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Steve Melling, Piano Steve Melling was brought up in Preston, Lancashire, UK and studied at Goldsmiths’ College in London before joining the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. In the late 1970s he began playing professionally when he toured with Harry Beckett and Elton Dean. In 1986 Steve received the first Pat Smythe Memorial Trust Award, a [...]

Kate Williams (p) Bobby Wellins (ts) tbc (b)  Tristan Maillot (d) Bobby was born in Glasgow in January 1936 into a musical family. After study at Chichester College and a spell in the RAF, he bagan working the dance band circuit. His recording career began when he joined the legendary Buddy Featherstonhaugh pianoless quintet in [...]

Roger Marks (tr) Chris Walker (cl) John Shillito (t) Ken Aimes (bjo) Alan Harris (b) John Bell (d) Early in 2012 Roger Marks had the good fortune to play for Chris Walker’s Swingtet on a couple of cruises when they had numerous opportunities to talk about their music and their particular influences and alignments. It [...]

Henry Armburg Jennings (t) Chris Maddocks (as) Reuben James (p)  Dan Casimir (b) Clark Tracey (d) Clark is a frequent visitor to the Festival with top bandleaders. But as a leader, he continues to bring together groups of outstanding young musicians to play accessible, exciting post-bop jazz. This latest formation are all still in their [...]

Jean Toussaint (ts) Andrew McCormack (p) Larry Bartley (b) Troy Miller (d) Since saxophonist Jean Toussaint left Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, he hasn’t looked back. Nor has he spent a career trying to repeat the past. The experiences gained in that world-class hothouse have enabled him to push forward and embrace challenging and often high [...]

Amy Roberts, (reeds) Enrico Tomasso, (t) Keith Nichols (p) Ian Bateman (tr) Jerome Davis (b) Graham Smith (d) A ‘pick-up’ band of some of our favourite musicians playing in the broad area of ‘classic jazz’. A superb front line and a stunning rhythm section are absolutely certain to produce some fireworks in a memorable gig.

Karen Street (acc) Mike Outram (g) Andy Tweed (saxes) Will Harris (b) Accordionist Karen Street’s latest project features the amazingly creative talent of guitarist Mike Outram, Will Harris who is fast becoming the South West’s most in-demand bassist and honey-toned saxophonist Andy Tweed. The music is melodic, influenced not only by jazz but with strong [...]

Alan Barnes (reeds) Tony Kofi (saxes) Jeremy Price (tr) Mark Edwards (p) Arnie Somogyi (b) Clark Tracey (d) A repertoire, rather than a tribute band, Scenes in the City, led by combines the talent of some of the UK’s leading jazz musicians. Arnie Somogyi’s first jazz record was Mingus’ “Ah Um” Unknown to him, a connection [...]

Alan Skidmore (ts) Steve Melling (p) Andrew Cleyndert (b) Miles Levin (d) Alan Skidmore started playing professionally at the age of sixteen. He played regularly in the BBC Jazz Club and with Eric Delaney Orchestra, before joining Alexis Korner’s band, recording with John Mayall and playing with Ronnie Scott. He represented United Kingdom at the [...]