Matthew Ford is widely regarded as one of the finest big band singers in the UK. Performing for 5 years with the multi-award winning Syd Lawrence Orchestra gave him the chance to develop and grow as a swing singer, and in 2006 Matthew was voted 'Best UK Male Big Band Vocalist' and nominated alongside Jamie Cullum in the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Awards (Best UK Male Vocalist category).

www.matthewford.info/

The band is a reunion of the Quartet that was in existence for six years from 1996. Its members are amongst the most experienced jazz musicians in the country and the group developed an unique musical identity during its lifetime. The Jim Mullen Quartet will be playing a mixture of new music specially written for the tour and pieces previously played or recorded. This group is one of the most powerful and exciting bands ever to appear on the UK Jazz Scene.

Jim Mullen - Guitar
Gary Husband - Drums
Gareth Williams - Piano
Mick Hutton - Bass

www.jimmullenjazz.co.uk

London based jazz quartet Centre-Line is founded on a long-standing musical partnership between drummer Darren Altman and saxophonist Russell Van Den Berg. The individual band members are all respected musicians on the London and UK Jazz scene, both as Centre-Line and in their own right.different options with rhythm sections.

www.centrelinemusic.com

The Popular Big Band from Bridgend returns to Jazzland, led by musical director Bill Davies. The band will play from a repertoire of many Big Band favourites.

www.bridgendbigband.co.uk

Come along from 8pm onwards and join in playing some jazz!!

Free Admission

Art Themen was involved in the traditional jazz scene in Manchester in the late 1950s. A member of the award winning Cambridge University jazz band from 1958 to 1961, he became involved in the early London blues scene, playing alongside Alexis Korner, Jack Bruce, Mick Jagger and Chuck Berry. He fronted the Stan Tracey quartet for 20 years from 1976. Key influences are Sonny Rollins and Dexter Gordon. He has toured world wide and played and recorded with many US and British luminaries. A busy and sought after musician who nowadays is most often seen on stage with many of the best of Britain's top jazz players.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Themen

This collaboration began in 2008 on the suggestion of Danish drummer, Kristian Leth, that Dave & Eric would make a great team. This has certainly proven to be the case – the sparks have flown on the stage & the 2 protagonists have struck up a great rapport. It has been an inspiration to witness such a pairing of New York & London’s finest! The band has already undertaken 4 European tours, kicking off at Ronnie Scotts in London. The album, Sketch Book (on Jazzizit Records) was released in March 2009 to rave reviews. A new CD, recorded in August 2010, The Devil’s Interval (on JVG Productions) has just been released. The 5rd European tour will start in Copenhagen with 3 nights at the renowned Jazzhouse Club. Expect some roaring 2-tenor blowing in the time honoured tradition, with a respectful doffing of the cap to Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt, Ronnie Scott & Tubby Hayes and many other greats.

Trumpet and Sax Quintet led by two of Wales’s best home-grown jazz musicians!

Marlene VerPlanck started out as a very young vocalist with Charlie Spivak and Tex Beneke. During a brief stint with the last Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, she met her future husband, musician-arranger Billy VerPlanck. In time, Marlene became one of the nation's busiest studio singers, backing up vocalists ranging from Frank Sinatra and MelTorme to Kiss. Today, Marlene performs across North America and much of Western Europe, while a growing roster of solo CDs continues to win critical acclaim.

www.marleneverplanck.com

Come along from 8pm onwards and join in playing some jazz!!

Free Admission

The music is a stellar melting-pot of the leaders' own compositions, inspired by their passion for hard-bop - notably, 1950s and 60s Blue Note recordings, and their sound pays homage to such luminaries as Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, Larry Young and Lee Morgan Trumpeter Quentin Collins has performed across Europe with such luminaries as Prince, Jean Toussaint and Roy Hargrove. Australian saxophonist Brandon Allen relocated to London and has since worked extensively throughout the UK, Europe and Asia with renowned musicians such as Eric Clapton, Mica Paris, Jools Holland and Wynton Marsalis. Line up is completed with Ross Stanley on Hammond organ and drummer Enzo Zirilli.

www.quentincollins.com

A trumpet player and composer whose “Killer Shrimp” group won a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Jazz Ensemble in 2007 (not to mention a nomination for Best CD), Damon Brown has spent years living abroad, exploring his craft. The journey has yielded more than musical inspiration, with many international collaborations ensuing, such as the regular quintet that he co-leads with New York sax virtuoso Steve Grossman.

His warm, fluent style with a fine rhythmic sense has been likened to an amalgam of Blue Mitchell, Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan, and has won him sideman roles with the such artists as Benny Golson, Dave Liebman, Doug Raney and many more.

Tonight he leads the Damon Brown Quartet with...
Leon Greening - piano
Adam King - double bass
Mat Skelton - drums

www.myspace.com/damonbrownjazz

Mike Outram is one of the UK’s foremost guitarists who is sought after as an improviser and for his ability to contribute a unique voice to any musical ensemble. He has toured internationally, appeared on over a hundred CDs for Universal, Sony, Candid, Blue Note records and others, and was awarded Granada Jazz Festival’s ‘Best Group in Europe’ award.

In addition to performing, Mike is a professor at Trinity College of Music and has taught at The Royal Academy of Music, Middlesex University, London College of Music, The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, The Purcell School, and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is on the faculty for the Jamey Aebersold Summer School in the UK, and has directed group workshops on improvisation, performance and composition, as well as numerous guitar-specific workshops and clinics internationally.

www.mikeoutram.com

Influenced by Peggy Lee and Julie London with a love for Ella and Chet Bakers’ phrasing, and a passion for Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, the Crusaders and many of the early fusion bands, Liz developed her own style. She has recorded three solo albums to date - Mellow Mania - Liz Fletcher Live In The Park and Blue Afternoons that were collaborations with the song-writer, Rupert Wates. Two cd’s with music composed by world class saxophonist Alan Barnes and lyrics by British playwright Alan Plater. Liz’s voice is featured on many other recordings. Check recordings page for sound bites.

Liz has performed in Jazz Clubs and Festivals such as Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Festival Hall, The Purcell Rooms, Pizza On The Park, The 606 Club, Wavendon, Glastonbury, The Big Green Gathering, Ealing Jazz Festival, Southport Jazz Festival, Swanage Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival, Zoetermeer Jazz Festival Holland; Andy Panayi features on Saxaphone.

www.lizfletcher.com

Come along from 8pm onwards and join in playing some jazz!!

Free Admission

Tickets are on sale for this event at the club every Wednesday or call.

Richie Goods – Bass
The youngest person ever inducted into the Pittsburgh Jazz Hall of Fame, bassist Richie Goods got an early start playing at clubs while still attending the Pittsburgh performing arts high school, CAPA. After graduating from the prestigious jazz program at Berklee College of Music, Goods moved to New York City, where he studied under jazz luminaries Ron Carter and Ray Brown.
Richie made a name for himself through recording and touring with a variety of jazz and popular artists ranging from Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, Mulgrew Miller, Milt Jackson, to Brian McKnight, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera.
Just like the chemical reaction for which the band is named, the members of Nuclear Fusion create an energy that is so much more than any of the individuals. Richie brings his New York based all-star band to Swansea as part of a European Tour.

Mike Clark -Drums
Mike gained worldwide recognition as one of America’s foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock’s group in the early 1970’s. Mike became known as a major innovator through his incisive playing on Hancock’s Thrust album, which garnered him an international cult following. He's performed with jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Vince Guaraldi, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Eddie Henderson, Rob Dixon, Bobby Hutcherson, Woody Shaw, Donald Harrison, Larry Coryell, Jack Wilkins, Mike Wolff, Wallace Roney, Geri Allen, Billy Childs, James Genus, Bob Hurst, Chris Potter, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Dave Liebman, Nat Adderly, Oscar Brown Jr., Bill Doggett, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride, Mose Allison, Maxine Brown, Gil Evans and his orchestra and many illuminating etceteras too numerous to list.

Tom Guarna - Guitar
Born in Brooklyn, guitarist Tom Guarna began his musical career at age 15, when his father introduced him to the guitar. He has performed and recorded with jazz and pop/rock bands nationwide ever since. Tom joined Blood Sweat and Tears and toured extensively for the next three years with that group. Since then, he has been busy performing with a wide range of artists including, Lenny White, Jimmy Herring, Mark Turner, Branford Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Helen Sung, John Benitez, Mulgrew Miller, Billy Hart, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Greg Hutchinson, Javon Jackson, Les McCann, Victor Bailey, Gary Bartz, Fred Wesley, Mike Clark, Tim Hagans, Greg Tardy, Bob Dorough, Craig Handy, Uri Caine, Chris Minh Doky, Buddy Defranco, Gary Smulyan, The Yellow Jackets, Joe Locke, E.J. Strickland, Billy Drummond, and the Mingus Orchestra.

Danny Grissett – Keyboards
Originally from Los Angeles, California, pianist/composer Danny Grissett Danny moved to New York in 2003, and within the first few months of Grissett’s arrival, he became a sideman of choice for artists such as Vincent Herring and Vanessa Rubin. Grissett has been featured in the bands of Nicholas Payton, Steve Wilson, Buster Williams, Russell Malone, and most recently Jeremy Pelt. He has also been busy as a studio musician, recording with the aforementioned Pelt, as well as Jimmy Green, Lage Lund, and Tom Harrell.