Al Morrison
Al started playing Guitar at 16 won a scholarship at 21 to study
at leeds college of music. Started out playing rock and blues but then
got really into bebop and hard bop jazz. Attended Trinity college of
music in London on a post grad Jazz guitar course was very lucky to get
to study with both Dave Cliff and Mike Outram. Played all over Europe
(spent alot of time in the backs of Vans!)Been very honored to play
with many great musicians such as Larry Carlton, Dave Cliff, Peter
King, Alan Barnes, Soweto Kinch, Marrissa Turner, John Ellis and Justin
Timberlake. Currently teaching Guitar At University and am developing a
Blues Theatre production which will hopefully go on tour in the next
year or so.
For More information on Al follow the link below:
http://www.myspace.com/almorrisonmusi
The Nicki Allan SextetCatch them this Thursday 21st May
at Coopers Jazz & Blues, Guiseley
Currently the music scene abounds with gifted young lady ‘jazz’ singers…and talented and indeed welcome as they are, not all are completely worthy of the title with a capital ‘J’!! In my humble opinion however, one who can rightly claim to be a ‘Jazz’ singer (even though she can also perform most convincingly outside that particular sphere) is Leeds based vocal talent Nicki Allan. Nicki is one of that relatively rare breed of artist, who though fully respectful of song lyrics, has the control and confidence to take daring unexpected liberties with the melody, without marring—and in most cases actually enhancing the results!!
Immaculately fresh arrangements and flawless musicianship
These are a couple of things that have been said recently about The Nicki Allan Sextet. It is largely a Leeds College of music faculty formed last year and features great new arrangements of vocal Jazz standards, chiefly from the Great American Songbook. There will also be some original material creeping into the repertoire very soon thanks to Nicki’s creative flair. The arrangers are Ronnie Bottomley, Graham Hearne and Phil Steel and the musicians are myself on vocals, Graham on piano, Ronnie on drums, Adrian Knowles on double bass, Joel Purnell on Tenor sax and Mark Chandler on flugelhorn.
The musicians themselves are from a varied jazz cultured background. Some of the band have been around and worked with many great names in the business, such as Ronnie Bottomley who has performed throughout his career with the likes of Art Farmer, Don Menza, Humphrey Littleton, Johnny Dankworth, and Morrissey Mullen. Mark Chandler on trumpet / flugelhorn, is based in Huddersfield and has worked with the likes of George Russell, Elvin Jones, Pete King, Johnny Dankworth and the BBC radio big band. Dr Graham Hearn has a great reputation as a jazz pianist as well as electro-acoustic genius, Joel Purnell is currently in demand as a performer with the release last year of his solo debut album, Red shift and Adrian is one of the most sought after bass players in the area.
Nicki herself is no stranger to the music business and jazz. She has been a lecturer and voice coach at the Leeds College of music for the last 16 years. As well as that she has vocal coached for the West End, written many original works, is a sought after recording artist for many bands and musicians and worked with the likes of Tina may, Lee Gibson, Karen lane, Snake Davis as well as singing with Big Bands, running her own Sextet and Function band.
Watch out for this sextet over the coming year. They have already been asked to headline at Wakefield Jazz club on Friday 19th June and are performing in the Leeds College of music Venue on November 10th.
5 Pieces Of Silver
5 Pieces of Silver is a quintet dedicated to the music of Horace
Silver. Formed in 2008 by Brazilian Pianist/ Berklee graduate Zezo
Olympio and York based double bassist Paul Baxter it includes the
spectrum of the great composers music from the classic Blue Note period
right through to his present day recordings.
The other members of the band are James Lancaster a beautifully melodic
trumpeter who is a member of the house band at York Jazz, John Mckillup
is a young vibrant and fiery saxophonist who lives and works in the
leeds area, and Paul Smith on drums who has been a stalwart of the Leeds
Jazz scene for many years.
In addition to these fine musicians 5 Pieces of Silver have been working with the amazing vocal talents of Louise Gibbs
who is a musician of international renown. Louise is a singer, jazz improviser and composer. It has been
said of her bebop-inspired style: "She can turn a hackneyed jazz
standard into a newly-imagined composition...and takes musical
risks...as expressive as any horn player whether the tune's by Kenny
Wheeler or Rodgers & Hart". Originally from New Zealand, Louise was
until her recent move to Leeds living and working in London for over 20
years. She makes regular forays to the US. Louise has sung with,
amongst others: Lynne Arriale, Mike Nock, Ron McClure, Rufus Reid, Kirk
Lightsey, Jim McNeeley, Chico Freeman, Tony Coe, Renato D’Aiello, Phil
de Greg, Mark Levine, to name a few.
You can catch some of the greatest music written over the last 60 years performed by this exciting new outfit on Thursday 2nd April at Coopers Jazz Club, 4-6 Otley Road, Guiseley LS20 8AH