This iteration of the Wayne Matthews Trio will feature keyboardist Matt Ratcliffe from Derby and Award winning drummer Neil Bullock; playing a variety of jazz, soul, hip-hop and other urban influences arranging well loved standards and original material.

These three have played together previously in various guises, but will debut as a trio the first time.

Ticket Link: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/551141

Wayne Matthews Bass

Wayne is an electric and acoustic fretless bassist hailing from Coventry. He has performed in a variety of styles and genres in the UK and Internationally including the West End (The Tina Tuner Show and Get Up Stand Up), TV, radio, gospel, orchestral (Limelight Orchestra), big bands (Crash Collective, Swingshift, Jazz Colossus and Fat Chops), jazz, soul and reggae. He currently runs a weekly Jazz Jam Session in Leamington Spa which to date is in it’s 7th year, is also involved with school ensembles, teaches privately and at Nexus ICA and developing young artists with the 2Funky Project Live in Leicester.

Matt Ratcliffe – Piano/Keys

Matt Ratcliffe is an accomplished jazz pianist and a regular performer with his own trio and in other bands across the U.K. He is a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire’s highly regarded Jazz course and Director for Education and Participation at Derby Jazz. He leads PLAYJAZZ a monthly jazz workshop for adults Derby Jazz. Matt gained first class honours in jazz piano and studies at Birmingham Conservatoire with the renowned British Jazz pianist Liam Noble and, prior to that studied with Mark Lockett. in his home town of Wirksworth. Other tutors have included Hans Koller, Mike Williams, Pete Saberton, John Taylor and Steve Melling. At university he was in a series of Big Band concerts led by composer Mike Gibbs and was in an ensemble tutored by artist-in-residence international bassist Dave Holland.

Neil Bullock – Drums

Neil bullock turned professional at the age of seventeen, having started playing drums at the age of eight. Neil studied privately with the world renowned drummer Mal Garrett from the Birmingham Conservatoire.
He won a clutch of awards as a teenager, including two Musicians’ Union ‘Most Promising Young Musician’ awards, three ‘TV Times Outstanding Drummer Awards’, and The BBC Big Band ‘Best Drummer Prize’ and the Musicians’ Union ‘Outstanding Musician Award’. At this time Neil was a member of the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra (MYJO), which he left at the age of twenty one after appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Following a meeting with Danny Gottlieb, (Pat Metheny), Neil went to New Jersey to study with Dave Brubeck’s world renowned drummer, Joe Morello, and also studied privately with the greatest exponent of the Moeller technique, Jim Chapin.
Neil joined The Red Lemon Electric Blues Band at a young age and went on to tour with Chuck Berry, played shows as support to Robert Plant and made a record number of appearances at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
Over the last few years Neil has worked on numerous occasions with the BBC Big Band both live and on radio broadcasts.

Ticket Link: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/541839

Emily Francis Trio are back with their highly anticipated second album, LUMA.

Comprising Emily Francis on piano/keys, bassist Trevor Boxall, and drummer Jamie Murray, the band’s music reflects an eclectic mix of late 60s/70s electronic jazz, progressive rock and pop, Scandinavian jazz, and artists from the current New York scene.

Formed in 2014, EFT is one of the hottest young acts on the UK jazz scene. Their debut album, 2015’s The Absent, established their fresh take on the piano trio format, creating a sound with a strong emphasis on melody and groove, resulting in compositionally rich, original music.

In 2016, they released a video EP project, New Town, with funding from Arts Council England. This was followed in late 2019/early 2020, with two video singles, Escape From The Echo Chamber and Broken Kingdom Pt 1.

Their latest release, LUMA, features nine original tracks, fusing jazz with psychedelia, electro, and prog rock influences. Sonically and compositionally, it is the band’s most accomplished release to date. The enlisting of mix engineer and producer, Jason Kingsland (FORQ, Tim Lefebvre, Donny McCaslin, Kaiser Chiefs), has taken their music to dizzying new heights with a soundscape that encompasses so much more than their core of keyboard, bass, and drums.

LUMA, derived from luminescence, represents the brightness within an image. LUMA explores the personal journey through life and the idea that one’s own sources of light – inspiration, knowledge, imagination – can help overcome the challenges we all face. If allowed to thrive, the brightness within us can be a source of joy and creativity.

LUMA is a personal reflection but, like any album, is not created in a vacuum. The effects of what has been happening in the world – with the pandemic, climate change, political and social discord, the negative aspects of technology and social media – all have a bearing on
our own lives and personal challenges. It has never been more important, therefore, to turn up the brightness where we can in a positive way.

*** PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS ON THE SECOND MONDAY IN MAY DUE TO THE MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY ***