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People: Stephen Keogh • Marney O'Sullivan The Foundation has a creative panel of highly accomplished musicians and artists. They are well known for their abilities and their service to music and the arts. Chaired by renowned jazz guitarist Dr. Louis Stewart, they come from many different countries around the world. Stephen Keogh Drums, percussion
Julian Argüelles Saxophone/wind
Gilad Atzmon Saxophone/Clarinet
Jan Bradley Contemporary percussion
Bob is regarded as the father of JKD (Jeet Kune Do) and the Filipino martial arts in Europe. He was the founder member of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation in 1987 and founder of the European Arnis Kali Eskrima Federation in 1992. He was captain of the Amateur Martial Arts Association (AMA) team which beat the Japanese in 1974, fought in the first World Championships in the Philippines in 1989, as well as being team coach. His current interests are stick sparring, multiple opponents and grappling/MMA. Bob is renowned as a Master teacher. He teaches a synthesis of empty hand, stick and knife work, using integrated principles for all three areas that creates a uniquely functional system whatever the challenge whatever the weapon. He is regarded by many as 'The Guru' and has received many lifetime achievement awards for his services to Martial Arts. back to top Δ
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Deborah's musical talents have propelled her from coast to coast in the USA, eventually leading her to Japan, Indonesia and the far east and culminating in a 12 year residency in Europe. Deborah has performed all over the world with many of the most famous names in Jazz. Her regular quartet for many years featured Horace Parlan, Red Mitchell and Ed Thigpen. She has also appeared either as a leader or guest with many of the greatest names in Jazz: Art Blakey, Sun Ra, Jackie McLean, Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller and many - Concert performances with Johnny Griffin, Benny Bailey, Billy Mitchell, Michelle LeGrand, "Toots" Thielemans, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Bobby Shew, Kenny Drew, Roy Hargrove, The Eric Reed trio, the Doky Brothers and many, many others. Deborah has enjoyed participating in and creating many unique musical situations... among these (in no particular order) are...A duet recording with trombonist Slide Hampton. A 10 concert tour in duo with piano master, Roger Kellaway. Duo performances with pianists Cedar Walton and Dorothy Donegan. A performance of "My One and Only Love" with trumpet star Clark Terry. A studio recording of the CD "A Lover's Question" with author James Baldwin.
After studying
at the Royal Academy of Music, Jeremy is now one of the leading
bass players in the UK. He has been a regular member of the Peter
King Quartet (with Stephen Keogh and Steve Melling) and of Gerard
Presencer's 'Platypus', and has worked with stars such as Louis
Stewart, Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer etc.
Greg Burk Pianist/composer/educator
In 1997 he published a book of Poetry in Catalán, "En la mesura del angles" (Ed. Columna,Barcelona), in 2004 he wrote short narratives for a literary magazine: literaria Bossanova (Mallorca) and in 2005 he published another book of poetry, this time in Castellano: "Del alba a su pesar" (ed. Calima, Palma de Mallorca. Since 2002 he has resided in Vilassar de Dalt. In 2009 he became President of La Massa Centre de Cultura Vilassarenc.
His career has included work as diverse as a year in the West End as a Musical Director of “Five Guys named Moe”, considerable song-writing success (gold and platinum albums), European Jazz Festivals as a vocalist, pianist and conductor and almost a decade and a half as the British accompanist for the legendary jazz-singer Mark Murphy. Pete is recognised as being at the forefront of European Jazz education and has been on the Faculty of most of the leading Conservatoires in this country. He is also very much in demand abroad and has taught regularly in Australia (Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) the Far East (Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore) and closer to home in Finland at the Sibelius Academy as well as short courses in Bulgaria, France and Italy. All this activity culminated in Pete receiving the 2007 Parliamentary Award for Services to Jazz Education. In addition to being Mark Murphy's regular accompanist Pete is continually in demand as a conductor directing many choirs here and abroad as well as Kenny Wheeler's Big band from time to time. As a singer Pete is a member of both Kenny Wheeler's and Abdullah Ibrahim's Vocal projects. He has also released his own critically aclaimed album, “The Bad and the Beautiful” - recorded with the legendary saxophonist, Bobby Wellins. It has been described as "swinging, musicianly... and refreshingly under-produced" and an example of "singer-pianism at its most intelligent".
Studied Arts
in La Escuela de Artes y oficios in 1979 in Castellón. In
1980 he went on to La Escuela de Artes Aplicadas y Oficios Artísticos
de Valencia to study design.From 1982 to 1987 he studied in la Facultad
de Bellas Artes de San Carlos in Valencia, specialising in painting.
This is where he received his degree. Laia Suñé Girona Audiovisual Architect
Nikki Iles, pianist and composer, was a founder-member of the innovative Creative Jazz Orchestra - working with Anthony Braxton, Mike Gibbs, Vince Mendoza and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Her busy freelance career has found her playing with Peter Erskine (CJO), Kenny Wheeler, Art Farmer, Julian Arguelles, Stan Sulzmann, Norma Winstone, Tony Coe, Tina May and Rufus Reid. Her music has been commissioned and performed by influential ensembles such as The London Sinfionetta, The Creative Jazz Orchestra, the London Philharmonic's 'Renga' ensemble and Tim Garland's Underground Orchestra. A committed Educator, Nikki is continually in demand in the UK and abroad. She is a Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University and a visiting Professor at The Guildhall School of Music, The Royal Academy and Trinity College of Music. She has also taught throughout Europe and has been a regular visitor to Australia. Nikki has received an IAJE award in America for her services to Jazz and her profile as a performer has been duly recognised here with a British Jazz Award. In addition Nikki was nominated this year for a Parliamentary Jazz Award and two composition fellowships. Paul Jayasinha Trumpet & flugelhorn
Paul studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was featured soloist with Kenny Wheeler on the CD ‘Walk Softly’. In the 80s paul toured with Tim Garland’s ‘Points on the Curve’ band, played with the Guildhall big band at Ronnie Scott’s with Randy Brecker, played with Jason Rebello, Cleveland Watkiss and Courtney Pine, and discovered Afro-Cuban music with Roberto Pla. At the start of the 90s he also played trumpet with the Brand New Heavies, joined Mike Westbrook’s big band, John Mayer’s Indo-Jazz Fusions and Lindsay Cooper’s ‘Sahara Dust’ and toured with them in Europe. He became heavily involved in Latin and Brazilian music, playing with almost all the bands on the scene. 2007 saw more festival work with Manteca and Alex Wilson, recording on Gilad Atzmon’s ‘Refuge’, playing trumpet and ‘cello with Jason Yarde at Glasgow International Jazz Festival, taking part in the premiere of Jonathen Cohen’s ‘Little Gidding’ at TS Elliot festival, Little Gidding, and releasing the CD ‘Round Trip’. In 2008 Paul’s band played at the Pizza Express and Canary Wharf Jazz Festival, he has recorded with Kuljit Bhamra, played as sideman for both Dominic Alldis and Mariko Koike at the Pizza on the Park, appeared at Ronnie Scotts with Alex Wilson and played in the Kelvin Christiane quintet. He has formed a world jazz trio with John Crawford and Andres Ticino, and has appeared in ‘Jersey Boys’ and ‘Gone With The Wind’ in the West End.
Alfred Kramer Drums/Percussion
Moved to Barcelona
from Portland Oregan in 1989 and since his arrival has been prominent
on the music scene there and all over Spain. During his time in
New York he was the guitarist with the legendary organist Jack McDuff.
He made an award winning recording with Ralph La Lama in the early
nineties and continues to be first call for many groups in Spain.
Dave is a highly respected teacher and has worked on seminars in
the past with Kenny Burrell.
Born 1965, started to improvise and play along with records at the age of 3 on the piano and the harpsichord of his parents. Founded his first group at 16, started to compose his first pieces and played many different concerts with this group in Switzerland. Also starts at that time to play more and more in the legendary Zürich Jazzclub „Bazillus“; pianist of the house trio and accompanies many national and international musicians. Franco Ambrosetti, Isla Eckinger, Roman Schwaller, Hans Kennel, Eddie Harris, Ray Anderson, Michael Brecker, Lester Bowie, Sal Nistico, Woody Shaw, Benny Golson, Gil Scott Heron, Joseph Bowie, Aron Neville and so on. Concerts and Tours in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium,Germany, Russia. Stays also more often in New York, where he plays many concerts and sessions with different younger jazz musicians like Chris Cheek, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Kurt Rosenwinkel. Played at the North Sea Jazz Festival Den Haag, Montreux Jazz Festival, Estival Jazz Lugano, Pori Jazz Festival Finland, Newport Festival NYC.
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Stephen
Keogh, born in Ireland. He followed his studies in Ireland with
private lessons in London and New York. He played as percussionist
with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, contemporary music
ensembles and many visiting jazz artists including Sonny Fortune,
Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Pat La Barbera, Louis Stewart
and James Moody.
Born in Dublin, he began his career there working in jazz, rock and theatre as well as with the radio orchestras. He studied in London and Milan, and in 1986 was chosen to play principal timpani for Claudio Abbado in the European Union Youth Orchestra. Soon afterwards he moved to Manchester, where he spent four years as a member of the the Hallé Orchestra percussion section.
Julian
began his career as a musician at the age of fourteen touring throughout
Europe with the European Community Big Band. In 1986 Julian was
awarded the prestigious Pat Smythe award and has also been awarded
several BBC awards. Julian has worked with musicians drawn from
around the world including Archie Shepp, Tim Berne, Hermeto Pascoal,
Steve Swallow, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Peter Erskine, Chris
McGregor, John Scofield and Carla Bley. Julian is also a member
of The Kenny Wheeler Big Band.
Born
in Israel in 1963 Gilad later studied jazz and composition at Rubin
Academy of Music, Jerusalem. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays
clarinet, soprano, alto, tenor and baritone sax as well as instruments
from his native land such as sol, zurna and flutes. Moving to England
to study philosophy he became a member of the Blockheads and has
recorded and performed with artists such as Ian Dury, Robbie Williams,
Sinead O'Connor and Paul McCartney.
Jan Bradley is a member of the highly regarded percussion quartet, 4—MALITY (
Dublin born self taught guitarist/composer Hugh Buckley has performed with a wide array of international artists, working as a sideman and also leading his own groups. Some of these artists include; James Williams, Peter Washington, Peter Bernstein, John Stowell, Tim Ries Rolling Stones Project (w/Bernard Fowler and Michael Davis), Georgie Fame, Javon Jackson, Scott Hamilton, Jon Faddis, Van Morrison, Ronnie Drew and many more. He has three cds under his own name,"Yes Indeed" (1998), "Spirit Level" (2001) (both recorded in New York) and "Sketches of Now" (2007) which features all original compositions. Hugh is producer, arranger and guitarist on the legendary Ronnie Drews 2008 platinum selling cd release The Last Session - A Fond Farewell.
The saxophone star of the Irish jazz scene, horn player and composer Michael Buckley has been playing professionally since the age of six. Michael first came to prominence in 1984 when, aged thirteen, he played flute with the legendary saxophonist George Coleman in the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Though largely self-taught, his obvious talent has been developed by Pat LaBarbera, Enrico Pieranunzi and Milt Hinton. Michael has toured the world four times with The Mingus Big Band, Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Grant Stewart, Ingrid Jensen, Florian Ross,soloist with the BBC big band, Louis Stewart and Gerard Presencer among others.
Greg
Burk has studied and performed with some of the 
Jordi Casabona i Barbarà (Barcelona 1957) studied medicine at Autonomous University of Barcelona and went on to complete his studies in Public Healthcare at the University of Houston in Texas, USA. Throughout his career he has been involved on a national and international level with various organisations working against the spread of AIDS. He is director of the Centre of Epidemiological Studies under the administration of Catalonia, teaches at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, and and is director of Fundació Sida i Societat, through which he directs a cooperation project in Guatemala.
Pete Churchill has been working as a composer, pianist, singer and teacher for twenty years. Originally trained in Canada he has been based in England since 1985. He is a Professor of Jazz Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London but his freelance work takes him all over the world - both as a performer and an educator.
Born
in Waterford, Ireland. After some time working with local rock and
Irish traditional groups he moved to Dublin. In 1996 Michael began
working regularly with guitarist Louis Stewart, and many visiting
artists such as Ronnie Cuber, Scott Hamilton, Mark Murphy and others.
Best
known throughout Ireland for his rural resettlement program in West
Clare, Jim Connolly has many talents - a sculptor, writer, and former
musician with an undying enthusiasm for jazz.
Born in Ballycastle, in the Antrim Glens, Cahal Dallat studied Statistics & Operational Research at Queen's University Belfast. He has lived in London since 1974 and is married to poet Anne-Marie Fyfe. He has worked in television, publishing, public utilities, construction & information technology & taught systems analysts in India. Dalat writes on Irish fiction & drama for a range of literary journals including the Times Literary Supplement & the Guardian and has been a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's weekly arts magazine, Saturday Review, since its inception in 1998. His poetry appears in a range of literary magazines & anthologies. He also plays several instruments including bandoneon, musette-accordion, mando-fiddle, balalaika, piano, clarinet & soprano-sax.
Kevin
Dean was born in 1954 on a North Iowa farm near Mason City, Iowa.
He graduated from Iowa University with an MA in music in 1976. He
later received his Masters degree from Miami University in Miami
Florida in 1980 in jazz performance and pedagogy.
Dylan Emery, co-founder of Showstopper!, is a director, teacher and performer of improvised comedy and music. He is a co-founder of short-form impro troupe Grand Theft Impro and has improvised all over the world from Canada to Australia, from pub theatres to the Royal Court in London. He is a member of Ken Campbell's School of Night and runs a website devoted to improvisation in the UK, called 
Renowned for his mature, melodic sound and elegant, lyrical style of writing and playing, guitarist Garrison Fewell has established himself as a distinctive voice throughout his 30-year career. Critics have called him "one of today’s most personal guitar players" (Boston Phoenix), "an assured stylist with a strong sense of tradition" (The New Yorker), "a player of virtuosity and swinging intensity" (UPI), and "refined, passionate, and inspiring" (Guitar Player). As a leader, Garrison has performed at NYC's Blue Note and Birdland Jazz Clubs, and toured in the US, South America, Africa, Caribbean, Canada and Europe. He has played at major jazz festivals such as Montreux, North Sea, Umbria, Clusone, Veneto Jazz, Copenhagen, Krakow, Budapaest, Quebec, Cape Verde, Africa, and Asuncion, Paraguay. He has performed with renowned artists such Tal Farlow, Larry Coryell, Benny Golson, Billy Harper, John Tchicai, Zbigniew Namyslowski, Steve Grossman, Herbie Hancock, Fred Hersch, Hal Galper, George Cables, Cecil McBee, Buster Williams, Miroslav Vitous, Steve LaSpina, Cameron Brown, Harvie Swartz, Michael Formanek, Tim Hagans, Cecil Bridgewater, Kenny Wheeler, Jimmy Owens, Dusko Goykovich, Khan Jamal, Norma Winstone, Jay Clayton, and Slide Hampton. An internationally respected jazz educator, Fewell has been a Professor of Guitar and Ear Training at Boston’s Berklee College of Music since 1977 and has given clinics at more than 40 prestigious conservatories in Europe alone, authored a textbook called Jazz Improvisation, and served as a lesson contributor to Guitar Player, Guitar Club and Axe magazines.
Born in the UK she has established herself as an important performer and educator. Since the mid 90's she has worked all over the world including residencies in New York and in Holland where she lived and became an key figure on the jazz scene. She is a versatile singer and is equally at home singing the music of Brazil as she is performing the Jazz repertoire. She has worked and performed with artists such as Barry Harris, Ray Appleton, Calvin Newborn, O’Donel Levy, Ryo Kawasaki, Mark Whitfield, Deborah Brown.
Born
in Tubingen, Germany in 1946, Heiner Franz became interested in
music at an early age. During his childhood he studied piano and
flute and later, at the age of fourteen, turned his attention to
the guitar, playing regularly with local Dixieland groups.
Anne-Marie Fyfe, poet, creative-writing teacher, arts-organiser & former Chair of the Poetry Society, (2006-2009), was born in Cushendall in the Glens of Antrim. She has organised and hosted poetry events and festivals, and has talked on poets, poetry & the poetry world on TV & radio, interviewed a wide range of well known poets and figures from the world of literature. She won the Academi Cardiff International Poetry Competition (2004) with her poem Curaçao Dusk, and established 
Felix
Gibbons has been playing percussion for over 20 years now, doing
everything from samba and salsa to bhangra and pop with everyone
from Milton Nascimento, to Peter Gabriel. Over the years he’s
had the opportunity of playing alongside an array of top Brazilian
pop artists like Gilberto Gil, Daniela Mercury, and some of the
great samba stars like Jair Rodrigues and Martinho da Vila. He has
also played with Giovanni Hidalgo, Danilo Perez, Edsel Gomez, Horacio
`El Negro` Fernandez. His Percussion workshops mainly concentrate
on Afro-Brazilian rhythms, especially carnival rhythms from all
over Brazil and also contextualised technique for the Salsa instruments
Conga, Bongo, Timbales, Guiro, Clave and Maraca.
Sandro
began playing guitar as a self-taught musician and then studied
at the Nino Donzelli Centre for Musical Studies in Cremona. Since
1979 he has devoted himself mainly to jazz, meeting other young
musicians from northern Italy, and becoming part of the Gianni Cazzola
Quintet. In the eighties he
Laia
was born in Barcelona in 1976. She qualified as a Technical Architect
at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and also studied
Músic in the Conservatori superior de Música de Barcelona.
She began studying classical piano and became interested in jazz
and improvisation.
Barry studied classical and jazz piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2002. He regularly performs with Ingrid Laubrock, Mark Lockheart, Bobby Wellins Bob Martin and Martin Speake and is a member of Larry Bartley’s trio and octet. Barry has also played with Julian Arguelles, Julian Siegel and US alto sax legend Richie Cole and and recorded with American rhythm section Ben Street and Jeff Williams. As well as working with instrumentalists, he has played with many London-based vocalists such as Rachael Calladine, Lee Gibson, Tina May, Christine Tobim and Anita Wardell. He is a member of Ingrid Laubrock’s award-winning quartet.
Selected performances: 1981-present Professional--Jazz and Commercial Music: Paul Motian, Louis Sclavis, Eberhard Weber, Buddy DeFranco, Charles Macpherson, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Liza Minelli, The Spinners, The Temptations, Mitzi Gaynor, Les and Larry Elgart, Tex Benecke, Bobby Vinton, Suzanne Somers, Jimmy Dorsey, Lawrence Welk, and Al Cobine Orchestras; Freelance Jazz Clubs in Europe and the United States, opened concerts with Britt Arts Training Faculty Combo for George Shearing, David Sanborn, and John McGlaughlin 
Born in 1960, Graham studied at the Royal Academy of Music under the watchful eye of James Blades. On leaving London he taught for two years in his home town of Nottingham as a peripatetic percussion tutor before going freelance as a player in 1984. He has worked with many orchestras in the UK, notably with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Opera North, joining the latter as Sub-Principal Percussion in 1992. He is also the timpanist of ViVA, the Midlands based chamber orchestra.
When Scott Hamilton appeared in the mid-'70s fully formed with an appealing swing style on tenor (mixing together Zoot Sims and Ben Webster), he caused a minor sensation, for few other young players during the fusion era were exploring pre-bop jazz at his high level. He began playing when he was 16 and developed quickly, moving to New York in 1976. Hamilton played with Benny Goodman in the late '70s, but he has mostly performed as a leader, sometimes sharing the spotlight with Warren Vache, Ruby Braff, Rosemary Clooney, the Concord Jazz All-Stars, or George Wein's Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars. Scott Hamilton, other than a few sessions for Famous Door and Progressive, has recorded a long string of dates for Concord that are notable for their consistency and solid swing.
Frank Harrison was born in Oxford on 8 July
1978. He took up the piano at 11, and began playing gigs when
he was 15. In 1994 he won the soloist award in the Daily Telegraph
Young Jazz Competition, and in 1996 placed second in Young Jazz
Musician Of The Year. After taking up a scholarship at Berklee School
Of Music, Boston, he returned to England and joined Gilad Atzmon's
band. In 2000 they started the Orient House Ensemble, with whom
Frank has recorded four albums on Enja Records, including BBC
Jazz Album Of The Year 2003, "Exile". The band regularly
tours Europe, playing at major Jazz and World music festivals.
Frank has also performed with Peter King, Don Weller, Julian
Siegel, Alan Barnes, John Etheridge and Iain Ballamy.
Jim Hart began playing piano and drums at the age of four. By the time he was eleven he was playing both instruments in the Tamar youth jazz orchestra as well as playing percussion in the Cornwall youth wind orchestra and the C.Y. percussion ensemble.
Born in Kendal, Cumbria and coming from a musical family, Mark originally played electric bass in funk and fusion bands, but aged eighteen was inspired to take up the double bass after seeing The Oscar Peterson Trio featuring Ray Brown.
In 1995 he moved to London to study Double Bass and Electric Bass at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
In late 1998 Mark left London and moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he was based for four years. He returned to the UK in 2002.
Mark has played and recorded with a wide range of musicians, from members of The Police and The Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney, Jamie Cullum, The London Symphony Orchestra and Electronica wizard Matthew Herbert.
Jazz artists Mark has worked with include.... Cedar Walton, Phil Woods, Steve Grossman, Randy Brecker, Larry Coryell, Kenny Wheeler and Greg Osby. Since returning to London Mark has been involved in a diverse range of projects, from film music to Hip Hop and R&B records, he has also been a regular member of Bill Bruford’s ‘Earthworks’, Billy Cobham’s ‘Art Of 5’, The Bill Charlap’s European Trio, Tim Garland’s 'Underground Orchestra'. The Julian Joseph Trio featuring Mark Mondesir and a new band co led by pianist Jason Rebello and drummer Jeremy Stacey.
Aside from his own projects, Duncan has become a popular sideman for a wide variety of artists such as ; Dianna Krall, Mark Murphy, Lester Bowie, Kenny Wheeler, John Hicks, Peter Appleyard, Sam Noto, Ed Bickert, D.D. Jackson, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Sam Rivers, and arrangers Robert Farnon and Ralph Carmichael to name but a few. He was the bassist in the famed Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass for several tours including Brazil and concerts including Carnegie Hall. Duncan has toured extensively throughout Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Brazil and the United States. He can be heard on over forty albums, numerous CBC, BBC and NPR recordings with such groups as The Pat LaBarbera Trio/Quartet, Dianna Krall, Peter Appleyard, Robert Farnon, The Warren Vache Quartet and the The Nikki Iles Trio. He is a reviewer and author for Double Bassist Magasine in the U.K. The upcoming year will see a four part tutor series from Duncan entitled "How to Practise." He has won several awards including the Jazz Du Prix in 1999 from the Montreal Jazz Festival and has been nominated for the Juno’s (Secret), the Durham Music Society’s awards (Snapshots) and was nominated in 2006 for bassist of the year from the National Jazz Awards. Duncan is a visiting professor at The Royal Academy of Music in London.
Val
Keogh is a musician and teacher of the Alexander Technique which
he has been teaching for the last ten years at the Frankfurt Musikhochschule
and in private practice.
Peter
King, in the words of one critic, “the finest alto saxophonist
that Britain has ever produced, and one of the finest in the world
today” (Dave Gelly, 'The Giants of Jazz', Aurum Press, 1986),
has been a major influence on the British Jazz scene ever since
he played, (at the age of eighteen!), the opening of RONNIE SCOTT'S,
London's internationally famous jazz Mecca. “Had Ronnie Scott's
Club died over night and been heard of no more it could still have
justified its existence by pointing to a discovery like Peter King.”
(Benny Green, 'Jazz Decade, ten years at Ronnie Scott's', King's
Road Publishing Ltd. 1969).
Born
1965 in Switzerland, he started playing drums at the age of sixteen
after having studied piano for nine years. He started performing
with his brother Lukas (pianist) and sister Hilaria (trumpet player).
Since 1986, after moving to Italy, he 
Born
in Castellon, Spain. He studied with Joe Pass and Richie Beirach.
Fernando is founder/director or TALLER-3 music school in Castellon,
Spain. He is also joint founder of production company "CD Mar
SL" organising seminars and producing 
Tina has released 8 albums on 33 Records and 1 on Linn Records . She has recently recorded and performed in New York with the legendary pianist Ray Bryant ( who has played with Betty Carter , Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis and numerous other jazz stars). Tina is also a respected lyricist and is in constant demand as a teacher and clinician.She has lectured at Trinity College of Music, Leeds College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Academy of Music, Clonter Opera Trust and many other institutions. See 
Alyth is one of the most exciting singers on the Celtic scene. She is an artist who thrives on discovery and diversity. She has shared the stage with folk greats such as Martin Carthy and Norma Waterston, jazz singers Jacqui Dankworth, Sara Colman and Leanne Carol, Brazilian ensembles and Bulgarian voice choirs, and Scotland’s own Eddi Reader. Her performance is inspired by the beautiful and harsh natural landscape she grew up amidst - its vibrant oral and musical tradition, and the passion of the songs she learnt as a child. A passion she has endeavoured to carry on in her interpretation and performance as an adult, and through her desire to communicate with her audience.
Ian
McLaren is Marketing Director of the Global Music Foundation. A
veteran of the London advertising, marketing and sponsorship industry,
he served as account and client services director in top agency
groups such as Saatchi & Saatchi and FCB Park as well as heading
up sales promotion operations for ad agencies Ted Roose & Partners
and Collett Dickenson Pearce. He worked as Managing Director of
HMG Sports Events & Licensing, the Saatchi sponsorship consultancy,
until 1990, when he moved over into the not-for-profit sector, applying
his skills as Director of Corporate Development for both the National
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the
Multiple Sclerosis Society. During a four-year stint in Silicon
Valley he was Deputy Director of Villa Montalvo, California’s
Historic Estate for the Arts, where his love of jazz led him to
connect with leading figures in the San Francisco jazz world. In
1998 he created “Desert Island Jazz” for KCSM Jazz 91,
the SF Bay Area’s jazz station. He went on to produce and
co-present the weekly programme, featuring interviews with the world’s
top jazz artists until he left the US in 2000. The programme was
voted San Francisco’s Best Radio Show by SF Weekly in 2004.
Adam Meggido, co-founder of Showstopper!, is the artistic director of The Sticking Place, a production company dedicated to new writing, innovation in theatre and the exploration of new forms. He created London's first ever 50-hour Improvathon in association with the Die-Nasty Soap-a-thon troupe of Edmonton, Canada. He also created Britain's only annual horror theatre festival and was Nominated for a Peter Brook award in 2007. He has improvised at Shakespeare's Globe, the Royal Court and BBC Radio. He is a writer and director who has written musicals of his own and is head of foundation at LAMDA.
Roland Melia was a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music, London where as a cellist he won two prizes for chamber music. A Countess of Munster Award allowed him to study privately with Pierre Fournier. Following this he worked as a principal cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Snape Maltings Chamber Orchestra and the contemporary music ensemble, Lontano. He also freelanced with orchestras including Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, City of London Sinfonia and English National Opera. Following studies with David Robertson and Ilya Musin he conducted orchestras in Britain including Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Britten Sinfonia, and Royal Ballet. Abroad he worked with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and St Petersburg Philharmonic as well as Symphony Orchestras in Portugal, Mexico and Chile. Melia has been the Artistic Director of Leicester Symphony Orchestra and Cyprus State Orchestra. He has also produced CDs for ASV and NAXOS.
Born in 1981, Johannes started to establish himself while a teenager as a soloist with some smaller concerts. He first attracted international attention in 2001 with the project Alba Quartet. Afterwards, Johannes also made recordings with various other projects for radio stations in Germany, Bulgaria, Romania and for Jazz FM. He played at further festivals in different countries. Since 2002, Johannes has been a member of the Federal Jazz Orchestra under the leadership of Peter Herbolzheimer. Among his concerts as soloist with various different projects, Johannes has played in the following groups: Johannes Müller`s JAZZ MILE, Oliver Strauchs Groovin` High`, Ensemble [8], Brassolution, Ernie Hammes Group, Greg Lamy Quartet, Sascha Ley Band. In 2005 Johannes Müller met Ack van Rooyen as feature soloist with his project JAZZ MILE. 
Aidan
studied Jazz bass at Birmingham Conservatoire from 1999-2003. After
finishing his degree, he moved back to Scotland where he joined both
the Tommy Smith Quartet and the Colin Steele Quintet. He moved to
London in November 2003, where he joined Alan Skidmore's Quartet,
and began freelancing with a wide variety of musicians. He has performed
with visiting artists such as Dave Binney, Charles McPherson and David
Berkman, and appeared on 6 albums as a sideman
Richard Douglas Pennant was born in north Wales. He has published two books of poems, Old Stones New Tales and Alabaster Jar. Much of the inspiration for his poetry comes from his native Wales, tales, legends, of the Celtic deities; as well as ancient Hellenic history. Human relationships - the power of love, friendship and personal growth all play a part in his writing. Two CD recordings, Old Stones New Tales and Letting Go, feature selected poems and music by Qaanun player Abdullah Chhadeh, violinist Darragh Morgan, cellist Matthew Barley, and the Frank Harrison Jazz trio. He has performed his poetry on tour in the UK, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Holland and Germany.
Davide is one of the most successful jazz bassists of his generation. Besides his own projects he is frequently touring Europe with Jazz Greats such as Monty Alexander, Martin Taylor and others. Davide lives in Stuttgart and Bruxelles.
Jason Rebello was voted Most Promising Newcomer of the Year for 1988 in Wire magazine and then picked up several major Jazz Awards including the prestigious Pat Smythe award and The Perrier British Jazz Awards. Apart from leading his own trio, he has appeared in the past with notable artistes such as Bud Shank, Wayne Shorter, Gary Burton, Branford Marsalis, Tommy Smith, Jean Toussaint, Desree, Mica Paris, Carleen Anderson and Omar as well as promoting his own band. He also performed several classical concerts, appearing with the Nice Symphony Orchestra and the Halle Orchestra in 1995. 
Guillermo Rozenthuler
is an accomplished singer, guitarist and composer from Argentina
who has relocated to London after a more than a decade performing
the length and breadth of South America. He is a member of the award
winning band "Orient House Ensemble". This year at WOMAD
he will be presenting material from his latest release, ‘The
Blue Hour’. Guillermo is one of the most in-demand voice coaches
and activists on the London Latin scene.
Born
into a musical family Pianist Edward Simon grew up in the coastal
town of Cardon, Venezuela. He moved to the United States in 1984
to study classical music and by the time he was in his late teens
he was travelling the world as a sideman to prominent jazz and Latin
musicians.
Arnie
Somogyi is one of the UK's busiest bassists and has played on over
30 albums. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians from rising
stars Amy Winehouse and Jamie Cullum to Charlie Watts, John Martyn
and jazz legends Stan Tracey and Annie Ross.
Born
in Waterford, Ireland, guitarist Louis Stewart began playing jazz
in the early 60s. By the end of the decade he had achieved a substantial
reputation through work with such leading jazzmen as Tubby Hayes
and Benny Goodman. Throughout the 70s he continued to enhance his
standing in both the UK and the USA, playing and recording with
Ronnie Scott, Don Burrows, George Shearing and others. He also toured
Europe, attracting considerable attention everywhere he played.
An award winning composer, he has written a number of pieces based
on the works of James Joyce, several of which appeared on the albums
Milesian Source and Joycenotes.
Pietro Tonolo was born in Mirano (Venice) in 1959, and began to play jazz professionally in 1979, leaving behind an alredy blossoming career as a classical violinist. Moving to Milan in 1979, he there worked with some of the leading Italian jazz musicians including Franco D'Andrea, Luigi Bonafede, Gianni Cazzola, Larry Nocella, Massimo Urbani. From 1981 to 1986 he was often a member of Enrico Rava's group. In the summer of 1982 he played in the "Gil Evans Orchestra" with musicians such as Steve Lacy, Lew Soloff and Ray Anderson; he also played with this ensamble at the "Sweet Basil" in New York in 1984/85 and at the "Umbria Jazz Festival" in 1987.
Luciano
Vida graduated from the University of Languages and Oriental Literature,
Venice in 2002. Later that year he visited China and the city of
Kunming in the province of Yunnan where he studied under Master
Guo Jungo (20th generation of the family Chen of Taijiquan).
Thilo is one of the most sought-after pianists in mainstream- and bebop-jazz in Germany. Running his own trio he is as successful as a sideman for jazz stars like Benny Waters, Scott Hamilton, Emil Mangelsdorff, Charly Antolini and many more. Thilo Wagner lives in Stuttgart, Germany.
Born
in Stockport, Manchester 1970. Studied music at Salford University
and Guildhall, London. Lived and worked in London eight years playing
jazz with NYJO, Peter King, Don Weller, Denys Baptiste, Jazz Jamaica
All Stars, Gary Crosby’s Nu-Troop. Also worked as session
musician for Brand New Heavies, Supergrass, Lighthouse Family, Alison
Moyet, Will Young, Rhiann Benson. Became involved in Celtic and
traditional music scenes working with giants Michael McGoldrick,
Kate Rusby, John McCusker, Karen Matheson(Caperceille), Karen Tweed,
Jon Jo Kellie. Formed band "e2K" influenced by jazz, English
folksong, Irish melodies and rhythms from Ghana (West Africa) which
secured a 2-album deal with Topic Records, London (available now!)
Currently lectures in jazz trumpet and improvisation at Birmingham
Conservatoire and Salford University.
Born in 1963 in Genoa, Italy, Aldo started to play double bass at age 17, having played the piano and guitar for six years. He quickly became very in-demand and started to work all over Italy, as well as in France, Germany, England, Spain, Switzerland, Croatia and Slovenia. He has peformed all over the world with many great musicians including: Franco D'Andrea, Enrico Rava, Pietro Tonolo, Paolo Fresu, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Chambers, Gary Bartz, Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, Ben Riley, Kenny Burrell, Lester Bowie, Junior Mance, Cedar Walton, Nat Adderley, Clifford Jordan, Horace Parlan and many others. Zunino has been Steve Grossman's bassist since 1995. He now lives in Genoa, where he has been teaching for the last twelve years.