Cheltenham, Monday evening and a capacity audience will experience the true meaning of the Art of the Quartet. This, all thanks to two masters of the genre, Art Themen and Dave Newton.
Cornet player Damon Brown has become something of a fixture with Cheltenham Jazz audiences over the years. And with good reason: he always surrounds himself with the very best musicians.
Tomasso Starace born (’75) in Milan started playing serious alto in 1994 at a seminar in Umbria, after which he obtained a place at the Birmingham Conservatoire. After graduating he went on to complete the Postgraduate Jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Whilst there, Tomasso studied and played with the cream of the London scene. This must have served him in good stead as renowned jazz author and critic Vittorio Franchini says of Tommaso’s new recording : “The sax is filled with voices, it sings gaiety…….I like the way he follows joyful paths, I imagine him playing around with rhythms, playing with the other instruments, opening up to new feelings and inventing new ways…’‘
Neil Angilley was born in Redruth, Cornwall in ’67, his mother and grandmother played piano, but his father played brass. In fact the whole of his father’s family played brass and was able to support their own brass band. Unsurprisingly, Neil grew up being musical, tinkling on the piano by the age of three and later, blowing the cornet.
He studied trumpet and piano at the Royal College of Music in Kensington, but tonight we shall hear him on piano. Professionally, Neil plays all genres of music including enough world class jazz to keep us bopping tonight!
On bass tonight our old friend the rock steady Tom Hill and Cheltenham’s very own Simon Radford on drums.
Tomasso is becoming quite a figure on the contemporary scene, so don’t miss this chance to see him close-up in the Studio. (limited seats)
Tickets are £12.00 from the box office: 01242 572573 or on line: www.everymantheatre.org.uk
Back in the dark days of January we were all a bit delighted to be putting on Gilad Atzmon for our first gig of the year, then Gilad was struck down with the ‘flu. We have seen Gilad play in the past with virtually broken hands, after a brush with his bicycle, so we new it was serious. We carried on with the gig with his Quartet and a visiting German sax player, very good, but not Gilad! So on the 23 September we will have all fingers crossed all set enjoy what we all missed.
To take a look at Gilad’s latest video, go to the “links” page, highlight the link and go to “Search Google Video”.
Gilad came to the UK, in 1994, via the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem. In 2000 he founded the Orient House Ensemble in London and made an international impact for his inventive approach. Robert Wyatt sums it up in the Guardian thus -“Best Musician living in the world today.” No need to follow that!
On Piano tonight we have another familiar face – Frank Harrison many of you will remember being captivated by his Trio in December 2011, but tonight he will be in another hat being a regular with Gilad’s band.
Another familiar face from April 2012, on bass Yaron Stavi. When not playing with Asaf Sirkis, Yaron is another of Gilad’s team. Yaron, who is classically trained, served under such luminaries as Pierre Boulez and Neville Mariner. Came to London in 2002 and was right at the start of the Orient House Ensemble.
On drums we have Eddie Hick, a graduate from the Leeds College of Music, moved to London and has played in most international styles of music known to man!
As ever at the Studio Theatre, seats are limited, so make sure you do not miss this one and book early!
Tickets are £13.00 from the box office: 01242 572573 or on line: www.everymantheatre.org.uk