GypsyJazz

21 November 2011

Wookey Hole Club Welcomes Gypsy-style Jazz

Violinist Billy Thompson will be bringing his own particular style of jazz to Wookey Hole on Sunday, 4 December, when he brings his Gypsy Jazz quartet to the Wookey Hole Club. Special guest at the performance will be Wells-based accordionist Karen Street.

This immensely popular jazz quintet performs a mix of Hot Club numbers made famous by Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, fiery Hungarian tunes and gypsy anthems. As well as the skills of Billy Thompson, the quartet showcases the skills Eryl Jones (guitar/mandolin/vocals), Phil Gardiner (guitar) and Tony Bevir (bass)

The performance takes place at 8.00pm at The Wookey Hole Inn on 4 December 2011. Tickets cost £8 (£6 concessions) and are available on the door.

“It’s great to be playing at the Wookey Hole Club and we promise jazz-lovers an exciting and unforgettable evening of great music. We are even more pleased that Karen Street is able to join us. I’ve worked with Karen on a number of occasions and I knew that the accordion would be a great addition to the band.” said Billy Thompson.

A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Billy concentrated on jazz immediately after graduating and was a finalist in the Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition in 1996 and 1998. He has performed in the Gypsy Jazz, or Hot Club, style with international guitarists Gary Potter, John Etheridge, Lollo Meier, among others. He has also performed other music styles with artists such as Jools Holland and Manfred Mann and is a regular member of Barbara Thompson’s Paraphenalia.

The eclectic tastes of multi-instrumentalist Eryl Jones has led him to embracing rock, blues, bluegrass and most recently gypsy jazz. With TV performances and festival appearances to his credit, Eryl brings variety to any performance. Originally a blues guitarist, Phil Gardiners' love of the incredible rhythm of 1930s hot jazz has led to work with great UK players including Gary Potter and Billy Thompson. Often seen and heard with Plymouth guitarist Toby Morgan, bassist Tony Bevir can also be heard on the sublime album 'Hungaria' by Fapi Lafertin.

Visit www.billythompson.co.uk for more information on Billy Thompson