THE EVENT
Simply the best musiciansAlthough we say it ourselves, and do so unashamedly, the musicians you will see at the 2012 Wiltshire Jazz Festival are some of the best you will hear anywhere in the world and they represent different genres of jazz. They do not come any bigger than Eliane Elias, the brilliant Brazilian singer-songwriter and pianist, whom we have enticed to come to our festival all the way from New York. She will be forming a duo with the legendary double bass player Marc Johnson. They are international jazz stars so we are very fortunate to have them appear at the Wiltshire Jazz Festival. And what more can you possibly say about The Big Chris Barber Band or of its famous trombonist Chris Barber, who will be celebrating 63 years as a band leader? It is a cliché to say that Chris Barber is a living legend, but it is true. We know we will make at least one festival goer very happy. In 2011 Jan Knight requested that we invited Martin Taylor's Spirit of Django. We obliged. For 2012 she has especially asked that we find a spot for guitarist John Etheridge and violinist Chris Garrick in the programme. We are happy to have obliged again. One of the most talented and original bands on the scene today is Kairos 4tet. You miss them at your peril. We extend a big welcome to the Wiltshire-born singer and double bassist Nicola Farnon and her quartet. They are a band full of charm. So too is the sassy jazz and blues band, The BeE Ororo Quintet, whose appeal is more raw. Making his appearance for the third year running is another Wiltshire ex-pat, the sensational saxophonist Andy Sheppard. The Bateman Brothers are back for the second time by popular request and will open the festival at 1pm to a swinging start with a new lunchtime session, their music inspired by Louis Armstrong. The superb guitar duo Charles Alexander and Andy Robinson never fail to delight. They have appeared at all but one of our festivals and are always in demand. |
2012 ArtistsEliane Elias and Marc Johnson |
 Supporting worthy causesIn 2012 the Wiltshire Festival will be supporting two charities: St Mary's Church, Dinton and The Trussell Trust. 
St Mary's Church, DintonA donation will be made towards the fabric and maintenance of the local church. The Trussell TrustThe Trussell Trust is a Salisbury-based charity working to combat poverty in the UK and Bulgaria through community projects ranging from UK foodbanks to Houses of Opportunity for orphanage leavers in Bulgaria. |
The Location
Jesses,
Snow hill,
Dinton,
Wiltshire
SP3 5HN
THE ARTISTS
Eliane Elias and Marc Johnson
The Big Chris Barber Band
Andy Sheppard
John Etheridge and Sweet Chorus with Chris Garrick
Kairos 4tet
Nicola Farnon Quartet
Charles Alexander and Andy Robinson guitar duo
The Bateman Brothers
The BeE Ororo Quintet
Eliane Elias - Interview with Eliane Elias by Editor of Wiltshire Life
Brazilian pianist and singer Eliane Elias, now living in New York, is an international star and one of the hottest properties in jazz today. Therefore it is a fabulous honour to have enticed her and her internationally renowned double bass player, Marc Johnson, from the United States to perform at the Wiltshire Jazz Festival as its headline act.
A multi-Grammy Award nominee, Eliane's innovative, recognisable and distinctive style charms audiences wherever she plays. Her voice is the epitome of sensuousness, alluring and compelling in its appeal. Her piano skills are masterly.
No wonder all her recordings become major chart toppers in America, Japan and France. Her 2007 release, Something for You, received the Best Vocal Album of the Year Award in Japan. A year later Eliane was the number two artist in CD sales in France on its annual jazz charts.
Eliane's latest album, and conceivably her best to date, Light My Fire, released in May, 2011, went straight to number three in America on Billboard's jazz charts and number four on Amazon's equivalent. Eliane and Light My Fire are currently receiving rave reviews, the singer also having arranged and written or co-written several compositions herself.
And with such a high profile Eliane is in constant demand as a highly acclaimed international star, performing concerts around the world.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Elias' musical talents began to show at an early age. She started studying piano at seven, and at 12, was transcribing solos from the great jazz masters. By the time she was 17 she was a professional performer, working with Brazilian singer/songwriter Toquinho and the great poet Vinicius de Moraes.
In 1981, Elaine headed for New York. Since then there has been no looking back and success has followed success. Indeed, Eliane Elias takes her place in the pantheon of music giants, with her unique gifts as a pianist, singer, composer and arranger. Although her early roots in Brazil are demonstrable in her music, her talents in jazz, pop, classical, as well as bossa nova, are immense and diverse. The American magazine Jazziz aptly described her as "a citizen of the world" and "an artist beyond category." Eliane is nothing less.
Marc Johnson
As a virtuoso bassist with warm tones and melodic lines, versatile composer and acclaimed bandleader Marc Johnson has been a major innovator on the jazz scene for the past two decades.
Born in Nebraska in 1953, Marc took up bass at the age of 16, having already studied piano and cello. While completing his formal education in the celebrated music program at the University of North Texas, at only 19 Marc began performing professionally with the Fort Worth Symphony and then with the Woody Herman Band.
A major turning point came while he was with Herman in New York. He was invited to sit in with the highly acclaimed Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard. In 1978, he joined Evans' trio, remaining with him until the pianist's death.
Since then Marc has performed on more than 100 albums, including the Grammy winning We Will Meet Again which he recorded with Evans. Many performances have been with pianists, including Eliane Elias, Lyle Mays, and Enrico Pieranunzi, although Marc has also recorded with saxophonists Stan Getz, Joe Lovano and Michael Brecker, drummers Peter Erskine and Paul Motian, vibist Gary Burton and bandoneon master Dino Saluzzi.
Marc currently divides his concert schedule performing with Eliane Elias, Charles Lloyd, Lee Konitz and Paul Motian.
Back to the topThe Big Chris Barber Band
Click to see more band info
The Big Chris Barber Band is a jazz icon with the legendary trombonist its eponymous leader. Over the years the band has changed and developed its current format since 2001, but Chris Barber has been its driving force, pioneering a rich range of traditional jazz and blues music. More than anyone else, the 10-member Big Chris Barber Band keeps the culture of New Orleans-type jazz alive but with an unmistakable and original British twist.
Chris Barber
Chris Barber celebrates his 63rd year as a band leader in 2012. Inspired by the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band, Chris formed his first Barber New Orleans Band in 1949 at the age of 19. In 1953, along with Monty Sunshine and Lonnie Donegan, he joined forces with Ken Colyer's Jazzmen.
Since 1949 Chris has performed more than 10,000 concerts and made hundreds of recordings, so it is a real privilege and pleasure to have persuaded Chris' band to perform at the 2012 Wiltshire Jazz Festival. Chris has performed with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and thousands of others, both amateur and professional.
Back to the topBob Hunt (arranger, trombone and trumpet)
In 1998 Chris first teamed up with Bob Hunt's Ellingtonians to play some of the Duke's material. Bob and Mike Henry stayed on to be a vital part of The Big Chris Barber Band when it was formed in 2001.
Bob's post-school background was in the Coldstream Guards, attending the army music school (he was its principal trombonist) and then in teaching, but his musical roots go deep: his father was a drummer. He has played in a number of bands, including the Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. He has a passion for arranging and has arranged most of the numbers on Chris' 2003 CD.
Back to the topMike Henry (trumpet and cornet)
Born in Bury, Lancashire, at 11 Mike attended the Junior Royal College of Music in Manchester before winning a scholarship to the prestigious Chetham's School of Music in the same city. He has a passion for arranging and has arranged most of the numbers in Chris' current repertoire since 2003.
After college Bob freelanced with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, before joining the Pasadena Roof Orchestra in 1978 where he stayed for 12 years. Since 1990 he has freelanced, specialising in the styles of the music from the 1920s to 1940s. He has been involved with many major bands and orchestras and he has an impressive range of recordings, including brass band albums.
Back to the topPeter Rudeforth (trumpet)
Replacing the much lauded Pat Halcox on trumpet and occasional vocals, Peter Rudeforth joined the Big Chris Barber Band in 2008. Peter's fiery attack is the perfect foil for cotrumpeter Mike Henry, most notably in the band's current repertoire of Ellington tunes.
Peter was born in Aberystwyth, Wales, in 1963 and began playing the trumpet at the age of seven. At 16 he played first trumpet in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and gained his BMus degree at Cardiff University and his LRAM at the Royal Academy The Big Chris Barber Band of Music in London. He is a founding member of the Albion Brass Consort and has performed throughout the world with different well-known artists playing some 300 concerts a year.
He leads his own band called Pete's Goodtime Jazz band.
Back to the topDavid Horniblow (clarinet and tenor sax)
David joined the Big Chris Barber Band in 2010. Born into a musical family, David took almost no interest in music until he was 16, when his despairing parents bought him a clarinet. Three years later, he started studying the clarinet at the Guildhall school of Music and changed his focus from classical music to jazz and the saxophone.
Living in London, he was fortunate enough to play with too many of the UK's top musicians to list, in a wide variety of contexts from traditional jazz to mainstream and modern, West End musicals and beyond. As a big fan of early Ellington, David was very pleased to have the opportunity to join Chris Barber.
Back to the topAmy Roberts (clarinet, alto and tenor saxes)
Amy is making her second appearance at the Wiltshire Jazz Festival.
She appeared previously in 2010 with her own band while still a student at the Royal Northern College of Music. To those of us who heard her in Wiltshire, it comes as no surprise that she has joined the ranks of such an illustrious band.
From west Cornwall, Amy, who is just into her 20s, has already played all over the UK and abroad at clubs and prestigious jazz festivals. Despite her young years Amy has become well known on the British jazz circuit for the extraordinary versatility of her clarinet, flute and saxophone playing. Amy was voted winner of the Rising Star Category in the British Jazz Awards 2009 and came second in the same category in the 2010 awards.
Back to the topRichard Exall (alto and baritone sax and clarinet)
Richard Exall joined the Big Chris Barber Band in 2004, taking over from Trevor Whiting. He brings a wealth of musical experience to the Barber front line, and can be heard taking solos on all of his instruments.
He studied clarinet but is self-taught on saxophone. After leaving college Richard juggled a career in the classical and jazz worlds becoming the saxophone player of choice in the booming Latinjazz scene. Establishing himself as a reliable Big Band player, good reader and improviser, Richard worked with most of the established big bands. He is also a composer, arranger and educator, producing work for many groups and ensembles and is involved at various universities and music colleges.
Back to the topJoe Farler (banjo and guitar)
Joe joined the Big Chris Barber Band in 2006. Heavily influenced by his father, a trumpet player, Joe started at 10 to play first the trumpet and later French horn. After obtaining a BMus (Tonmeister) at the University of Surrey in Guildford, Joe played banjo and guitar in different bands in Bristol and south Wales before joining the Big Chris Barber Band in 2006. He is an excellent guitar player and featured in Django Chutney, a string band that follows the roots of the well-known Belgian jazz guitar player, Django Reinhardt.
Back to the topJackie Flavelle (bass and bass guitar)
Jackie Flavelle played string bass and electric bass in the Chris Barber Band from May 1967 to July 1977 and rejoined it in 2010. He brings with him that wide range of experience, which is common to almost all Irish musicians.
He learned the rudiments of music in a flute band. Inspired to take up the bass by the skiffle boom and Lonnie Donegan, in particular, he has worked in rock groups, Dixieland bands, and that peculiarly Irish phenomenon, the showband. By the time he could play well, he was organising modern jazz clubs in Derry and Belfast.
Because there are four instruments in the rhythm section, Jackie has more freedom to move around than he otherwise might have, which enables him to deploy his considerable finger style technique to advantage on bass guitar.
Back to the topGregor Beck (drums)
Gregor Beck joined the forces of the Big Chris Barber Band as its regular drummer in 2010. Born and living in Germany, he is one of the finest drummers in Europe. Starting his career on guitar, he switched to drums at 17 and studied at the Augsburger Leopold Mozart Academy of Music. His talents were soon in evidence. In 1987 he worked with the German Allotria Jazz Band, where he stayed until his change to the Big Chris Barber Band.
Back to the topAndy Sheppard
Saxophonist Andy Sheppard, who has a long association with the Salisbury area, emerged during the 1980s as one of a very few British jazz musicians to make a significant impact on the international scene, and now has a string of recordings under his own name. Andy has composed over 300 works that incorporate a strong and characteristic sense of lyricism alongside a very personal use of rhythms from Asia, Africa and South America.
He plays both hot and cool and this album is a mixture of delicate bossa novas, achingly evocative ballads contrasted with super-charged excursions into funk and rock - all enhanced by a creative, and uniquely personal, use of electronics and new music technology.
'Sheppard is always a compelling voice...', Time Out
'Romanticism, carefully managed anarchy and accessibility subtle, elegant jazz…', The Guardian
'Learning to Wave features all the qualities for which Sheppard is renowned - evocative melody, virtuoso improvisation and irresistible rhythm tracks combined with powerful resonance's of Asian, African and Indian music…', Ronnie Scott's Magazine
John Etheridge and Sweet Chorus featuring Chris Garrick
John Etheridge and Chris Garrick each have excellent individual careers but with Sweet Chorus - the name of the band in which they perform together and which pays homage to the iconic Stephane Grappelli and the tradition of 'gypsy jazz' - they are stunning. The duo provides a feast of interplay, improvisation and eclectic repertoire. For the Wiltshire Jazz Festival, Sweet Chorus features a new line-up - replacing the traditional rhythym guitar with accordion to give a rich timbre of sounds, more varied than before.
John Etheridge (guitar)
John Etheridge enjoys a glowing reputation in the jazz world for his prodigiously gifted guitar playing. Years of touring with Grappelli, the jazz-fusion group Soft Machine and the classical guitarist John Williams have fine-tuned his repertoire and extraordinary skills.
He showed early promise and received welcome encouragement from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton who told him: "You're great." A graduate in the history of art at Essex University, John shot into prominence in the 1970s and has maintained his reputation ever since. He is at home on both acoustic and electric guitar. Two years running in 2005 and 2006 John was one of three finalists for the Musician of the Year in the coveted Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
John keeps up a frenetic pace both on and off stage, playing with other like-minded jazz musicians all over the world. He is also a regular broadcaster.
Back to the topChris Garrick (violin)
"Chris Garrick is the best young violinist in jazz today." So said The Observer in 2002. Since then Chris Garrick's stature has grown even more and he now stands at the very top of his specialist trade. His improvising style and composing ability have won him huge international plaudits.
Chris is now based in the Pyrenees Orientales, close to Prades in France. He charts a multi-musical life in jazz, pop and rock, gypsy, tango and film (having played on the soundtracks of films Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Chocolat and Big Fish.
Back to the topJack Emblow (accordion)
Jack Emblow is the doyen of accordion players with universal acclaim. It was his accordion, for example, that could be heard over many years on BBC Radio 2's Sing Something Simple and on the long-running TV comedy series, Last of the Summer Wine as well as 'Allo 'Allo. In 2002 he was elected president of the National Accordion Organisation of the United Kingdom.
Back to the topAndy Crowdy (double bass)
Andy Crowdy is Sweet Chorus' regular bass player and is a highly rated bass player on the UK jazz scene. He has performed with many leading UK players and is always in constant demand. Over the last years Andy has been working extensively for New Orleans-born singer Lillian Boutte. He combines an incredible sense of rhythm and drive with a lyrical musicality.
Back to the topKairos 4tet
Kairos 4tet is as distinctive as its name with its free-flowing music that combines melody with the excitement of the moment. Named from the Greek word 'kairos', meaning the right or opportune moment, the quartet is led by the versatile saxophonist Adam Waldmann, whose tenor and soprano saxophone playing of the band's own compositions is both accessible and compelling. He is ably backed up by the other members of this brilliant band: pianist Ivo Neame, bassist Jasper Hoiby and Jon Scott on drums. Kairos 4tet's second album Statement of Intent is simply superb, rich in rhythm and full of colour and imagination. Kairos 4tet, which has been nominated for a MOBO award, is one of the best bands on the jazz scene today and you miss them at your peril.
Nicola Farnon Quartet
Wiltshire can celebrate a remarkable home grown talent in Nicola Farnon whose journey has taken her from Market Lavington on the Salisbury Plain, where she was born, to Sheffield, where she now lives.
Nicola is something rare: a swinging singer and double bass player, widely recognised as one of the classiest and most accomplished jazz/swing vocalists in the UK.
She won the ringing endorsement of the late great Humphrey Lyttleton who said of her: "She's a remarkable performer on stage, a fine singer and an outstandingly swinging and propulsive bass player with an outgoing personality to match...I declare that she is a class act who should be on every jazz festival in the land..A sure fire hit!"
The middle daughter of three girls, Nicola comes from an exceptional musical family.
Her late father was a violinist who taught at Dauntsey's School in Wiltshire, and her mother is a cellist and pianist. They met at The Royal Academy of Music. Nicola's uncle is the celebrated composer Robert Farnon.
After acquiring a degree in performance arts at Middlesex University, Nicola served her 'apprenticeship' playing in different bands, before turning professional.
Nicola and her sparkling trio and quartet appears regularly on the jazz circuit and the band's arrangements are all done by her - with some melodic and extremely catchy originals thrown in for good measure!
Other members of the quartet are:
Back to the topCharles Alexander and Andy Robinson guitar duo
Guitarists Charles Alexander and Andy Robinson bring a diversity of musical interests and performing, arranging and writing skills to their guitar duo. Their music - at times intimate and meditative, at others passionate and joyful - centres on jazz but also draws on other genres.
Charles began his musical career as a jazz guitarist in Edinburgh and also ran the university's jazz club. For several years he was director of the Jazz Centre Society in London and is now the proprietor of Jazzwise magazine. He is one of the leading jazz guitarists on the London scene, has presented many programmes on BBC radio and is author of the book “Masters of Jazz Guitar” (Balafon, 1999).
Andy came to the guitar relatively late at 22, having already played trombone and tuba for several years. Settling in London, he quickly established a big reputation as a creative jazz player and versatile session musician. Andy is mainly to be heard playing his Manson seven-string guitar, although he may be spotted from time to time reinforcing a Salsa band's trombone section. He is in demand as a theatre musician, playing guitar and occasionally trombone for the RSC and for the Globe Theatre. Andy is also celebrated as the author of the music software package Transcribe!, used by thousands of musicians world-wide.
The highly talented duo have gigged together regularly over 20 years and have established a very strong identity with a lively jazz performance style. Their repertoire extends from Django Reinhardt to Chick Corea, from Wes Montgomery to David Grisman, and from Tom Jobim to Pat Metheny with a sprinkling of originals from Charles’ pen. Charles and Andy have performed at all but one of our festivals and always go down very well.
Back to the topThe Bateman Brothers
After more than 30 years in the jazz business, brothers Ian and Alan Bateman formed their own band complementing each of their individual styles.
This all-star band is making its second appearance at the festival and representing an amazing tribute to one of the greatest jazz bands of them all, Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars, by recreating those stunning concerts of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
Alan Bateman (trumpet)
Always a great admirer of Louis Armstrong, Alan allowed himself to be hugely influenced by the playing and style of the great man himself. Alan has become accepted among the jazz fraternity as one of the UK's top jazz trumpeters. His playing is as close to Louis as you are likely to hear.
Back to the topIan Bateman (trombone)
Ian's career reads like a who's who of British jazz. Lengthy spells with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and the bands of Pete Allen, Rod Mason and his Hot Five, Terry Lightfoot and Acker Bilk have shaped most of his career. Voted runner-up in the 2009 British Jazz Awards, Ian is now very involved in his own projects, which aside from this band include the Bone Supremacy and a tribute show to JJ Johnson and Frank Rosolino.
Back to the topTrevor Whiting (clarinet)
Trevor came into prominence on the UK jazz circuit when he formed his Swingtet, which was regularly featured in BBC Jazz Club broadcasts. During the early 1980s he worked on several occasions with the late Ken Colyer. In January 2003 he toured Germany and Holland with the Big Chris Barber Band, subsequently joining the band on a permanent basis. In July 2004 he came off the road to resume his career as a freelance soloist and side man before joining the Bateman Brothers Jazz Band.
Back to the topCraig Milverton (piano)
Craig is one of Britain's best jazz pianists. "An extravagantly gifted pianist with an unrivalled swing", so says Dave Gelly of The Observer. Craig has been recognised as the Jazz Pianist of the year of 2010 in the British Jazz Awards, so Mr Gelly knows what he's talking about!
Back to the topJohn Day (bass)
In a 20 year career John Day has become a fixture on the mainstream jazz and rhythm and blues scenes, playing and recording with the likes of Humphrey Lyttelton, Clare Teal, Jamie Cullum, Karen Sharp and Kenny Ball. Like Ian, he is a current member of Acker Bilk's Paramount Jazz Band, which he joined in 2006. John also spent 11 years with Blue Harlem, eight of which were with singer Imelda May.
Back to the topSteve Rushton (drums)
Steve is in such demand from the likes of Imelda May, Joss Stone and even Robbie Williams that he is often enticed away to other forms of music where we all know the grass is greener! However, his first love is jazz and he is known to all the top jazz musicians in the UK as one of the finest jazz/big band drummers on these shores. Steve is also renowned for his flamboyance on stage where he is sure to entertain in more ways than one!
Back to the topMaggie Reeday (vocals)
Maggie's great sense of rhythm and natural ability to connect with her audiences has them shouting for more wherever she appears. She has had a long and varied career, starting as a resident singer in a local band. Later on she appeared in a succession of TV shows for ITV with stars such as Paul Daniels and Jim Davidson. More recently Maggie has been taking the country by storm with her Jazz concerts and has had rave reviews of her CD World on a String.
Back to the topThe BeE Ororo Quintet
BeE Ororo (pictured left) is a singer/songwriter based in London, but born in Cornwall of Seychelles origin. Her exquisite voice is particularly well suited to belt out blues, jazz, and R'n'B - and this is exactly what she specialises in.
Together with her line-up of talented musicians, she performs under the name, The BeE Ororo Quintet. Having built up an ever-growing loyal fan base, the quintet thrills audiences with its highly entertaining live performances that conjure up the spirit and musical history of New Orleans, where BeE has also fulfilled a dream by playing there last year.
Judged the Best Newcomer at the 2010 Marlborough Jazz Festival, BeE writes many of the band's songs, including the aptly named Mad Flower and No Mama Blues. The band's versatile piano player Ian Beetlestone and saxophonist Tony Rico are also songwriters.
BeE has a regular spot at Soho's The Blue Posts and has performed down the road at the famous Ronnie Scott's jazz club.
The other members of the quintet are:
Back to the topIan Beetlestone (piano)
Ian began playing the piano in bars in his native Yorkshire when he was 13. Alongside working with BeE, recent credits include composing and performing music for Punchdrunk Theatre/Stella Artois project the Black Diamond.
Back to the topTony Rico (saxophone)
Tony is a well-known session saxophonist who has recorded and toured in around 40 countries with the likes of Ernest Ranglin, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker, Bad Manners, Dawn Penn, Liane Carroll, Amy Winehouse and many more.
Back to the topMao Yamada (bass)
Mao started playing guitar at 15 in Japan, later graduating to the double bass. He has joined several projects over the ensuing years. Influences include Paul Chambers, Wilbur Ware, George Porter Jr, and booze.
Back to the topRoy Pfeffer (drums)
Roy performs nationally and internationally as a freelancer as well as being a regular member of the Brunote band (jazz), Shtetl Superstars (Balken/ska), The Ikos (New Orleans songbook), Pati Yang's touring band (Electro Pop), The Boundary Lane Band (Bop). He also leads London-based Roy's Big Smoke Family - a New Orleans funk collective.
Back to the topTICKETS
Book online by completing the form below. Alternatively phone Sally Boettcher on 01722 717044 if you would like to book over the phone.
For further enquiries, email s.boettcher@markallengroup.co.uk
Wiltshire Jazz Fesitval 2012 fee
Once your booking has been processed you will receive a ticket, which you should bring along with you on the day. Your ticket will gain you entry to the jazz festival and will enable you to listen to any of the bands on display. Drinks and food will be an additional cost to you. You can if you prefer pre-order one of our splendid hampers, by indicating your request below and information will be sent to you.
If you have a party of over 10, please contact s.boettcher@markallengroup.co.uk on 01722 717044.
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