has collaborated with Cuban violinist Omar Puente on a number of occasions, including a tour of Cuba. Omar is now resident in England and teaches jazz violin at Leeds College of Music, but he learned Latin Jazz at the feet of Chu Cho Valdez and Arturo Sandoval and Cuban music from Ruben Gonzales and Guillermo Rubalcaba. The combination of these two superb talents should be enough set the evening alight.
"A young UK virtuoso of McCoy Tyner - like precision, excitement, boldness, and scope. Formidable improvising skills, remarkable breadth and absorbing unpredictability." The Guardian
Robert Mitchell piano // Omar Puente violin
One of the most gifted jazz singers working in the UK, Trudy began her career performing at clubs and festivals in her native Australia, before embarking for England and securing a place at the Guildhall School of Music. Ronnie Scott heard her sing and offered her a supporting slot at his club, where she has been a regular ever since. In a distinguished career she has worked with with many eminent musicians including pianist Mulgrew Miller and Georgie Fame and is also married to one – Geoff Gascoyne.
"A combination of artful programming and assured arrangements has made her one of the country's most polished singers." Clive Davis, The Times
Trudy Kerr vocals // Graham Harvey piano
Dave Chamberlain bass // Steve Brown drums
As an influential DJ and record-label owner, Gilles Peterson has been associated with the careers of countless well-known artists of the 1990s. He is also well known as a radio DJ: he had a show on London's Kiss FM and then in 1998 joined BBC Radio 1. Peterson is known for his eclectic musical selections. Though not as "anything goes" as the late John Peel, he plays anything from dub and reggae through jazz, nu-jazz, soul, neo soul, R&B to drum & bass and hip-hop. Electronica artist Earl Zinger is actually none other than Rob Gallagher, who formerly led the Talkin' Loud label's acid jazz band Galliano. He is also Gilles Peterson's main MC.
Please note: Age 18+ admission only with photo ID