Performers
Abdelkader Saadoun
Abdelkader is a master drummer, playing original composition, North Africa Rai, Jazz, Fusion and Arabic music. He has performed in 2009 for Her Majesty The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew and The Amir Of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al – Thani at South Hook in South Wales and major festivals within the UK. Abdelkader is a charismatic performer, able to enliven any audience with his infectious rhythms and dynamic stage personality.
Josephine Arthur
Josephine Arthur is a West London based Jazz singer. She started in Musical Theatre 12 years ago and fell in love with all the old tunes from 1950’s, her main influences being Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Nina Simone. Her voice is warm and sweet, and has been described as "like bathing in chocolate". She sings a mixture of Jazz and modern standards, with swing, Latin and funk rhythms.
Jandira Silva
Bossa Nova
Singer Jandira Silva brings the real flavour of Brazillian music with a taste of smooth jazz mixing Bossa Nova and jazz like no one else.
John Martin Trio
Jazz standards, bosses and ballads
This young, talented trio features guitar, tenor sax and double bass in an upbeat yet elegant performance that will leave you reminiscing over days long gone.
Hamish Balfour
& Guest Singer
Latin Jazz, Bossa Nova and Jazz Standards
Hamish was born in Devon, UK, and took a keen interest in the piano and music in general at an early age. Through his early and mid teens he also learnt the french horn and orchestral percussion and went on to university to study percussion and drums (under Malcolm Garrett) at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
It was here he started getting more serious about jazz piano, having studied predominantly classical repertoire until this stage and through listening/transcribing and playing in various settings taught himself an extensive understanding of the jazz piano idiom and its various faculties.
At present he is working regularly in his own duo, trio and quartet, playing originals and standards repertoire and in various other London based bands including female singer song writing sensation Tommy Ludgate (CD Wall of Words 2008) Salsa band Riamba and greek fusion guitarist Tolis Zavaliaris. He also appears as a solo pianist for many occasions around the U.K. He is currently working in the studio on remix and original work with Yam Who and Robert Strauss among others.
Scott Walker Trio
American Songbook/Smooth Jazz
The Scott Walker Trio is made up of Matthew Lucas on piano and Mao Yamada on double bass, with vocals from Scott Walker. The trio started performing together about a year ago, and cover some originals by London based songwriter Alex Webb, but mainly standards, including the Great American Songbook with a smooth jazz influence.
All three share a common love of this genre of music, songs familiar the world over yet timeless in their appeal, and the band can be heard performing together and individually at several cafes and jazz clubs around London.
Manfredi Gelmeti and the 'Mediterranean Arts Experience'
Flamenco dancing and acoustic music from around the Med
Born with a passion for dancing, Manfredi started dancing Flamenco in 2000 and fell in love with the art. Shortly thereafter he moved to Spain to become a professional in this art and found a method to link the common language between words, music and movement experimenting with fusing the dance of Flamenco with classical and contemporary theatre accompanied by Mediterranean music which is how the ‘Mediterranean Arts Experience’ was formed.
For Del'Aziz the performance is a variation on this concentrating more on the dance and musical aspects but nevertheless a gem of a show.
Tommy Ludgate
Blues/Soul
Possessed of a voice that is as rich and soulful as it is cool and expressive; Tommy can deliver a ballad to break your heart but equally can uplift you with a funky blues inspired tune. She melds her influences together with the end product being an outstandingly rich and rustic tone that is perfectly tailored to carry her message subtly, but not lightly.
‘A warm jazz/blues sound that is the perfect soundtrack to the end of a great night’ -Blues Matters Magazine
Netto Pio
Bossa Nova/Samba
Originating from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Netto is an experienced musician, having performed professionally since he was 15 years old. Growing up in the hometown of Iguape where 6 out of 10 people were either playing an instrument or just born musical, Netto picked up the guitar for the first time at the tender age of nine and started learning from the people around him. At the age of 19 he moved to Sao Paulo (capital) and joined the School of Music & Technology where he gained a 1st class degree after five years of studying. In 2007 he decided to relocate to London with a wish to share his passion for Bossa, Samba, Forro, Pop rock and to learn more about other genres of music. Netto’s love of the old classics combined with his own unique touch brings the music he plays to life with a modern twist.
Helen Burnett
Vocal jazz standards
With a voice like a breath of fresh air, possessing a smooth and pure tone and impeccable timing, Helen mixes carefully chosen favorites with lesser known gems, from her vast repertoire of predominantly jazz standards.
Recently graduated from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and accompanied by some of the top jazz players in London, she is not to be missed.
Stan Stanchev
Balkan Music
With a smooth, distinctive voice and wide vocal range, Stan brings the real flavor of Balkan music with his passionate performance and folk roots. Stan plays the acoustic guitar and sing Bulgarian, Macedonian, Romani and Greek, performing expressive and soulful interpretations of world pop and rock hits.
Irene Serra
Irene Serra is a professional vocalist based in London. Mainly performing jazz, blues, soul and funk, her charismatic and assured stage presence engages audiences and ensures she is in demand for studio projects and collaborations.
A talented artist with a Grade 8 voice in Classical Music, Irene has been shortlisted at many renowned music competitions including The Brussels International Young Jazz Singer 2008 and the Shure Jazz Voice. Irene is currently studying towards a Masters in Music at the Guildhall School Of Music and Drama.
Jessica Berry
Jessica performs a wide variety of jazz, pop, soul and bossa nova. You will hear fresh arrangements of standards from The Great American Song Book and tunes by great artists such as Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, The Beatles and Ray Charles. Jessica sings and plays percussion with talented upcoming guitarist Billy Adamson who sings backing vocals and uses a loop pedal making this duo unique and not to be missed!
Jessica recently graduated from Trinity College of Music and over the past four years has performed at The Manchester Jazz Festival and many established jazz venues such as, The Vortex, The Barbican, The Royal Festival Hall and The 606 Jazz Club.
"Jessica Berry's sultry stage presence draws attention to a rich soulful voice with a knack for pleasingly melodic phrasing".
- Fran Hardcastle, London Jazz.
