Events

When you mention Stevie Williams (bass/vocals) to a muso you get a knowing nod and a "huge player" kind of response. Much respected for his work on 4 strings he is the driving force behind this outfit and the man responsible for their original material. No slouch as a vocalist either. Stevie and his phenomenally talented band just know how to blend momentous melodies, wistful thinking & insightful lyrics over skilfully crafted songs with zelig like skills, tapping into a range of vintage sounds infused with impressive guitar and lap-steel guitar licks. His style and plethora of diverse musical influences seamlessly blends blues, soul, country & folk music with a high sense of entertainment, resulting in a performance of songs that are at once world-worn and timeless. Stevie's album ‘Pockets Full of Gold’ is a doozie and a recommended purchase from all download and streaming sites. Not to be missed!

The Luca Brasi Four is a Lancashire-based quartet playing high-octane, straight-ahead swing, be-bop and blues in the spirit of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and the great post-bop, blues and gospel influenced Blue Note albums of the 1960s.

Claire grew up in South West Wales, learning to play violin with her dad, a gypsy-jazz player. She went on to study classically at conservatoire, before re-discovering country and swing music joining Europe’s no.1 Western Swing band The Swing Commanders. Claire has appeared on a number of radio and television broadcasts including Radio 1’s live lounge, and a number of festival stages including Breda jazz festival in Holland and the Twinwood 40s festival.

Alex is a versatile pianist based in Manchester. He has recorded sessions for the BBC, featured as part of the Edinburgh Fringe and Edinburgh International Jazz festivals, played on several studio albums and also writes original music for his quintet Lieko.

Claire and Alex play a mix of old country blues songs and well-known jazz jazz standards, rich vocals mixed with fiery fiddling and the piano prowess that has made Alex one of the most prominent players in Manchester’s jazz scene. Their duo is influenced by the likes of Maria Muldaur, Bessie Smith and Madeleine Peyroux.

Prohibited Strangers began as a student quartet at Leeds College of Music, exploring the work of modern UK groups and players such as The Impossible Gentlemen, Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Nikki Iles and Iain Ballamy. From these stylistic foundations the band has developed its own compositions and a sound that is distinctly its own; lyrical, thoughtful and finely-crafted.

Henry Botham is a professional pianist based in Manchester, UK. He specialises in Harlem Stride Piano, New Orleans music and playing vintage and analogue keyboards, organs and electric pianos.

When he graduated from Salford University with a first class degree in music he had already been working for several years with his first band the HB3, a jazz trio that performed gigs around the Manchester jazz circuit. At around this time he also toured and recorded with RSL, where he developed his love of vintage and analogue instruments that led to the formation of No Good Beatniks, an originals project with a stellar line up of UK jazz talent.

In an unusual departure from the work he had been doing Henry then turned his focus on learning 1920’s Harlem Stride piano by studying the great pianists Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith, Luckey Roberts and Dick Wellstood. He found that there weren’t many gigs going around for stride pianists in modern day Manchester so he formed 52 Skidoo. They have since gone on to become one of the leading 1920/30’s bands in the UK and beyond.

Having developed a taste for vintage piano and ‘old time music’ he discovered New Orleans piano, which draws from a wide range of influences including Blues, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Rhumba, Ragtime and even Classical music and Rock, all epitomized by the recognised master of the genre, James Booker. Through studying his recordings, as well as those by Dr John, Professor Longhair and Jelly Roll Morton, plus visiting New Orleans to meet and study with Tom McDermott, Josh Paxton and Jon Cleary, Henry has emerged with an intricate knowledge of this little known approach to piano. He puts this to good use as pianist for New Orleans R&B band The Nightcreatures.