(Friday 9th March 2007)

Tom has been in constant demand since winning two awards in 1998. Most publicly with Gwyneth Herbert and Acoustic Ladyland but also Dave O’Higgins and the Royal Academy.

He has teamed up with the experienced Sam Burgess on bass and explosive wonderkid drummer, Josh Blackmore, to create the trio Curios.

This tour is to promote their debut CD “Hidden” which features all original music which Tom has been developing over time.

Jazzwise described him as “A fearless, out-there player, knocking out ragged torrents of cross-idiomatic ideas with an anarchic sense of solo development.” However don’t let a journalist’s fevered prose put you off a performance by a wonderful player. We shall see Tom again with the Geoff Gascoyne band next.

Tom Cawley - piano
Sam Burgess - bass
Josh Blackmore - drums

Latest CD: Hidden - Jazzizit

Web: www.tomcawley.co.uk Top

John is an American pianist who has paid his dues with Lionel Hampton and, for over four years, Mel Torme. He has a weekly gig with the legendary guitarist, Les Paul, at the Iridium club in New York and comes to the UK regularly. He has visited Wakefield in the company of exotic singer, Tira, on the last two occasions but this time brings a swinging quintet.

His influences are Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson which can be evidenced by the immense technical skill his fluent playing demonstrates. Never just a show-off, John puts his abilities at the service of the music and the entertainment of the audience.

After an extended period wearing a comedy hairdo and touring with Jamie Cullum, Geoff has felt the need to express his own musical persona once more. We are delighted to welcome him and the lads back to Wakefield.

This short tour (Jamie still makes demands) is to celebrate the new CD released last September by this quintet and added string quartet with tracks including three singers – Jamie, Trudy Kerr and Georgie Fame (in whose Big Band Geoff plays).
Of his previous CD, “Summer” Chris Parker, writing in Ronnie Scott’s magazine, said - “The fiercely bustling interactiveness of the quartet, not to mention its leader’s power and elegance, mark the music out as world class”

This is a real Big Band of 16 – 18 musicians from the North West which is led by drummer, Paul Rigby. It is influenced by the work of Basie, Kenton, Mintzer, Florence, Ferguson and Rich, all of which they play, but they work hard to develop their own distinctive sound.

They have been in existence since 1989 and so have a musical pedigree which has included many musicians who went on to greater things – Barnaby Dickinson was in the band on their last CD.

Regular guests at Rawtenstall’s Rhythm Station, we were urged to see if we could get them to cross the Pennines – we did and they will.

"Esther Miller sat in with my band for a couple of numbers at the Bull’s Head at Barnes, and it took no more than that to reveal her as a spell-binder. Voice, style and presence – she’s got it all. A great talent." Humphrey Lyttelton, August 2006

Her third CD, launched last June, shows her development almost complete and her mastery of the jazz repertoire wholly successful. Whether delicate and delicious on Waltz for Debbie or swinging Bernie’s Tune, Esther will entertain us all tonight. She brings with her a cracking team of like-minded musicians.

Esther Miller - voice
Karen Sharp - tenor
Bryan Corbett - trumpet and flugelhorn
Gerry Spencer - piano
Zoltan Dekany - bass
Neil Bullock - drums

Latest CD : Dream Dancing (Tristan records)

Web : www.esthermiller.co.uk Top