Ursula Malewski - Managing Director
Jazz Vocalist. Trained as a chorister, studied classical piano, flute and recorder. Experienced piano, recorder and music theory teacher. Active in music education for over 20 years. Made transition to Jazz in 2000 and trained with Lee Gibson and Tina May. Performed in the UK, Germany, France, Poland and Canada. Executive Director of London International Jazz Competition.
Lee Gibson - Associate, Vocals
Highly respected and accomplished teacher, vocalist and recording artist who performs with her own Small Band as well as Big Bands and Jazz Orchestras world-wide. Associate Professor at the Guildhall School of Music teaching post-graduate courses. Artist in residence at Leeds College of Music and guest lecturer at the University of Western Australia. Artistic Director and Panellist of London International Jazz Competition. Holds master classes, seminars and workshops for Universities, Colleges and Schools. Teaches numerous Jazz Summer Schools.
www.leegibson.co.uk
Alan Barnes – Woodwind
Has been playing saxophones and woodwind professionally for over 25 years. Recorded prolifically both as side man and leader and has many compositions to his credit including "The Sherlock Holmes Suite" and "Songs For Unsung Heroes", a collaboration with playwright Alan Plater. Played and recorded with artists as diverse as Stan Tracey, Humphrey Lyttleton, Bjork, Brian Ferry, as well as The BBC Radio Orchestra and Big Band. Five times winner of British Jazz Awards. Works throughout Europe as well as America, Africa and Far East. A highly respected teacher of summer schools, workshops, and master classes.
www.alan-barnes.co.uk
Pete Churchill – Vocals and Piano
Pianist, singer/songwriter, composer/arranger, teacher, conductor. Musical Director for Mark Murphy. Highly respected accompanist of British Jazz Singers. Vocalist and founder of New London Jazz Voices. Works at numerous European Festivals – in recent years with Norma Winstone in the Kenny Wheeler Vocal Project and as conductor of Kenny Wheeler Big Band. Award winning writer of Musicals. Musical Director for ‘Five Guys named Moe’ (West End). Critically acclaimed album ‘The Bad and the Beautiful. Professor for Jazz studies at the Royal Academy and Guildhall School of Music. Musical Director for London International Jazz Competition. Teaches numerous Summer Schools.
www.petechurchill.co.uk
Jeff Clyne – Double Bass and Bass Guitar
For over 30 years has worked and recorded with British and American Jazz Greats. Highly experienced, respected and sought after bass player and accompanist for singers. Plays at numerous European Jazz Festivals. Active in Jazz education for many years. Professor for Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Associate Professor at the Royal Academy of Music. Musical Director for London International Jazz Competition. Musical Director for Mehr Clef Jazz Summer School.
Malcolm Edmonstone - Piano
Studied at The Guildhall School with Pete Churchill and Simon Purcell, attaining BA and MA. Active as a player, writer and arranger. Appeared on all major UK TV networks, wrote and performed original music for ITV drama ‘Taggart’, recorded with conductor Lorin Maazel, worked with Laurie Holloway on BBC1’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing.Toured with with Jacqui Dankworth and the late legendary Marion Montgomery. Worked with some of UK’s top Jazz instrumentalists including Steve Waterman, Stan Sulzman, Pete Hurt and Martin Hathaway. Teaches at at Guildhall (Jazz and classical) and Middlesex University. Taught numerous summer schools, including Wavendon, Silsoe, Mediterranean Jazz Summer School and the Montgomery/Holloway Music Trust.
www.malcolmedmonstone.com
Nikki Iles - Piano
Pianist, composer, arranger, teacher, performer of international repute and a major presence on the British Jazz scene. Highlights in the past years have included The Julian Arguelles Octet (Germany), The Perfect Houseplants (Milan), The Anglo Canadian Project, Kenny Wheeler and Stan Sulzmann (Jyvaskyla - Finland), Tony Coe, Mark Lockheart (Ronnie Scotts), Tina May (UK, USA and Japan), Norma Winstone. Recorded two CDs under her own name. Professor at the Royal Academy of Music and visiting professor at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Part of the team at The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Developed an exciting series of graded ABRSM Jazz exam pieces. Tutor at numerous workshops and summer schools worldwide.
www.nikkiiles.co.uk
Tina May - Vocals
Classically trained singer and actress. Wide experience of cabaret, club and concert singing. Highly versatile and experimental Jazz vocalist and recording artist. Respected lyricist and in demand as a teacher and clinician, both in Europe and the USA. Senior lecturer at conservatories including Trinity College of Music, Leeds College of Music, Birmingham Conservatory and Royal Academy of Music. Artistic Director and panellist for London International Jazz Competition.
www.tinamay.com
Dave O’Higgins - Sax
Dave is undoubtedly one of this country’s finest modern jazz sax players. His powerful, driving, style has been a feature of the scene since his work with NYJO in the early 80’s, and has been heard with Cleo Lane & John Dankworth, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Jimmy Smith and Annie Lennox to name but a few. A multi award winner (British Jazz awards twice!) he has produced 9 albums to date of his own work, and has appeared on numerous sessions and festivals around the world. Teaching: Guildhall, Royal Academy, Royal Northern College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, University of Natal, University of Cape Town. Workshops: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Senegal, South Africa, Sri-Lanka, Venezuela.Teaches MEhr Clef Summer School.
www.daveohiggins.com
Mike Outram - Guitar
Born in Manchester and moved to London in 1998. Worked with Herbie Mann, Carleen Anderson, Dave O'Higgins, Cinematic Orchestra, Martin Speake, M.J. Cole, Nikki Iles, Jacqui Dankworth, Stan Sulzmann, Photek, Asaf Sirkis, Harvey Brough, Tim Whitehead, John Halliwell, Gwyneth Herbert and played with guitarists Martin Taylor, Jim Mullen and John Etheridge. Toured internationally, recorded over 30 CDs for Universal, Sony, Candid records and others and won the 'Best Group in Europe' award with Grooveyard in Spain. Plays numerous European Festivals. Guitar Professor at Trinity College of Music, The Royal Academy of Music, Middlesex University, Thames Valley University, The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Teaches numerous summer schools including Glamorgan and Burnley, 'Live Music Now', The Purcell School, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Holds master classes, workshops and clinics internationally.
www.mikeoutram.com
Rick Simpson – Piano
Studied classical piano from the age of eight. At 15 joined the Durham County Big Band where he first came into contact with swing and jazz. Was offered the job of assistant piano and vocal tutor on the Burnley and Musicians Union Jazz Summer Schools at 16. Trained with Nikki Iles and Simon Purcell. Currently studying for a degree in Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Pete Churchill and Barry Green. Performed with Tim Garland, Mark Nightingale, Steve Waterman, and Lee Gibson amongst others. Performed at the Appleby Jazz Festival with Tim Garlands Big Band, and venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 606 Club and The Sage Gateshead.
Holger Skepeneit - Piano
Started playing classical piano at the age of eight and turned to jazz and blues at fourteen. Studied piano, jazz piano and composition at the London College of Music (BMus) and Jazz piano at the Leeds College of Music (MMus). Sought after pianist, keyboard player, composer and MD. Has written a variety of highly acclaimed pieces ranging from piano concertos and string quartets to Big Band pieces, solo piano works and trio suites. Performed and recorded along side artists such as Pete King, Jeff Clyne, Tina May, Alan Barnes, Steve Waterman, Mark Nightingale, Kiranpal Singh and John Surman. Played in most of the UK’s major live music venues (including the Southbank, Cadogan Hall and the Wigmore Hall) and performed in over 20 countries. Awarded the Westminster Prize for Improvisation. Works with his own trio (Justin Scott-drums, Alan Mian-bass), the Counterfeit Stones and French guitarist Greg Soussan amongst others.
www.holgerskepeneit.co.uk
Trevor Tomkins – Drums and Percussion
Worked and recorded with British and American Jazz Greats as well as artists such as Bing Crosby and The King Singers. Plays at numerous UK and European Jazz Festivals. One of the most experienced and respected drummers on the Jazz scene. Highly regarded teacher. Associate Professor for Jazz at the Royal Academy, Professor for Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music, senior lecturer at Trinity College of Music, London College of Music and other Colleges and Universities in the UK. Musical Director for London International Jazz Competition. Musical Director for Mehr Clef Jazz Summer School.
Steve Waterman – Brass
Renowned as one of the top British Jazz trumpet players both at home and on the International scene. Began his career while studying at Trinity College Of Music, and since then has worked regularly on the British and European Jazz scene. Recorded four critically acclaimed CDs under own name. Co-wrote a highly acclaimed Jazz Trumpet tutor book with John O’Neil ‘The Jazz Method For Trumpet’, published by Schott & Co. Professor for Jazz trumpet at Trinity College of Music in London and visiting Jazz trumpet specialist at The Royal Northern College of Music and The Welsh College of Music And Drama. Teaches summer Jazz courses and has conducted numerous Trumpet master classes and workshops of varying sizes in the UK, Spain, America, Finland, Latvia and Cuba.
www.stevewaterman.co.uk
Nick Weldon - Piano
One of the most experienced players and teachers on the British Jazz scene. For 25 years has played with many British Greats including Ronnie Scott, Bobby Wellins, and Don Weller, and visiting Americans artists such as Sonny Stitt, Johnny Griffin, Eddie Henderson, Art Farmer and Dewey Redman. A highly acclaimed accompanist of singers, and known for his work with international artists. Also plays double bass and is a member of the Northampton Symphony Orchestra. Professor for Jazz at the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music. Teaches workshops at own converted Shoefactory studio in Northamptonshire. Musical Director for MEhr Clef Jazz Summer School.
www.jazzpiano.co.uk
Norma Winstone - Vocals
Most accomplished and respected vocalist and teacher. Began her career singing Jazz standards, became involved in the avant garde movement, exploring the use of the voice in an experimental way. Worked extensively with many of the major European and American names. Together with John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler formed the group AZIMUTH, one of the most imaginatively conceived contemporary chamber Jazz groups. Recorded numerous CDs. A fine lyricist, most notably ‘The Peacocks’ and ‘Ladies In Mercedes’, which has become a standard. In 2001 won the title of Best Vocalist in the BBC Jazz Awards. 2007 awarded MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
www.normawinstone.com
Al Wood – Woodwind and Brass
Superb multi-instrumentalist, plays all saxes, trombone and trumpet. Worked with many bands including Maynard Ferguson, the BBC Northern Radio Orchestra, BBC Big Band and ran his own bands for many years. Has worked with artists such as Phil Woods, Nat Adderley, Urbie Green and Bobby Shew. Twice winner of the BBC Big Band Competition Prize for Best Soloist. Assistant Head of Performance at Leeds College of Music until early retirement in 2002. Continues to teach part-time at LCM as well as a local private school whilst continuing to be active on the UK Jazz scene.