LLANDUDNO JAZZ FESTIVAL

 

Shades of Shearing are making waves across the UK. The quartet re-create the sound of the famous George Shearing Quintet, but with a twist in the tail, as the line-up consists of two guitars, vibes and double bass, (one guitar takes on the role of the piano).

After their debut at the renowned Swansea Jazzland and, more recently, at the 19th North Wales International Jazz Guitar Weekend and Brecon Jazz Festival, where they performed glorious numbers such as “Lullaby of Birdland”, “East of the Sun and West of the Moon”, “Laura” and Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” they have received great acclaim.

When guitarists Trefor Owen and Andy Hulme first performed their arrangements for two guitars the audience reaction was, “You’ve really captured the Shearing Sound there!”. They have added the mellow tones of the vibes to create the even more authentic close harmony sounds of the legendary George Shearing Quintet.

Mid Wales based vibes player Paul Sawtell, who has had a love affair with the instrument going back to the 1980s and is also well-known as a jazz pianist, has worked with a wide range of celebrated performers, from Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones to the BBC Radio Big Band, Kenny Ball, Syd Lawrence and a host of internationally renowned jazz soloists, including Herb Geller and Peter King. Trefor Owen, Wales’s premier jazz guitarist, has toured the UK with such American guitar greats as Mundell Lowe, Jack Wilkins and Randy Johnston and performed extensively in the USA, appearing in San Francisco and LA, at the Classic American Guitar Show,New York and the prestigious  Jazz Cafe, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, whilst fellow guitarist Andy Hulme’s accomplished performances alongside Trefor and American jazz legends at North Wales International Jazz Guitar Festivals have proved him to be among the finest of today’s UK players. Andy is a member of the acclaimed jazz groups BBQ and the Brownfield/Byrne Hot Six.

Completing the line-up of Shades of Shearing is one of the UK’s foremost double bass players, Bill Coleman. Bill has worked as MD for many high profile names, including Helen Shapiro and Kiki Dee, and has accompanied numerous internationally renowned musicians including Alan Skidmore, Alan Barnes, Jackie Dankworth, Clare Teal, Enrico Tomasso and Bruce Adams.

Friday  2pm - 3.15pm - SHADES OF SHEARING

 

TREFOR OWEN  guitar

ANDY HULME  guitar

PAUL SAWTELL  vibraphone

BILL COLMAN  double bass